Weekend Coffee Share – Technology is a Challenge!

Yep, if we were having coffee, I’d tell you that on Thursday or was it Friday…I was awoken to the dulcet tones of Mr Piglet muttering obscenities at my computer. I checked my watch – 6.45 am. Seriously? My bladder and heartburn had kept me awake most of the night and I was beyond tired. You know that feeling when that lack of sleep offers. You could eat someone alive, whole. Well, at least it is for me as I am not a morning person at the best of times. I muttered my own obscenities, closed my eyes and tried to ignore him, but howls of anguish followed.

Eyes still shut, I tried to sneak past the art room/office. No chance. Greeted with.

‘Your computer is a pile of pooh!’ (This is the polite, PG-rated version)

I paused. Dare I ask why? No, that would probably open a can of worms. It’s old and cranky like me. But before I could think of a suitable reply in my comatose state, he continued as he looked accusingly at the scanner.

“It has saved my document to Susan’s file, not mine. It usually saves scanned documents to mine as default!’

My brain cell started to whir. ‘ Oh, yes. I was scanning some important legal docs for Susan so I set her up with her own folder’.

Mr Piglet scowled. ‘Well, how do I get it saved to my file?’

I thought. Took control of the mouse. Rescanned the document. No there was not an option to change the default folder. Thought. Delete Susan’s folder as she no longer needed it. That should fix it. … nope. Somehow in my comatose state I had also deleted Mr P’s folder with all his important documents in. I tried to stay calm while Mr P performed a war dance behind me. Took a deep breath. Found the recycle bin. Nope, Mr P’s folder was not in there. Closed my eyes and prayed for inspiration before Mr expired.

After about twenty minutes. I found the folder in the black hole where missing files disappear and breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Found it,’ I called to Mr P. ‘Scan your document again’.

He took control. Pressed a few buttons then cussed… he has an extensive vocabulary..

I sighed with relief too soon. Error message. Scanner not found.

After another thirty minutes in which Mr P decided to take the rubbish to the LIXO, I found the reason. ‘The driver was missing.’ at which point I walked away. How can the driver be missing? IT was there when he scanned the file nearly a couple of hours ago. Thought. Don’t panic!!!!

Thought. Tinkered. Solved the problem. Please don’t ask me how because I have NO idea.

**

30 minutes later

‘I’ve mended the scanner’ I called to Mr P , ‘so no panic’ (famous last words….)

YaY, he successfully scanned the document and saved it to his folder so I went off to have my breakfast. About to take the first mouthful I heard a groaning sound of despair coming from my office. ‘WHAT NOW??’

‘How do you log in to our email account on your computer?. IT won’t let me. They (yahoo) want to send me a code or something to check if it’s me trying to sign in.’

‘Oh, for goodnes sake!!’ Sighed… swallowed a mouthful of tea. ‘Where are they sending it?’

‘I don’t know?’

‘Well, check all your other email accounts and phone.’

Waited. Nothing. We appeared to be locked out of our account. At this point, with a throbbing head, I wanted to take my breakfast outside and seek inspiration from Buddha. I am not a techie. In fact, I’m useless. I’d surprised myself we’d even got this far.

‘I’ve got to send this signed document to the insurance company today,’ he continued. ‘What am I going to do?’

”Deliver it by hand?’ (that suggestion didn’t go down well) but as I was retreating to the garden I heard a whoop of joy.

‘The code has come through!’

I offered a hallelujah and made a hasty retreat. My head was beginning to implode. I listened to the birds chattering away. Above me, a pair of greenfinches had built a nest in the bougainvillea and were busy feeding their hungry young. Pondered: How simple their life must be….

Peace. Until a red-faced Mr P broke the karma. Holy moly, what’s wrong now? All he had to do was attach the pigging document to the email and hit send.

‘Your mouse won’t work!’

I abandoned my breakfast. Why not. It was nearly lunchtime. Wiggled the mouse. Dead.

‘The battery needs recharging. It’s an air mouse… or whatever.’

and so it went on. You will be pleased to know Mr P did eventually attach and send the document.

Do you think technology is moving to fast? I do. Maybe it’s my ageing brain not keeping up with technology and just as I’ve mastered something, they send through a new version. Nearly every week there is some update or other from WordPress and I shout. JUST MAKE THE BASICS WORK….

My thanks to our weekend coffee share host, Natie