Alt.Mustardland

I'll catch up when I can - The "Remote" Pootermender has been working on this m/c today. ... (Bank Plastic Card is now crying) I Have Medical matters to deal with this week... But I'll be back...

My mother told me about her mother being taken to the family farm on the site that is now Longbridge, home of Austin. then i bought petrol from a garage on the A38 at Northfield which was called after the family.

Yes I thought that Harry James Fox was your generation, but his name was on the 1939 register so I thought he must be departed. they blank out many names of people who have died but who could still be alive, but it's not an exact science. Limo hire is still a prestige business.

I'll be off in a few minutes to go to the library, and collect Cassie's ashes. My Tyre place is quite happy to check and rectify my tyre pressures. And I have a huge duvet to get washed and dried. Even my 9Kg washing machine can't take it.

Lots of things coming to mind. ButI really needs to sort paperwork before delving.

Firstly (nothing to do with my ancestors) -. At one time I worked as an Employee in Local Gov. There was an old (i.e., old shop and long-established - I don't know of the age of the proprieter) That I had to visit - with the parks manager??? - The Street planting included a tree that had been deluded of leaves in 24 hours, by an alien/foreign caterpillar was threatening the country. However, setting that aside, The shop advertised as "Cordwainer"... and indeed some footwear - Male or female, new or repaired hanging visibly through the window... Who knows.

The Surname Downing matches what I found (via a group - possibly "third age" that met in a meeting room attached to the County Record Office, but did occasional meetings in the odd public librarty). Including Basildon (now closed in temp Covid lockdown)

Edith's claim to fame seems to be that she went to school (Laindon School, now closed and demolished) with the Daughter of Laindon Station Master (a man of important status: Mr Simms). I was often told that the daughter was a "Film Star" - I'll let you decide if "Carry on" Films was actual proper acting! ... or even a "Star"... I believe the bit about "same school" but the ages didn't fit to my way of thinking, then.

The Third Sister was Flora (or perhaps officially "Florence). She was a Child adopter (Dr Barnado's Successors - I believe the nearest was Barkingside - not far from Ilford's Cordwainer). But it seems to me that by that time she would be in Her Father/My Grandad's tiny house. At one of My visits (194?) I was sent out when Grandad was having some difficulty breathing - Probably one of the Coal/'Lung problem that Killed Him. I won't go into the Gory details, but the Problem in My mind was How a Single Woman Could be an adopter - My Mum was also an adopter. She (Flora) Later married a Widower at His (Her new Husband's) House also in Laindon. - another "aside"... When The A127 Southend Arterial Road was Widened to a Dual Carriageway (1928/30 in stages) and thus His Bungalow was the only two house Left when the road had taken the land - The other House was a veritable Mansion but I never saw that before it was demolished when Basildon was merely a King-size Construction site (1960's). Yup I know of that Family but won't go into it now.

I didn't mean to go on this much but I will conclude that when I was looking into History... Mum's two Brothers were in the Motor Industry, Pre War. They had Hire Cars (NOT Self drive, but involved Weddings and Funerals, but it was only at Harry's Funeral that I found He also ran a Charabanc (at least one).
The Nice Lady in Laindon Library knew of Fox's Garage in Laindon (beside the A127, before its Widening - The remaining area is still a Petrol Station). The Original was known as .... Harry Foxes Garage, and the Tea rooms attached were Flora and Edith.... The Library Lady had a picture pinned in the Library, a postcard photo of the Garge advertising Tours by Harry Fox. That was the reason I had been consulting the afore-mentioned Ancestry group in Basildon Library. I was trying to find if there was a Link

The 1930's Birthday that you found was for the Son of Harry Fox: - Harry James Fox aka, My Cousin.

Gotta go - Need sleeps ... Well, Moggy is staring at me in a "Why aren't you feeding me" mode.

The sisters were called Winifred, (never married), Ada Your Mum? and Edith, whose married names were added later. That's why the 1939 lists used for ID cards are so useful. It could have been an earlier Fox who did the walk and his son later followed him into the Coking trade. I think the older brothers and the parents were in Laindon by 1939. Benjamin Fox married Elizabeth Downing. You must have been born on your mother's birthday.

