RIP my first Macbook Pro. It's been quite a ride over the last two and a half years, but I can't be tied down to one computer. Especially when there are younger and sexier models on the market. And when your screen doesn't work.
I was having a bad day technically speaking. My radio controlled watch, which has no manual winder had failed to move forward an hour- this wasn't a disaster as my phone clock had done so and I was sure I would remember I just had to add one to the time, but I overestimated my own intelligence and later I would think I had almost two hours to get some food before the gig when in fact I had less than one. Another rushed dinner ensued.
My phone also fell out of my pocket and my newish extra battery pack got cracked and stopped working. I am not sure this is a massive disaster. I had found it a bit bulky and it seemed to run down pretty quickly too. It meant my phone made it through a whole day, but when it ran dry it started making a buzzing sound which was annoying. I will probably go back to carrying a plug around with me!
In the morning my unreliable laptop had gone blank as it had been doing quite regularly recentl but this time it didn't flicker back to life after a few minutes.
When I got to Exeter, wanting to write my blog, the computer was not playing ball. I realised it was over. I thought I would be without a computer for a week. I made a vague attempt to locate an Apple store, but the iPhone map showed three possibilities and none of them seemed to match with reality. But then I stumbled across the shop by chance and thought I would see if they could help me.
The shop was close to shutting- an hour closer than I realised in fact as I was looking at my watch, but they managed to slot me in at the tiny genius bar. The man, unsurprisingly immediately advised me to buy a new computer, which suited me as that is what I really wanted.
But I was worried about getting my stuff from the old computer to the new as it had no screen. A salesman had taken me through my options and I was on the cusp of buying, but we went back to the Genius Bar to see how I could go about transferring my stuff. A different geekier genius was there, along with my original cooler one. The geek tried to work out the problem and then said that it was possible that it was a problem with the videocard. In which case Apple would fix the problem for free. You could almost hear the other two staff trying to telepathically shouting, "Shut up! We're on the verge of a sale!" The disappointment was palpable. And I was adding to it. I wanted a new toy and was glad to have a valid excuse.
The cool (less than) Genius also had to apologise to me as he said he wasn't aware of this fact. "Yeah, chinny reck-on," I did not say, choosing instead to comment, "Oh,that's fine."
Tests showed that I was not eligible for a free repair so we all breathed a sigh of relief and the geeky guy reckoned he would be able to transfer all my data across if I paid £80 to join the one to one scheme and left both computers with him. Fortunately I am based in the West Country for most of this week so would be able to come back.
We managed to get everything sorted in the last hour of business on a Sunday afternoon in Exeter. The world has moved on.
There were a few technical issues at the gig, but it was a really fun one and I had a new lease of energy for some reason- I didn't have a drink last night. Could it be as simple as that?
Then I drove home to Cheddar, getting there at midnight, laughing at my dad as he had to move his and then my mum's car so I could get mine in the driveway. You had to be there. Someone should write a comedy drama about him.
