In line with Carpetblogger I can report on some progress.
Repaired computer yay
First my computer came back from the hospital earlier than expected. Sloph has been recently been on phone duty to Sony Vaio and after 10 days and no action she was so skeptical about promises to phone back with some information, that it obviously did the trick. And phone they did, several times and promptly. On Wednesday morning they phoned to say the computer was on its way to Heathrow. Ten minutes later there was a knock at my door. It seems they replaced the mother board and now all is well (apart from two weeks work missing somehow). A big thank you to Kelly at Sony Vaio wherever you are. We will say nothing about the four different people I spoke to in two days when I was in Bosnia who mostly never phoned back. I would still be waiting for a pickup now, thanks to them.
Feeling more confident on technology I rushed out to buy a wireless kit for a cable modem and a cable for Bee's camera so the Japanese photos could be got off the computer. In the first shop I tried for the wireless, a callow youth told me that all wireless kits worked with cable modems, whereupon I told him that I wouldn't need a new one if that were true, and called for the next callow youth with more experience. He told me that they didn't have the best one in stock so I removed myself from the premises in disgust.
Skype phone
A short bus ride away at PC World, they managed to convince me to buy a cable router, a Skype phone and a laptop bag with wheels. I grabbed the Skype phone thinking it was the one I had been recommended to buy, but at a cheaper price. Disappointment set in when I got home and found it was configured for Windows Messenger not Skype. No wonder it was cheap. I refuse to use anything connected with Microsoft, that I can manage without. So that will have to go back. Still I can order one on Skype like I was planning to anyway.
wireless router
I was thinking that the wireless router would have to go back too as it kept saying the computer couldn't find the router. Eventually I switched everything off, including undoing the coax connection to the cable modem (which seems to be the answer to most Virgin cable internet problems) and of course it worked. Now I just have to fix up the security.
One hand baggage problem
Buying the laptop bag was an extra bonus. For some time now, I have been dealing with the UK one hand baggage rule by arriving with a medium sized handbag and a large and full laptop bag, redistributing the contents of the handbag throughout the laptop bag and cramming the handbag into the laptop bag, which usually doesn't close, but nobody seems to care much by then, as long as there is only one thing you are carrying and it looks OK. Immediately after the security check I then reconstitute my handbag from the laptop and march off feeling superior. However, I have been rather envious of those people with wheelie bags for their hand baggage. So now I have a nice wheelie bag with lots of room for handbags inside as well as laptops and even overnight stuff and papers.
Camera cards
Finally the nice people at PCWorld recommended not to buy an expensive replacement cable but a card reader from another shop round the corner. At the till, the Polish (who else) checkout girl helped me put all my boxes in the laptop bag and off I wheeled. Then I bought a multiple card reader which solved everybody's problems not just Bee's. So the Japanese photos are rescued and can go on Facebook, where they will presumably be safe for ever (??).
So all of this problem solving will be good practice for setting up a new office in a country where I don't speak the language. I too will become a bureaucracy usta like Carpetblogger.
Problems I haven't yet solved:
the new passport (no room left in the old and no time to get a new one sent by snail mail) but I have made an appointment to get one in one day. I'll believe it when I see it.
my pensions (some due for the big birthday). I'm not used to letters hassling me to take money, even if it is only a pittance compared with what I earn on a good day.
what to do on the birthday, though it seems that is being solved for me.
the trip to IKEA for the new sofa and the long list of objects it seems we no longer have after our gypsy like existence in the summer. One of Bee's friends has NEVER BEEN TO IKEA. Can you believe it? I can remember going to IKEA on my honeymoon, (before the dinosaurs) but that was in Sweden. So we have to take the friend for the cultural experience (and the shopping angst).
how to get the cat back. Said cat is used to a few stop overs on the way to a new home. But this time she has been stopping over with men (courtesy of Sloph and her two male housemates). She was always more partial to men visitors, quickly jumping on their knees and demanding a stroke. Now she has settled in and I was ignored last time I went round. The three have made a bid to keep her on the grounds that I won't be at home and three people are more reliable as cat sitters than one person (Bee). 'S not fair. I can't think of any counter arguments, and taking her with me for 18 months doesn't make much sense either.
Now all I have to do is get on with finishing my reports.
