Computer Gremlins finally beaten??

After spending nearly a month trying to get my computer to record VHS video, I think I have finally cracked it!

After struggling with problems of no video, then audio clicking noises, and lack of synchronisation between video and audio, I was getting nowhere fast! Every time I managed to sort one problem out, I created two other problems to fix! As you can see, I am not very good with finding a simple solution to my problems!

I finally found what actually works for me. I had to upgrade my sound card, and install a newer version of Pinnacle Studio. By upgrading from version 10 to version 14, I have at last managed to successfully transfer VHS video footage onto my computer, and burn a test DVD from it. It all worked!

My friend Warren has been pestering me, wanting to know when he can have his DVD! I could have simply given him a straight forward video transfer to him, but I decided that I can do better than that! I am now attempting to break the video footage into chapters, and create a menu for the DVD. This I have finally achieved, and as I write this, my other computer is busy preparing to write the video footage to disk.

When the computer has finished processing, I have one final task to complete. I have to create some artwork for the Jewel case inserts! I don't think I should have any major problems doing this, but judging from past experience, you never can tell!

My computer has Gremlins!

Last week, my friend Warren mentioned that he had a video recording that was very special to him and his wife. He had made enquiries about transferring it to DVD, but had discovered that the shops would charge a small fortune to do this, and also would refuse to touch any copyright material. I told Warren that I had a video capture card on my computer at home, and would be happy to transfer his video for him.

That's when the Gremlins came visiting!

Everything started off fine. I installed the software for the card, and connected the video. Picture and sound were showing on the computer, so I started the recording process.

After about 40 minutes, the computer froze. The keyboard and mouse would not respond. So I hit the soft reset button and restarted the computer. Once the computer was up and running again, I discovered that the video capture software had sound but no video!

I then spent hours un installing and re-installing the software numerous times. Eventually, the computer gave a message that essential drivers were corrupted or missing and that I would need to repair Windows!

I dug out my Windows XP disk and started the repair installation. The only problem was that all data would be wiped if I tried to repair Windows! The repair is no different from formatting the drive and starting again! Before I could repair the drive, I had to save all the essential data first.

I have 3 hard drives in my computer. What I did was to replace one hard drive with an old smaller one I had removed a couple of years ago. Install Windows on this temporary drive and then commence transferring data from the original C: drive onto one of the other hard drives. Once this was done, I formated the corrupt drive.

The next day, I started the slow process of re-installing all the software, and transferring the data stored on the other hard drive. I initially had a problem getting the internet to work, until I found I needed to load in some drivers for the motherboard.

This project had taken nearly 6 days to get to this stage (admittedly only 3 or 4 hours each day), but every time I sorted one problem, another took its place. Things were heading in the right direction until yesterday morning.

I had just loaded Microsoft Office onto the computer, and I decided to put the video capture card back into the computer. When I restarted the computer, I was asked to install the drivers. I put the CD into the computer and waited for the drivers to be loaded... And waited... And waited. Then I noticed that the computer had stopped recognising the CD and DVD drives!!!

When I resumed my battle this morning, I eventually found a website that explained what to do. I had to go into the Disk Management section and search for "UpperFilters" and "LowerFilters" and delete them. When I did this I got my CD and DVD drives back... Only to find all my PCI card slots had stopped working!

Next I tried to update the BIOS on the motherboard, only to find the computer crashed halfway through the process. Now I had to reset the BIOS by removing the graphics card to get to the on-board battery, remove the battery and temporarily set a "Jumper" to reset the motherboard. When I put it all back together again I found the video capture card worked... But the sound card didn't!

I tried to reset the BIOS again, only this time the computer refuses to start at all!!!

So its back to the drawing board again.
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Mystery Shopping Again!

This weekend, I have undertaken to do a number of mystery shops. This time it is to visit some Tesco Express outlets.

Since the recession started a couple of years ago, the amount of money I get reimbursed has dropped substantially. Now it is hardly worth the effort any more!

I have been a mystery shopper for over 7 years now. When I first started, we were paid an allowance for the use of our internet (£2), mileage allowance (£3.50 maximum with T.N.S.; unlimited with N.O.P.), an allowance towards the cost of the purchase, and finally, a small payment for actually doing the work!

After about a year, the internet payment stopped. Then N.O.P were amalgamated with GFK. They changed their payment system to a one off payment, varying from as low as £6 up to £26 for the more involved and complex tasks. These prices now include all purchases and travelling expenses! To add insult to injury, I have to pay income tax on it too!

T.N.S have also reduced their payments too, but not quite as drastic as GFK. Now they no longer pay any mileage for the assignments.

So far, I have done 2 surveys, and have another 2 to do in the next few days. The first one I did actually cost me money. I think now with the second survey, I have made a small profit (£2)!

What I normally tend to do is wait until the agencies become desperate to complete a survey within a certain deadline, and they call me to see if I can help them out. That is when I begin to negotiate a better price with them, specifically including mileage allowance. Sometimes they say yes, sometimes they will try and call someone else who might do it for less.

