I have written about the problems that I have experienced with my Dell laptop ever since I bought from Curry’s last December and how, after two visits to the shop and three phone calls to Curry’s helpline, they finally took it away for repair (see Progress of a sort). The date for its return was a week later on May 12th.

Tigger kindly lent me her computer in the meantime. As this is the same model as my old computer, I had fun renewing my acquaintance with it. For the first few days, though, I kept catching myself expecting the cursor to misbehave!

May 12th (today) arrived at last and Curry’s confirmed by text that the computer would be delivered between 9:30 and 13:30. The text also had a tracking link though this isn’t very useful. At about 11:30 my phone rang: it was the delivery man telling me he would arrive in about 10 minutes.

He arrived, opened the sealed box he was carrying and presented my computer. There was nothing to sign though he did hand me card with his name on it, asking me, if I would be so kind, to give him a good score when I received the “How did we do?” text. I promised I would

During the week, I had said to Tigger that my experience of Curry’s so far had left me without any confidence that they would locate the fault and deal with it though I was willing to be pleasantly surprised. Now was the moment of truth.

When I ran the computer, I was relieved to note that, as far as I could see, everything was as I had left it, though I must remember to change the login password as I had had to give them this for them to access the computer.

On lifting the lid, I found a report sheet. It includes their diagnosis of the problem. Here is the relevant paragraphs:

The diagnosis

Going by this, then, I should be pleasantly surprised as they reckon they have found the fault and put it right. And I am pleasantly surprised, though still with a touch of caution: so far, the cursor is behaving itself but the problem always was intermittent – periods of normal behaviour alternating with incidences of “fluttering”cursor – so it will take a while before I am finally convinced that the problem really has been resolved.

In the five months that I had struggled with it, I had come to hate the computer and to use it as little as possible. I hope today marks the beginning of a new and far happier relationship.

Tigger was working the early shift today so we arranged to meet on her way home to have coffee together.

Aboard the 214

This calls for some careful coordination. Tigger catches two buses to come home. She sent me a text when she boarded the second bus. That was my cue to make for the bus stop in Pentonville Road and board either the 214 or 205, whichever came first. In the event it was a 214.

The cafe
Photo by Tigger

We met on the corner of Provost Street with City Road. Here is the cafe restaurant of Moor & Mead at 155-7 City Road. First, we chose a table near a sunny window but soon found it was too warm.

It’s cooler here
Photo by Tigger

We moved over to a cooler area. Everywhere was comfortable, even luxurious.

“Modern” decor
Photo by Tigger

The decor is “modern” with lamps and plants dotted about here and there. The seating is comfortable, though, with soft seats and cushions.

A variety of seating

There is a variety of types of seating. These include upright chairs suitable for dining and softer chairs and settees for lounging.

Coffee and dessert
Photo by Tigger

We ordered coffee and dessert. The dessert was crème brûlée served with black grapes and sliced strawberries. Was it delicious? Yes, it was!

Illuminated passage
Photo by Tigger

The interior has some strange features with unexpected planes and corners. You either enjoy the novelty of it or feel uncomfortable, depending on your tastes.

Self-consciously asymmetrical

Looking at the exterior of the building shows why the interior is unusual: the whole building is of a self-consciously asymmetric form. The windows are arranged in a sloping pattern as though the building were tipping over. Modern architecture, like modern art, seems to enter realms of the eccentric for lack of any more genuine inspiration.

Aboard the 214

For us, though, it was time to cross the busy City Road to the bus stop. As it happened, the first bus that came was a single-deck 214 but that was good because, for some reason, it was less crowded than the alternatives.

Back home, we are having a little rest before supper. Will our “just desserts” spoil our appetites? Somehow, I don’t think so!

When we went out this morning, the sun was shining, despite the weather forecast telling us that the sky were covered in clouds.

Sunshine and clouds in Claremont Square-

Despite the sunshine, however, the sky held the threat of rain and we made sure we had umbrellas with us, just in case.

Coffee at the deli

We started by going to the deli in Amwell Street for coffee. It was warm enough for us to sit outside to drink it.

Spa Fields Park

We passed by Spa Fields Park though we did not go in today. To look at the park today, you would not guess its sinister past. It was once the site of a bone house and graveyard but that, in itself, is not the worst part.

Bone House & Graveyard

Its lugubrious history is outlined by a sign board. Happily, no obvious vestiges of this past can be noticed today.

A glimpse of St James’s Clerkenwell

Along a narrow side street we had a glimpse of the Church of St James Clerkenwell with its tall steeple. Built in 1792, though with later additions, it replaced an earlier church.

Farringdon Station

We passed un front of the Victorian Farringdon Station. Originally, it marked the terminus of the Metropolitan Railway, London’s and the world’s first underground railway. Today it is served by trains of the Metropolitan Line and also of the Circle Line and the Hammersmith & City Line.

The old Parcels Office

At one end we can still see an inscription indicating the “Parcels Office” though there is no longer a parcels service nor has there been for many decades.

Another period piece

At the other end of the station we can see small building, independent of it but dating from about the same period. It now looks painfully truncated, cut off from its erstwhile neighbours by the ugly modern excrescence that has replaced them.

Costa Coffee
Photo by Tigger

We felt it was time for a rest and refreshments and for this we entered a nearby branch of Costa Coffee.

Turreted building

I admired this handsome building that possesses a turret. Turrets fascinate me and I have a long-term ambition to live – or at least, stay for a while – in a house with a turret room.

The Bleeding Heart Tavern

Continuing on, we reached a pub, the Bleeding Heart Tavern. The present pub was established in the late 18th century but the name originally belonged to an ancient inn that no longer exists. Its sign showed the heart of the Virgin, pierced by seven daggers.

Bleeding Heart Yard

Behind the pub is a well-known cobbled courtyard called Bleeding Heart Yard. Its name probably derives from nothing more dramatic than its proximity to the aforementioned tavern but that name has inevitably given rise to other more dramatic, if apocryphal, etymologies. For example, see Wikipedia’s Bleeding Heart Yard.

Hatton Garden

We came into Hatton Garden, a street famous for being the centre of London’s jewellery trade. There are many jewellers’ and watch shops here and jewellery workshops on upper floors. The name derives from Elizabethan courtier Sir Christopher Hatton (1540-91) who had a mansion and a garden near here. See these links for more information on Sir Christopher and Hatton Garden.

The Prudential Assurance Building

We arrived in Holbourn, one of whose more remarkable inhabitants is the Grade II* listed Prudential Assurance Building, designed by Alfred Waterhouse and erected 1885-1901.

Aboard the 46

We were beginning to feel that it was lunchtime. Seeing nothing interesting nearby, we caught a number 46 bus.

King’s Cross Station

The bus brought us to King’s Cross where we looked at eateries but without finding anything that appealed.

Pizza Union

In the end, we plumped for the local branch of Pizza Union. You place your order at the counter. Having paid, you receive a pager which you take with you as you choose a table.

When the pager flashes…

When the pager flashes, you take it to the collecting point where you pick up your pizzas.

A Fiorentina each

We had a Fiorentina each with tea to drink. The pizzas are crispy, tasty and, of course, freshly baked to order. We would eat here from time to time even without the extra fun of the flashing pager!

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.