Title • untitled #77

This is a shot of Blackpool's Central pier, located about half a mile south of the North Pier, the subject of my previous entry. As with my previous two shots, it was taken shortly before sunset on Saturday evening, and for this one I decided to emphasise the various textures within the image – the movement of water in the foreground, the sharp lines of the pier, and the rolling clouds in the background.

If you're interested, the original is here:

.../archives/untitled_0077.php

Update: this is just a quick note to let you all know that I won't be updating the blog for a few days as the hard drive in my laptop has failed. Coincidentally, I recently ordered a backup machine, but that won't arrive for another ten days or so, so in the meanwhile I need to wait until I can get my current machine fixed and restored from my backup. Fortunately, I do have an almost current Time Machine backup, but don't have any way of accessing the files until I get my laptop back. Fingers crossed it should all be sorted by Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.

Update #2: I had an appointment scheduled for 12.20 today (Sunday 30th) at the Genius Bar of the Trafford's Centre Apple store. Unfortunately though, we were a bit late. Just as we were coming up to our junction on the M60 we blew a rear tire and by the time I could pull over it was smoldering on the rim. Anyway, as we had all six kids with us, we decided to ring the AA and get them to sort it out while we huddled on the other side of the barrier - and I'm glad we did, because our spare was damaged too.

We haven't had our new van long (it's a Transit Tourneo) and hadn't noticed that there was a flat spot on the spare, so ended up having to go and get two new tires before we could go to the Trafford Centre. Anyway, we got that sorted out so went off to try and get my laptop fixed.

I got a new appointment for 3pm, explained the problem, and asked how long it would take to fix it. I was expecting them to say some time tomorrow, i.e. Monday, but the 'Genius' said "we don't have the drive in stock so it will probably be Wednesday".

"OK, so what drives do you have in stock? I could do with getting it sorted ASAP so would be happy to pay for a drive upgrade".

"You can't. Although you've got the three year warranty it has to be a like-for-like replacement".

"I can't give you more money and have another drive installed?"

"No. And we don't have any in stock anyway."

"So it will definitely be ready on Wednesday?"

"It should be. I'll order the drive tomorrow and providing it turns up on Tuesday we should be able to have it done by Wednesday".

Hmmm.

I have to say that I love Apple computers but their after-sales support, in the UK at least, isn't quiet as efficient as it could be. So long story short, I won't be posting anything until late Wednesday at the very earliest.