It was embarrassing at the time, but it makes me laugh today — In January 1989, two weeks after I bought my fourth car, it was stolen. I could hardly believe it! It marked the end of my naive approach to security. Soon after getting my car back, I installed an alarm and started using a lock over the gear lever and handbrake…

A week in my life, and my recent Medium stories — Contents My Life Recent Medium Stories My Life This week’s events Grandad’s trip to Ormskirk 🧭 Virgin Media disconnected my mother-in-law’s phones 📞 Too much gaming 🎮 Cold weather 🥶 Auto headlights 💡 Spotify is stealing from small artists 🎵 Tidal trial 💿 Trying Plex again ▶️ Photo naming obsession 🎞 A load of rubbish 🗑 Stephanie’s headaches 🤕

Personal memories of using an IBM PC XT and Amstrad PC1640 in the 1980s — This is an updated version of an article I wrote a few years ago for some of my now-defunct blogs. Immediately Successful The original IBM PC was released in 1981, and it was popular right from the start. One reason for its popularity was the IBM name. Other factors included its open…

A night that did not go to plan went from bad to worse, and I ended up feeling terrified — In 1989, my car was stolen. Luckily, the police soon found it. It’s a story I told in detail here: The Day My Car Was Stolen Picture this: It was a snowy day in 1989…medium.com That experience made me careful about where I left my car, and it took a long time for me to regain confidence and feel safe again.

There’s a name for it: RAS syndrome — When I worked for an electronics company, it annoyed me when colleagues said things like ‘LCD display’ or ‘ISBN number’. When expanded, all these terms repeat themselves: LCD display — Liquid Crystal Display display PCB board — Printed Circuit Board board ISBN number — International Standard Book Number number UPC…

I wish I knew what happened to her — Thanks to Lu Skerdoo who wrote a story about the “old days” that got me thinking about my old family photos. Making an effort For years, I did little more than exchange Christmas cards with some relatives. My parents were no longer alive when my wife became ill in 2010, and I felt…

It might be a long way off, but it’s fun to think about — This is my response to a November writing prompt by Kerry Purvis. Replicators Imagine being able to make anything in a few seconds using a voice command. Replicators go far beyond 3D printing. They make fully functional objects in seconds, including food and drink. I have so many questions! Would all…

A week in my life, and my recent Medium stories — Contents My Life Recent Medium Stories My Life This week’s events A quieter Saturday 🌌🤫 Stephanie’s fast electrician 🔌💨 Dealing with Virgin Media’s price increases 📡💰 Chair repair 🪑🔨 Overwatered cacti 🌵🚿 Too hot in the night 🥵🌃 My son asked my advice about an electrical problem 🚗⚡️ Should I leave Substack? 📝👋 Odds and ends🚶‍♂️🚗 1. A quieter Saturday 🌌🤫

Back in 1992, I didn’t know my mum’s iron was watching me and making notes in its diary — What’s the matter with him? Is he nervous or excited? Perhaps he doesn’t even know. I don’t think he told anyone about his plans for this evening. But I know. I saw him reading that letter, the one he keeps hidden away. And I heard him on the phone. He’s…