I'd like to explain that my silence (on t'internet) of late has been due to hostilities. Since May, effectively a state of war has existed between myself and my (then) internet provider over the ever decreasing speed and unreliability of my internet connection.
Put succinctly, during the last few months a phenomenon known as "crosstalk" had effectively degraded the service I've been able to receive to the point that it became no longer viable. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that I'm at the end of a very, very long telephone cable here.
There was -- and has been for over a year -- a remedy for the situation though. All that was required was for my telephone line to be rerouted through a fibre-optic cabinet that had been installed in the local village last year. For some totally inexplicable reason, my service provider's staff have consistently claimed that such a rerouting was a completely impossible operation.
However, just over a month ago I was put in touch with some very nice people at Superfast Cornwall and miraculously they have arranged for that "impossible (never going to happen in your bleeding lifetime) re-routing" to take place.
We "went live" with fibre-optic Broadband about half-six (local time) this evening 17-09-2014. At just under 19mbps it's not fast by many peoples standards, but at the end of this ruddy long telephone line, it's bleeding supersonic, I can assure you. I've been running on less than 0.14mbps and for about 10 to 15% of the day of late.
It is not easy for me to have to admit that Cornwall County Council have actually done something right. Superfast Cornwall are not internet providers it's their job to get the network upgraded. It was set-up by the CCC -- using EU funding -- to bring fast broadband to the county. They have a target 95% of all intent connections within Cornwall by 2017. Good luck fella's, you've done me proud.
Jesus, I hate praising Civil Servants, it goes to their heads. But I always give praise where praise is due.
Whatever, the last few months have not been conducive for creative side on my psyche. Although I have come-up with a few ideas a couple of short stories and a short… second chapter, to Shut-Up and Drive has been proofread. I've got the basic idea for two more very short chapters (more like encounters) for that same yarn. Hopefully as my demeanour recovers over the next few days, I'll get what's ready to go, posted and the others written.
My apologies to everybody who has written to me of late; I really haven't been in the mood to correspond with anyone. Jim and Dave, sorry fella's but I have to include you in that apology.
Regards DC