FastFreddy2

Although I don't need further distractions, I have been asked to "sort out" a friends computer that has decided to stop running YouTube videos without excess buffering. (More on that later.**) I have found out during the course of my research into speeding up his computer (which is Part III of the 'solution') I found his AMD processor has never worked as well as it should from Day 1. (Well documented error with the processor.) When he first bought his system, I was a bit jealous because it had a 4 core processor, and what was then (to me) a substantial hard disk. I now know that since the processor is handicapped, and it's a comparatively slow AMD processor, I have been lucky to escape working on an 'upgrade' for as long as I have... Of course Part I and II of the initial recovery programme was to clear off anything that I could (redundant software) and do a complete malware/virus scan. The back end of this, did not produce a satisfactory result. There is still plenty there I consider superfluous, but he wants what he wants so some of it has to stay. ** I am struggling with trying to explain how one day the PC does what it's supposed to, the next - no good. He isn't accepting the 'one last straw' concept. In his mind, it was working, what has changed to stop it? He wants me to point at the cause, which of course I can't. 5+ years of accumulated detritus in his (creaking) operating system has taken it's toll. The fact he's not had me re-install the operating system for so long, (it used to be a 3-6 monthly event) is something I consider a success even if he doesn't. Anyone any ideas on how to explain it? What isn't helping, is the operating system is Vista, and nothing (Chrome, M/S, etc) supports it, and some programs won't run unless the latest versions are installed. I used one of my spare hard disks and loaded up WIn 7 Pro (a firm favourite in Maison Freddy) and You Tube works fine. Though it's a clean install .... But for AVG, and Chrome. By way of getting some value out of the clean install, I thought to upgrade the processor and memory. Win 7 would enjoy more than 3Gb currently installed and a faster processor wouldn't hurt. But the motherboard doesn't like better processors, and a newer board takes different memory.... At this point, I' was asked if a new computer is in order (or completely different platform. (Apple.) Searching for motherboard upgrades (and with it processors and memory) has kept me very busy on Ebay during the past week. My watch list is now full of used AMD boards (some with processors) some used Intel boards, and some 'recycled' PC's that qualify as better machines. Today, as is usually the case when I price up shoes, I got distracted and missed a suitable board/processor/memory combo that would have been a perfect fit... The combo would have cost the princely sum of £20 delivered. I just couldn't keep myself focused for the last 90 minutes of the listing. Of course I "assume" I would have bid enough to secure the item. The research (me revising stuff I had forgotten - and delving into AMD processors which is completely unfamiliar ground) has had me discovering a number of things. There are processors out there, completely under valued and under appreciated for their performance. Some discontinued motherboards continue to attract as much money used, as they did when new. My own board, discontinued some years ago, gets more money now, than I paid for it... Shame the same thing can't be said of the processor.... Now worth about a third of what I paid for it, and mine with all of about 10 hours use. As an aside.... About 5 years ago, maybe 4, I built a PC to end all PC's - for me at least. I've always bought products when on the wane, to make use of discounts. I bought my first quad core processor, and 8Gb of 'quick' ram. Not liking the performance, I added an SSD drive, and used a couple of SATA III drives RAID'd for data storage. Two years later, I added another 8Gb of ram. It's quick. If I added a half-decent video card, I could play pretty good games on it ... Despite that, it has had about 10 hours use. Although I have what was promised to be a 'silent' aftermarket CPU fan, it isn't. I really should do something about that .... And get some use out of my little baby. So at the moment I'm in a bit of a quandary. Do I 'upgrade' with used bits, uprating his current 'box', or push toward a completely new mini tower with either a PC platform or Apple? A new PC at around £350, the Apple equivalent at nearly £700. (He can afford either.) Perhaps I should sell him my super-duper box? So many choices. Finding suitable equipment on Ebay has been more entertaining than watching TV though. Discovering new stuff about hardware certainly had me excited..... Can't wait until I can afford a motherboard that will take an NVMe bootable drive, and have the money to own a suitable drive too. Has reading this sent anyone to sleep?

I hadn't noticed anything past the leggings really. 'Black wet painted look' is good for me. I'd prefer them longer, but the 'wet paint' look works very well.

