My PC misbehaved again this morning and it was obvious that something needed to be done. But what? To cover all the bases, I disconnected the PC and put it in a bag together with the power cable.

Tigger also has a problem to solve which is to move large numbers of photos from her PC to a backup device, the type and size of which remains to be decided.

Aboard the 73

Clutching the PC in its bag, we hopped on a number 73 bus that took us to Tottenham Court Road.

Curry’s

The bus brought us here to one of the stores in the chain now known as Curry’s, previously as PC World.

First, I went to the repairs section where I presented the faulty laptop. I suggested that one solution might be to simply convert it from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. That could certainly be done, according to the technician, but he wanted me to buy a new hard disc from Amazon and bring it to him with the PC. Then he would set it all up.

That would certainly be the cheapest solution but I wondered how long it would last before it failed again owing to some new fault. While thinking it over, we went to look at new Windows laptops.

To cut a long story short, we ended up buying a new laptop. It’s currently running Windows 10 but I was told that we would eventually be offered a free upgrade to Windows 11.

Caffè Nero

If you’ve bought a PC lately you will know that choosing the make and model is just the beginning. It then needs to be set it up, anti-virus installed etc. There were very few chairs available for customer and we had to stand for much of the time. I agreed that Tigger should go across the street to Caffè Nero and wait for me there.

At last it was all done and I left Curry’s carrying a box containing the new PC. I dodged through the traffic of Tottenham Court Road to join Tigger in Caffè Nero.

Another 73 bus

There is a bus stop right in front of Caffè Nero and here we caught another 73 bus, going in the opposite direction this time.

We stopped at home to drop off the two computers and then we caught a number 19 bus along Upper Street.

Islington Town Hall

We left the bus at Islington Town Hall.

Workers’ Cafe

We had come here to have lunch at the Workers’ Cafe, assuming they were open. Happily they were.

Inside the Workers’ Cafe

We had a leisurely lunch though I was thinking about all the work that remains to be done before the new computer is set up as I want it. Windows 10 is sufficiently different from Windows 8.1 that I have to do work to find out how to perform simple tasks I could without a second thought in Windows 8.1. I will become accustomed to it, of course, but for now there is a learning curve to negotiate.

The poor old Windows 8.1 PC has found temporary lodging under the bed. How long it will remain there in retirement is anyone’s guess.

It’s a grey, wet day, not at all inviting for rambles and expeditions. The forecasts say that the temperature is around 9-10°C but it feels a lot colder than that. We set out at about 1 pm and if we made sure we had our bus passes with us, it was only in case there was nothing local open for a bite to eat.

Baron Street

This view of Baron Street will give you some idea of the conditions. We were heading for Chapel Market and, round to the left, Cafe Sizzle, where we hoped to find lunch at a modest cost.

Unfortunately, when we arrived, we found them closed until January 4th. Not that I begrudge them their holiday: they work hard during the year and deserve a few days of rest.

Chapel Market

We walked along Chapel Market with the vague idea of catching a bus along Upper Street to the Workers’ Cafe. The market wasn’t operating – the one stall on the right belongs to the shop beside it. Our Sunday coffee oasis, Mercer’s (on the corner on the left), was also closed.

Terrace was open

When we came to Terrace, the Turkish restaurant and takeaway, and found it open, we did not hesitate but went straight in.

Inside Terrace

The restaurant was not at all busy and we easily found a table. They have an extensive menu covering all the day’s meals from breakfast to dinner. The first job was to see if they had lentil soup: yes, they did!

Soup and other items
Photo by Tigger

They start by bringing you a dish of pickled vegetables and a basket of Turkish bread. We ordered Turkish tea for me and ayran for Tigger.

Ayran in a bottle
Photo by Tigger

The ayran came in a bottle, the first time we have been served with it like that. Fortunately, the tea at least was brewed on the premises.

Bon appétit!
Photo by Tigger

Tigger chose Sigara Boregi and Halloumi (foreground) and I had Falafel with Humus.

When our lunch was finished, we made no bones about but came straight home. We have plenty to entertain us here but we will be ready for more expeditions when the weather improves.

Yesterday, I wrote that I would be going out today to make an important purchase but that will not after all happen.

I have been having trouble with the PC recently. It is sometimes reluctant to start up and may need several attempts to set it going. I thought I had solved the problem but then I noticed something: in the list of external drives connected to the PC, one was missing. Drive H refused to appear despite me unplugging it and plugging it in again and rebooting the computer. Not unreasonably, I decided that after a long life of faithful service, it had finally given up the ghost. I proposed going to PC World on the morrow to buy a new one.

