K is for Kingston Lacy

Just for once I am going to be early with my ABC posting ;-)

Kingston Lacy is a country mansion owned by the National Trust and is set in attractive formal gardens and parkland.

The house is in Dorset and from the 17th to late 20th century it was home to the Bankes family who had previously lived in the nearby Corfe Castle until it's destruction in the English Civil War.

For more detailed information you can check out the Wiki entry.

For more ABC pictures check out Mr Linky.

A quick update for those of you who are following my computer problems. I managed to figure out how to get into the front of my PC today. I have to admit it was really easy and I feel a bit dumb for not remembering...

Everything looks fine and the fan is not clogged up. After consultation the verdict is the PSU may have packed up. So I need to test that, if that is not the problem it will have to be taken to a local PC Doctor :-/

The Project Manager Strikes Again!

Once again I have been given some last minute tasks. I was informed via a third party that I must email and phone several people regarding a Wednesday lunch time meeting that is being organised by my trade union action group. I was also instructed to include specific words and phrases which were very un-me so I ignored that bit. If I am to send out the email, I will write in my own way.

I drafted the email and sent it out to the group members. I promptly received around 30 message failures, the outgoing mail server at work was not working! Normally this wouldn't be a problem, I could do it very quickly from home later but you might recall my computer hassles over the last week... The distribution list is on my computer which still refuses to talk to me and I can't email the list home!

I had my lap top at work so using my mobile connection I was able to do it that way, but it meant typing in all those email addresses manually. I can see what you are thinking now. Why didn't I copy a draft email onto a disc/USB stick with the addresses already added? All external drives are disabled and I am still on windows NT with no USB support! And at such a late hour in the day netmail is so very slow... It took me an hour and a half to send a very simple email. I also had to be very creative with the file attachment I was supposed to be sending.

Now with glass of wine in hand it is time to relax...

Love them or Hate them!

I am sure we all agree how useful computers and the internet are when they are working and that when they are not working properly they are very frustrating!

When I was away last weekend I needed access to my emails because I was on the look out for something particular. I was staying in the one house in the street that was a mobile dead spot, so no access that way. Not to worry - I was offered the use of my hosts computer which suddenly developed a mind of it's own and refused to access the internet wirelessly and the computer was too far away from the router to be wired. The password had long since been forgotten, so I couldn't try my lap top that way. Eventually my laptop was wired up to the router and three of us were playing musical chairs trying to access our emails etc...

Then when I arrived back home there I was sitting at my computer minding my own business when suddenly a loud scary noise emanates from the direction of my computer. It sounded a bit like a rattle snake or hissing spider and I half expected something unpleasant to emerge from under the desk! It happened a couple of times and then all was quiet and back to normal until my computer suddenly turned itself off and refused to start up again...

I best not go into the troubles I had getting internet access at home (and helping some friends with their access) yesterday, which ended up with me eventually having to connect using my mobile internet option!!!

Perhaps Mutley was right and 'Big Brother' is monitoring me...

My PC's internal workings (or should that be not workings?).

PhotoHunt - View

A view from the ramparts at Walmer Castle.

The National Trust guidebook has the following to say about the castle:

Walmer castle was built in 1539 as one of a chain of coastal artillery forts constructed by Henry VIII against the threat of invasion by Spain. From 1708, it became the official residence of the Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports, an office held by many famous people, including the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill and the late Queen Mother. The castle was adapted over the years by successive Lords Warden, to make it into a more comfortable home, and the grounds were developed into attractive gardens, which are still changing today.

For more PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.

Big Brother...

...is watching!!!

Not a lot more to be said really, this was taken by a friend in London last weekend.

Kick Ass Blogger

Liz has paid me a compliment by presenting me with this blog award. She has presented it to blogfriends who have attitude, in my case because of my Trade Union activities.

Thank you Liz :-)

All you other bloggers with attitude, please feel free to claim the award too!

J is for Jefferson Gardens

I am having to make this post from my laptop which is a bit fiddly. My computer broke today after making some rather alarming noises. I just hope it is easily fixed :-/

Anyway for my ABC post I bring you Jefferson gardens, they are such a lovely place to sit and chill. Maybe sharing a BBQ and a glass or two of wine, I hope you enjoy the view as much as I do :-)

For more ABC pictures check out Mr Linky.