h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

'ello Missis.

These computers are complicated creatures, are they not? Up until last night, if I wanted to log on to the internet, I had to fire up Outlook and log in to my e-mail first. Last night I cured that particular problem () but then this evening I discovered that what I did last night had mucked up my e-mail settings . Hopefully I have now cured that also.

I'm disappointed with how long it is taking to get to grips with my new technology. I haven't used Windows XP before and it is proving to be a steeper learning curve than I expected - I'm normally pretty good at picking up new computer stuff. I should be getting a new PC at work too in the next couple of weeks, so perhaps using the same software at work might speed up my skills at home. I think I am now getting to grips with the digital media stuff and on Sunday I learned how to copy music from CD's. For my next trick, I need to learn how to catalogue the music stored on my hard drive. I'd like to get into downloading music from the net (legally, of course), but I think that will have to wait until I get broadband. Having just shelled out £773 for a new PC, it will be some time before I can bring myself to pay for broadband as well (I like to see my money in the bank)

Did I tell you that there had been a couple of break-ins at work? Some theives broke a window and stole a large flat screen monitor and then came back the next night and broke another window and stole another one!It made me stop and think about my nice new PC and new digital camera and Chris's new digital camera. So, last week I phoned my insurance company and increased the level of my cover.

Hope your half-term planning is going better. I've just booked a week's leave for mid-March to use up some of my 04-05 leave entitlement. I'm looking forward to it already.

Anyway, I must go. I don't like to stay on here too late as it tends to interfere with my ability to sleep. Also, I think I should try and phone up my brother as I haven't spoken to him for a couple of weeks.

Chat again soon.
Liz
~

Hi Liz,

You are really good at getting to grips with the music and CD thing on the PC. I haven't bought a CD writer yet but I guess it is on the cards. Having downloaded all these photographs from the camera, if the tower went kaput, where would all my photos be? Is a CD writer and a CD burner the same thing?

Y had an assembly this morning. I love to go to those things. They are such precious moments. Even if the little scamp did get the credit for the title 'Making Waves' that I gave her It was in aid of the tsunami diaster and a small contribution was required at the end.

I hate it when I hear stories of specific items like the flat screens being stolen. I can't help thinking that it was an inside job. Friend of a friend of a friend in the office or a student.

Your panto story was great! It sounded so much fun. I like taking Y&E to a show every now and again. The last we saw was 'Fame' and they really, really enjoyed it.

Things to do, places to go, people to see

Until the next time, take care, BB

<> I think so. The gizmo on my new toy is actually a DVD writer/re-writer - it does all the same stuff as a CD w/rw, but would also, if I ever progress to such heights, play and record DVD's. It added about £40 to the total cost of the PC, but I paid so much for it anyway that another £40 was neither here nor there and one of my techie colleagues at work said it was a good idea as it helped to 'future proof' my PC.

I haven't written anything to a CD yet, but I have 'borrowed' one out of the stationery cupboard at work to have a go with. I haven't got that much music or that many photos on the hard drive yet, so it would be a bit of a waste to use it at the moment. It's a 'write only' one so I'd only get to put the one lot of stuff on it, whereas I understand that if I invest in re-writable CD's I can add to them later, which I think might be useful when storing photos.

You are not the only person to suggest that inside information was used vis-a-vis the burglaries at work. The two blokes whose equipment went missing have since decamped to a nicer office in another building so there is speculation (in jest) that they had a hand in it. The guy whose monitor disappeared during the first raid was the star of a home-made wanted poster by lunchtime that day! When the thieves came back the second time, they also stole from classrooms on the 4th and 6th floors of the main building as well as raiding our offices again. I find it incredible that the monitors stolen cost £1300 each in 2002 but can now be replaced for about £300! Techie gear has certainly come down in price.

I'm glad you enjoyed your kid's assembly. A friend of mine runs a youth am/dram group who are putting on something called 'Dracula Spectacula' next week. She's given me a flyer, but it's at Felixstowe and I don't know any of the children in it, so I doubt I will go.

Hope you have a good weekend. Is it half-term with you next week? It is here.

Chat soon
Liz
~

Hi Liz,

I certainly do have a reprieve from the lunchbox stuff next week and one of my best girlfriend's that moved along, long way away is coming to stay for a couple days next week with her children

Your right about the price of technie stuff. I remember that I was one of the first in my group and certainly at work to buy a CD player and now you can pick them up so cheap. I've loads of photos on my hard drive and I'm quite good/boring and I file them into folders by occasion/date so I can find them instantly.

The weekend has been calm and I'm just about to jump in the shower and wash what is left of my hair I had such high hopes for my perm and it did help the oilyness for a while and it did look great for a while but it wasn't to last Never mind. My saving grace is that my hair grows so fast that before I know it, it will be back to semblance of order.

What are you doing with your week off?

I hope you have had a nice weekend too and that Mr Disorganised has come back from 'golf' in a cheerful mood

Until the next time, BB

I thought that the college would be quieter this week but there are still a lot of students around - I think it's only the ones on GCSE and 'A' level courses are off this week. A couple of my colleagues are off, so the office is quiet.

I haven't seen Mr Disorganised since he went 'round to Andy's last night - I was in bed by the time he got home and he was still in bed when I went to work. I have left him some and a card for Valentines. I don't usually get him a gift (I'm not a fan of valentines - I think it's a bit contrived), but I saw this rather yummy looking chocolate in M&S and as he has been so good with his diet lately, I thought he deserved a treat (and that was before the passport fiasco).

My next week off is not until mid March and I don't know what we will be doing yet. My Dad is 60 at the end of that particular week, so a trip to Lincolnshire will be involved. Mid March isn't much cop for holiday in terms of weather, but I've got leave to use before end March (and still have two days not taken yet).

Anyway, I need to go out to lunch and try and find a gift for my 'baby' brother who will be 30 at the weekend.

Chat soon.
Liz
~

*shouting with a distant voice like Y or E from a bedroom* Liiiizzz! I found it!