Sony TC-270 Lives

As part of my ongoing program of trying to distract myself from writing today I got my old reel to reel tape deck out to see if it still works. It does. I had to take the drive to pieces to lubricate some of the parts that move the idler wheels in and out of connection with the capstan flywheel, and there was a rather distracting moment when I undid something and a little spring pinged past my ear into the air. But I managed to get it going and re-live some of my musical tastes from the early 1980’s.

Fully dressed

I love the way that the fact it uses “silicon transistors” is a thing worth sticking on the front. Although it does indeed use them. There are around fifteen or so inside I think… .

Murder Mystery Complete

Is he the guilty one? Have fun finding out.

We did our Murder Mystery thing tonight. It was great fun. The script was suitably silly, there was plenty of scope for wild over the top acting (the only kind I can do) and there was tons of intrigue.

We also raised a few quid for a really good cause. If you want to have a ton of socially isolated fun I can strongly recommend it. You can sign up here.

Magic Clay Skills

Made this little chap today out of Magic Clay. Very proud of myself.

Clever Person vs Clever Idiot

Clever Person:

Switches to bulbs that should last for ever.

Clever Idiot:

Switches to bulbs that should last for ever. And buys a spare set.

Murder in the name of charity

Ages ago I used to enjoy murder mystery parties. Of course you can’t do this kind of thing any more because someone might end up properly dead. But MacMillan Cancer Support have had a neat idea. They’ve packaged up a murder mystery and invited people to hold a sponsored virtual event. We’re holding ours next week. Looks like fun.

Tidy Mindfulness

I was getting complaints about the huge pile of disorganised magazines that seems to have appeared beside the bed. Apparently they are a mess. So I’ve taken action. Behold. The magazines are now organised by title and in chronological order. Win.

Expensive family trip

We actually managed to go out today and visit family members. Very strange. Everything is still there, but most of it is shut. It was rather like driving round the latest version of Forza Horizons which includes some places I’ve actually been to. In the game you can see shops, offices and buildings that you can’t go into. Just like today.

Anyhoo, we had a socially distanced gathering which was so much fun that I forgot to sell my turnips in Animal Crossing. They go rotten tomorrow. Oh well. Totally worth it.

Online banking in actually quite good shock

Today I had some banking duties to perform. I had to change the contact details for an account. I was a bit worried about doing it. These kinds of escapades usually involve a trip to the bank, standing in a queue and then waving around lots of bits of paper. This was an especially unattractive proposition in the current situation, particularly as the local branch is presently shut.

Anyhoo, after a bit of fun and games with a little keypad thingy that I’d been sent a while back I managed to get it all sorted via my phone. I love it when things just work.

Brave Rob

Not sure if I should feel brave about actually going out and posting a parcel. But I do.

New Technology Paper Review

In the olden days I used to get up specially early, drive up town and review the papers with Radio Humberside. Nowadays I get up at the usual time, stagger over to my computer, put on my headphones and connect to them. I’ve just done that. The station has upgraded their on-line act so that we can now converse over Skype rather than the phone and it sounds rather like I’m in the studio.

Anyhoo, it was great fun and thanks for inviting me.

Distant Gazebo Building

Yesterday we drove to Leeds and built a gazebo. As you do.

Time to mow

Got an actual guest coming to see us today.

So I’ve mowed the lawns.

Way to celebrate

Is it right to celebrate the completion of an article by mowing the lawns? Asking for a friend.

Getting your car serviced in the midst of a pandemic

I’m not sure why I was so keen to have the car serviced and tested. It’s not as if I’m going to be needing it much. Just put it down to my mildly compulsive nature. Anyhoo, we took the car down to the garage this morning. We got there nice and early because there was hardly any rush hour traffic. The dealer was very prepared with one way signs on the floor, Perspex dividers on the counters and plenty of hand gel.

The whole thing passed off very smoothly and I now have a shiny car that should be good for a couple more years. Now I just need somewhere to go and permission to go there.

The Living Computers Museum has closed

I’d planned a trip to the Living Computers Museum as part of my attendance at the MVP Summit earlier this year. I’ve been there a few times and loved it. But, thanks to a nasty little bug I couldn’t get there. And I’ve just found out that the museum itself has closed. Which is a terrible shame.

In the great scheme of things, and considering all the other awful events of the last few months, the loss of a computer museum might not be seen as a biggie, but it is a fantastic place that keeps history properly alive. If we don’t watch out, we’ll be surrounded by technology but no idea of where it came from. The museum does a great job of telling this story and I hope that something can be done to keep it going.

Sunday Quiz Questions

We’ve started having a silly Sunday quiz every week. On Sunday. These are my questions for this week. Which of these is not:

1. A Teletubby: Dispy, Tipsy, Laa-Laa, Tinky Winky

2. A Knitting instruction: knit, purl, waft, right twist

3. A unit of distance: furlong, light year, hectare, angstrom

4. A baking term: dust, drizzle, glaze, unfold

5. A Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream flavour: Moo-phoria, Chubby Hubby, Raspberry rampage, Netflix and Chill’d

6. A blend of coffee: Jamaican Blue Mountain, Equal Exchange Women Farmer Roast, Taylor’s of York Java Blend, Percol Black and Beyond Espresso

Answers eventually.

The Button Hole Man

Number one wife is busy sewing “scrubs”. I have no sewing skills at all, but I am quite good with gadgets. So it turns out that I’m the one who can understand how to use the button hole attachment on the sewing machine. I’m quite proud of the above.

Getting forgetful

Why is it that when you forget an idea that you have had, the only thing you can remember about it was how great it was.

New Business Idea

I’m thinking of starting a business making blurry furniture. I reckon it would be really useful to put behind yourself when you are doing a video call.

Apple Watch Fitness Ninja

At the moment my life is driven by small victories.

If you have an Apple watch you’ll know all about the “Stand goal” and how you have to stand every hour to get it. Well, I’m rather proud of the way that today I managed to do my stand goal at the last possible moment.