In case you are wondering, the demise of one of my backup drives does not entail any loss of data. I am punctilious about regularly backing up my data. All my important files have at least two backup copies on separate drives. That of course includes drive H which contains backups but is itself also backed up.

Roll forward to yesterday afternoon and a second problem appeared. I use a lot of portable programs, storing them on a USB flash drive. This means that if I go anywhere, I can take the flash drive with me and have all my familiar software accessible on whatever computer I use. The flash drive includes a launcher which can be made to appear at the press of a key. Except that suddenly, it was no longer appearing…

I spent several hours trying all sorts of things and at last, just as I was thinking of giving up, I got everything working again.

One thought sparked another and it occurred to me to try the “failed” external drive again. I was holding it in my hand as I plugged in its power cable and I immediately felt a continuous vibration: the disc was spinning as it should! I tried plugging it into a USB socket and – bingo! – there it was, bright and cheerful in the list of drives!

I tested it carefully, of course, but it is working perfectly and doesn’t need to be replaced. The fault is not in the drive but in the computer. At some point I shall have to have an expert look it over and find out what’s causing the intermittent failures. Or maybe it’s time to invest in a new PC built with the latest technology and operating system. Something to think about…

Boxing Day is apt to have something of an anti-climactic feel to it, being as it is, the day after the day in preparation of which we have spent so much time and effort.

Grey skies over Upper Street

The weather was no help, being grey and rainy, but, then, we are in the midst of winter. To lift our spirits, we conceived a plan to go out to a cafe or restaurant for brunch.

Pigeons at the Co-operative Bank

The streets were far from busy (certain organs of the media will no doubt describe them as “deserted”) and the feelings of inertia seemed to have spread to the pigeons, still perched here are there on the buildings.

Islington Green

We passed through Islington Green which was as quiet as the surrounding streets.

Fluffed-up pigeon

This pigeon was fluffed up against the cold, looking very much as I felt.

Statue of Street Cat Bob

We paid a visit to the statue of Street Cat Bob. Someone has decorated it for Christmas.

Spire of St Mary’s

I caught this view of the spire of St Mary’s Church, seen looking along a little street called Collins Yard. (The old Collins Music Hall was nearby until destroyed by fire in 1958.)

Gallipoli Again

We passed cafe after cafe, finding them all closed, until we came to Gallipoli Again. This would suit us perfectly so in we went.

Inside Gallipoli Again

Gallipoli, as the name suggests, is a Turkish cafe restaurant.

The menu
Photo by Tigger

The menu is an intriguing mixture of Turkish and British items. Even the traditional British items, such as the vegetarian breakfast, which I chose, includes a Turkish twist, in this case a slice of Halloumi.

Walls covered with pictures

The restaurant walls are covered with pictures, photos and examples of Arabic calligraphy.

Turkish tea

We ordered Turkish tea with our meals.

Vegetarian Breakfast
Photo by Tigger

I chose a plain old vegetarian breakfast, though as I mentioned, it included a slice of grilled Halloumi.

Turkish Breakfast
Photo by Tigger

Tigger chose the Turkish Breakfast but asked for the sausage to be replaced with an extra piece of Halloumi to make it vegetarian. A Turkish breakfast is fine in hot weather but in winter, I prefer everything to be hot!

St Mary’s Church

The restaurant is opposite St Mary’s Church. There is a bus stop there but we are going to walk home. Tigger suggested having a coffee on the way.

Quiet Upper Street

We walked back along Upper Street, hoping to find somewhere open for coffee. The street is still quiet though that is understandable in view of the fact that it’s Boxing Day and nearly everywhere is closed.

Beribboned shop door

Many of the shops and businesses along Upper Street are decorated but I photographed this door in particular as it illustrates a growing trend to decorate the door – whether at home or at a business – with ribbons like a gift parcel. It will be interesting to see whether numbers increase again next year.

Camden Passage

We went through Camden Passage as Tigger was hoping that Redemption Roasters would be open. They weren’t.

Inside Starbuck’s

At the crossroads, we found Starbuck’s open and, faute de mieux, went in. Starbucks was allowing customers to sit in and so we did.

Coffee and tea

I’m not keen on Starbuck’s coffee so I had tea, though it too was disappointing after the Turkish tea at Gallipoli.

After this we made our way home and I think we shall stay at home for the rest of the day. We will probably go out again tomorrow because I have an important purchase to make but more about that in due course.