It's that time again....

All the best to you and yours over the holiday!

Hope you get your plasma TV, but it all depends, were you naughty or nice?

Happy holidays, stay safe.

OM

Have a very merry holiday season all.

I'm waiting for the post holiday sales. At that point the tech toy purchase might be a decent digital camera and the hardware to complete another fast PC.

My family tends to have a relatively low profile Christmas with few tech toys, despite having two teenagers and a college student in the household.

Part of that might be due to the fact that our television watching is very limited and we are not bombarded with an over abundance of 'Buy the latest and greatest' ads.

We do, however, have to avoid book stores...

...why I always put off my Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve? "I don't put it off", I told him, "that's just when I plan to do it." You see, that was the only time he could be shopping without his mother, and he was anxious to get her something.

Regardless of the things that await me under the tree, spending Christmas Eve shopping with my son made for an outstanding day, and about the best present one could want. In addition to the gifts we purchased for others, we did, of course, indulge in a few gifts for ourselves and lunch at one of those Japanese restaurants where they cook the food at the table right in front of you.

He got her a new cell phone. (Almost two months worth of his allowance.)

Merry Christmas everyone.

The wife and I do our shopping for each other after the holiday, so I'll give the goodie report after the week-end.

My brother got this HUGE remote control humvee that he used to terrorize his neighborhood today. He tells me that he ran it through his neighbor's hedges two houses away. I would have loved to see that.....

I did get a few novels that I've been waiting for for some time. I'm looking forward to the quiet time.

Here's my gift, from a friend in Wisconson.

AN AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS

Twas the night before Christmas, In Australia you know,
Way down on the beach, without any snow.

Asleep in their beach hut, were Bud and Sue,
A dreaming of Christmas, like me and like you.

Not stockings but jetskis , at the foot of their beds,
For this was Australia, What more need be said?

When all of a sudden from out the still night,
There came such a ruckus, it gave me a fright!

And I saw 'cross the sand dunes, like the shot from a gun,
A loaded up ute, Come on at a run.

The driver was shouting as he left the road
And the Heelers were sitting on top of the load

"Come on there Blue, Dfor, and Dog, hold on tight
There'll be plenty of travelin' for you-all tonight..

The driver in his bathers, and a towel that was red,
Had a bright red sun hat on the top of his head.

As he stepped from the ute, he was really a sight,
with his beard so curly and white.

As he burst in the beach hut, the children awoke,
And both so astonished, that neither one spoke.

And he filled up their jet skis with such presents galore,
That neither could think of a single thing more.

When Bud recovered the use of his jaws,
He asked in a whisper "Are you really Santa Claus?"

"Am I the real Santa? Well, what do you think?
And he smiled as he gave his mysterious wink.

Then he left in his ute, and called back in slang
g'day CHILDREN OF Aussie-MERRY CHRISTMAS cooee!

Translation:

ute. = Short for utility know in USA as pick up
Heelers = Blue heeler dogs
Blue, Dfor & Dog = common dog names
G'day = hello how are you today? keeping well I hope! I'll catch up
with you later. (saves a lot of energy talking)
Cooee = used to call out to attract the attention of some one usually used in the bush

Twas the night before Christmas, In Australia you know,
Way down on the beach, without any snow.

Asleep in their beach hut, were Bud and Sue,
A dreaming of Christmas, like me and like you.

Not stockings but jetskis , at the foot of their beds,
For this was Australia, What more need be said?

When all of a sudden from out the still night,
There came such a ruckus, it gave me a fright!

And I saw 'cross the sand dunes, like the shot from a gun,
A loaded up ute, Come on at a run.

The driver was shouting as he left the road
And the Heelers were sitting on top of the load

"Come on there Blue, Dfor, and Dog, hold on tight
There'll be plenty of travelin' for you-all tonight..

The driver in his bathers, and a towel that was red,
Had a bright red sun hat on the top of his head.

As he stepped from the ute, he was really a sight,
with his beard so curly and white.

As he burst in the beach hut, the children awoke,
And both so astonished, that neither one spoke.

And he filled up their jet skis with such presents galore,
That neither could think of a single thing more.

When Bud recovered the use of his jaws,
He asked in a whisper "Are you really Santa Claus?"

"Am I the real Santa? Well, what do you think?
And he smiled as he gave his mysterious wink.

Then he left in his ute, and called back in slang
g'day CHILDREN OF Ausie-MERRY CHRISTMAS cooee!

Translation:

ute. = Short for utility know in USA as pick up
Heelers = Blue heeler dogs
Blue, Dfor & Dog = common dog names
G'day = hello how are you today? keeping well I hope! I'll catch up
with you later. (saves a lot of energy talking)
Cooee = used to call out to attract the attention of some one usually
used in the bush

Twas the night before Christmas, In Australia you know,
Way down on the beach, without any snow.

Asleep in their beach hut, were Bud and Sue,
A dreaming of Christmas, like me and like you.

Not stockings but jetskis , at the foot of their beds,
For this was Australia, What more need be said?

When all of a sudden from out the still night,
There came such a ruckus, it gave me a fright!

And I saw 'cross the sand dunes, like the shot from a gun,
A loaded up ute, Come on at a run.

The driver was shouting as he left the road
And the Heelers were sitting on top of the load

"Come on there Blue, Dfor, and Dog, hold on tight
There'll be plenty of travelin' for you-all tonight..

The driver in his bathers, and a towel that was red,
Had a bright red sun hat on the top of his head.