The bootmaker was a cordwainer. Someone making shoes out of new leather. There were relatives of mine in that trade too, but distantly related by marriage. The Bootmaker was a Benjamin Fox who lived and died in Dewsbury born 1865. Your grandfather was born in 1873. They used exact birthdates in 1939. Elizabeth Downing was born in 1874. There were two more sisters for your mother. Martha 1905 Flora 1908 and a boy Harry James 1930.

I'm putting off going out because there's been a fire in one village and long tailbacks of traffic.

I must remember to buy another light bulb for my bedroom. I only changed it after Christmas.

Three sisters .... ?? Mum had three sisters (Winifred, Who, like my Mum, lived in The Daubeney Road address in 1939, as Did Mum who was still single in 1939) Her Two other Sisters Lived with Their Dad (my Grandad) in Kimberley Road, Laindon. (for the record: There was another Sister who had died as a child in (about) 1900, so certainly not there in 1939!!!
I obviously have to do some more sifting of details.

Re the walk to London: Obviously I have no direct information, but the story goes that The Locals (London) thought that Having come from a Coal-mining area, the Gas, Light, and Coke Company took him naturally to work in converting (i.e., Coak into Coke and Gas?).

Re Vandals at St Nicholas: The hedge/trees/greensward was on the Hill South of the Church... At Some time, travellers tried to put their caravans (Which would have been steep for parking caravans), Thus, a trench now exists betwixt the road and the greensward, but I know of no vandalism other than that, nor do I know the date.

(interruption for phonecall from Nursey).

Much thanks for what you have found - another thought (GEE, two thoughts in one day) In my earliest Memories of Daubeney Road was that by that my appearance, another Family were Living in the First floor of that house (presumably because two brothers were Married, two sisters, and Grandad & Granmum were by then in Laindon) I have always assumed that it was a case of a war displacement, but it could have been as far back as pre 1939.

Nope: No cordwainers: (weren't they from the days of Sail Shipbuilding Yards?)

I've come up with a bit of a family tree, but your Maternal Grandfather seems to have lived a life under the horizon. The tale of his having walked to London from Yorkshire could conceivably have been a story relating to another generation. Often the good family stories attach themselves to one person. The burial records seem to stop in 1950 so index searches don't pick him up. Were there any cordwainers in your family? There was a bootmaker called Benjamin Fox, but he may have lived and died in Dewsbury. There were 3 sisters Fox living at the address you mentioned in 1939, One unmarried and two with both married and maiden names. The 1921 census is not released until next year,(swiz) which may tell us more. The local paper told a story of vandals having caused damage in St Nicholas' Churchyard last year, I think.

I've been wrestling with the exigencies of BT circulation lists and adding contacts. One draft with lots of BCC recipients refused to recognise my email address as principal target. The Magazine while circulating to the distributor didn't get to the printer for some reason so is delayed for a couple more days.

We are getting mixed rain and sun today. April come early, while March has been alternately raging like a lion and a lamb. The garden is beginning to run riot, which it usually does in spring. The Anemone Blanda and the rockery size tulips are flourishing, but the bigger dark ones are still only in bud.

I do have my Birth Cert: Lockington Hall, Castle Donnington. - The building still exists, and is now a business office Donnington was a RAF station (The House was near its perimeter) that was used for damaged aircraft, returning from Germany, but were too damaged to risk ruining a good runway at their own base??. ** (see note) Donnington (or Donnington Park) racetrack (cars and latterly Motor bikes, not Hosses) is also nearby, but I believe it is now a Racing Museum.

