Broadband outage frustration

I slept more soundly, far better than I have done for a while, but was still aroused in the early hours by the newd to pee - as much as I have done for months since the stroke, due to these medications I'm taking, but I came through feeling refreshed,  clearer headed and not lethargic, thanks to acupuncture! 

I didn't push myself to do much until mid-morning when I recorded and edited this week's Reflection and Daily Office for St Hilda. It's a bit irksome with my impaired eyesight at the moment. The mouse cursor readily gets lost in the upper left of the screen and I have difficulty recognising where it is to retain mouse control. Maybe if I work my eyes with persistence the exercise will improve my vision, re-establishing disrupted connections in the brain. Talking of which, our broadband is off-line. Such a nuisance. Only yesterday TalkTalk announced a price rise. Is it time to swap service providors?

For now I have to go upstairs to get a 4G signal to continue working, then shuttle files between phone and computer with a USB drive. We've become utterly dependent on stable internet for everything we do. No good can come of this. I'm wondering if the present outage is an infrastructure issue, a hacking crisis, or a solar flare disrupting every internet connected device.

Both Kath and Owain called for a chat this morning. Rachel tends to call at night due to the time zone difference. 

I cooked cod with sweet potatoes leeks and carrots for lunch. Afterwards a siesta in bed for a change, before going for a walk in the park. While I was out I started thinking I should brief my sister about the power of attorney signing application. I sent her a message - at least I can get a 4G signal outdoors. When I got home, I got the signed documents together to send to June. I decided to send a copy of an email from the Public Guardian's Office explaining how to deal with the problem. 

It was more difficult off-line than I expected. First find the email you want to print, on your phone, next download a copy you can transfer to a USB stick, not as straightforward as you expect. The phone user interface is too fiddly and complex to make this easy. I have a super little USB drive with a B interface at one end, C at the other, to enhance transfer from phone to computer. It worked fine, though I had trouble finding the file as there's so much stuff on his handy little utility. Once I did, I printed the email copy to include with other documents to mail to my sister, then headed out in the dark to the Post Office. It was empty, a few minutes before closure. What luck, considering time wasted getting the email printed. 

I went to the Coop for fresh chicken thighs to roast. Success despite the frustrations, grateful that getting the job done didn't exhaust me. I spent the evening relaxing, watching an old black and white movie of 1953 on BBC Four called 'Desert Rats' about the siege of Tobruk in the North African campaign of World War Two. So many soldiers with Received Pronunciation accents, stilted dialogue and an all male cast. I remember seeing it on telly when I was a boy, over 65 years ago. A classic low key celebration of courage and stubborn endurance in a post-war war movie.