Friday 25 January 2008

The Dull Vista

I’ve spent the morning sitting nursing a laptop through its first experience of Windows Vista. I’m not technically minded so it has been a frustrating few hours trying to understand ‘drivers’ and ‘authentication’. The annoying thing is that it’s my own fault. Before I sent it back for repair, I applied a scorched earth policy to the laptop. I deleted all my work files, software, and personal details in case the laptop didn’t come back. You probably smile ruefully at my foolishness but you’re not a celebrity. I didn’t want my emails and unfinished novels doing the rounds on internet gossip boards. Only now, a week after it arrived back from repair, do I see that I probably went a bit over the top in deleting things.

All of this means that I’m behind on my work. It’s also Friday and for the last couple of days I’ve dipping below the enthusiasm horizon. We’re chatting to Monty Don this afternoon, which is never a prospect sure to fill me with much excitement. He’s a good enough bloke but he’ll be going on about all the exotic places he’s been.

I might write something longer for later on. I might not. I’m in one of my occasional moods when I need inspiration, encouragement, or a slight whiff of something that tells me that all my efforts aren’t futile…

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Chin up Richard, have a hot cocoa, take a nap. We'll be here when you get back. :)

Uncle Dick Madeley said...

Okbye, that's so nice. Thank you. I'm smiling but it's a dull day... I think I'll take your advice and go and make myself some cocoa and perhaps read a book.

Anonymous said...

I'd suggest watching an episode of Qi, but then you'd just say I like Mr. Fry too much :P :)

I have been a bit whats the word crappy myself... must be the weather or something :) Go on, have your cocoa that should cure most ailments :)

Anonymous said...

Monty was on the Breakfast TV sofa today by some coincidence - do not ask him about Moles is my advice as he will make a rather nasty 'joke' about skin cancer...

Selena Dreamy said...

We’re chatting to Monty Don this afternoon, which is never a prospect sure to fill me with much excitement...

You're not making it sound very appetising, but I expect I' m just going to have to put up with it.

It's the full Monty, then, today, it seems. I heard him this afternoon on Radio 5, in the car on my way to Potters Bar. I think he said that somebody recognized him in South Africa, and that he was a celebrity...

...looks like I got off lightly

Uncle Dick Madeley said...

Bertas, I watched QI last night and (I say this quietly) I enjoyed it. I've actually not watched a whole show before (I get to see so little TV) that I was shocked to see him advocating the eating of pandas. I thought he'd only made the boast to me... By the way, the cocoa did help relax me.

Mutley, he's such a holiday bore, isn't he? We recorded the show over an hour ago (I'm now in the car being driven home) and I can't say it was my best 60 minutes.

Selena: Potters Bar, Radio 5, and Monty Don. And some people still say say you don't live an exciting life! As for Monty, you did get off lightly. I couldn't get excited about hearing about all the places he's been. Compared with that, he makes installing Microsoft Windows exciting.

Anonymous said...

Ah theres a good chap, see you are better already, glad to hear it... :)
And Qi is strangely addictive...
see we cant have you all morose and whatnot, then I dont have anything of substance and humor to read... :) I'm laying it a bit thick, but anything for a friend and this should make you feel even better still.... :)

Lola said...

Whoop de doo
We love you
Don't stop writing
But have a night in
Scented candles
Fry's love handles
Coz your body's
Better than Oddie's.
xx
(sorry Judy)

AxmxZ said...

Take a break. Enjoy the finer things in life. (I'm not sure what they are, but I'm certain you do. :)

cobbly said...

Hey Richard, I've been lurking around the site the last few days, I've gone back and read every entry. Its been a very entertaining read and its right up there with the best blogs, so keep up the good work!

Uncle Dick Madeley said...

Bertas, you have cheered me up. I'm now going to watch another QI which I've recorded on the box. Who knows, I might even do some writing tomorrow.

Lola, oh that's just perfect. Enormously pleased with that. Clearly another poet. I should return to the way of the rhyme. I know my poems are missed. I can't thank you enough for this. So kind...

Ax, I spent the night enjoying the finer things. Trying out new word processors. I know it doesn't sound fun but I occasionally like a change. I'm a bit of a connoisseur of good word processors.

Cobbly: Wow! Read every entry? If you have, that's something like 146,000 words, or approximately 17 chuckles, 3 guffaws and countless snorts of mild amusement. You are definitely the kind of reader I want. I hate to think of some of the things on here, but it fills me with optimism to know I'm not doing too bad a job. Many, many thanks. I need the occasional prod to get working. Judy says I get too morose but 146,000 words sometimes makes me wonder about the futility of blogging.

Anonymous said...

I'm quite impressed, positively surprised, that Stephen hasn't brainwashed you with Macintosh! But Vista? You're in deep shait with that god forsaken thing.

Unknown said...

The scorched earth policy is the best for anyone re protecting data and personal files on your computer.(Believe me, I know - part-time literary agent, full-time running my computer business).

On the word processor front, have you tried Open Office (Openoffice.org). It's a free community developed project which is becoming very popular.

Uncle Dick Madeley said...

"part-time literary agent, full-time running my computer business"

A real life literary agent? Would you mind it awfully if I seduced you over dinner? My wife wouldn't mind.

Funny you should mention Open Office. I've just discovering its pleasures and I'm beginning to move over to it for my writing. It has everything I need -- full screen editor and adjustable backgrounds. Really impressive stuff.

Now, about dinner?

Unknown said...

Seduced over dinner...? The best suggestion I’ve had this year. How understanding of your wife. My girlfriend is of a similar mind. Aren’t we chaps lucky?

Open Office is indeed a pleasure to use. It’s ideal for writers because it’s more broadly compatible with a lot of file standards. When communicating with publishers they will sometimes be using a different word processor and Open Office tends to recognise them all.

Uncle Dick Madeley said...

Judy is very understanding on that score. She knows the lengths to which I'd go to find myself an agent.

Somewhat at your suggestion, I spent the afternoon writing on OO and it gets better the more I use it. My old WP was Atlantis Word, a very compact editor that loads very quickly and I can get to look how I want it. OO is going to be my WP of choice and I love the price.

Unknown said...

Your lady is indeed a gem. Though I am somewhat taken aback that you don’t have a literary agent. Do feel free to ask for my help at anytime. I’m one of the young ‘uns (though a bit of an old soul friends say), forging ahead to expand the boundaries of publishing in today’s market - particularly as we’re on the exciting threshold of new digital media which in my view can only be achieved with the balance of traditional book publishing.

If you miss Atlantis Word, OO has a plethora of extensions available to allow you to customise it. And likewise, if you find that the toolbar is too crowded, you can remove any that you don’t use.

Uncle Dick Madeley said...

Thomas, I would certainly ask your advice only you don't have an email address. Feel free to email me (dickmadeley@yahoo.co.uk) if you don't mind an email conversation. I don't like to clog up my comments with my usual moans about publishers.

I have to also say that I'm loving using OO. I've not looked into the extensions, though I have uncluttered my screen wonderfully. I feel quite liberated.