[Richard]

Hopefully the device will have the means to manage the voltage difference between the 3 volts of the device and the allegedly 5 volts of the charger. Chargers do usually run a little above the battery voltage inn order to push something into the battery and rely on the device to manage the results. However, there are a couple of possible issues. Some modern chargers can put out up to 24 volts as some down stream devices can need that much, this is supposed to sorted out by a dialogue between the devices and the lead that connects them. If you really want to get confused read up the various stages/grades/levels of the USB specification through the years. Putting 24 volts into a 3 volt device would be a highly undesirable situation. Generally having a charger able to supply more current than the device needs should be fine, as the device should take only what it can an manage the issue. Having a charger pump out far too much voltage will likely fry the device. Older batteries were subject to different rules— charge a 12 volt or even a 6 volt car battery with no controls using a 24 volt charger stand back on second thoughts, best not to try!

[Richard]

I could only get four pages of Morrisons and the selection was for Amazon Pantry tomorrow, plus some weird outfits for kids, no two hour offers here.

[Richard]

Thank you Tippon, yes she has had serious problems with the small cannulas in the past, in fact ‘shy veins’ would barely start to address the issue. Her last experience was with an anaesthetist who she felt was more at home using a pneumatic pick to dig holes in the road. At the conclusion of that procedure, (nothing to do with oncology) she had her anaphylaxis episode so a whole load of negative surrounds that experience. She was booked for Thursday, but it has now been put back to Tuesday with the first infusion on Wednesday.

So far this week has seen 6 appointments/hospital visits between the family and already there are four on just two days next week. Fitting life round that lot is a challenge. Still having decided that now is a good time to stop the evening wine and nibbles my weight, though not my blood pressure has improved so weight loss appeared to be back on its rusty bike.  So at this rate I may make up the lost ground and even break into new territory closer to my target. Going out with the dogs four times a day should help, it is a bit chilly this morning at less than 8 degrees so a cool start beckons.

[Richard]

I shall not show this thread to my wife, whose planned PICC line appointment has just been delayed until Tuesday for quite reasonable, yet still unfortunately timed reasons. I spent a while at the hospital pharmacy getting (a) the third degree and (b) the first lot of the ‘preparation’ tablets. Item (a) caused a few concerns, does she have any allergies, yes severe with anaphylaxis causing hospitalisation as the result, but the cause is not known, tests have been/are still awaited since November… Thank god for the parking pass, it took about an hour so total parking time was well over an hour.

I am off to another hospital this afternoon for a blood test, the waits there are normally better.

[Richard]

The Duke wrote:

If your C and D are on the same drive, why bother. It just confuses some apps etc, with no real benefit. Though I’d be happy to be told differently.

I tend to agree, the best partition is another drive. The best back up is another physical point, external drive, server, cloud or whatever. I do try to make regular images of the main OS drive, it is so much faster to restore in the event of a need. It is a great way to upgrade to a faster, bigger or just a functioning drive.

My server did come with a C: D: split but I never bothered with the D; portion and only ever treat it s a scratch pad area. The drive is very small anyway and the data drives are very much bigger so that is where anything useful is stored.

[Richard]

John, Bob, I am sure that was a helpful insight for Bob, whose programme sound quite ‘hard core’ though I guess every cancer and every chemo programme needs tailoring. My wife will probably have 8 sessions, 4 at two week intervals and three more at 3 week intervals with loads of tests and appointments between each one. She was advised by every one to go the PICC line route rather than the cannula in the hand method which can have more difficulties. I wondered which method you two encountered or had planned for the infusions?

After chemo, and assuming it progresses as hoped the operation will then follow. So called radio therapy may then still be needed in her case.

[Richard]

Estonia has not been without some set backs as I recall. A number of their E documents had to be withdrawn and replaced in the last (query) 24 months. From what I remember there was little or no fuss, unlike what would have happened here when some mob or another would have screamed blue murder. I wonder how well the less adaptable elements of their society cope and are helped with the technology and I am not just considering the older portion of the population.

Still even I used a hospital car park wave and wait sorry pay parking machine at the hospital last week. Apart from being hugely slower than cash it avoided a problem of no coins. All problems now solved by a parking pass for the next 6 months. That was the first time I used a contactless card.

[Richard]

I hope that your visit to the oncologist went well and that they are as keen and attentive as the one my wife sees. My wife with have her PICC line fitted tomorrow and I have been deputed to prise the drug supplies covered by a prescription out of the hospital pharmacy while that is done. I will also try to get a blood tested sort out for myself, another job bundle that I picked up this afternoon, I need to renew my repeat dispensing shipping order.