Two things: I have some details of my Mothers Parents (and have some that My (late) cousin collected from a different source - but not necessarily the same - I feel mine are more likely than Whatever my cousin got from workmate who found details overnight.
secondly... I don't have all my details in one place... I am Knee deep in paperwork here and put stuff "somewhere safe" untill I can get stuff into rellevant collections. Before I got "Drummed out" of Facebook, there was a group within the group that were the Babes of Castle Donnington, and a short lived addition by a Local Librarian to the County... Oh yes, Don't rely on the "Derby" name... For obvious reason I wasn't there to check(?) but actual names were removed to foil the enemy as the D-Day Lorries, Fuel Tankers anf Military tanks were alongside the road (I think it is/was The A6) on loaded lorries.
One of the stories in Facebook, was that at sometime (before it became a maternity unit for Londoners) it was itself a Military Hospital for the Canadian RAF - possibly connected with the RAF Station. ******

OK.[b] Mum's Birthday[/b].
22nd Jan, 1913. By that time I'm fairly certain that My Grandad and wife were had moved to 162, Daubeney Road, Clapton (Hackney) London E5. It looks like those Houses and Road were built and/or completed in 1909****

[b]Mothers Dad[/b]
I would have to find records, but I think His Birthdate was 1865, possibly later. - He walked to London to find work when He was 16 (give or take). His Yorkshire home was a District called Maningham, in a suburb of Bradford. His name was Benjimen Fox, BUT I have seen his forname spelt differently (when I did some research with an Essex Library group who tells me that there are normally two cencus-taker mistakes on every Census form page (Benjamine, Benjimin, Benjemin). In London He married a "Lady's maid" in an address near "Bricklayers Arms" An estate obviouly named a after a pub? used by all the Utilities workers - especially The Railway Company who's Loco making and Maintenace that (I THINK? were prporieters of the estate.) He worked for the Gas, Light, and Coke Company".
Going Off piste: My Dad was a Lorry driver, and I have a Pre 1939 Road Map of London showed that road. After the War it is no longer showed ... My Guess is that Proximity to The Railway Works could have made it a Target.

His two eldest offspring (the only two that were brothers) they moved him out of The East London address to a Cottage (No house numbers, just names) Kimberley Road, Laindon, Essex. From approx 1929/30, as his work had been feeding the Cocking Ovens: thus the He soon got the ailments common to miners - Not helped by the Gas companies Steam trains (A couple of dozen on the High level from the Collier ships, and a couple of dozen more on the Lower deck to quench and store the Coke.
Another aside: I have read of the Great work of those steam Loco's but because of the fog (that they were contributing to) necessitate the early use of colour light signals, instead of signal arms... BUT.... to avoid giving misdirections to the approaching Shipping, they had Blue Lights instead of Green Lights at the Bend of The Thames. (Beckton).********
His ailing Health had taken off that work, but He becane a foreman on external work.

[b]Mothers Mum[/b]...
Her Name was Elizabeth, but She died in 1931. I remember doing some investigation - but I'm afraid that my Mind necessitates me finding my notes/records. I DO remember that although Laindon was in The Brentwood area, administratively, and The Doc was in a House called "Hiawatha" in Laindon, the Hospital recorded was within the Bailiwick of Grays. (NON-NHS was Complicated then). But both were buried in Saint Nicholas Church, Laindon. (aka, "The Church on The Hill")


** In recent past (ten or twenty years) The Airfield was named as a different name to fit a Village at the far end of the runway: where the M1 now stands when an airliner crashed on the Motorway, But the site is actually East Midland Airfield.

**** With Watercress beds, from his Garden wall down to the Lee. And Sheep grazing (that His Spaniel would round up) until it became allotments in the war, and was still allotments there when I was around.

****** The Facebook entries included a man who had moved to New Zeeland. He got a planned visit to see the house (apparantly is was common at that time to get a conducted visit) He had photo's including the Sweeping staircase up to the Former Maternity ward.. and it must have been a Grand Place at some time in the past, but whoever restored it, did a good job.

******** Beckton Gas Works was rebuilt several times, but was eventually blown up in a Film - as a Vietnam Town in a Yankee war (or anti-war) film called "Full Metal Jacket" by some important producer

Sorry this is so "piecemeal", It was just as it came into my rusty brain. Ask me what I've missed out?