As he stepped from the ute, he was really a sight,
with his beard so curly and white.

As he burst in the beach hut, the children awoke,
And both so astonished, that neither one spoke.

And he filled up their jet skis with such presents galore,
That neither could think of a single thing more.

When Bud recovered the use of his jaws,
He asked in a whisper "Are you really Santa Claus?"

"Am I the real Santa? Well, what do you think?
And he smiled as he gave his mysterious wink.

Then he left in his ute, and called back in slang
g'day CHILDREN OF Ausie-MERRY CHRISTMAS cooee!

Translation:

ute. = Short for utility know in USA as pick up
Heelers = Blue heeler dogs
Blue, Dfor & Dog = common dog names
G'day = hello how are you today? keeping well I hope! I'll catch up
with you later. (saves a lot of energy talking)
Cooee = used to call out to attract the attention of some one usually used in the bush

<>

But I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas without friends like mine.

First someone who I haven't seen in 20 years just arrived and if it had been another 20 years it would be too soon but worse was to come as a so called friend rang me at 1.00 am Christmas morning wanting a computer fully reloaded then but first all the data saved. When that was finished and all the patches applied he produced another computer wanting the same thing done {He told me they where breeding while in his car.}

So for New Years I'm disconecting the phones turning off all the mobiles and the electricity to the place so at least that way I'll bet some sleep.

I only hope you lot fared better and had a far more rewarding time.

Col

Much better, in sacrcastic reference to the original post. "Yeah, mine was MUCH better!"

I really wouldn't say BITTER (yeah I know, I'm not ALWAYS bitter though) because I have no problem helping people, even when that voice comes from deep down inside that THIS SUCKS, I still manae to stay pleasant about it.

Having a screwed up computer is frustrating for even the most capable user, I can only imagine how hard it must seem for someone with NO knowledge of resolutions, or more importantly, sites like this one.

I really get off on seeing people so happy and satisfied after they get back online or get to use their email again, it really pumps me up ya know?!

Yes it would be nice to get more PC stuff for Christmas. I think many people just feel that they wouldn't know what to get me because I have so much more computer related stuff than they do to begin with.
What computer stuff DO you buy for someone who is more computer savvy than yourself? (say that one fast three times!!)

Oh well, hope you had a great Christmas and have a Happy New Year, I'm going CAMPING !!!!

OM

Jolly good old boy isn't it?

But this guy had 4 computers in his car and just refused to tell me about them seems just as I finished one another would appear if only I had the 4 together it would have been a lot quicker.

But I really love the way people manage to screw up plug and play installs kind of makes me wonder what M$ actually meant by this or then there was one Video Card maker whos motto was Plug and Fly.

Anyway I wasn't fast enough as today some woman rang up who is a friend of the guy who bought those 4 computers around at 1.00 am Christmas night and she wants her old computer fixed as it is now telling her No signal present seems preety straight forward but I just know that on New Years Eve it won't work out that way.

Anyway Cheers in advance and have a Very Happy New Year Guys & Galls.

Col

Hopefully you all had a good time with no hassles from anyone after all by now all the Crissy presents have been setup hopefully.

I on the other hand should have disconected my phone lines a day eariler as I got in a friends computer with nothing better than the monitor was saying "No Signal Present" Seems a preety simple sought of a job so I told her to bring it up 31-12-03 and I got exactly the same message when I pluged it in and turned on the monitor, anyway covers off new PS and still the same thing bu tthis time the fans where running until I looked at the CPU which wasn't. Seems that they had run the poor thing while it kept falling over until it died. When I lifted the CPU there was a very nice deep brown mark on the stick on lable so no problem what had happened there I just grabbed another CPU slaped it in and promptly watched it fail as well so exit 1 CPU, 1 M'Board, 1 PS and she wnted it fixed then and there so I just suggested she go down to her local chain store and buy a new one as I couldn't get any of the required parts until next week. Now I have another paperweight sitting around here so hopefully this year will be better although I'm not holding my breath.

I really hate "Home" computers which are predomentantly used to play games but on the bright side I was told that the place where sher worked had just spent .5 of a Mill on new computers and all had died because of power flucitations and the person who supplied them was blaming the AC so now I've got a nice little job replacing all those new computers.

Maybe it wasn't such a bad thing at all but I'm not looking forward to going in there and jhaving to explain why I'm doing the job properly this time as the guy has lost all his data but it should prove interesting I just know he'll have no backup's as computers never do anything wrong, RIGHT?

Holidays? Surely you jest?!!!

It's my busiest time of year! Several dozen phone calls on Christmas Day..."We tried to load (whatever) and got a message saying not enough memory..." or "Have you got any graphics cards in stock...we have a new game and it won't run!"

Christmas..............BAH! HUMBUG!

Ah well, I at least have the satisfaction of knowing that my Managing Director and his son (from the 'day job') are both freezing their bollocks off in Kosovo, providing round the clock cover for the US Army outdoor ranges!! So I guess my Christmas could have been worse!

On the up-side...Guru Jr enjoyed her first Christmas. At three months old, the wrappings were more appealing than her gifts, but hey...it's the 'little things' that please people the most!

Happy New Year to all!

Guru, you've definitely been missed. I don't know if you've been watching from the sidelines or were indisposed but it's been quite the yawn.

Canadian beavers like to stay quite 'skinned', so needless to say the only beaver to keep you warm in the winter is the one in the lake. Better off with a tonne of booze and some good friends. Leave the others by the fire for when you return.

Good to hear from you again,
OM