From: D6U (Syd Hetherington)
Subject: Computer Set-up
In issue 47 Chris invites us to send
in a picture of our computer set-up
for scanning and possible publication.
Looking around the lounge/office/dump
of my flat I saw a small problem
unless I could get hold of one of
those panoramic cameras ... you know
the ones which rotate on their tripod
My set up occupies all of two walls.
To the East a bay window is equipped
with a long table on which rest an
Epson printer, a Sirius computer, a
stack of reference books and a
Panasonic PC. Continuing along the
wall there is my Beeb set-up. A filing
cabinet,a wall mounted cupboard with a
table fronting containing the Viglen
Beeb twin 5.25 drives. On the right is
an Amstrad LQ5000 printer. Behind this
is my Hiachi TV/Monitor.
Running fro this along the South wall
is my video system linked to the Beeb
consisting of three Video recorders,a
tape deck plus a music centre with a
sound/video mixer panel. Right of this
is my Home-office cabinet for the more
mundane office work.
Perhaps its as well that I live alone!
From: K2Q (John Nicholson)
Subject: THE WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY
Work will soon start on the
rebuilding of the Welsh Highland
narrow gauge railway from Caernarfon
to Rhyd Ddu, and thence through the
Snowdonia National Park to Porthmadog,
connecting with the Ffestiniog
Railway. At 25 miles, this will be the
longest narrow gauge railway in the
British Isles, and will pass through
some spectacular mountain scenery.
If any 8BS folk are also interested in
old railways, signalling and
communication systems, steam locos,
repairing old buildings or practical
work in the Welsh countryside, then do
contact me. Volunteers will be very
much needed when track laying can
begin. John Nicholson 01286 830312.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Parcel Farce
If anyone saw the item about Parcel
Force on Watchdog around the time of
the last issue.
At the present time I am making
several claims for damaged parcels,
mainly from computers that I received
in a less than working state. I think
that all of us who have sent a lot of
packages will have experienced some
sort of damage, ranging from torn
wrapping and dented boxes to complete
carnage of otherwise perfect parcels.
If you would like to write to
Watchdog, as I have, the address is:
Watchdog, BBC TV, London, W12 7TS. The
more people who write, the better
chance of getting a decent parcel
delivery service without having to
turn to expensive courier services.
If a parcel is below a certain weight,
depending on the physical size of
the package, it can instead be sent as
a first/second class letter. This is
often cheaper than sending the parcel
by parcel post. If the package is too
heavy to be sent as a letter, then it
can be split into separate packages
which are sent separately. This too
can be a lot cheaper than sending by
parcelpost.
By sending light packages as letters
you can be certain that they won't be
mistreated/lost/manhandled/etc and
should arrive in the condition that
they were sent.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: What next?
The sequel to Secret Maze will appear
in a future issue.
New adventures will be added also to
the Adventures section on my PD
library where many excellent
unreleased adventures are currently
available, with more being written at
frequent intervals!
If you send me a blank disc with
return postage and packing I will send
you JJR-00, the catalogue disc for JJR
PPD.
This disc is packed full of goodies
and is constantly updated as new discs
become available. It is certainly
worth getting.
As always I appreciate your comments,
suggestions and criticisms.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Strange but true!
Outside a locksmith...'Pet discs £2'.
I've heard of pet fish, even pet
rocks, but this is ridiculous.
'10% off OAPS', was proudly displayed
outside the shop next door.
At the local job centre there was a
job advertised for a 'sterile worker',
I wonder what the job was for! (A
job in a harem?!)
This old standard was displayed in the
Butchers around the corner. 'Pleased
to meet you, meat to please you!'.
I couldn't leave without pointing out
a couple of things from issue 48,
aside from the calculator which wasn't
as 'bad' as we might be lead to
believe, but also in the editorial we
were told that the total of 512 discs
is 76. If I didn't know what he was
saying I might have been confused!
From: D6F (JOHN CRANE)
Subject: THANKS
Just a quick note of thanks for the
help I got from various members,after
my plea in iss 48. I was able to sort
out my "Pairs" program, to the delight
of David (My 4yr old), who found it a
lot easier to understand. I also
obtained a 1770 DFS chip, however it
was from the BBC and unfortunately I
need the Electron version. Thus if
anyone comes by the Elk version and
wants to do a swap,the offer's
there.Alternatively I will sell it for
£5 inc p+p.Phone (01423) 885049.
From: K2F (John Davis)
Subject: Easy-peasy, maybe...
Can you finish this Mastermind game
in one move:
Right Place
: Wrong Place
: :
1) 2323 1 1
2) 5566 1 1
3) 8765 0 2
4) 7552 0 1
5) ???? 4 0
*****************
From: D7P (JOHN RATCLIFFE)
Subject: GRANDAD'S HUMOUR.
My old Grandad, long since dead, had
an unusual sense of humour. Here are
three stories he used to tell us kids.
At five 'o' clock last night this
morning a fire broke out in an empty
house full of furniture. The old man,
not being in, fell downstairs into a
bucket of cold water and scalded
himself. A dead dog bit him. They took
him to the infirmary where he had
three fits and died in the first one.
There was a man who was walking down
the street blowing a rubber trumpet.
What was he looking for---?
An elastic band.
It was Christmas day in the workhouse,
the walls were whitewashed black. They
brought in the Christmas pudding, ate
it then took it back.
From: D7P (JOHN RATCLIFFE)
Subject: GREYHOUNDS.
Apart from computers, my interest in
life and reason for existing is to
rescue and care for unwanted dogs,
particularly Greyhounds, most of who
have a very hard time in their short
lives.
I have sent to Chris a copy of three
true stories about what can happen to
these fine dogs when they become too
old to win races, and this can be as
young as three years. With Chris's
permission, I will put them onto a
disc for issue 50 of the magazine so
that you can read them.
If you love dogs you will find these
stories very upsetting but I hope that
you will still read them and perhaps
take the trouble to write to your MP.
or anyone else you can think of, to
try to get better control of Greyhound
racing tracks, or better still, get it
banned altogether.(Wishful thinking).
.
.Anyway, that is for next time.
.Bye for now.
.
From: K8P (Lucy Tallowin)
Subject: POEM FOR SPRING
Spring is Alive Again
The butterfly drifts across the
meadow,
As the sheep are giving birth,
The birds are singing in all their
glory,
As the new born lambs gallop by,
The rivers are flowing,
And the golden daffodils are swaying
The rainbow is up from its long
winter sleep,
The primrose is spreading,
And the bee buzzes by,
The colours are awake,
For it's spring,
And joy is here.
FROM: BOB STRINGER D5R
Sincere greetings to CHRIS and all
members.
THANKS
######
My sincere thanks to 'SIMON' who
sent some technical details
through the post. The information
sent has been used with success by
me; have not been able to reply
direct since was not given any
address therefore please accept my
gratitude for your kindness.