Email me with a few details of surnames. Did you say you were born in a Derbyshire military hospital? I know your date of birth, but not your middle name if any. From which I could find a birth registration and mother's maiden name. Or tell me that, and her father's burial should be clear. But only the burial service. The parish would be specified, but there may be a local book held by the sexton showing where graves actually are. Sometimes they have to clear some of the graves to make room for new burials, but I don't think they are up to post war yet. Cue the B side of Peter Sellers "Goodness Gracious Me" entitled "They're removing grandpa's grave to build a sewer". Quite funny if it isn't your grandpa.

I really will come over your side of the country when we are able to travel. Visiting Wat Tyler will be a treat, and maybe eventually on into Norfolk and the Wash to see the fens. I want to see Sutton Hoo, and Grimes Graves.

Afraid I know very Little of my Father's Dad (He was Killed before My dad was born). I know He was Born in Ireland, and Had lived in London (Holborn/parish of St Pancras) and .... No it is all a bit vague.
I did try a bit of exploring, but The Military need all the things that I need answers for, before they will tell anything - although it was after WW 1 (or The Great War as they called it before there was a WW2) before they tightened up access to details. I Suspect that He was in the London Irish Regiment...

As a kid (three or four years old) I did meet Mum's Dad, who lived in his House near here, in his later days (His two eldest Sons Bought Him a House in the Country, out of the London Smog that had devilled his Lungs - from the coal-gas works, and Buried at "The Church on the Hill" in 1950. I was wondering if his Grave is still findable.
as an "aside" .. it seems that when this "new Town" was designed, some of the Old Mansion Houses in this area Accidentally(?) caught fire and were Destroyed. One such House was the perimeter of the Church Graveyard. I have been to a few meetings of the Local History group, but it came to an end since Corvid. I have been directed to The tape-recording Ladies at Wat Tyler on the Day for the Laindon group, but again: closed since Corvid (Wat Tyler is a Park at the other end of Laindon end of this town).
and as a Further "aside" .... Laindon (before the A127 road took its current prominence) was half way betwixt Langdon (i.e LongDune - but name-changed to Langdon Hills when it became a PoW camp) and Wickford, and in those days (from WW 2) Retirement meant that one just got enough to invest in some sort of income. Thus He kept Rabbits (During Meat Rationing) in his garden shed, to sell in Wickford Market, So I made an entry to their Historic Group to see if any interest could be sparked .... Again Covid got in the way.

Regarding your granddad's death, if his body was recovered, it may be found at Thiepval, either in a marked grave or his name engraved on a cenotaph for those killed but not recovered. The attendants seem to know exactly where to find everyone named. If you have his name and date of birth as well as the regiment he served in, I could try and look him up on Find my Past. Neither of my grandfathers served in the 'altercation'. One was 5'6" and had a weak chest, and the other copped a Blighty one in the Mafeking relief force. He was busy raising warhorses and growing food 1914-18. His cousin fought for the duration. NCOs had a better chance than officers. His brother in law, Harry Jones was in the regular army as a PT instructor. At the Medicine and War Exhibition at the Courtauld Institute in about 2009 I saw that they didn't reduce the height and weight requirement to 5'7" until 1917.

I read a very good Robert Goddard novel "In Pale Battalions" a few weeks ago, but I think the best was still "All Quiet on the Western Front"

Not done my census form yet - been unwell all day, and from the lastn few days: Not even opened recent mail that might be sitting on my doormat.The only thing I noted today was that it would have been My Mum's today (in 1913). It also brings to mind that one year in seven, it coincided Mothering Sunday.

You are the sort of Person Who might know this: Is there a published record/map of My Grandad's Grave (My mothers father, My Dad's father died in some sort of altercation in Belgium in 1915).

The car I drove back from the exchanged Ford was still intact. I had to take it to a Interior Coach firm in Ilford, for them to plan where to fit the extra Electrics, taking Photo's Notes, and sketches, then on to the Battery makers in Westcliffe, and then to the MoT conversion outfit. They were known as Invicar, and formerly one of two or three makers of those little three-wheeler one-person Invalid car. At that time they also had to do the Maintenance and slightly different MOT docket as registered for the modified design, throughout the car's life.

