Hello – I’m back!
So, after over a month of enforced absence from my on-line world I am back.
Unfortunately my computer was not reparable – when the Mac store opened it up they asked my son if I had been using my i-mac in the garden, they had never seen a computer with such mucky insides.
Well I hadn’t taken it down the garden – it was a desktop computer and I think it would have been a bit heavy, not to mention all the trailing wires.
I then had a few weeks of indecision – what to do? was I sticking with a Mac (expensive) or going down the PC route.
I should perhaps mention here that whenever I stand next to a computer that runs “windows” …. it crashes.
When my children lived at home I was always banned from the room when they were doing important installations or updates on the computer and even now Shedman sometimes wishes that I wouldn’t stand next to him when he is working on his PC.
So while a windows PC was the cheaper option – the thought of using windows filled me with despair. Then I had several days of mulling over which Mac to get.
I reckoned if I got a laptop I was likely to leave it in the greenhouse or garden, so in the end I plumped for a Mac mini and a Dell monitor.
Throughout the whole computer saga, No1 son has been an absolute hero – collecting my old computer and taking it to the Apple store, sorting out my new one,
And, best of all – going more than a couple of hours out of his way to deliver it to me last night.
Oh joy!
I have not yet, removed that hard drive from the old one and retrieved all my information, so I have no e-mail addresses, no diary and lots of other bits and pieces that get lost when a computer dies.
However, I am sure that you are not interested in my new computer – but how my garden grows.
It has been a fabulous month in the garden. Until today we have had no rain and as our garden is very damp the plants have responded to the lack of water by growing beautifully.
We have also had very little wind so the garden has remained vertical this year, such a treat.
While I have really missed my virtual world and all you guys, being without a computer has given me several more hours in the day.
During this month I didn’t take many photos, so I was really experiencing the garden in a visceral way, without camera and computer I was not distracted by “shall I photograph this?” and “shall I blog about that?”.
The biggest time saver was not googling for information (usually plant information) that I actually know. For some reason I have got into the habit of turning to google rather than my own brain, I am amazed how mentally lazy I have become.
My goal now is to try and maintain some kind of balance, I love my online life and my blogging and tweeting chums, but it took being without a computer to realize just how much time I spent in front of a computer screen.
“Balance” – not something that comes naturally to me!
So with all these extra hours is my garden looking immaculate?
No, not at all. A visitor last week commented “How lovely all the wild plants are”
I hope that she was talking about the poppies which are as jolly as ever and not the weeds, which are as prolific as ever.
Fingers crossed by the weekend I shall have my computer sorted how I like it and have pictures to show you for a late end of the month view.
It’s good to be back.
Welcome back – we’ve missed you!
Amanda´s last blog ..Wasps again
Thanks Amanda, I have missed you all too
K
Its great to have you back too, Karen. Just fab. You have been very much missed.
XX
Joolsfw´s last blog ..Thomas Lawrence- Regency Power and Brilliance- Details of a New Exhibition to be held at the National Portrait Gallery- London
Thanks Joolsfw – its good to be back – and I have masses of catching up to do – I feel quite out of the loop!
K
Welcome back. Computers can be so frustrating when things aren’t going well, but so nice when they work.
Balisha
Balisha´s last blog ..Garden Bloggers Muse DayJuly 1st
Hi Balisha – how right you are – I would not be without my computer these days – but when they go wrong – boy do I get grumpy!
Yes, you have been missed!
Right after your computer went down, the screen in my iMac went black. We lugged it back to the Apple store where the hooked it to another monitor, and then pronounced it screen dead. I ended up getting another iMac, and am very happy with it. My husband, who has had the same mac (d3) for nine years, also got an iMac. He has been saying lately that he wanted a mini, and I am surprised he ended up with an iMac. He still hasn’t retrieved my photos and other info off the old machine. Let me know if you have good luck doing it, he hasn’t. Another cable connection (this is supposed to be the right one, this time) came in the mail today to enable the retrieval.
Your garden looks to be in the full bloom of summer. It is lovely.
Sandy´s last blog ..two wild roses in maine
Lovely to hear from you Sandy – as I have gone through two i-macs and hated the fact that the screens had nothing wrong with them – that influenced my choice of a mac-mini, then at least when I manage to kill this one off I will still have a monitor!
I will let you know how we get on transferring stuff over from the now defunct i-mac!
K
So very, very glad to see you back. I have missed your blogs and your pictures and your wit. More pictures please!
elizabethm´s last blog ..End of month view
Thank you Elizabeth – it rained all day to-day and I am not here tomorrow – so more pictures promised for the weekend … or early next week.
K
Glad you are back at last. The ‘balance’ between computer and other stuff probably will last until mid-October if you are careful.
The garden picture is fab as usual – lovely light. Is that libertia goldfinger in the pot?
Arabella Sock´s last blog ..Moth Balls
Really Arabella? do you really think I can do the “balance” thing until October?