I have never wanted to do this sort of work for peanuts. I don't expect a lot, but I will be dammed if I should be out of pocket for doing the work!
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Day Excursion to Hilbre Island

Today, we decided to take a trip up towards Liverpool, or to be more precise, the Dee Estuary at West Kirby. The aim of our excursion was to visit Hilbre Islands. There are, in fact, actually three separate Islands. The only way to get to them is by either walking, or driving across the mud flats at low tide.




Hilbre Islands Ahoy!



As we walked across the mud flats, we were very glad that we had decided to wear Wellington Boots, as there were areas where we had to splash through water channels on our way to the Islands. Bonnie, our Golden Labrador, at first didn't want to cross the mud flats, and kept turning back heading for the shore. Once she got over her initial hesitation, there was no stopping her adventure!



Bonnie having a mad moment!

On the third and biggest Island is where the houses are, and the derelict lifeboat station, and the old Telegraph Station. The Lifeboat Station was decommissioned in 1938, and now is just the walls standing with no roof, and the slipway has half disintegrated. The house owners have to pay a ground rent to the Wirral Council. As soon as they stop paying the rent, the the Council do not renew the lease and remove the building. The Council's aim is to remove all the buildings eventually.

Largest, occupied Island

Whilst I was wandering around the Island, I got talking with one of the Rangers. The girls merrily went off exploring by themselves, while I chatted with the Ranger. This is where I got the information from above. He also told me that there were grey seals swimming off the end of the Island. I went out beyond the derelict Lifeboat building and had the pleasure of seeing a couple of seals swimming nearby!



Hello there!

Whilst watching for the seals to appear, a grey Heron decided to pay a visit, much to the annoyance of the sea gulls nearby. I managed to get a few interesting pictures of the gulls dive bombing the Heron!




Get out of here!

Finally, about five hours later we finally made it back to the car, exhausted!






Can I sleep now?

I am in BIG Trouble!

This morning, I finally managed to see a doctor. He told me the bad news that my cholesterol level is at a whopping 9.6!! It should be below 5. The doctor told me that if I do nothing then I have a 22% chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the next ten years.

My blood pressure is also too high. It was 134/85. The lower number should much lower. I now have 3 months to try and reduce my cholesterol and blood pressure, otherwise I will have to take medication to reduce the levels.

First I am going to have to change the type of food I eat. The doctor gave me a list of good food and bad food to eat. Next I have to loose weight. The doctor suggested I join a gym, but knowing my own character, I would not go to the gym on a regular basis.

The doctor then suggested I should do a brisk walk for 30 minutes every day. So now I will be walking our dog, Bonnie, every day!

Over the past few weeks I have had a backache in my lower back. Hopefully my daily exercise will help cure this problem too!
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Currently Reading

Synopsis:

With the American rebellion growing in intensity all around them, Jamie and Claire know they must navigate a difficult course to survive. For not only is being on the winning side no guarantee of safety; Jamie would also rather die than face his illegitimate son, William, a young lieutenant in the British Army, across the barrel of a gun - even as the chances of war conspire to bring them together.


Making their way back to Lallybroch with Jamie's nephew, Young Ian, to fulfil a family promise, might seem one way of thwarting fate. But in the chaos of war every avenue of escape is bristling with danger, and even the time-travelling Claire cannot foresee the tragedy that could tear her and Jamie apart forever.


Meanwhile, in the apparent safety of the 20th Century, their daughter Brianna and her husband Roger read Jamie and Claire's letters, breathlessly watching the unfolding of Brianna's parents' story - even as the past is sneaking up behind their own family to threaten them in the present.



This is the Seventh book in the series. I bought this book in January, and I have been steadily working my way through the series reminding myself of the story so far. The list of the books in chronological order are as follows -

• Outlander (American title) / Cross Stitch (British title)
• Dragonfly In Amber
• Voyager
• Drums Of Autumn
• The Fiery Cross
• A Breath Of Snow And Ashes

I have found that it is always better to read the first book in these sort of series and read them in chronological order, otherwise it spoils the adventure. Nowadays, some authors tend to write their story over a series of books, rather than in one self contained novel. The trouble is, if you like the story in one book, you want to read more adventures about the characters in that book!

The reason I am making this point is that the critics gave a poor review of "An Echo In The Bone" on the grounds that it was not a self contained novel, rather a continuation of the story told in the previous 6 books! That is exactly what this book was meant to be!

I always think of critics as frustrated artists, who do not have the inspiration or ability to produce something original themselves. Instead they can only write derogatory remarks in the hope that the more vicious the report, the more publicity they will receive, and thus give them the impression of increasing their own self importance.

Currently Listening to

One of my favourite Billy Joel tracks. What I found interesting about this video, is the authors attention to the timing of changing the pictures and writing!