A friend of mine was struggling in putting in all her qualifications. She could only show her first degree but not her Masters. She had one in Maths and one in Theology. I did my Census return on Saturday night, just before midnight. There seemed to be a lot of questions about "absent friends", and not enough about place of birth. I had no doubts about my gender, but was glad that people could be specific. If you want to keep a copy of your record if you do it online, you have to do it before you submit your entry, (screenshot is best) because nobody will be able to see it for 100 years. the 1921 one should be going public soon. The 1911 one was quite enlightening.

I'll have to do more practice, but I'm thinking of pirating some cello pieces. Saint Saens' piece for The Swan is nice, even if I'm not that good. The Viola is strung an exact octave above the cello. I've been looking at online lessons and now have a long list of techniques to master.

That adaptation for a disabled driver must have been interesting to drive. My 2 door Skoda had lovely big doors, but tricky in car parks. In a space for Blue badge drivers it would have been fine. Bill actually bought his Skoda Favorit because he saw he could easily find space for his mother's wheelchair. He had been intended to buy it for me but got it for himself because of the extra space, and a better one came along for me in a lovely shade of blue.

Yup, I feel as though My Battery is also flat.?????

Chrome is on here, but very little used. I also have "Explorer"; I have No idea why, but I just lurked to see what is there. ... Requests to "update" (which is fair enough, as I never used it), and lots of "news" in the form of Megan and "The Palace" which I'm not inclined to investigate. In trying these sundry Old USB plug-ins, I have also found an old Letter-writing format called "Lotus" now defunct but was much more useful than Whatever I'm connected to now?

Good to see that you have your Car Battery sorted. My ancient car(s) seem to have enormous batteries by modern standard, but I have doubts if they are still serviceable (I have not driven since my "stroke", but I am thinking of taking a test drive with a nearby instructor). Why do ancient tasks keep coming back to me.... In the dark days (1980's) there was little work around (lack of work happened within a year of my shiny new Mortgage?) so I did some extra work for a Taxi-firm. The same outfit was based at a Garage/car dealer. So I was asked to drive a Ford (Cortina, perhaps?) to take a New car to exchange with a dealer in Brighton - for one of the same colour, Two-door (instead of four doors), The Cheapest standard of Upholstery BUT, the Biggest Alternator and Batteries (normally Export models), and Automatic transmission??? It was ordered by a Disabled (very) buyer who needed it to a) for the Wider doors of a two-door version to get from wheelchair to driving seat, b) Have a more comfortable seat for his disabilities, c) The driving controls changed (Hand-operated accelerator), d)The seat moved to allow parking for his folded wheelchair between the driver's seat and the door, and a crane mounted on the roof to lift him in and out: The coachbuilder that I delivered it to, wanted extra batteries in the boot to drive it all (and some extinguishers in the extra cabling? A ministry requirement)... Why am I still thinking about this ancient History?

Sorry that you missed using your new Viola. Hope you can get usage of it soon.

I have a pain in my Left Leg - a pain caused by cat claws - I'd better feed him... Then do my Census docket?

Mostly I see. Thank you for your kind thoughts. It seems that four dogs in the parish have died within a short time of each other, all old and very much ailing. I had a very nice card from the vet sympathising, and while I normally don't like company Christmas cards etc this one was very tasteful and kind so it made quite a difference. You so nearly had another Alsatian, but I expect it was a nice day out anyway.

Firefox is a browser, and I used it a lot, but I wasn't able to register properly with their site. It doesn't matter how many times I try to rergister, they never recognise my password. I tried Microsoft Edge but they get very grumpy if I try to use Google as a search engine instead of Bing with lots of adverts, so I moved swiftly on to Google Chrome, which suits me better.

I had done all the proofs for the magazine, but could only deliver one within walking distance because my battery died soI couldn't deliver the other two. Just as I had done the amendments from one proofreader, the RAC arrived and after checking thoroughly my battery, alternator, voltage regulator and starter motor, he replaced my battery with a cheerful smile saying that the old one, new a few years ago was still just in guarantee, so I wouldn't have to pay anything. He only looked about 18, but he had done 4 years qualification and a couple of years at a garage. I felt guilty but I was curious about the kind of qualifications the RAC look for. He didn't look offended. I expect he gets it a lot.