I think the balance in my life may be totally weather dependent
K
Opps, sorry Arabella – yes that is Libertia Goldfinger in the pot – and it is quite fabulous both in summer and winter.
Waw Karen, how lovely your garden looks, not a weed to be seen.
I was only thinking of you today as I galloped around Wisley with the Galloping Gardener, a memorable day.Of course gareners and fellow bloggers were much in conversation and I had meant to say that I had not seen a post by you for some time.
However I too have been a little tardy in putting up posts this year and responding to other blogs. The will is still there but other commitments have been getting in the way.
As you so rightly say it is balance, something most of us garden bloggers find difficult to get just right.
I am looking forward to more photos of your garden this year.
Joanne´s last blog ..ROSE EXTRAVAGANZA
How lovely to gallop around Wisley, I haven’t been there in ages and I hope you had a great time.
Yep balance is hard – but the garden has been so wonderful this year that it made up for being computerless – if it had been raining every day, it would be a very different story
K
At last. A reason to turn my computer on again:-) Welcome back.
The garden looks fab. I do think that Arabella may be a bit optomistic. I give it until September!
Thanks Dobby
umm – I suspect Arabella and you are both being optimistic – I give it until next week
K
Welcome back!
Computer problems are so frustrating and oddly upsetting…
Hi Liz,
Yes – you are so right.
I loved my last computer soooooo much and I still miss it – even though this one is very glossy and faster – it doesn’t quite feel like mine yet. (probably because it hasn’t got enough rubbish on it yet).
Great to see you back Karen ~ have missed you. The garden is looking great – must have benefited from extra tlc during your enforced blog break. Treated myself to a Mac when I finished work and not sure whether I could I could ever return to Windows now
Thanks Anna, it is lovely to be back, and I think parts of the garden did get some extra tlc – but also it is starting to jell.
I dont understand windows, and even though Shedman set his computer up for me to use while mine was “in hospital” I didn’t get on with it too well … I didn’t know you had a mac!
K
Your garden is gorgeous! Everything looks lush and healthy, and, yes, a little wild! Which I love!
Boy, do I sympathize about the computer! I am using a mac mini, which is quite old – It’s the original mini that Apple came out with. I know it can’t last much longer! One of my son’s worked as an intern with Apple for several summers, and he lives and breathes Apple computers. He would disown me if I got a PC! I will let him pick out my next computer. He says it will probably be an IMac.
I’m glad you are back! I have always enjoyed your blog.
debsgarden´s last blog ..Cryptomeria- Contemporary of the Dinosaurs
Hi Deb,
Thank you for taking time to leave a comment – much appreciated.
If your next computer is an i-mac, you will love it (and you will find it way faster than your current mac mini).
No 1 son has just got the new i-mac, he loves it (and he used to be so pro PC’s)
K
Hi Karen! wracking one’s brains over computers is not the most pleasant of pastimes, is it? My sympathies! That calls for a new plant (or five) to compensate for all the mental agony, doesn’t it?
I’m so glad you’re back to the blogging world now. Your garden is looking lovely!
Sunita´s last blog ..Moss and snails and maidenhair ferns thats what monsoons are made of
Sunita – Yes it does call for new plants ….. why didn’t I think of that
Lovely to hear from you – and I will try and catch up with everyones blogs over the next few days – rain seems to be forecasted for a week, so I suspect I will be in front of the computer!
K
You’re back! Hurray!
Victoria´s last blog ..Shows to go or not to go
Thanks Victoria
K
Oh welcome back! Looking forward to reading your blogs again. I think your garden looks lovely & it will be great to see more pictures. When you have found out how to get the right balance let me know because after being at home now for six months I still do not have things organised properly!
Mary
Hoorah – glad you are back.
Looking forward to seeing how the garden has developed when I visit in August.
Well, you made the right choice with the mac (I’ve never owned anything else), and it’s nice to see you back in the blog updates. And your celebration photo is a wonderful reintroduction. The light is wonderful, the composition serene, and your delight in being back here is evident!
Laurrie´s last blog ..Who is Eating My Plants
Welcome back, Karen! I’ve missed you too.
If your rain shows up, please send some over in this direction …
Juliet´s last blog ..Traditions
welcome back, all stories are enjoyed computer and garden
wayne´s last blog ..I am thinking about attempting a 365
Hi Karen, I have just seen that your’re back and blogging. That is nice, I have missed you. Your garden looks lovely,warm and glowing. Love the Stipa.We have been enjoying the lack of wind this season too.Although this is of course the year that I ave invested heavily in plant supports!
Hi, Good to see it all works well. The plants I got from you are now flowering, they look wonderful.
I will wait to see some great pictures from your garden now the sun is out.It has had lots of attention!!
It’s nice to see you back! I learned a similar lesson recently when I was without my computer for a couple of weeks or so. I’m trying to remain “balanced,” but here I am… visiting people and an hour or so has passed!
Shady Gardener´s last blog ..Finally – a Garden Tour – Second Try that Worked-
You’re back – Hurrah!
Best
R