Motherboard kaput!

After spending hundred over dollars repairing and restoring my &$*#@ computer back online, the darn thing failed on me again last Sunday.

Early Sunday, I went through the maintenance routine and backed up the system in Retrospect software. Later, when my son told me that the agent will email me a list of properties available, I tried to check my email. When I powered up the computer, I heard the usual whirling noises but no beep. After several attempts, I realised that the computer was dead. So I called Nuclear, who could only come on Monday.

By Monday evening, the guy finally came. Tried as he could, he could not boot up the computer. When he told me that he wanted to take my motherboard away for testing, I told him I had another motherboard. When he swapped the motherboard, the computer started. The motherboard had kaput! Finally he installed the working motherboard and tested the system ok. I am now using a smaller motherboard until something else will kaput on me.

Modern technology is not what it is until something fails on you. Recently my daughter gave me a new mobile phone. Nowadays, I inherit old mobile phones from my children or occasionally get a new one f.o.c. My children change phones like they change clothes.

My new mobile phone is one of those 'clamshell' affair. On the day I received it from my daughter, the maid was hovering around and seeing me trying to read the instructions and setting it up, she offered to help me. With a few deft moves and clicks, she proudly showed me that the phone was ready for use. Sheepishly I took back my phone, intimidated by the loud mouth maid, I managed to open the phone and lo and behold, the darn thing lit up ready for use.

Sometime later, I suddenly heard some music of a lady singing an oldie French song 'C'est Si Bon', an old favourite of mine. I was enjoying listening to it as it had a nice beat to it while at the same time, I was trying to find out where the music was coming from. I then realised that someone was calling my mobile phone!

Yes, I know anyone reading this will be having a good laugh. I am more conversant with my computer than with my mobile phone. Until today, I still cannot sms. When I try to sms, either the message will go missing somewhere or it will send by itself with all the gibberish which I myself cannot understand, sometimes even with the four letter word, inadvertently pressed, of course! I use bluetooth. So when the phone rings (or sings, now), I put on the ear piece first before I open the phone. I also found out that by opening the phone, the bluetooth is turned on automatically. I found this out one day, when I made some expletive remark, while fumbling with the phone and ear piece. The caller heard this much to my embarrassment. So anyone calling my mobile, must have some patience while I fumble with my ear piece and phone. OK? Or if I say something not complimentary, it is directed at the darn phone, not the caller.

The rain lately has made me bongkers. Luckily in between fair weather, I was able to do my Christmas shopping and run a few errands. Otherwise it was not conducive to go out especially with public transport. Christmas is just days away and I look forward to the family gathering.

Till then....