MP3 Player

For Christmas 2011 Fester gave me a Sony Walkman mp3 player so that I could listen to all of the Kermode & Mayo film programme, and other podcasts.  It has helped me through snore ridden nights, hospital stays, long train journeys and household chores.  I only listen to BBC Sounds podcasts and can confirm the Corporation does adhere to the Rethian principals of “inform, educate, entertain” – provided one downloads selectively.

From Facebook Archives 

18 August 2024 at 17.02

My old faithful much used and loved Sony Walkman mp3 player has finally given up the ghost.

A little later   

Just tried it again and, stap me (as mother used to say), it's working.

Before it wouldn't switch on, there was no little tune when I plugged it into the usb port, computer didn't think it was there.

Now plug it in, little tune, the computer can see what's on it and it's charging up.

I don't honestly know what I'd do or how I'd keep sane without it.

Sony appears not to do them anymore because "everybody does everything on their phone."

But a phone is too big.

This is the size of a fat memory stick (ok it is a glorified memory stick) and clips onto the front of my nightie/dungarees/shirt pocket - and I can even clip a little speaker with it so I don't have to wear headphones all the time. I may look a little odd with a penguin clipped to my chest that broadcasts BBC Radio 4/5/Worldservice/podcasts, but it works for me.

Mr Paddington  Just an idea but ebay can be an alternative source for 'obsolete' tech.

Bentonbag  I was forced to look on Amazon for a replacement and there was nothing as elegant and simple and small. Very depressing.

It's done this before mind ... 

Maybe it was huffed I left it on the windowsill in the sun and something got too hot...

Bazoukiboy  There was a similar Bluetooth enabled one available from Argos.

*** 

We are going down to the land of my father for the holiday we should have had in April, so there will be a hiatus until the end of the month. 

 

We've Been Digitised

We have a cordless phone with handsets in the living room, “office” and “penthouse”.

This means we can contact Thunderthighs without bellowing up the stairs, and it’s easy to get to the phone before the answering machine clicks in.

Last week, when I rang them, both my sisters complained that when they’d tried to call my landline the phone had just rung out, nobody replied and the answering machine didn’t answer either.

I phoned my landline from my mobile and they were correct.

Making calls was fine so I phoned Virgin and, after grumpily jumping through the various hoops required to prove I am the person who owns and has authority for the landline and account I’m calling about, an engineer’s appointment was made.

Simon arrived promptly, checked the phone and explained

“You’re on a copper wire, the junction boxes aren’t being maintained as well as they used to be because the government has decreed that everybody goes digital.  Once upon a time we’d have found your outgoing copper wire in the box and swapped it to another port, but we don’t do that now because we’re transporting everyone to digital.   

We’re going to have to route your phone through your wi-fi router.”

“But that’s upstairs in the office.”

“We could move it down here.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to move the base station for the phones up into the office.”

“It certainly would be if that’s ok with you.”

“The only difference is we’d have to go upstairs to see if there are any messages on the answering machine, but that’s no problem.” 

Also I frequently don't notice the answering machine light flashing for ages anyway. 

Up to the office we went where he produced a little gizmo and did it all.

 

He explained  “We’re transferring people by area, I’m mainly doing Hebburn at the moment.  They’re sending people the plug-in links and instructions in the post but an awful lot of people need help with them, or just don’t bother.”

Everything worked.

“You’ll find your outgoing calls are crisper too” he said.

For some months I’ve been blaming Bigsister’s phone for cutting off so one word in six went unheard.

When I phoned her yesterday to say the landline was back on every word was as clear as a bell.

Bodhran

This meme on the Princess of Northumbria’s facebook page reminded me of something that happened many many years ago.

Before Thunderthighs was born we used to take Ferretfingers to the Kingsmen’s practice in the Cumberland Arms on a Wednesday evening; which was the night the Irish session took place. After practice we would have a drink and a chat in the other room before going home.

One evening, soon after he’d started to toddle, Ferretfingers got away.  He slipped through all the legs to, under and behind the bar, then under the bar below the hatch into the session.

I dashed through the door, hallway and other door just in time to see him grab hold of a bodhran leaning on an empty chair; its owner was stood at the hatch waiting to be served.

I managed to get hold of him before he knocked it over or did any damage. 

As I picked him up an old white haired fiddler whispered confidentially in my ear “Don’t let him touch de bodrhan.”

“Oh” I said “is Harvey very precious about his bodhran?”

“No” then with feeling “ but dere’s too many bluddy bodrhan players as it is!”

 

 

Bureaucracy Pyjama Security

From Facebook Archives

12 August 2010

We’ve received the form saying Ferretfingers is entitled to concessionary travel in Tyne & Wear

Now I have to fill in the application form for Nexus with passport photo, proof of address and send it off with that form and an sae! 

Not sure why they need another proof of address when it's on the form from North Tyneside Social Services but who are we to question the ways of beauraucracy.

Or even the spelling!

12 August 2013 at 09.51

Another pair of Thunderthighs's pyjama bottoms have bitten the dust.

We now have half a dozen old fashioned men's pyjama tops looking for a good home or use - cotton or polycotton xxl mostly blue. Any takers/ideas?

Darklady  Can't you get some of those 'lounge' pants to go with the tops?  Or is it essential that everything matches?  Or pass them on to lasses who don't wear pj bottoms.

Bentonbag  For Thunderthighs I suspect things must match - also the lounge pants are knitted jersey and these are woven smooth so they look/feel very different (Ferretfingers wears the lounge pant sort).  If you know of any lasses who'd have them they're welcome.

My sister, a retired nurse, says they are useful for bed-ridden elderly gentlemen - but I don't know any of those either

He slept naked but for underpants last night - the bold boy!

Darklady  There's plenty of elderly gents at St Oswalds & the like who might be very happy to have them specially if they're so soft. x

Bentonbag  Yipee Sainsbury's come up trumps with suitable coloured lounge pants in woven cotton £12.50 for two pairs, but that's better than buying two new pairs of pyjamas.

Darklady  Marvelous! I knew you'd find the answer! 😁 XXXX

12 August 2013 at 11.29

There's a strip at the top of my Fb page asking for my 'phone number 'to help secure your account and more"!  

And more being what I wonder - cold calls perhaps?   

They can go and fornicate elsewhere.

Mr Minor  Not on mine.  They know cats can't use phones.  Some were shocked when I started using the iPad.

McChurch  For such purposes one needs a mythical identity.  Address (preferably in Gaelic or Welsh) post code that nearly matches and telephone number with an STD code that nearly matches.  What larks!

Bentonbag  Ooo I am tempted, I know plenty of Welsh place names - and do have a redundant 'phone number (unless BT have reassigned it to someone else)

Thinking about it I could translate this address into Welsh:

Trideg Allt-y-Plas, Tyfasytref, Castell Newydd Aber Tyne, Tirgogleddyhumber.