June 2008 Issue

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Ken's Chat

It is increasingly difficult to think of anything to write about that I think may interest members. Since losing my wife a couple of years ago my time is fully occupied with keeping the house tidy and doing the other hundred and one things that my wife used to do and which I took for granted. I also have a very large garden with seven lawns and this takes a lot of my time at this time of the year.

I like to keep busy and I am never bored although at times I do get a bit lonely and naturally miss my wife. To keep me company and to have something to talk to I have recently acquired a seven week old kitten. I wanted company but not something to takeover the house as she has done in the week since I have had her. At the present time I am writing this with great difficulty as she is on my desk and pushing down the keys of the keyboard. I am a little worried as I am afraid that she will take over my computer completely as she has already done with my Hi-Fi system.

My Hi-Fi system is housed in a cabinet with sliding doors at the front but open at the back. Sheba (the kitten's name) has learnt that if she goes round the back she can get into the cabinet where there is a control unit with touch keys. By pressing a key she can turn on the Hi-Fi. If she is lucky she turns on the radio tuner and the house is filled with the sound of whatever program she has been lucky enough to select. Now when I go out I have to turn the Hi-Fi off at the mains as I have returned several times to find the house filled with very loud music.

I had a chat with Bryan recently about the club's finances. We are all right for a bit but with so few members attending meetings our cash will eventually run out. I mentioned the club computer which we don't use but we agreed that it is of little value and would not raise much cash if sold. Last Sunday I went to a Boot Sale. It was a lovely morning and there were many stalls. There are usually quite a few stalls with computers, computer accessories and various computer bits and pieces. I noted that on one stall a computer was on display that the owner said was in perfect condition. The computer was a Pentium III with hard drive and CD drive and was complete with mouse, keyboard and monitor - Price £20. I have a very large collection of VHS tapes which I have recorded over the years with over three hundred films.

When in business I sold blank E180 tapes to the trade in the early days at £9 each, these had to be sold on to the public by the dealer showing him a profit. I no longer have a use for the tapes the contents of which have been transferred to DVD. I have offered all of the tapes to my grandchildren to sell for pocket money and I suggested that they should fetch at least £1 each. Some hopes - and it took me a number of evenings to make a list of all those films. (I have just been presented with a drop down list inviting me to connect to the internet - thanks Sheba!)

Having said that I do not use my computer much, it is my plan today to map out a route for a visit to Cornwall which I will be making shortly. Having recently purchased a Tom Tom navigating system and being thrilled to death with it I am looking forward to using it again. This time I will be moving around a bit and so will be planning my route using my Tom Tom connected to my computer.

I do not need my Tom Tom much but I find it useful for finding my way around without having to check a map and without having to search for a road or house number. Just type in the post code and you are directed right to the door of your destination.

Not much about computing again I am afraid but I find it difficult these days to write about anything interesting. Ken