Billy Young's Blog, page 16
April 19, 2013
19th April 2013
The graphics card has been mining away nicely over the past week. Unfortunately there was a ddos attack on the pool I mine with which caused a couple of days down time. To add to this I had the stressful experience again of my wallet malfunctioning. Last weekend I searched for answers trolling through forums into the early hours. After trying everything suggested and failing it was my son’s original idea that worked. He copied his files for the wallet folder minus the wallet which we then copied to my folder. After a rescan it is finally up and running for now. I have decided to try another wallet because of the problems I have suffered from the one I use now. There are several to choose from so it is just a matter of picking one and send my coins to it. Then of course change the payment details at the pool and everything will be good again.
To distress this week I will load up CivV. Though I do have to start some seeds for the garden plus check all the things I have planted already. I will also need to feed my tomatoes and pepper plants, which survived the winter indoors. Not the tomatoes by the way they were bought from the garden centre when I was on holiday.
As for writing it seems to have dried up at the moment. That happens from time to time. I’m sure that the muses will visit eventually. Not sure when. I only hope that it is soon as I have a lot of poetry to catch up with and the short that I started needs finishing. If it wasn’t for the stress of this week as well as work my mind might be more in the frame to create. That’s life though.
To distress this week I will load up CivV. Though I do have to start some seeds for the garden plus check all the things I have planted already. I will also need to feed my tomatoes and pepper plants, which survived the winter indoors. Not the tomatoes by the way they were bought from the garden centre when I was on holiday.
As for writing it seems to have dried up at the moment. That happens from time to time. I’m sure that the muses will visit eventually. Not sure when. I only hope that it is soon as I have a lot of poetry to catch up with and the short that I started needs finishing. If it wasn’t for the stress of this week as well as work my mind might be more in the frame to create. That’s life though.
April 12, 2013
12th April 2013
It has been a very big turn around for the price of Bitcoins over the past couple of days. From a high of over a hundred and fifty pounds it has fallen to under fifty. Sadly I hadn’t ordered Magz new computer and now don’t have enough to get it till the price comes up again. That is of course if it does. Like all such things, stocks, shares, and money market speculation it is a risk you have to weigh up. Yes it is a gamble but I’m mining the coins so less so for me.
I did finally get my new graphics card. I was worried at first because it runs very hot ninety five degrees Celsius. I did some research on the net and found that it isn’t something to worry too much about unless it hits a hundred and twenty so I feel easier. I was leaving my computer on at night to work away at earning bitcoins but Magz doesn’t feel as happy with the new card being so hot so now I turn it off. I see her point and it is best to be safe.
Magz had to go to Glasgow to collect the package on the bus. She had a long walk to the sorting office after that. She was knackered by the time she got home which was after I got home. I just wish I could have gotten her that laptop ordered before the crash. Well we can’t have everything. I’ll just have to find some way to make it up to her for going all that way for me. The worst is she found out when she got there I could have paid the import tax and handling charges online then had the thing delivered in a day or two. We’ll know next time though.
I did finally get my new graphics card. I was worried at first because it runs very hot ninety five degrees Celsius. I did some research on the net and found that it isn’t something to worry too much about unless it hits a hundred and twenty so I feel easier. I was leaving my computer on at night to work away at earning bitcoins but Magz doesn’t feel as happy with the new card being so hot so now I turn it off. I see her point and it is best to be safe.
Magz had to go to Glasgow to collect the package on the bus. She had a long walk to the sorting office after that. She was knackered by the time she got home which was after I got home. I just wish I could have gotten her that laptop ordered before the crash. Well we can’t have everything. I’ll just have to find some way to make it up to her for going all that way for me. The worst is she found out when she got there I could have paid the import tax and handling charges online then had the thing delivered in a day or two. We’ll know next time though.
April 5, 2013
5th April 2013
It has been good to get a week off of work, though it hasn’t all been easy sailing. I tried to sell some of my Bitcoins through Mt Gox, an online exchange for that currency, which didn’t go to plan. The company in question is based in Japan so I needed to send the money that I raised from the sale via International Bank Transfer. I got all the information from my bank but the transfer failed and Mt Gox has been fairly unhelpful. In the end it was easier to put the cash back into Bitcoins. Sadly this meant that because of the increasing price for this crypto currency I have fewer coins.
Why sell? I hear you ask. Well I found out that ordering goods from the US will mean I have to pay an import tax. This is around twenty percent of the value. It was for this reason I thought of trying to save a few pennies by getting my coins turned into cash and buying locally. This would also mean getting items quicker. Sadly I will now be forced to continue with using the US retailers to get my goods. There is a real opportunity for someone in the UK with the finance to make a killing. There is also a gap in the UK market for retailers to take advantage of. Bitcoins has seen some growth over the past few years as well as soared in price in the past three or four months. I wish I had the financial ability to take advantage of this situation.
I have been tracking my new graphics card as it wings its way to me. At the moment it has just cleared customs so I will get a card through the door any day. I also got a start on the story I told you about last week but sadly didn’t manage to finish it yet. Too many distractions. One positive was the visit to the garden centre. I got some new containers fro my bushes. They were in much need of replanting which they now have been. I also planted out the corn, onions and potatoes for this year. There is still more to be planted but Magz has her tomato plants and they are now in the propagator to protect them from the frosty nights. Yes the frost is still with us though spring is finally in the air. It has been a long winter.