I was a bit miffed because the orchestra were playing this morning at church and nobody had invited me to play. They said when I rang last night that the numbers were limited because of Covid, but when it came to it I didn't feel like going, sitting there and applauding with my nose out of joint. There may be a good reason, but I'm really disappointed. I have a new viola, but apart from practising, it hasn't had an outing. I'll get over it.

Me again .. I did write, then it failed to post, then I got waylaid trying to resuscitate my ancient computer, and then I couldn't remember what I had lost.

Condolences again. I remember when Mum's Alsatian died. The Vet arrived too late. The Breeder got to hear and came around to get all the details, then looked into all his ancestors. The only "suspect" (several generations back) was found to have had no other ailments in his/her successors - My Mum refused a "replacement from the (then) new crop of Pups. We did visit the Farm ... All her dogs came out to "warn Her" that strangers were about, but they became quite friendly after the Breeder met us. One dog (well, a bitch called Heidi) was especially friendly (but only after she had splashed around in the Horse Trough to make us wet?) - but she got a bit cautious when I neared a particular Barn - Her Pups were pushing their noses through the vents - The Breeder's policy was to give the New Mother Dogs a few hours away from the Pups when she (The bitch) had seen the pups safely enclosed, and the Farmworkers had gone.

What else did I mention in my original post? Yes, Window 7. I still use it, but it no longer gives updates (but Mozilla FIREFOX, which I use, still does). I'm trying to recover some "lost" data before/if I should find that Window 10 to be beneficial. I hadn't realized that I had a number of Plug-in USB** when the Hard drive got itself overloaded. I also have an Extra unused Hard drive and an External box (I think I may have got this to extend a previous computer, but never used it so bought the current one - from a disabled persons/child Hobby group that rebuilt computers - The Guarantee carried the County emblems). I also have the two x Hard discs that the bloke I gave it away to insisted that I should keep the Hard drives for security, that He then sat here and removed them. I am trying to merge this lot together. It looks like I need to buy a disc burner (I have just installed a new second disc drive) to collect this sundry collection before I dabble with copying all that is lost into .... something or other.
What I have discovered that when new, this computer was a) expensive, and that b) my particular model was at the "lower end of the range" and simply has stray internal plugs and brackets that were unused But does have two Hard drives).
** USB of 16 or 32 GB - I bought a couple of new ones of 256 GB Recently,
No, I generally don't use PayPal. I did use it once, but saw no benefit from it, but it is exceedingly difficult to disconnect it. The Bank Lady (an English Bank with a Dublin Security office????) had stopped the transfer, and Offered (and I accepted) a new card number, if I went to my Local branch. Incidentally, The Local Branch could make my monies available through my second account at another Bank. (Two accounts? Yes, a relic from my working days when Card machines had "failures" and I had a second account to pay for digs/petrol/food when working away if one bank card was not working - especially when the Job could not have one's own money in one's pocket: e.g., near cash registers, wages offices, banks??? One would get very cold and Hungry)

The Harp: Well, I was on a bus passing the end of the pedestrianized "High Street" (if the bus still used that road, the double-deckers would have made a hell of a mess under the Low Railway Bridge), so from that distance It could have been a different woman in the same site, but I don't think so: I wonder if someone could have taken a van to/from there before/after shopping hours.

Oh dear,I have tried to put too much into this post - Let's see if I can post it properly this time?

M......

I just replied to this and (I thought) I'd posted it.
I'll find my marbles and try again after a good nights sleep

Cassieopeia had been very poorly, and was losing control big time. When she stopped eating half her food, I knew the time had come. So she just went to sleep. I had been preparing myself for some time, but it's still a wrench. As the poem goes "Never give a dog your heart to tear".

