July 2025
It's Mini Time
Been umming and ahhing about moving over to an Apple Mac Mini for a while. I’d decided I didn’t need a simple replacement of the MacBook Pro—I can use the iPad when I’m out and about after all, and I didn’t want the expense of an iMac. The M4 Mini has been getting boss reviews everywhere and I had no doubt this was the way to go. Having my current laptop only work using an external screen has been okay. But there has been that worry about what happens if it stops working; it may be difficult telling what was wrong if there were ever any issues ie if the computer has stopped working or if it’s a software or hardware issue etc.
The ole MacBook Pro (with its useless screen)
Over this Prime Day period (which is misnamed innit?) the price of the Mac Mini was significantly reduced—as were many of the worthwhile peripherals. And so I’ve bitten that bullet and gone for it now (I knew I was going to get it at some point, so it made sense to pay less for it when I could).
Of course, it is never simple is it? I got the M4 Mini in good time, but it hasn’t been as straightforward ‘Migrating’ over from my old mac to this as it would normally be for several reasons. The main pain was I only had one screen for the two macs so I had to keep taking the HDMI cable from one output to put in the other as I went through the question and answer process to confirm everything. A little painful. Secondly it wouldn’t recognise the wee mouse I had. Ultimately after much messing around I had to just use the keyboard and put it in ‘Accessibility Mode’. Jeez, that isn’t necessarily as simple as you’d think it would be (it’s not a case of just using the navigation arrows). Between dealing with the HDMI and then messing about in Inaccessible Mode it was quite painful.
Thirdly the GigaBytes taken up in my Pro were more than available in the M4 so I couldn’t simply copy everything over. Yup.
I’d bought a hub device with an SSD enclosure. But I couldn’t format the drive until the computer was working. Have sorted that now, there’s plenty more room to put all my Apps on to it.
The New Mac Mini M4
Of course now I need to see what Apps I need to download on to it, and get those downloaded. I probably don’t need that many to be fair. The main ones that spring to mind are: Scrivener, Rapidweaver, DropBox, a drawing app or two, and possibly MacFamilyTree (not that I’ve been using the latter).
That though is not as simple as it should be. In that last week I cancelled SKY TV which stops at the end of the month, but the Broadband stops on Monday! So I need to ID all the software apps I need to download, then do that before Monday. Only six or so Apps simple, right? Well it would be if it turns out I know what all my Usernames and Passwords are etc. It may well be a stressful day on Sunday; the internet version of the ‘Race Around the World’. Wish me luck.
That said the M4 mini looks amazing. Can’t wait to use it when it is fully loaded and I have my new Broadband working in a a few weeks.
The ole MacBook Pro (with its useless screen)
Over this Prime Day period (which is misnamed innit?) the price of the Mac Mini was significantly reduced—as were many of the worthwhile peripherals. And so I’ve bitten that bullet and gone for it now (I knew I was going to get it at some point, so it made sense to pay less for it when I could).
Of course, it is never simple is it? I got the M4 Mini in good time, but it hasn’t been as straightforward ‘Migrating’ over from my old mac to this as it would normally be for several reasons. The main pain was I only had one screen for the two macs so I had to keep taking the HDMI cable from one output to put in the other as I went through the question and answer process to confirm everything. A little painful. Secondly it wouldn’t recognise the wee mouse I had. Ultimately after much messing around I had to just use the keyboard and put it in ‘Accessibility Mode’. Jeez, that isn’t necessarily as simple as you’d think it would be (it’s not a case of just using the navigation arrows). Between dealing with the HDMI and then messing about in Inaccessible Mode it was quite painful.
Thirdly the GigaBytes taken up in my Pro were more than available in the M4 so I couldn’t simply copy everything over. Yup.
I’d bought a hub device with an SSD enclosure. But I couldn’t format the drive until the computer was working. Have sorted that now, there’s plenty more room to put all my Apps on to it.
The New Mac Mini M4
Of course now I need to see what Apps I need to download on to it, and get those downloaded. I probably don’t need that many to be fair. The main ones that spring to mind are: Scrivener, Rapidweaver, DropBox, a drawing app or two, and possibly MacFamilyTree (not that I’ve been using the latter).
