Monday, April 14, 2008

Techno-Dope - that's me!

Okay, so who's the complete dope - I'm afraid the answer has to be me. This morning, bright and early (9.30 am) the phone rang and it was John Lewis. A very cheery chap with a Scottish accent (sounding just like Doctor Who, or should I say David Tennant) asked me if I was having problems with my new TV. We had a very brief conversation. He told me to take the remote control in my hand and press this tiny little button (very hard to find among all those buttons - it's the biggest remote I've ever seen) which said TV/DTV. This I did and Hey Presto (magic) there were all my lost channels, hiding behind that tiny button. I told him I thought he was wonderful, and thanked him profusely, and then I phoned Son to thank him too - again - because he had obviously done it perfectly well on Friday, it's just that neither of us knew which button to press to make it work properly. (And after looking again in the 55 page impenetrable instruction booklet, I still wouldn't have been any the wiser!) I am seriously thinking of phoning Samsung and suggesting that I re-write the destructions, because honestly they are written in a completely foreign language. I'm sure there are more Techno-Dopes out there, like me, who would be grateful for a clear explanation. Simply "Press this button" would help!

Today is Son's moving day too, and he has already been here to collect all his stuff from the loft, and from the Storage Unit. He and his friend were very cheerful, considering all the lifting and loading they had to do (there were at least 5 boxes of records, the heavy vinyl kind). Plus his bed and mattress, his large mirror and amps, speakers, clothes, bedclothes etc. They also took the piano stool, which looks lovely now it has been stripped and the seat recovered. The wardrobe is still in the downstairs hall, though, because no-one has room for it. I have offered it to either my downstairs neighbour, or my friend across the road, on long-term loan. One way or another, that should sort it out. Anyway, I'm expecting to hear from Son later when they have driven back and forth and loaded and unloaded more stuff. It will be great to hear that they are in their new home at last.

"Quelle Day", as Holly Golightly might have said. I'm just off to the Tip with more rubbish...

PS. I really have been remiss with the three lovely, shiny new Awards I have recently been given. I will put them onto my Blog later (after the trip to the Tip) and thank the givers properly. Toodlepip for now!

15 comments:

nuttycow said...

You are not alone. I always find instruction manuals are written in complete gobbledegook. Maybe it's so we can spend an absolute fortune calling up their (not very helpful) help desks?

Mean Mom said...

What a relief that you got that sorted out, then. Instruction manuals are often so overwhelming and the simplest instruction can be cloaked by the most complicated language.

I've got some stuff you could have taken to the tip. My eldest son, still living at home, has bought himself a new bed, but it doesn't have drawers underneath, as the last one did! It is also very close to the floor. The old drawers were FULL to the brim. Oh joy!

Maggie May said...

Hope son isn't going too far away.
My son & family have crammed things into my house so that we can hardly move!
Glad that the TV mystery has been solved.

Sorry that I've had to tag you, to add to your problems! Details at my place. Very easy to follow! You might well have done this one, in which case ignore it!

Laura Jane Williams said...

Would it make you feel any better if I tell you that 'dope', in teen-speak, can actually mean 'really good'?

So 'techno-dope' could actually be read as 'great with technology' instead of being bad!

x

Rob Clack said...

I'm supposed to be a geek but still had to run a series of experiments and make myself a checklist for recording via the digibox. The number of programmes we failed to record was embarrassing!

family affairs said...

Thank you for the lovely new award and for the tagging questions. I am now back and getting myself back in blogging gear.....may take some time! Thanks again - v exiting and what a huge number of comments you're getting these days! I didn't know your son works in the music industry - I used to work for EMI!

Working Mum said...

Well, I feel a dope now. I set up a Samsung digital TV from John Lewis for my mother-in-law, leaving her explicit simple instructions and I'd forgotten about the TV/DTV button too!

Glad you're sorted now.

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hello nuttycow - nice to meet you, and thanks for your visit. Yes, it's so frustrating, but they were very helpful and polite, and they phoned me so it was free! M xx

Hi Mean Mom, guess what - I have been up into the loft today and there are probably about 4 boxes still left! Little bugger! I'm determined to get rid of it though.M :)

Hi Maggie, yes, I've got all the channels and no time to watch them!
Son is in London - and I hope to visit soon. Missing him already! Will be over to investigate the Tag - thanks! M xx

HI G.I.M. Well that's something I didn't know - of course. Does the word "useless" have a double meaning too? M :)

Well Rob, I always think of you as the supreme authority on all things geek/techno. Glad to know that you're not (quite) perfect. M :)

Hi Lulu, and welcome back. I'm sure it won't take you long to get back on form! I know, lots of new visitors, which is just lovely. I do hope that Son's new job will be OK! Fingers (and everything else)crossed. M xx

HI Working Mum - well all I can say is that I'm obviously the new TV/DTV expert! M :)

Anonymous said...

All the best to your son with his move and hope he will be happy.

So, the guy on the phone sounded like David Tennant. I wouldn't mind speaking to him myself. I absolutely adore David Tennant.

Crystal xx

Expat mum said...

Yes, we have a bit of a "smart house" as they call them in the States. I can have music in many rooms, via speakers in the ceiling; there are various gadgets standing in a stack in a seperate room, ready to do all sorts of wonderful things. And because my daughter turned off the TV "the wrong way" yesterday, it took me 40 minutes to get the TV WITH SOUND working.
One of these days the remote is going out the bloody window, along with the spouse who wanted all of this shite!

Expat mum said...

Sorry - venting after a long and stressful day, see post.

Donna said...

Glad you got everything sorted!! Have fun with all those channels!!hughugs

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Hi Crystal, yes, I hope it will be a good move for him - he needs a home where he can settle for a bit. I'm quite keen on David Tennant too - and on Doctor Who! M :)

Dear Expatmum, poor you, I feel a complete fraud. I once threw something vital out of a window, and it was never seen again!! M :-)

Hi Donna, yes, lucky me. Now all I need is the time to sit and watch it. M :-)

Dusty Spider said...

Glad you got the telly sorted out. You been down to the beach lately? Flick xx

aims said...

If The Man suddenly disappeared I would have to unplug everything and pack it away. He has everything so wired up technically that I can only manage to turn the tv on...anything else during the day doesn't happen while he is at work. I just don't know how to use them...sigh..or duh...