Hello September
Another month is with us – actually, I think it’s been with us for some time but I hadn’t noticed. Anyway – Hello September.
Pre-empting the traditional reminder/prompt/nag/threat from my agent – All Hail Hazel! – it’s September blog time and so far, it’s full of nothing happening.
I didn’t attack anyone during yesterday’s town festival despite the death wish of local political parties trying to hand me leaflets. A small fire did break out in a litter bin but I swear that was nothing to do with me.
I haven’t been anywhere or done anything, mostly because I’ve been welded to my laptop for the last fortnight. However – it’s update time. I’ve finished the Christmas St Mary’s story – Why is Nothing Ever Simple? and the manuscript’s gone off.
I’ve finished Plan for the Worst – or at least I’m at the stage where someone slightly saner needs to take a look at it – and that’s gone off, too
I’ve even finished a Frogmorton Farm Christmas story – Joy to the World – although I may have left it too late for this year’s Christmas list and it has to wait until next year. The point is that I’ve been busy and as I keep telling Hazel, I can write or I can frolic, but not both. Not simultaneously, anyway. She simply opens one eye, makes herself more comfortable on her hoard of gold, and goes back to sleep again.
Anyway, with all that done, I’ve opened my laptop, typed Time Police 2 – Hard Time – and now I’m staring at the blank screen. Actually, it’s not that blank. As I said, I’ve spent a lot of time chained to the wee beastie over the last couple of months and, like me, it’s not looking its best. The screen is smeary – that’s the polite word for it – and the keyboard part is actually quite gross. The delete key doesn’t work properly because it’s full of toast crumbs. So, a plea for help. Can anyone recommend anything – wipes or sprays or whatever – that will enable me to return my poor abused laptop to its former pristine condition? I’ve only had it two years and you wouldn’t believe how it looks. I’ve tried Pledge and that did not go well. Nor did the eye-makeup remover wipes. About the only thing left in the cupboard is Cillit Bang Limescale Remover and I’m a bit dubious about that.
Any thoughts?
First of all save and back up your documents. Then try running a vacuum cleaner with soft brush attachment over the keyboard to eliminate the toast crumbs. Pause to extract the computer keys from the vacuum cleaner and attempt to remember the correct spot for each. Next use some elbow grease and a disinfectant wipe with enthusiasm. Pause to get your breath back and have a bit of a sit down and a cuppa to recover. Discover the difference in appearance after all this is minimal and go online shopping for a new computer 😋
Just be sure you SHUT DOWN the laptop before/while you clean it. Otherwise Hazel may get (yet more) compromising material.
Spent weekend buried in White Silence and Dark Light, thanks for those and love from NYC.
I agree with the canned air. It is a real thing! When I worked in IT I was always cleaning out crumbs, seeds, and some things I couldn’t identify. Also a small paint or cosmetic brush will get rid of dust, crumbs, etc. Then a wipe off with a wet wipe and you’re good. 😀
You can buy small packets of lens cleaner wipes. Even gets the accumulated gunk off my grandchildrens tablets. Can’t wait for the next story!
You may have to take your laptop in to the repair shop and have its innards cleaned professionally. Mine is always full of cat hair and crumbs. The machine runs better afterwards.
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