I wonder when you will start the chemo? In the meantime getting as fit as you can should do no harm. I understand that you might find you appetite changes again once treatment starts with smaller meals more often. I think there are one or two with previous chemo experience and it might be nice to hear their input.

Huskys can look very fierce and off putting, but when well adjusted they do love company of both humans and dogs. This one has the dodgy habit of trying to stand up on two legs to say hello. She looks big, but inside a huge furball there is only a smallish dog on  stilts. She is a fussy eater, only having what she wants when it is  wanted. While a Labrador almost inhales food she checks every item in her bowl before selecting the next item to eat. She does daunt a few in the family, but I get along with her and can do anything sensible or needed with her. This includes taking biscuits away when she wants to guard them and gets stress by the guard job.

[Richard]

Bob, what you said was true, but they were not well developed. There were some really daft design flaws, a pneumatic throttle for one. The engine was interesting, but from what I recall the production of both the engine and cars themselves had issues. Linwood being one of them, Rootes were undercapitalised for what hit them. They were forced to build their new factory in a depressed area and production costs alone became a serious issue as cars travelled hundreds of miles before they were finally ever thrown together The Imp itself was underdeveloped, and the build quality and reliability problems, coupled with buyer apathy towards the design were reflected in poor sales. After a reasonably successful start in 1963–65, the Imp did not sell well. Lost production caused by frequent strike action at Linwood and escalating warranty claims left Rootes no money to develop other models. It was a sad end to the company, it model range and yes the Imp which might have fared better without so many odds stacked against its progress.

[Richard]

A couple of nice images for the family album there. It is good when a dealer goes the extra distance to make you feel valued and clearly they did in your case. Keeping repeat customers is part of the game and I am sure that your loyalty will be valued. Glad that you are enjoying the car, a new car will always invite comparisons with any previous vehicle, but on balance you appear to be pleased. Any car that you can enter and exit has to be better than one that you need steps or a crane to enter or exit.

Do you feel better for the weight loss? I assume it was at least partially enforced by circumstances, two stone made a difference to me, though a few pounds ha climbed back more recently. I am trying to prune them back, but it is an uphill battle. Taking my daughter’s dogs out is part of my plan, though the combination of a dull day and an extended hike appears to have left them more interested in their baskets than anything else. Yesterday I made the error of giving them a very early hike before I left for the hospital for my nose job, today the Husky was on my case as soon as I was dressed. She left no doubts about what I was expected to do – I must brush her again today. She could moult for Britain given the chance.

[Richard]

Ed, My issue is that I suffer wild variations day to day and at different time of the day. For example today I rose early after a poor night’s sleep. washed dressed and walked dogs twice, one dog each time had breakfast and was drinking a cup of tea when I tried to slip in a BP check. Result, the best result I have seen in over a month. Systolic varies by 30 points while diastolic varies by over 40 points from day to day. Those are daily best points, peeks are far worse. I never really went all Japanese so the miso did not feature too highly, but the use of more natural grains and vegetables did stick. While Japanese cereals were very varied with their ingredients, mainly base plus vegetables of many types they missed out most if not all of the sugar. The UK supermarket have a hundred and one boxes of sugar with little difference between them.

Mornings are clearly best, systolic has already increased by 25 points and diastolic by 27 points since breakfast, though I have had an operation in between the two readings.

[Richard]

Bob, that looks like a good success so well done. Event do take a lot of planning and hard work what with insurance and all sorts of other issues.

[Richard]

Thank you Bob for that suggestion. I had the PALs link open on my PC all morning ready and waiting. I had spent the weekend polishing my tanks ready for parking on someone’s lawn, but sometimes things can get resolved without a shot being fired.

First one of the senior players in the GP team rang me, was very helpful about a different matter affecting me, less than well controlled blood pressure. She reviewed notes and was most supportive. I felt the need to apologise for taking her time, though I also had to offer her thanks and appreciation for a profoundly supportive conclusion.

The second helpful development was when SWMBO saw the oncologist. Poor chap had been impersonating the blue arse fly getting answers and agreements from all the recalcitrant departments. Today the paperwork has been setup, the PICC line goes in on Thursday and chemo can start on the following Wednesday. We used the parking permit for the first time today, though it took nearly thirty minutes to find a space anywhere. It is going to get a right work out over the next months with all of the pending appointments.

Now it is down to hope and doing what can be done.

