Bah – I thought I’d try to get ahead of my forthcoming studies by starting an online course in Java. The course uses the NetBeans IDE and the only mac versions available are for intel-based macs. My main mac is an 2·0GHz XServe G5 – from well before the transition to Intel.

I’ve found Eclipse and MochaCode and might try these. Also, I’m sure Leopard Client came with an installer for XCode, Apple’s own IDE. But to avoid me getting totally confused, can anyone recommend an online course for these? (Yes, I know this seems lazy – but I’m posting while waiting for onions to caramelise – and will look properly later.)

Other options seems to be

• trying the Netbeans installation and course on Hexie, who has an 1·6 GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 1024 * 600 pixel screen and doesn’t talk to external monitors
• waiting for the course to start and seeing what facilities I get at Napier
• bending the plastic for a new-ish Mac Pro. (This would be my preferred/fantasy option, especially if I can get one from just before Lion came out so I can have multiple boot disks:
  • Sludge Leopard – because Lion is still at ‘point-nought’
  • Lion – because that’s where MacOS is at09
  • linux
  • Windows.

I’m tickled to learn of the existence of tofu interconnects, especially as they work in 6 dimensions. Soya products transmitting information in hyperspace?

Some time after 11pm yesterday, my dad called to tell me that ambulance staff were attending my mum after an apparent stroke. I threw some clothes into a bag and looked at train and flight possibilities while Elly looked into taxis.

About an hour later, my dad texted to give an all-clear: ‘stoke symptoms now abated. Speech & movement now normal. No need for hospitalisation. Cause was a TIA – a transient episode. See GPO tomorrow.’ So the mad dash for Worcester was put on hold.

Some time after 11pm yesterday, my dad called to tell me that ambulance staff were attending my mum after an apparent stroke. I threw some clothes into a bag and looked at train and flight possibilities while Elly looked into taxis.

About an hour later, my dad texted to give an all-clear: ‘stoke symptoms now abated. Speech & movement now normal. No need for hospitalisation. Cause was a TIA – a transient episode. See GPO tomorrow.’ So the mad dash for Worcester was put on hold.

He emailed today to say ‘Mum has to visit the vampire at the surgery tomorrow for blood samples to be taken & have an ECG. As from tomorrow, she is to take aspirin to thin her blood. This is for a month to check on the effect on blood pressure. This is not madly high but needs to be kept in check.’

I suspect, admittedly on zero knowledge of her medication regime, that the pain-killers taken in connection with having broken her femur neck in March and other medication stemming from diabetes complications may be responsible – but I will look into that when I make a planned visit to Worcester on Thursday. During this trip I get to meet my brother’s new girlfriend – oo-er!

I phoned home this morning – dad sounded OK but mum sounded rather tired – hardly surprising after a scary episode. My mum is nearly 81 and my dad is 83 so I guess I’m lucky to have them both – and that mentally both are fully functional as far as I can tell.

On a slightly better note, my offer of a place at Napier was made unconditional today (they were waiting on a reference to confirm that I really am suitable for the course) so I’m a step closer to trying to get my head around Java and OSI models – and to buying a new mac with a student discount. Yeehah!

I’ve finally finished sorting Vilior but it’s been too wet to do the alpha-shakedown so I’ve finally got around to uploading photos from February, March and April. Can you feel the tediousness of my prose yet?

Update 1
May’s pix are here.

Update 24

June’s pix are here.

Update 3
July’s pix are here
August’s pix so far are here.

This pleases me wildly.