Just like the office or home the PC or laptop needs cleaning every so often but we seldom take the time to do a thorough job or dismiss our machine as old and time for replacement. My laptop was becoming slow and unresponsive at times so I sought some help and gave my old tech a spring clean and check up and this cost me nothing.

I am pleased to say things are running a lot smoother and quicker.

It took a while but I hadn’t properly sorted things out for two or three years so things were a mess.

Firstly, I went to a site called “ccleaner” and downloaded their software.

Once this has downloaded allow the software to run a check and remove the rubbish from the hard drive.

By going into the tools section of the program one can see a list of all the programs on the computer. Here you can delete any that are not needed. The less crap means more space and speed.

Secondly, I found a defragmenting site called “Auslogics defrag” and downloaded this too.

Again follow the instructions and run the defragmention program. This should reorganise files and bits of programs that have been left scattered around the memory and hard drive.

Thirdly, find a site called “Driver Booster 4.2”. It is free for a 30 day trial so one can delete it once the system has been updated.

This updates all your drivers and deletes unused or outdated drivers which can speed up your system. Once you have completed this then I suggest you delete the software using the ccleaner application so you don’t forget its there and get charged. Your drivers won’t go out of date in any hurry.

Lastly, download the free version software for “Spybot”

This will scan for malware, cookies, Trojan Horses and unwanted spyware which can slow and impair the workings of any computer.

I am now in the process of cleaning up my ancient laptop that i thought was defunct and it appears I can save it.

It’s a good idea once a month to run a ccleaner test, spybot and antivirus check and the defragmentation every six months or so.

Unless you run an antivirus package a good free one is “AVG free”.

So there we are a little work of three to four hours is well worth the time and it cuts out big bills and costs of buying new machines when they are just not needed.

Thanks readers. So long for now and I hope this is of some help.

The older I get the more diverse and eclectic is my taste in music.

This is a good thing but it wasn’t always like that. It should have been but it was a sad sign of the times.

When I was younger, a lot younger, music was almost a tribal thing and it was one’s peers that moulded one into which tribe was your thing.

I liked rock music from the 70s and 80s and so found myself sporting long hair, leather jackets and jeans so became a rocker. If one so much as stated that you liked new romantic, mod, pop or new soul music then you were ridiculed and laughed at. It was tough and music was aimed at different groups socially and one found themselves in rocker or mod pubs. It was often dangerous to venture into the foreign tribal venues.

It was easy to identify the different clubs. Walk down any 80s’ high street and there were punks, rockers, mods, new romantics and trendies all of whom had their official style of dress and with it there were club rules and music styles.

Today the youngsters don’t seem to care. If one takes a look at their playlists on the phones or ipods then they will see tracks of all sorts from dance to rock, easy listening to solo singers and pop to grunge. Its all about what they like without the boundaries of club rules. They all pretty much look the same too so gone is the “club Tie”.

Its fantastic. Music is for all and so what if you like Abba, ACDC, The Sex Pistols, Snow Patrol, Madonna, Elastica, Ministry of Sound, Pavarotti, ELO and Pink floyd on the same playlist? Who cares if you download The Spice Girls, Motorhead, The Cure, Neil Young, Hot Chocolate and Elvis? Its healthy now to buy CDs of George Michael, Earth Wind and Fire, Coldplay, The New Cranes and Dolly Parton from the same store.

Maybe its because music is so accessible today and can be so personal being played through headphones. Or maybe its just because the younger generation have baulked the stereotype genres of society. Maybe peer pressure is less or the ability to be acceptable whatever your taste is the reason. Who knows?

What is still a common factor though is there is one hell of a lot of music out there and it wears many a different hat so there is something for everyone and more.

There is no such thing as brilliant or bad music in my mind. One person’s love is another’s hate. What is important is that if what you listen to, play, sing along to or just enjoy as a group,  evokes emotion and a response then it has done its job.

Listen to what you like not what you think others should want you to listen to.

We are all different and not just in our physical appearance but mentally and emotionally but what most of us have in common is that we need or like companionship and love. There are those who don’t but I am guessing they are very much in the minority.

Today we live such chaotic and random lives and it is hard to balance our emotions and share our homes with other human partners. Long and hard work hours lead to stressful relationships where communication can break down and things can become irreparably damaged.

Humans by nature can be selfish, deceitful and controlling and at times we don’t make good companions.

Our pets by contrast seem to be able to put up with our strange habits, mood swings and life baggage and in turn require very little back. Yes they need feeding, shelter and the occasional stroke or clean but on the whole they just are there. They become part of the home and family and can be depended on to give love and comfort whenever we need it.

