Oh how I would have loved to head this with ‘prodigal’ rather than ‘frugal’ but only because it’s a well known saying.

My Son’s 19 and is a typical stereotypical computer geek. Long hair, and I mean long, down to his waist! Doesn’t shower and moves in half time.

He spends 24/7 either on a computer, building one, upgrading, tweaking, overclocking or gaming.  Having just completed a two year BTech he’s now ready to embark on yet another course based on programming.  His aim is to write bespoke software from scratch.  And I know he’ll achieve that

But for now I’ll will contact the Ministry of Defence to start talks about a new kind of biological warfare based on my Son’s underpants.

So with him doing geeky computer stuff and my Daughter being in love with photography & styling, I’m happy that both my children wont be stuck in jobs they hate.  Instead, having a lifetime of fun doing stuff they love.

So, we had Sam on the boat for a week.  He gave my main rig a good clean whilst I was at work and kindly installed Windows 7 so I’m up to speed.  I even had him reinstall my laptop that’s only 6 months old

His toes curled and his hair straightened when I mentioned that we’d take him out on the boat for the weekend and there’d be no electric to run a computer and no internet connection.  With that, we stayed hooked up to the mains umbilicus and I drove him home today

I remember on our one and only Narrow Boat holiday that he spent the entire week in  his bunk playing his Gameboy!  Loser

‘Cringe’…. I even gave up a weekend of Souling in the feint hope he’d want to go out boating; never mind, there’s always another weekend.

Yet again, nothing boaty to report about!  It’s becoming a habit I don’t like… must make amends!

Marvin’s really grown in the few weeks we’ve had him.  I’ll have to let him outside soon but it’s like letting your child out to play for the first time and it’s scary that they’ll come to harm.  Must… have…. faith….

When he’s on our laps and we’re stroking him, we feel like Dr Evil

My new job is TECHNICAL to say the least.  They didn’t put that on the JOB DESCRIPTION!  But I’ve decided to put defeatism out of the window and grab the bull by both horns.  Being that it’s so diverse and complicated means that I’ll never stop learning or become complacent.  Therefore, this job’s definitely for me

More from the ‘cut’ soon I hope!  Meanwhile, get your arses over to Cut Connect - the latest and greatest online community for boaty people.

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

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

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

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!).