The bigger they are, the harder they fall

I’m very relieved today, as on Thursday I tragically broke the power lead to my laptop, and was even more concerned that, in doing so, damaged the input socket on the machine itself. Critical stuff! After the replacement lead refused plug in, I was all ready to give up, sigh deeply, and reluctantly order a new laptop altogether. I really couldn’t be bothered to seek out a computer doctor (especially without my laptop to do the necessary research) and, to be honest, Windows 10 is so slow that I’ve recently been thinking about going Mac for the first time in my life. So, with nothing really to lose, I risked doing some DIY. Please note: I am one of the least practical people on this planet. Anyway, I unscrewed the plastic base to the laptop so I could get closer to the input socket and had a poke about. I guessed correctly that the lead connector had actually broken off INSIDE the socket, so I spent about two hours trying to pry it out. What ended up working was the pointy end to a nail file that I managed to wedge into the jammed nib and simply pull it out. After that, the replacement lead fit fine and I now have FULL POWER! I was so relieved that I nearly did a little dance. Well, swap “nearly” for “definitely”. I felt useful for once! A broken laptop, a key link of mine to the outside world, was really the last thing I needed.

The change I’ve made since my DIY session has been to take the laptop off its stand, which is how I managed to break it in the first place. It’s very good at slipping off my coffee table with the slightest of nudges. Especially if I’m staggering around drunk with the lights off. But that’s another story.

Anyway…

I was rather distraught this week as, due to a bit of a cough that’s going around, the government has decided to shut all the pubs in the country. You can only imaging the look on my face when I heard THAT news. My local is my other key link to the outside world. I only go once or twice a week, but I soak up all the society (and booze) I need in that four hour session. The last day I was in was Thursday (which may have contributed to me knocking over my laptop), and it was a genuinely moving experience. It kinda felt like the world was going to end. I nearly cried, and really wanted to hug people as left. Later that night, I was going to post a short blog post about it all titled “Last night on Earth”, but I was worried people might mistake it as some sort of suicide threat. AND my laptop broke, of course. But I’m here telling you the story now! I hear the pubs will only be shut for two weeks (while the nation’s kids are off school), but who knows. I’ve been avoiding reading the news more so than usual, so I’ll just keep checking the pub’s Facebook page every day until I get the all clear to go back and make a public spectacle of myself again.

My supermarket’s refusing to deliver, so I’m surviving on all the tins and dried goods I bought for the snow this winter that never came. I was nervous about going out on Thursday in case I ran into some crazies panic buying around the local shops, but it was generally fine. I needed to pick up my brain meds anyway, so it wasn’t like I had much of a choice. A woman who works at my local pub has offered to run errands for me (since I’m disabled and live alone), but she’s not been in contact since I gave her my number. Who knows. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. It was very sweet of her to offer though. She’s a very cool person.

So, yeah, some ups and downs this week. I bought the Home Improvement sitcom boxset to keep my spirits up, which arrived surprisingly quick. It’s a show I’ve not seen in, like, twenty years, but it still stands up. It’s not laugh-out-loud funny, but there’s a really fun, easy-going spirit to it. All the actors feel like they’re having a blast making it, and that’s really helping me right now. It’s nice to see people enjoying their work.

I started playing Shadow of the Colossus this week. I did have it for the PS3, but I gave up after I realised it was a game filled mostly with boss fights. I’m not really a grind-for-hours-to-kill-the-big-boss kinda gamer. However, after mulling it over for a few years (and recently being able to download the game as part of my monthly PS+ subscription), I began to think that maybe climbing up giant stone monsters and hacking away at them for ages until they fall over might be some fun after all. And it is! I’ve killed two colossi so far, which has amazed even me. Once I figured out that I just needed to find the small shiny patch on the big dark thing, I was on my way to success! I’m sure the game will throw me some curveballs as I go along but, for now, this is good fun for while I get used to more solo gaming.

Speaking of which, if you find yourself stuck indoors with a PlayStation 4 and don’t have anyone to game with, just drop me a line and I’ll ping you my PSN username!

Good times.

I’ve also just downloaded Mortal Kombat XL, which is a type of game I just don’t have. I thought something different (and on sale), might further brighten my spirits. If you have any fighting tips, let me know!

Well, I think I’ve covered everything for now. I’ve got my first counselling session next week (that’s now having to be a phone consultation due to you-know-what), so I’ll let you know how that goes.

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!

P.S. Yes, I did have to look up what the plural was for “colossus”.