The Laptop has pulled thro'

After an extensive low level format operation, and a day one recovery procedure, the patient is stable but still some way off full fitness.

The boot time to working (with internet page loaded via wifi network) is now in the order of 32 to 35 seconds, a backup is currently being taken to a new second partition in case there is a recurrence of the condition.

The family have been notified, and are spending time with the patient in recovery.

Laptop on lifesupport!

For a little while my laptop has been quite slow to boot up, Windows XP Pro loaded in about 30 seconds when it was new, and I expect it to slow down a little as I generally load it it with all the useful little utilities that make it MY laptop, but....

How does 10 to 15 MINUTES sound?

I have been meaning to do something about it for a couple of weeks, but the wedding video has been taking up all my spare time (and some!), so tonight I inserted the "Ultimate Boot CD 2.4" and ran an IBM/Hitachi disk utility - Unrecoverable sectors!!

At the moment, I am LOW LEVEL FORMATTING it, ready to reinstall from the manufacturers Recovery CD's, but have taken the proactive step of contacting Customer Services at "The Laptop Shop" to see if it is covered by warranty.

First post with w.blogger v4

I have been using a program called w.blogger for the last few months, and it really is excellent.

• Post and Publish on Blogger, b2, MovableType, Nucleus, BigBlogTool, BlogWorks XML, Blogalia, Drupal, Xoops, E-Xoops, Upsaid, PostNuke, TheBlog, Blog-City, blojsom, Roller Weblogger, Domino, LiveJournal, EraBlog.NET,pMachine, TypePad and YACS blogs


• Edit Posts and Templates


• Save Posts locally for further publishing


• Import Text files


• Add links and images


• Format text font and alignment


• Multiple accounts and blogs


• Post preview


• Colorized HTML code


• HTML tags menu


• Find/Replace option


• Post to many blogs


• Ping to Weblogs.Com


• Title and Category Fields


• Spell Checking


• File and Image Upload


• Custom Tags Menu


• Toolbar Icons Skin


• Supports Windows XP


• Easy Account Configuration

Allthough it is freeware, I decided it was time to make a contribution... I am now using a beta of Version 4... :)

First day of my holiday week (at home)

Having got back from Blackpool yesterday, the plan was for the rest of the week to be spent in the garden, on the house etc, doing basic maintainance. Unfortunately the weather is foul - thunderstorms etc, so change of plan... Off to B&Q latter for paper and paint - and decorate Amy's bedroom.

Wedding Video DVD finally delivered

Well, after several weeks of hard work, I finally finished Steve and Rebecca's wedding Video DVD. It was a big beast over 80 minutes of video footage, 35 minutes of the main service, 30 minutes plus of speeches, and a couple of "Extra's". All with animated menu's etc. I was quite pleased with the result, and when they saw it on Friday night, I think they too were happy with it.

They have now taken it away and it should be viewed by a few more people soon, lets see if I get any feedback!

Magnetic Bracelet

Now, I don't know about you, but I have always thought the idea of a copper bracelet being the cure-all for everything from period pains to arthritis to be completely rediculous...

Having said that, I have just brought one! Not because I have any great expectation that it will do any good (because I have no such expectation!)... mainly because I like the style and weight of it, and at £10 it is a reasonable prices item of jewelry.

If, however, over the next few days - all my aches and pains vanish - I will let you know! (But don't hold your breath)

Nice Weekend Away

Just back from a long weekend away in Blackpool. Stayed at "The Big Blue Hotel", which is right on the south entrance to the Pleasure Beach. Our room in fact overlooked "The Big One", "The Big Dipper" and "Steeplechase" to name but 3. If you were in the room during the day it was quite noisy as the rides roared past, but they generally shut off about 10:00PM, so it was not an issue.

The Hotel itself is excellent, and I have no doubt that we "Will Be Back", to paraphrase Govenor Schwarzenegger

me and Amy spent most of Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00 riding anything and everything on the pleasure beach, the new ride "Bling" was a dissapointment, and we ran out of time (Amanda got bored) before we went on the "Ice Blast" - We were also completely soaked at that point, having just been on "Valhalor"