I’ve started this on Friday. The Euro final is on Sunday. England v Germany. Groan. As someone once said. Football is a simple game of eleven v eleven, one ball, two halves and the Germans win on penalties. Above all else, please don’t let it go to penalties. I don’t think I have a constitution that can cope with another one of those depressing endings.
I spent all day with an old colleague who is a whizz with all things computerish. It wasn’t much I needed help with: a new laptop to be set up, which I could probably sort myself; a set of boosters for the Wi-Fi – our house was built in the 1930s in what is called the Surrey Tudor style. This involves, alongside the Tudor beams and red tiles, a distinctly Wi-Fi-unfriendly fenestration, involving as it does Crittal windows which are made of small triangles of glass held in place with lead. If there is one thing guaranteed to bugger up a Wi-Fi signal it’s a combination of two lines of brick walls and a lead barrier between. I’d bought the latest versions of the boosters offered by BT, two sets and we were going to try and defy the cold spots; and a new wireless colour printer – I have form with printers and the sort of relationship usually reserved for aggrieved neighbours and political foes.
Three hours, tops.
Oh sure. Six and counting. Partly that was down to us choosing a day when Virgin Media who supply my broadband deciding yesterday was a great day to drop the signal in and out without warning… no, scrap the partly; it’s all their sodding fault. Every time we managed to have three or four discs functioning, out it would drop and we’d have to start the whole rigmarole once more.
And then, just when we thought we’d got past the worst we went to do the printer. Yes, it’s official. I want to kill all printers, eradicate them from the face of the planet: reprographicoside.
As a result my confidence in setting up my laptop was put to the test today. I stumbled a little over my email but, yes, my confidence was justified. Well, so far. The day and a third let to run… I will regret writing this.
The son and heir and his lovely spouse are living chez nous pending buying their new house. Well, it’s now bought but needs work… lots. Current estimate for a move: February.
We love having them stay. The fridge is regularly emptied in ways not seen since one child returned from university. The washing machine has asked for time off in lieu. And according to my Netflix account I’m watching all kinds of crap I never realised anyone had considered it worth making.
One trial for your millennial around their 30th is the preponderance of stag/hen/wedding does. These take at least a weekend, often require flights to various parts of Europe that haven’t yet banned them as well as complicated outfitting. This weekend it’s lederhosen and Glasgow. Poor old Glasgow.
As a result, at 8am on Saturday, I’m to be found outside the new house, waiting to let in some chap… Warren, it turns out… to check for asbestos, which was mentioned in the survey. On balance, if asked to choose between Scotland and Oktoberfest on Clyde and Streatham and asbestos, it’s not as clear cut as one might imagine.
Streatham is one part of South London – there are several – which is ‘improving’. Along the High Road there are multiple charity shops and betting outlets jostling with I Love Coffee cafes and a M&S food hall. It’s my bet the former will gradually shrink, replaced with bespoke fresh pasta emporia and vajazzle while you wait boutiques. And eventually you will only be allowed to live here if you have 2 children wearing Jojo and Moron salopettes, vote green and carry a doofee on your key ring that tells you if the avocados are ripe. Are avocados the only fruit n veg that is either unripe or rotting, but never actually perfect?
TanGental 
I truly believe most murders happen during a computer/printer installation. Why do they have to be so complicated? I actually cheated and had the young man who sold me my latest computer set it all up for me and all I had to do was plug it in. (I am capable of doing that) So far so good. Just a couple of small glitches. Well done England for the trophy won by a group of determined young women!
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Absolutely the most splendid thing. It does feel like a no going back moment. Hope so.
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Oh, joy
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If you need any of the valves changing I’m your man!
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Hi Geoff, your post did make me laugh. I live in darkest Africa but we have perfect and continuous Wifi (even though the power is off with frightening regularity and we have to use the generator) and our avocados are practically perfect in every way.
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Nope I simply cannot conceive of the perfect avocado. It’s like expecting a politician to do what he or she says they will
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😂🤣
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The women didn’t look as though they were about to mess about with penalties 😉
In the word(s) of Ron Manager: Marvellous.
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They’re not taking many backward steps. The best thing has been the post match German whingeing… music to one’s ears… they were robbed… oh sure they were.
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You have to be certifiably insane to set up a computer system on your own. That’s what my son-in-law is here for! As for the football (soccer) I see the UK women beat Germany! Congrats!
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You can’t imagine how painful I find these finals. I’m really not sure they’re healthy. Though it is splendid.
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Well, the fitba went much better than expected! Didn’t they do well? And we just got back from holiday at the weekend so we were spared the Glasgow lederhosen 😃
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I think it was unfair of them to inflict themselves on your fine city… it’s not known as Scotland’s temperance capital for nothing!
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You might jest, but in fact some of the first, if not the first, temperance societies in the U.K. were set up in Glasgow! It’s a topic I cover in some of my guided walks. Then I show my own temperance medal – First National Prize in the Band of Hope examination c1966. I got 100%. Followed by “but indoctrination of children doesn’t work, see you in the pub later” which usually gets a laugh.
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Good to know you broke the mould!
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I worked for a man who couldn’t get anywhere near a printer without causing it to jam. We finally had to ban him from the copy room. Maybe you have similar jo-jo! For me the most frustrating thing about printers is how fast the ink goes. Vajazzle?
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Yep, there’s a tendency to drought in certain printers. How can I explain vajazzle: it references the art of pimping your vagina… adding curlicues and sequins…
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Avacado question…yes!
Sons and heirs done all three in their thirties not going back there? Youngest will be forty January eldest 49 October middle man 47 in few days….don’t sweat 40s are even more riotous for them and busy for us!
WiFi.. @@@@####
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Marvellous… I’m so looking forward to that!
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Did you spot my mistake should of put all sons in their 40s! Send help..
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I’ll send chocolate instead…
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Oh! Thank you 💜💜😌❤️❤️
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