I think Windows 7 was the best. If you google "Windows 7 updates" there may be a routine you can use to stop constant updates. Windows 8 used to get stuck like that but I think Microsoft is in the process of withdrawing support for Windows 7. Maybe your local computer shop could put a new hard drive with more capacity on it. A new computer would be a better bet because they have much bigger hard drives. I will do the photo processing later, but have lots of other tasks to do first.

I wouldn't use Paypal. It was subject to dodgy attacks in the past, and while I had an account with them It only ever had a pound or two in it and my main bank changed my sort code a few years ago so they can't draw on my current account any more. I hope you didn't let the woman who phoned you with the nice accent get control of your account. Make sure always that you rang them, always on a different phone from the one they phoned you. Put your own bank's phone no on your own phone then ask for fraud dept once you are connected. I have a cunning plan. There is a barely viable account with another bank that I would theoretically transfer all my dealings to, but in fact, having decided to switch accounts to an ethical bank, I'm working through the various procedures to get it done before the beginning of April.

Your street harpist story amazed me. She'd be struggling if it came on to rain. I couldn't lift a harp, let alone carry it on a bus. Are you sure it was the same person? Maybe she's an angel, or just on her way to a party?

Oh Hell? I'm sorry to read the loss of your Beloved Dog. I know how bad it is to lose a pet.

On a lesser matter: No. I use Windows 7. Yes, I know it is obsolete, but I have so much "stuff" that I don't want to lose, so I want to recover whatever I can before I replace it. - I may need to buy external Hard drives. However, there seems to be some sort of "attack". This only became apparent when a Security device was .... err, attacked/deleted (McAfee). I tried a different brand ... which immediately tried to snaffle monies from a long-ago payment (Was it called "PayPal?" - whatever it is, one cannot erase it). Fortunately, A very Nice Lady with an Irish accent from my bank (thinks: why should an English bank do their Security from The Irish Republic?), phoned for me to "approve" it or she would disable the transaction; She also changed my card number For which I had to present myself in person to my branch. Thus there is something to get eradicated from the computer. In these days of Shops and/or computer menders closed for business, I'm having difficulty as such simple things of getting Metric screws (Halford have only imperial screws) to fit extra disc drive into computer... I started but .... My truculent computer has now gone into "Update status" as I keep finding USB flash drives (found SIX? so far) before I can move-on. [i]It has been Upgrading for six hours so far???????[/i] You seem to have your photo's excluded - So are mine.

Change of Subject: I was on an omnibus - shopping to B&Q, and Wilco etc., I saw a lady playing music in the street. As you are a Violinist, you might find it odd/interesting that She has transferred to Fiddle playing to ..... a Harp?. Must be a damn heavy instrument to carry on a bus?

Once again, I'm sorry for the loss of Carrie.

I think the lamp was trying to tell me something. Antibiotics that taste horrible are no good for a dog on her last legs. I took her to the vet on Friday afternoon and we sent her to sleep. I did the weekly shop and came home on my own.

Ever since, the lamp has worked perfectly.

Are you using Windows 10? Not that it matters. Whichever works for you but it's useful to have a cloud or a collection of flash drives for your important data. I have one with 16GB capacity. I'm a bit annoyed with the processes that give access to Photographs. They'll let me look at them one at a time, but cropping and improving contrast, forget it! Windows 7 was brilliant for that.

Hi...
Well, It is definately warm tonight.

Been doing a bit of "Computer update" - Might have to get some done by "on line" repairman. For obvious reasons He cannot do "Hands on" work - (and quite an expensive Taxi fare?). It updates itself from time to time, but omits some stuff if it is "too full"- which it has been several times over the years, and I need some of it now..

Does your "touch lamp" also has a time switch either in the lamp, or in the plug, that you don't know of. I have got one night switch that on/off varies in the times of darkness ... Don't laugh, but it is a VERY low lightness level. If one's BIG Ginger cat (who rules this house) has a coat that matches the carpet, there could be a nasty accident; I have put the lamp under a sideboard, in front of which He frequently adopts a [i]Relaxation[/i] posture (aka Dozing) in a room with underfloor heating. Cats can teach us a lot about Relaxation.....