That though is not as simple as it should be. In that last week I cancelled SKY TV which stops at the end of the month, but the Broadband stops on Monday! So I need to ID all the software apps I need to download, then do that before Monday. Only six or so Apps simple, right? Well it would be if it turns out I know what all my Usernames and Passwords are etc. It may well be a stressful day on Sunday; the internet version of the ‘Race Around the World’. Wish me luck.
That said the M4 mini looks amazing. Can’t wait to use it when it is fully loaded and I have my new Broadband working in a a few weeks.
Comments
DocksFest 2
For the second consecutive year I journeyed over the country to the east coast to go to DocksFest in Sunny Cleethorpes. Last year had my faves, Frank Turner and Lottery Winners on. There was Feeder and Razorlight too. The latter were the headliners but I got of as they were starting as my legs were a little worse for wear. I don’t know how many peoples walls I sat on as I made my way back to where I was staying ,but it was quite a few. This time I took a chair (a really nice one which compresses down to fit in my wee rucksack) and I definitely didn’t want to miss any of the headliner—as this year it was the Charlatans.
I ended up contacting the organisers due to restricted mobility and, largely, not wanting to stand for too long. They confirmed it was okay to bring a chair, and there wouldn’t be any chairs provided. In the end the information that no-one could bring chairs in general turned out not to be true, there were loads sitting back from the stage in chairs they’d bought. Meanwhile in the ‘Accessible Area’ where there were apparently to be no chairs provided it was replete with decent chairs. So I needn’t have brought—or bought—mine. My chair though is pretty damn good and I'm sure it will get used. Wonder whether I’ll get it out on a camping trip this year?
Anyhoo, all was mighty fine and I ended up seated through most of the festival from Corella (around 4pm) through to the end (10:30ish)—and that meant the walk back to my hotel was a lot easier than last year (and I saw all the headliner's act). The hotel was a lot nearer to the DocksFest site (the Meridian Showground) than last year’s place too, which no doubt also helped.
Corella
Maximo Park
Ash
I missed the first couple of acts as I didn’t think an eleven hour day in the same place would be ideal for me. Of course the beer was excellent from the organiser Docks Brewery. And I ended up sticking largely with Clap Clap Fish after a Hard Graft. Must say I really liked the ‘Hard Graft’ T-shirt in the style of a Grand Theft Auto comic, wouldn’t have minded getting one if I was in merchandise mode.
The Charlatans
The Charlatans
Corella got me into festival mode easily enough and they were followed hot on the heals by Maximo Park (who I last saw in 2005 at the time of A Certain Trigger). They were excellent. Originally I thought that they should have been second on the list behind the headliner. That said, I thought Ash were bloody excellent when they came on from start to finish. So it was a good call actually to put them second on the poster. Of course the Charlatans were the main band and I loved ‘em. I headed up towards the stage for some of their songs; other than when I went for a beer or a toilet visit it was the only time I left the seat in the ‘Accessible Area.’ I chatted with a few people there and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
It seemed a little less busy than last year. But last year I was stood at the front so it wasn’t going to feel the same to me anyway: not exactly comparing like with like. The line up at this year’s festival, and last, deserves to be sold out and enjoyed by all. Good beer, decent venue, and a top line up—at a good price. Oh and there was no rain at all on Saturday—Result!! What’s not to like!?
On Friday I made it to Docks Beer, in Grimsby, and on Sunday I went to a few pubs in Cleethorpes. Assuming it’s on again next year I expect there’s a good chance I’ll get down (well, over) there again.
I ended up contacting the organisers due to restricted mobility and, largely, not wanting to stand for too long. They confirmed it was okay to bring a chair, and there wouldn’t be any chairs provided. In the end the information that no-one could bring chairs in general turned out not to be true, there were loads sitting back from the stage in chairs they’d bought. Meanwhile in the ‘Accessible Area’ where there were apparently to be no chairs provided it was replete with decent chairs. So I needn’t have brought—or bought—mine. My chair though is pretty damn good and I'm sure it will get used. Wonder whether I’ll get it out on a camping trip this year?
