My what an adventure I’ve had. On Wednesday, I turned my computer on and my monitor went ‘POP!’. Generally, it is not good when monitors pop. Weasel and I went online and managed to find a lovely one not dissimilar to hers for £128 and next day delivery. Jubilant, I waited all the next day with no monitor arrival. Sad. Weasel called them and it turns out the courier people had done something. They promised it would arrive yesterday before noon. Again no delivery. So here’s hoping for tomorrow.

My old monitor was a very good monitor. I’ve had it through three computers since 2003. Before that it belonged to a friend of ours, he had it since 2000. I assumed that it was manufactured in around 98 or 99 because the company name on the face changed in 99. When we pulled it out we found this:

March 1997 people. My computer monitor, a 19″ CRT worked beautifully for over 12 years. I am shocked and amazed. I will miss it.

When I get my new monitor installed I’ll finally take a photo of the new lounge arrangement.

Friday was Stoat’s 62nd birthday. We had a little gathering for him yesterday. He is a chef and usually he cooks for all of us, but I got to cook this time while he and Mal went for a walk. I made hamburger buns on Thursday, curried lentil burgers* on Friday and on Saturday morning I prepared some beautiful sweet potato chips [fries]. It all turned out beautifully.

* My lovely friend Caity recently changed to a vegan diet and has been sharing some really yummy recipes. This is one she recommended and I cannot fault it. Delicious! I didn’t fry them, I baked them and I put some cheese on the top to help hold them together. I think next time I’m going to purée 1/4-1/2 of the lentils to help the mixture stick together better.

While I was cooking, my Mom called. She’s been trying to think of Christmas presents for my sisters and I. She was originally going to get us all GPSs but I don’t drive or have a car. Then it turned out that Chance wanted dining room furniture instead so she asked what I wanted. I’ve been drooling after a KitchenAid Stand Mixer for years, but those bastards are expensive! I do not have £300-£350 spare. I said that was what I wanted, but I knew it was too expensive so I compiled a list of little kitchen things I wanted thinking they could get me some of those. My Mom e-mailed me later to say that they thought they might be able to arrange for a gently used one. I was ecstatic at the possibility and we left it at that.

When she called she told me she’d found an Artisan model [top of the line], 18 months old, still under warranty and she managed to get it for £210.

Thus yesterday was a very excellent day that couldn’t have gone better if I tried.

As for how I’m writing now, Weasel moved my computer near her desk and I’m using her monitor. It allows for two inputs so both our computers are connected to it now. She is very sweet like that.