Macbook Air Causing Problems

Virtually all the posts on this blog have been written on a Macintosh computer, first on our iMac, a large-screen, desk-top model, which sits on a desk in the corner of our bedroom. It is now somewhat redundant, having been purchased in around 2007. It has become very slow, needs up-grading with the latest operating system, but I doubt very much that it will work on the most up to date version of the OSX operating system. So I transferred to using Carol's MacBook Air, which she purchased through Milton Keynes Academy. It has worked perfectly well up to now, but it did have a slight hiccup when it refused to start up a couple of months ago but it seemed to right itself after a day or so. But a day or two ago it simply refused to open and all I get is a grey screen. It is usually turned off and kept on charge, and then turned on when it's needed, but still nothing. I am now using another laptop, bought by Carol for Academy work, a Toshiba, and I'm managing very well with it. It is a good deal bigger than the MacBook Air, which has an 11 inch screen. All this very annoying because I want to transfer a lot of my writing onto word processing. We also have a Samsung Galaxy tablet computer with a 10 inch screen, but that seems to have gone on go-slow, probably because it is several years also and I realize, like most computers, they need up-grading every couple of years. As such, it has been quietly retired, much like the iMac.

Blood Test

I had my blood test this morning. I had to be at the surgery at 10.50. The automated check-in system wasn't working. If you know what I'm talking about, you may have one in your doctor's surgery. It is a computer screen with a touch-screen and you have to input your age, sex, date of birth etc and it will then end by telling you the doctor's name you are booked in with. As it wasn't functioning it meant queuing to sign in with the receptionist. If you don't do any of this then you don't exist on the computer system and then you won't be seen and will be wasting your time. I also had to collect a repeat prescription. I now do this 'on-line' and this time I managed to do it using the Samsung Galaxy tablet. It does save having to fill in a form and then physically go to the surgery. Mind you, it isn't always fool-proof, because last time I put in my repeat prescription and I went to the surgery two days to collect the prescription, it was obvious that the system had failed and the doctor had to do the prescription the next day, but it wasn't too much trouble.

As for the taking-of-the blood. There was no problem and it went very well. I think it helps if I have had plenty to drink as I was told that being dehydrated doesn't help the taking of blood. The result should be ready on Friday. Also, the nurse did my blood pressure and that was found to be normal, thankfully.

I wanted to get Carol a present, as tomorrow is her birthday, and I had intended going to Sainsbury's so that I could get the prescription made up at the in-store pharmacy whilst I looked for a present. I got to the store and took the prescription form to the pharmacy and handed it over and was told by the pharmacist that they didn't have one of the meds on the list, isoborbide mononitrate. I was told that there was apparently a problem with supplies, due to the manufacture or something, and they rang to try and get this med from another supplier, but without success. I was then told that I would need to go back to the doctor's surgery and get them to substitute a similar medication on the prescription. So I drove back to Beanhill, where the surgery is, to then be told that the next-door pharmacy, Cox and Robinson, had a supply. Which is what I did and got the whole prescription made up. Problem solved. I THEN drove to Asda in Bletchley to get the present for Carol. Entire mission completed!