I finally had a computer desk built, by the wondrous Bryan, and proceeded to plug everything in….

I’ve gone down from a tri-monitor set-up to a bi one… I may add the 3rd above on the wall but am undecided yet.

Anyway, my main concern was booting a box that’s been stored away for around 9 months.  Not good huh… and I sooooo missed her!

I tentatively switched it on… expecting the worst.  Bloody hell… it booted straight away!

For all of 5 minutes before it bore the blue screen of death.   Something quite unusual for XP and something that pointed toward a hardware failure of some kind.

Anyway, 4 days have passed…. seven hundred and forty one boots later and I’m still fiddling.  Not sure why, I’m installing a new HD and Windows 7 on Monday but you know how it is… if it doesn’t work it has to be fixed, even in the interim.

Luckily, my Son is coming to visit which is why I’ve chosen Monday for the dump…he can do it all now that I’m a working girl :lol:

Everything is backed up thrice… as always… moved everything over from the laptop… and I’m ready to roll.  Honestly, this computer has been a nightmare.  9 months in storage for a computer is worse that 9 months of pregnancy and eventual birth… believe me!

However, must give a heads-up for the Wireless USB Adapter I bought for it… it’s by Getnet… approx ten quid, plug it in, run the CD and instant connection!  300 Mbps as well so good speeds (that can be expected from access points!)

Right, that’s it for another day…. but I’m now comfortably enabled to start actioning any WordPress installs again… it was just so crap on a laptop with one monitor.

Which leads me to mention that if you’re looking to set up your own website I can help… for only £50 I’ll get you up and running in one evening (unless you get your  hosting through the link then I charge nothing as I get commission from the host).  That is like soooo cheap!  Why?  Because I love doing it… See here for exact details…. WordPress Website Installing Service.

Nothing ‘boaty’ this weekend.. I’m down to my Home Town for a PARTY weekend!

We all know the Tax Man goes back centuries but in Bradford on Avon the evidence still stands today.  The Tithe Barn has been lovingly restored by the English Heritage.  Lottie and I cycled there today to have a gander.  It was truly impressive!

A spectacular 14th century monastic stone barn, 51 metres (168 feet) long, with an amazing timber cruck roof.  I bet it really stank back in its hey day :lol:

There are even workshops there producing all manner of arts and crafts.  You can book yourself in for an all-dayer in glass crafts too!  Lottie and I had never uttered so many ‘ooooh, I like that’ ever before.  And I was guilty of conceding on several occasions, handing over my debit card.

We cycled along the towpath which was lovely.  The Barn is sat beside the river Avon and the Canal runs behind it.  The river is very shallow where children and dog’s frolic in the clear water.  Very pretty countryside indeed

Anyway, I keep tinkling my wind-chime and we both keep writing silly messages on my new hardware… a slate heart that came with a stick of chalk :w00t:

Plus the boat smelled absolutely beautiful following the purchase of some fabulous incense sticks and the lighting of my Lampe Berger (until Lottie burned her bloody popcorn that is!).

Sing with me…. “The wise man built his house upon the rocks”… only we’re not on rocks, we’re on water! So with water below, a steel boat and water falling from the Heaven’s like a weeping duck having just lost a newborn chick I was able to ascertain that I had a couple of leaks!

The one I already knew about was the two small side panel doors (just what are they called anyway?). I’ve come to the conclusion that there’s a wee bit of corrosion down the sides (visually evident) and the water was seeping in through the small corroded cracks abutting the actual doors.

The second was from the cratch window frame. It has recently been removed for repair (see previous injury entry) and replaced which had broken the seal along the bottom edge.

A trip to Focus, £30 later laden with translucent sealant and roll of draught proofing (plus other impulsive purchases), I set to work in a non-wet ‘window of opportunity’.

Like some scientific boffin I mathematically calculated where the rain was entering and proceeded with the ‘sealing ceremony’.

A sticky, stinky, finger later I’d accomplished my goal and prayed to the heavens (and the lone Magpie who received a salute and a rhyme) that no rain would fall for the next 3 hours at least. Mission successful!

All but 30 minutes ago the heaven’s opened yet again. Water droplets the size of marbles fell making the most mesmerising sound you’ve ever heard. I had to turn up the TV as I couldn’t hear what they were saying on CIS! The cheek of it!

But I had an excited jitter…. I allowed the rain to subside and swanked over to the side-hatch. No leak! I’VE WON! :lol:

I’ll check the cratch tomorrow because Marvin The Great is currently fast asleep in his fluffy bed in there

Anyway, following said sealing, I suffered a right stinky finger working the sealant into the gaps :lol:

The draught-proofing was for the inner seal of those side doors and also for the rear doors that open out from Lottie’s room.  It was pretty draughty last winter so this year we’ll be well ready.  Even bought some of that double-glazing ‘hair dryer on’ shit to see how that goes.  I was going to have proper double-glazed windows installed but I got uninterested replies from two companies I contacted.  Fools!

Rain cometh; we’re ready for you! :lol: