Just before 10 am my phone rang: it was Curry’s people advising me that they were on their way to collect my computer. (See the previous post for context.) A few minutes later, they did indeed arrive, departing to leave me sans computer but with a receipt for same. I must now patiently wait to hear what progress, if any, has been achieved.

Free at last, I decided to make the most of what remained of the warm, sunny morning by going for a little walk before lunch.

Something missing

In front of a block of flats in Pentonville Road, we see this untidy-looking plinth. Do you remember what used to occupy it. Yes, the bright red sculpture of a larger than life-sized enraged gorilla, called Wild Kong by the artist, Richard Orlinski. For a reminder, see Wild Kong. Both Kong and the nameplate are missing, suggesting that their disappearance is permanent.

Myddelton Square

I went for a stroll around Myddelton Square, enjoying the sunshine and the peaceful atmosphere. The square, incidentally, appears a few times in Arnold Bennett’s novel Riceyman Steps. The author was obviously acquainted with the area as indicated by references to this and other street names.

Myddelton Square Garden

I walked through the square’s central garden which is bursting with new life, in both foliage and flowers.

Bush in flower

This bush was in flower and seemingly offering us its blossoms by poking them through the railings to us.

Arlington Way

Arlington Way was so quiet it seemed to be dozing in the sunshine.

Spa Green

I visited Spa Green in Rosebery Avenue, entering at the top end for a change as I usually enter by the middle gate.

Chestnut tree and chess boards

I paused here in this paved area whose only living resident is a chestnut tree. There is also a chess board but I have never seen a game in progress here.

Shakespeare’s Head and Myddelton Passage

I returned via Arlington Way because there was something I wanted to see in Myddelton Passage. You might be able to guess what it was. Yes, the pub vine! You might be able to just see it in the above photo.

The vine in February 2022

This is what the vine looked like last February: you could be forgiven for thinking it was dead. There were no leaves and it had been closely pruned. Could it ever come back to life?

Life renewed

Yes, it could and has done! The photo shows the vine today, covered in new leaves. I shall visit it from time to time to see it develop and to watch for the grapes to appear.

St Mark’s disappearing behind new foliage

Inner promptings were suggesting that it was coming up to lunchtime, so I started for home. I noticed that St Mark’s, which, from this angle, had been easily visible through the bare trees in winter, was now disappearing behind a screen of new foliage.

The Curvaceous Tree

And of course, I paused to see the Curvaceous Tree, wearing its new dress of self-produced leaves and strands of ivy. I often wonder how trees perceive the world. Static as they are, can they possibly be aware of us transient beings passing by? Could the tree even recognise frequent visitors? Probably not, but what a lovely idea!

In my post Annoying computers, I recounted the problems I was having with my new Dell laptop. Briefly, an intermittent fault causes the trackpad pointer to flutter about uncontrollably, making the computer unusable. Closing the lid for 20 seconds stabilises the pointer but only until it starts fluttering again, possibly after only a few minutes. Two visits to Curry’s and two phone calls to their support line produced no resolution.

Yesterday afternoon, the problem occurred again, several times in quick succession. I decided this time to contact Dell. I worked my way through several pages of useless information on their website and finally found a phone number. My call was answered by a man who asked me to confirm all my details and those of the computer and listened while I described my problem. Did he help? No, he put me through to another number…

My call was answered by a woman who asked me to confirm all my details and those of the computer and listened while I described my problem. Did she help? No, she gave me a phone number to call…

You can probably guess what comes next. The phone number seemd familiar and I looked it up. Yes, it was the number of Curry’s support team. Calling Dell had been a complete waste of time and energy.

Still, I thought that while I was in the mood, I might as well phone Curry support. At least I could let off steam and – who knows? – it might be a case of third time lucky.

In a sense, it was. I politely but firmly explained my complaint, both about the computer fault and being given the runaround by Dell. The support person listened, asked questions and eventually (having placed me on hold three times) informed me that someone would call at my address on the morrow to collect my computer. They would return it on May 12th.

Shortly after we ended the call, a text arrived informing me that my computer would be collected between 7 am and 11 am on the morrow.

Yesterday’s tomorrow is of course today. I didn’t really expect the courier to call at 7 am but, of course, I had to be ready just in case. The box the computer came in is long gone and I have put the laptop in it a strong, though rather large, plastic bag from the laundry. So here I now sit (it is now 8:22), waiting for the doorbell to ring.

I acquired my first computer in the 1980s and have not ever been without one since then – until today, that is. If all goes according to plan, I shall be computerless for a week. Tigger has kindly said that I may use hers in the meantime but I will do so only in case of need. When I first had a computer, possessing one was unusual: only “nerds” had computers. These days, though, so much is done by computer that not to have one places you at a definite disadvantage.

I do have my iPhone, of course, and today’s mobiles are small computers in their own right. Maybe I should pension off the hated Dell laptop and buy an iPad Pro instead or perhaps go the whole hog and replace my Windows machine with an Apple computer.