Some pets are better at this than others and it also depends on who or what we humans find endearing. A dog for one is an abhorrence where as for others the cat is the devil incarnate. Be it feathered, scaled, furred or shelled we all have our preference. Yes again there will be those who find animals an anathema or only have love for them when served with chips but on the whole I am confident that most like pets.

They can make an empty house fun, a lonely person happy, an ill child well.

I have a dog. He is very anti-social, aggressive maybe, and nervous and there are many times I find him too much. However, he is there when I leave the house and always at the door when I return with a wag of the tail and a sniff of my trousers. He sits with me and just wants my happiness (oh and a tin of food and his bonio) and its these small acts that make it all worth while.  Yes he helps me through the rough and the smooth and he has become my little friend in a furry suit.

How anyone can abuse or mistreat an animal is beyond me and they should be exterminated.

So spare a thought for the pets and keep them warm and well. They will give so much more in return.

Woof woof, meow, tweety tweet, oink, moo, barr, neigh, trumpas, chirp, oooh, squark, quack, roar, bleat, ribbit, whoo, tawit-tawoo, growl, boing, screach, pretty-polly, bark, mew, woola-wooola, gobble-gobble.

For many life gets busy, complicated, confusing and at times very dark. It can seem as though there is little to look forward to and there is nothing one can do to help make life better.

Everything is getting more expensive and demanding and loved ones can become increasingly worrisome and its hard to adapt and accept these changes and burdens.

Work doesn’t seem to care about one’s personal situation and the balance can appear never to be in one’s favour.

This has caused me to ask questions and read up on what to do. It’s a slow process but gradually small seedlings of hope are beginning to poke their heads through the ground.

One thing is to try to clear the mind of thoughts. It’s not that easy I grant you but its possible. Quietness and being on one’s own are a must.

Stop..Sit in the garden..Pause when out on a walk..Park the car and step outside..Look out of the window and watch the world.

Leaning on a gateway the other day, when out walking, I just took some time to look at what was around. Not just a casual glance but an actual look. It’s certainly clears the mind and nature can be an amazing place. I didn’t see anything unusual. On the contrary. I saw a robin hopping about in the hedgerow, dormant plants, horse shoe prints in the mud, puddles and life. I felt so relaxed and peaceful in those few moments and it was brilliant to spend the time.

It made my day just stopping to look and listen and I was amazed that such a simple act could evoke such emotion.

I recommend this to all as you suddenly realise how fast the world spins and time flashes past without noticing. Its nuts watching a squirrel so busy but relaxing too for the watcher.

I’m not turning into some happy-clappy new aged dick or trying to put across some tree hugging ideals. It’s just an observation that I found “nice”.

I guess sitting in a comfy chair and listening to some meandering music or staring at a painting can have a similar effect or watching a cake or loaf of bread bake can be relaxing.

Whatever it is; just stop and do it. Find that place and time to think of nothing and relax till the bills grab your attention, the kids come bursting in or the boss rides your back to get more out of the day from you.

And stopping is free.

Is it really 2017? Doesn’t time fly?

I saw a fox on my post round yesterday. It was literally a couple of feet away and appeared to be free of the cares of the world and happy to mooch about and sniff the bushes. Time was something that he paid little or no attention to. Oh the cunning and sly fox. It was a beautiful thing. We stopped at looked at one another for a few seconds and it was brilliant just to stop and wonder. It made my day. So simple but so cool.

So a new year has started and what does that mean? Is it just another year, a bigger number, a time for change or will it just be more of the same?

I’m guessing but it all has to do with how one thinks and the attitude that one takes on.

I am determined to try to make this year a change for the better. I’m not saying that my life is complete crap and no one  cares but things have got a bit rubbish and the sad thing is that I couldn’t see it even with being told things were not right. So I sought help.

I’m not saying that there will be an amazing change and everything will be rosy and perfect. Far from it but I do hope that by changing a few things, doing some mind exercises and taking some medication that a more positive and fun outlook will prevail.

One trick is to try to do something new. My perception is that this is going to be quite hard and that it will cost too much but should it?

No it should not. Many museums are free or cheep to visit. A cycle ride or walk in the countryside is free. An occasional beer with friends can be offset against not having to buy and prepare a meal at home. The price of happiness is affordable; just re-assess and budget accordingly. I can do that.

Here is my plan. Once or twice a month I shall try doing or going somewhere new, meet up with the friends that have eluded me for many a year and learn how to say yes more often.

It is time to tidy and clear out my house and with that I hope to clean up me. I am not making any stupid new year resolutions or promises to make massive changes as this would be silly and counter-productive. What I am promising is that I shall do a little light dusting and body housekeeping thus try to improve my lot.

How hard can that be?

Hip, Hip, Hip, Hooray and all that.

If I can do it then so can you.