[Richard]

Dave, I guess the stand up buffet does take the strain out of seating plans, no seats ergo no seating plans. Family dos are often all about managing egos and preventing rows. Happily our elder daughter’s do went off with none of the family at war stuff, I don’t think there were any difficult situations to try to avoid. Our younger daughter delayed the start of her melt down until the major part of the performance was done and dusted. Then I was assured of a seat for a while taking her home, making sure she could relax before I headed back to the event. Just in time to stop some hooded thief making off with any remaining food of the evening. My cousins 1st, 2nd or whatever are now just footnote names in the margins of history. If they have children the same can be said of them, but in invisible ink.

[Richard]

Dave, I do not know about you but the reception sounds one to miss. A ‘modern’ stand up running do with ‘bowls’ of canopies or what sounds like snack food. Add in a ‘modern’ sponge thing, as the wedding cake we thank goodness our invites got lost in the post! As I said above, I hope the family will enjoy the do, but I wonder how the senior royal couple will survive all that standing plus finger food. It is very much not for me and no I won’t be watching it either though I am not sure what I will be doing.

[Richard]

Yes I have had a time a bit like that. We replaced some blinds and decided a short while before the job that the curtains had to go. Cue plastering and painting. I did the same job in the office with the same scrabble.

Then the shower in the main bathroom was (a) covered in lime scale and (b) needed other work to adjust the doors, it is all done now, at last. I am now off to bed, oh and the safe key would not work, I ordered some replacements at some really silly money, that done the key works perfectly… I HATE mechanical technology..

[Richard]

I thought about the points made by RSB and Bob, but there was another point that came to mind. My father missed the marriage of my daughter – he died. However he did manage not to miss the birth, well the arrival of his great granddaughter and that gave him great joy even though his mind was failing and he died very shortly after.

Well with the even about the 19th there was one thought, (well a few other as well) Phil might well be there to enjoy the idea of things going on as will Lizzie II. It brought home to me that such things will not be my lot. I shall be long gone before my GD and GS will reach a situation like that as will my wife – if the NHS does not get thing sorted out she might not see GD’s  8th birthday…

So the event of the 19th is not so one dimensional after all, it is about family and above all hopefully about life itself. It is not my life, it may not be your life either, but it is the life of a family and we should all recognise that as a real, valid value to those involved and remember it when our time comes. The pomp may not be the same, but the family impact may still be great.

Oh dear it is late and perhaps I am too  emotional, I hope I made sense, typos are inevitable.

[Richard]

I cannot say it touches me or affects any part of my very restricted circle. As for newspaper and other media coverage they try to serve out what they think will appeal to their demographic. While they might try to broaden their base by sticking a variety of other items in, they will normally major on one or two that they feel are prime. It is the same the world over. As for the event, I regard it as something for them and their circle, which will include a very large number who run supporting rolls of many kinds of work. I guess they will not be too put out at getting the work and for some the publicity. However I do not expect to be in the wedding dress market ever again and certainly not in that circle either. Happily neither I nor SWMBO were invited so the date is free, good luck to the couple, they will almost certainly need some.

As to having seen any of it? No I have not, see above. I also managed to avoid seeing yet another predictable Eurovision event, though sadly I did hear bits of it from another room. There is much else in which I have ‘negative interest’; snooker, football and most sporting ‘events’. I understand that there is yet another of those coming up which will drown the schedules and delight many others. Good luck to those who are interested, I will not be there to blight your enjoyment, I just hope there is something, anything else to help pass my time.

[Richard]

No Steve I don’t think you have gone that far off piste. I guess that I use the PC, and so does the family in much the same way we used 95 and onwards. I get hazy over old memories, but I think that was the first of the easy networking, easy internet versions, though for a long time I worked my way through the various types of DOS, some with the early versions of Windows sat on top of them. While all active machines now run 10 and can see and be seen by other devices the networking has become less predictable once more. Every machine sees the network a different way so going from one to another can be a real pain.

The wondrous new stuff brought out with each down grade generally gets canned as soon as it is found getting in the way, happily it does appear slightly easier to can some of the new dross. To date I have found it pretty stable which is a plus point.

[Richard]

Ed, yes they are the ‘casual’ reception and generally give a good ‘old fashioned’ level of service, after all they are from that earlier age. The paid administration staff can vary from good through to unmentionable, with results that can fall well below the level marked unmentionable. Mind you in some cases the tools they are given are often some way down on the poor side. See my earlier comment about unprotected servers and data networks causing huge down time losses.

[Author]

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