The last few weeks I've been trying to fix a computer which belongs to one of the locals from the pub. Simple job... first he needed to get his wireless Internet working (on Win98... ewww... but perfectly simple). I left him with a fully functioning Internet connected machine thinking that all was well in the world. He came and found me in the pub a few days later. It'd asked him if he wanted to install some critical updates or some such... so he did. Now the machine would only boot to a BSOD.
Not knowing what was up, or to be frank caring too much - and seeing as the machine was pretty much a virgin install before he knackered it I decided that a full format and reinstall was the best policy - noticing that there was a NALCache folder in C:\ was another indicator that it'd be a good thing to do anyway - the machine had been on a university network previously in it's life and was fully Novelled up...
I went around yesterday evening right after work to sort it out - armed with a Win98 Installation Floppy - he had the CD (proper one too!) but had knackered his install floppy.
Whilst I was rebuilding his machine, he was outside in the garden with one of his sons rebuilding his garden shed. Doesn't seem such an odd thing to be doing really I suppose - it ended up being just like something straight out of Shameless. Basically, he'd demolished it because bits were a bit rotten, and under the floor was a home for rats and the like... well, now the floor frame has become part of the walls - with the origianal wall bolted to it... the rest is all sort of bolted on to this.
Whilst this is being done the lager, weed and swearwords seemed to be flowing freely - 'Calling Elvis, is anybody home?'. It was somewhat hilarious watching (and helping) them trying to bodge this shed together - it even features an old back door (as part of the walls) - complete with original glass window...
It began to get dark so we started working under the light from posh table lamp from the living room - until we decided to call it a night. The lawn is however covered in all the things that used to be in the shed - some of which quite expensive - but the shed was finished - the walls were up, but there was no roof.
"Ah well... we'll put it all in the shed and hope it doens't rain," says the dad.
"But people would be able to get inside and break the door open and nick all the stuff..." says the son, "If it's possible to break in the someone will do"
The son continues to harp on about how easy it would be to break in and nick the stuff... whatever we did to try and protect the stuff. He then comes up with an idea which has got to be classic illogical Dunkirkite thought... "Why don't we break in to nextdoor's shed and keep the stuff in there over night, it's empty and he won't mind too much..."
I'll let you work out the illogical bit for yourself...
After installing the millions of updates to Windows etc it was finished. I went to the pub - already rather a little worse for wear for a burger and chips...
Who needs TV soaps when you've living with the Dunkirkites?