Anyhoo, all was mighty fine and I ended up seated through most of the festival from Corella (around 4pm) through to the end (10:30ish)—and that meant the walk back to my hotel was a lot easier than last year (and I saw all the headliner's act). The hotel was a lot nearer to the DocksFest site (the Meridian Showground) than last year’s place too, which no doubt also helped.
Corella
Maximo Park
Ash
I missed the first couple of acts as I didn’t think an eleven hour day in the same place would be ideal for me. Of course the beer was excellent from the organiser Docks Brewery. And I ended up sticking largely with Clap Clap Fish after a Hard Graft. Must say I really liked the ‘Hard Graft’ T-shirt in the style of a Grand Theft Auto comic, wouldn’t have minded getting one if I was in merchandise mode.
The Charlatans
The Charlatans
Corella got me into festival mode easily enough and they were followed hot on the heals by Maximo Park (who I last saw in 2005 at the time of A Certain Trigger). They were excellent. Originally I thought that they should have been second on the list behind the headliner. That said, I thought Ash were bloody excellent when they came on from start to finish. So it was a good call actually to put them second on the poster. Of course the Charlatans were the main band and I loved ‘em. I headed up towards the stage for some of their songs; other than when I went for a beer or a toilet visit it was the only time I left the seat in the ‘Accessible Area.’ I chatted with a few people there and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
It seemed a little less busy than last year. But last year I was stood at the front so it wasn’t going to feel the same to me anyway: not exactly comparing like with like. The line up at this year’s festival, and last, deserves to be sold out and enjoyed by all. Good beer, decent venue, and a top line up—at a good price. Oh and there was no rain at all on Saturday—Result!! What’s not to like!?
On Friday I made it to Docks Beer, in Grimsby, and on Sunday I went to a few pubs in Cleethorpes. Assuming it’s on again next year I expect there’s a good chance I’ll get down (well, over) there again.
Goodbye Sky
02/07/25 08:17 Filed in: TV
Been with Sky for over twenty years. Twenty!! Finally I have decided to leave. I’d made that decision several times before, but ended up staying each time after they persuaded me with a massive drop in prices. This time I thought it was unlikely they’d be able to persuade me —unless they offered me something ridiculously out of this world.
In the end they of course offered to drop the costs (by about a third). But the prices have been so elevated lately it still seemed too much (based on bundle prices I’ve seen for other companies, like Virgin—oh and what Sky do for new customers). In any case I’ve lost my faith in them: anyone who can drop the price by a half or a third each time you tell them you’re 'minded to leave' shouldn’t be supported so much. It’s like they say ‘We see you’ve been loyally with us for a long time, so we can now offer you a discount.’ As we’ve been royally screwing you for the last few years (and were happy to continue doing that—until you rang up today).
Of course to complicate matters the TV service cancellation is a 31 day notice, whilst the Broadband will be cancelled after 14 days. Just to make it messier, hey?
They first told me I'd have to send the boxes (Sky TV box and Broadband Router) within a finite time (they'd send me the boxes for that). Then after looking at the age of them they changed their mind and said I could 'keep them'—which I guess means put in the bin.
Haven’t lined up my replacement services yet. I’ll sort that out next week. There's only Sky Atlantic I'll miss. But not that much to be fair.
In the end they of course offered to drop the costs (by about a third). But the prices have been so elevated lately it still seemed too much (based on bundle prices I’ve seen for other companies, like Virgin—oh and what Sky do for new customers). In any case I’ve lost my faith in them: anyone who can drop the price by a half or a third each time you tell them you’re 'minded to leave' shouldn’t be supported so much. It’s like they say ‘We see you’ve been loyally with us for a long time, so we can now offer you a discount.’ As we’ve been royally screwing you for the last few years (and were happy to continue doing that—until you rang up today).
Of course to complicate matters the TV service cancellation is a 31 day notice, whilst the Broadband will be cancelled after 14 days. Just to make it messier, hey?
They first told me I'd have to send the boxes (Sky TV box and Broadband Router) within a finite time (they'd send me the boxes for that). Then after looking at the age of them they changed their mind and said I could 'keep them'—which I guess means put in the bin.
Haven’t lined up my replacement services yet. I’ll sort that out next week. There's only Sky Atlantic I'll miss. But not that much to be fair.