Works for me ...... From >> here << No need to look, this is it. A Z-list member of a "reality show" that is nothing to do with any reality I understand.

Absolutely. He looked fine to me. The heels weren't that high and they had a platform. As he was dancing in them, I'd expect bent knees? His enthusiasm was very pleasing to see.

I have no idea what your relationship is. If they had rung you (or you rung them) to confirm your safe arrival back home, that wouldn't have been a 'call out of the blue'. I appreciate there was never a need to make a special call, but during most calls I have there is some 'banter', which often involves some ribbing over something or other. While I have a fairly small group of people I contact regularly, I wouldn't have to wait long for 'ribbing' if they thought I was wearing a heel.

Sunday Brunch is a morning magazine programme, that centres around food preparation, with invited guests. Some guests are promoting records/albums, tours (comedians typically) and others more intellectual stuff. Yesterday, they had a feature about the upcoming (or current) exhibition at Greenwich regarding the failed R.N expedition in 1845 to find a North West passage through the Arctic circle. We will almost certainly be going to see it sometime this summer. The programme does come with the occasional surprise. The presenters wearing skirts was one of them. Simon, the chef who couldn't get the boots on in the video, quite liked wearing a skirt. As a gag, he wore one a second time while cooking with a guest. The show is live, and is quite pleasant viewing on a leisurely Sunday morning. >> Episodes << This is NOT serious television, it's harmless entertainment tame enough for children and mixed company. Women tend to enjoy it, so popular in the Freddy household.

No Lidl for miles.... but there is an Aldi in more reasonable driving distance. "Better" for me would be one that passes either the 'nose blowing' test, or the more dangerous 'finger-puncture' test in it's usual mode of use. (I know, "too much detail".) The ASDA stuff I bought to try recently, was a complete disaster. I couldn't use it to blow my nose without having to wash my hand afterwards, and I won't go any further with the second test. Suffice to say, it isn't a purchase I will be repeating.

Well, one of them was.

The Only Way Is Essex. One of the earliest (if not the earliest) twenty-something "reality show", based on a bunch of fairly unattractive individuals living in/around Brentwood in Essex. Being broadcast from a commercial station (so well paid), together with the promotional work being a cast member provides, most of the cast will be moving toward being millionaires by the time the show meets it's sell-by-date. Or rather, when the producers realise it has reached its sell-by-date. "Dialogue" is the same you will hear if eavesdropping a group of 12 year olds. There is no 'plot'. I watched to see girls strutting around in 'bandage dresses and heels. It became a bit of a pantomime, with "geezers" getting gobby between factions, and women being cheated on by their boyfriends. Made for poor quality viewing by the end of the series I watched. (Might have been second or third season.) Most of the cast drive Mercs or very quick sports cars. Its a bit galling, but I'm too old to care for long though much simpler to stop watching. I am missing nothing. I like Chloe (pictured) or did right up until I found she was a smoker, which I find quite unattractive. That said, she's sincere, with a back-story that keeps her grounded. I'm happy for her to have her new life.

I had in mind, you might ask?

Sometimes a day will surprise you. It's not often a Sunday though. Not sure this will work ..... https://en-gb.facebook.com/SundayBrunchC4/videos/1384055861678960/ Worth a try .....

"Jury is out" with this one. The look is good, but the wearer has (in)famously had 'a lot of work done', though I quite liked her personality I saw during the one and only series of TOWIE I've ever watched. More >> here <<

Anyone you met in Scotland.

Is there no-one in the group who would tell you?

Please define "better". The "cheaper" I can work out without help.

Sounds a bit ominous ..... And a bit sad really. You'd (optimistically it would seem) like to assume those helping in basically a 'hobby' environment, would do what they could when the could to help those with a similar interest. Maybe not.

To the best of my knowledge, Page 3 is no more, and hasn't been for some time. I haven't bought a newspaper for perhaps 30 years, so I don't know for certain, but I am pretty sure I read an online article that said it was stopping? As to using paper ..... I think the Japanese have the right answer. A warm water "wash" followed by an equally warm blown stream of (drying) air. Last time I looked, something like £3-£5k's worth of toilet furniture. I'll stick to the Andrex at that price.

