New computer, new computer, new computer!

Of course it didn't go that smoothly, installing a new computer never does. But just minor ruffles -- the new box doesn't power the monitor and I discovered my monitor's power cord had an American plug on it; and my printer didn't come with a USB cord. I whizzed in to the shop and got a USB hub while I was at it, and some CD-ROM disks. Finally got it all humming and celebrated by taking Bertie to Blackness for a run.

Blackness Castle

USB totally rules! How wonderful to plug in a printer and have a message pop up saying, hmm, I see you have an HP DeskJet, let me see what I can do...

The scanner arrived today and it's fab too, so tiny and thin and delicate. Again, installing with USB was a breeze.

Updates on the website will be a while yet though, because I'm too busy for that. Today was a bit mental -- I started out having no spare time at all and ended up with heaps. It started last night when sister Faye phoned to say she'd be arriving today. Yikes! So this morning I phoned the garage and said I'd bring the car in tomorrow instead of this morning. Then Faye phoned to say she'd missed her train due to nightmare delays on the Tube. Phoned the garage to change my mind again, but it was too late -- they'd already taken on another job. Then my boss phoned to say I didn't need to come in early after all!

So I had plenty of time to clean the clarty house fairly thoroughly, walk the dog, go to the supermarket, walk the dog and vote. And clean the house again, because it rained during our second walk and Bertie spackled the floor with muddy pawprints.

I went to the new Tesco that opened this week. I felt guilty about taking the car -- it's only a longish walk away -- but I had to get in supplies so Faye will have something to eat while I'm at work. Anyway it was all shiny and new -- but otherwise almost exactly the same as the 24-hr Tesco in town. And horribly crowded, full of people dithering around blocking the aisles with their trollies.

I've been told about a wonderful event that might change my shopping habits: a farmers' market on the first and third Saturday of the month, in the middle of Edinburgh. Martin and Heather who invited me to dinner last week had just been there and come back with some fantastic veg, cheese and other produce. I'm going to check it out next week.

I'm off to join the throng at the office TV watching the election results.