Computer Saviours and Great Company

  Port Adelaide, Australia
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Uh oh computer trouble... again...

The smallest laptop in the world started misbehaving and didn't like my attempts to edit photos... and then it just decided it wouldn't even let me try... aaarrrggghhhhh!!!  What to do?  Had to get it usable again... couldn't fix it myself... didn't want to pay someone a hundred dollars to fiddle with it for 5 minutes... (drum roll... fanfare...) enter Magic Mark and his trusty assistant Amazing Andrew!!

computer fixers 'r' us

Yes, Mr Riley has a contact for every situation!  So we spent the afternoon in the office of his old friend Mark who passed it on to Andrew who persevered well past the point at which I would have stamped on it before hurling it through a window... he tried everything known to work with this system and several improvised alternatives too... and, miraculously, a couple of hours later the computer and I were friends again with photos doing just as they should on the screen.





Thanks guys, the drinks are on me when I get a chance!

Norm and Val

And so, all set for hours of editing,

Port Adelaide lighthouse

I spent the day on the 'Overlander' from Melbourne to Adelaide, where I experienced the wonderful warm welcome and hospitality of  Servas hosts Val and Norm, in Port Adelaide for two nights.  What a fabulous couple!  I couldn't believe they were aged 70, they are so full of life, energy and humour: my newest aspiration is to be that full of enthusiasm for life when I reach their age!  They were great company as we chatted in the evenings about Sligo, Val's ancestral home, about Australia, our families, our travels, our work, our lives and experiences, our spirituality... I could've talked with them for weeks!  Val is very creative and has turned her hand to all kinds of art forms and been involved in many community art projects - she reminded me of an older version of you, mom!  

I spent my couple of days there exploring the port town, with its charming historic buildings, walking on the beach from nearby Semaphore and sampling the porter at a local micro-brewery... what a lovely way to break the long journey west.

Ship Chandlers shop sign

Building in Port Adelaide

beach near Semaphore