Bringing things back on track ..... This is declared as PVC, but I suspect might be latex ..... The less tasteful (or even less tasteful) view of the rear ..... Do not look if you are likely to be offended ... http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/07/03/421A241E00000578-4673478-image-m-45_1499394592138.jpg Full article >> here <<

"Adolescence" in a nutshell. This was such a funny character it produced a full length feature film, which I first saw at the movies. All so pertinent still. I really get the 'making up for lost time' notion. When people are asked about their previous life, the standard answer is "they'd do it all again". Not me, I'd do it all differently. At 20/21 I'd have dug into something that was going to make me wealthy while I had the energy to do it. (Instead of being rudderless, and fairly bohemian in my outlook.) I'd get myself financially secure, THEN prance around like a dandy, trying to make enough media heat to become a 'luvvie' due to the interest in my dandy-ism. A bit like Grayson Perry, but a tad more exotic. Boy George, or Marilyn without the drugs. Of course all three have/had underlying artistic ability - I'd think of something. I used to draw well enough to be accused of tracing, and I can take a fairly good portrait, so hard work and enthusiasm would have at least made it look like I had skill. When you hear about 'misbegotten-youth', think of me. Working 6 months of every year, living off savings for the other half. Womanising as a full-time occupation ... Nightclubs 5 out of 7 nights .... Bohemian, oh yes.

How could the query mean anything else without further qualifiers? Does anyone who sees you wearing them, think it's a bit odd that your "usual" office attire includes PVC trousers? Because, it is odd, isn't it? I don't mean "odd" as in unsavoury either. I mean eccentric, which many people would say is the very essence of Britishness: 'eccentric behaviour'. A trait which personally, I love about being British. Most of us who can think for ourselves, are often "away with the fairies". (And just for clarity, that would be the bottom-of-the-garden variety of fairy.) Almost bohemian, but without the poverty or artistic struggle.

Took me a minute to work out what that meant ..... I was somewhat mis-directed because using paper is surely a Western thing?

I would see that as her attempting to get you into (keep you in) something along the lines of street wear, as opposed to something fetishy that would be inappropriate anywhere other than a bedroom/nightclub. (Accompanied or otherwise.) At least in public with her good self, which I'd say a reasonable benchmark, one that a lot of men into wearing heels would be very happy with. Obviously I can't be sure, but it seems like Mrs Russ is more self-assured, than (say) Mrs Freddy, with her challenge in supporting you. There is ample evidence she is willing to be seen as your partner in public, and amongst family, when you wear a heel. You are very fortunate with having her support. I'm sure you reciprocate every chance you get. Sorry to hear about your loss. Hopefully a long life lived well. If you are travelling as far as Scotland, it suggests someone loved by many and will be missed. I would suggest caution with footwear at what will certainly be quite a sombre event for some. You will not want anyone to think you are being disrespectful. I made what was to me on reflection, a fairly innocent mistake about 18 months ago. Had I been aware of my faux pas, I would have without doubt, immediately made a grovelling apology. Something I was unaware of, was then turned into something it wasn't, (everyone says there was an over-reaction) and it's caused a family rift that can't/won't be reversed. I'm sure there could be nothing of this magnitude made of you in a heeled shoe, but the outcome of me eating an ice-lolly should not have had the ending it did have either. Meaning, people can be completely unpredictable/highly sensitive in stressful/unhappy circumstances. Just a reminder to 'take extra care', in these circumstances. Good luck with your journey.

What is 'the plan' for when you wear them out?

Probably, incandescent. There is no way these events haven't been mentioned, but as is the British way, discreetly and behind closed doors. If you S-i-L noticed, that would have been reported back as soon as you were out of earshot. As I mentioned before, genii/pandora has sprung their respective holding places. I've mentioned -many times- I get a fair amount of support from Mrs Freddy over my high heel wearing. She would draw the line at me wearing anything other than a manly looking cowboy boot (plausible deniability) in front of her family. I'm interested in how Mrs Russ deals with your heel wearing, and wonder further, if you could share a little? No details (names/places). I'm primarily interested in if you are "allowed" or "encouraged" or "reluctantly tolerated"? Almost every other person I've met/had contact with who isn't single, has to keep their interest largely, a 'guilty' secret from their S.O.

I've not seen you walk any other way .....