Why sell? I hear you ask. Well I found out that ordering goods from the US will mean I have to pay an import tax. This is around twenty percent of the value. It was for this reason I thought of trying to save a few pennies by getting my coins turned into cash and buying locally. This would also mean getting items quicker. Sadly I will now be forced to continue with using the US retailers to get my goods. There is a real opportunity for someone in the UK with the finance to make a killing. There is also a gap in the UK market for retailers to take advantage of. Bitcoins has seen some growth over the past few years as well as soared in price in the past three or four months. I wish I had the financial ability to take advantage of this situation.
I have been tracking my new graphics card as it wings its way to me. At the moment it has just cleared customs so I will get a card through the door any day. I also got a start on the story I told you about last week but sadly didn’t manage to finish it yet. Too many distractions. One positive was the visit to the garden centre. I got some new containers fro my bushes. They were in much need of replanting which they now have been. I also planted out the corn, onions and potatoes for this year. There is still more to be planted but Magz has her tomato plants and they are now in the propagator to protect them from the frosty nights. Yes the frost is still with us though spring is finally in the air. It has been a long winter.
March 29, 2013
29th March 2013
I’m on holiday fro the Easter break. A week off to enjoy. During the week I plan to write a short story which I only came up with this week while at work. Sorry but I can’t really tell you much about the project at the moment though I may post it on Goodreads or Authonomy once I complete it. Like always when you have an idea I’m filled with the excitement that you get from it. That strange rush which makes it seem like it is the best thing ever. Of course I know that everyone who create think this way. Now I have to put the idea into words and hope I do justice to the crystallizing tale in my head.
With winter still holding the land to ransom the gardening season is still to start. I was hoping to get started planting the veg for this year but it isn’t warm enough to begin that. I will be going to the garden centre next week to make plans on what to grow this year. Any plants that I get will need to be kept indoors for now though till spring truly arrives. Sadly there is little sign of that yet. Very frustrating with the sun shining brightly today.
I order a new graphic card using Bitcoins, a crypto currency which you mine using your computer. I’ve been doing this for about the past year and a half. Over the past couple of weeks though the price that they are worth has shot up this led me to decide to spend some to beef up my computer. For this reason I ordered a Radeon HD7970 from Bitcoinstore.com. After a slight delay I got an email today confirming that it has finally been sent and a tracking number. I have also been looking at a new laptop for Magz but will wait till I receive my graphics card first or the price of the coins go up before committing to getting the one I was looking at for her. Of course the price of the coins may go down as such things can do. Still Magz does need a new computer as hers is beginning to creak at the seams. I did say to her when I began mining that I would spend some of the proceeds on a new one for her so it seems like I finally might just manage that goal.
With winter still holding the land to ransom the gardening season is still to start. I was hoping to get started planting the veg for this year but it isn’t warm enough to begin that. I will be going to the garden centre next week to make plans on what to grow this year. Any plants that I get will need to be kept indoors for now though till spring truly arrives. Sadly there is little sign of that yet. Very frustrating with the sun shining brightly today.
I order a new graphic card using Bitcoins, a crypto currency which you mine using your computer. I’ve been doing this for about the past year and a half. Over the past couple of weeks though the price that they are worth has shot up this led me to decide to spend some to beef up my computer. For this reason I ordered a Radeon HD7970 from Bitcoinstore.com. After a slight delay I got an email today confirming that it has finally been sent and a tracking number. I have also been looking at a new laptop for Magz but will wait till I receive my graphics card first or the price of the coins go up before committing to getting the one I was looking at for her. Of course the price of the coins may go down as such things can do. Still Magz does need a new computer as hers is beginning to creak at the seams. I did say to her when I began mining that I would spend some of the proceeds on a new one for her so it seems like I finally might just manage that goal.
March 22, 2013
22nd March 2013
What a great day for rugby last Saturday was. Even though Scotland was beaten by the French it was still a good game. Italy started the days sport by giving us a edge of the seat game where they beat the Irish in Rome. Wales then snatched the championship from the English in an impressive show of strength in the scrum. England struggled to fight on in the second half but Wales really began to dominate them. As I said Scotland was beaten by a resurgent France though they still weren’t the same team from last year. The Scots did fight till the last but it wasn’t to be our day or should I say night.
No rugby this weekend so I will get back to my game of Civ V. With winter still biting here, we’re to get more snow over the next few days, there will be no gardening. I did see that my strawberries have faired better than I though last week. The dead leaves and runners have helped shield them from the worst of the frost. Luckily I left them in place planning to clear them this week which won’t be happening now due to the weather. So it means that I will be having another of those lazy winter weekends perfect for gaming on the computer.
I do hope that spring start to show soon. Next week I go on holiday from work for Easter so I am hoping to get to the garden centre to get prepared for the growing season. I will also still need to spray my trees but the still looked winter dead last week with little change viewing them from the window today when I got home. Not surprising as it is baltic out today. Let us hope this is the last of winter’s blast so we can see life spring again. Winter is getting very weary now.
No rugby this weekend so I will get back to my game of Civ V. With winter still biting here, we’re to get more snow over the next few days, there will be no gardening. I did see that my strawberries have faired better than I though last week. The dead leaves and runners have helped shield them from the worst of the frost. Luckily I left them in place planning to clear them this week which won’t be happening now due to the weather. So it means that I will be having another of those lazy winter weekends perfect for gaming on the computer.
I do hope that spring start to show soon. Next week I go on holiday from work for Easter so I am hoping to get to the garden centre to get prepared for the growing season. I will also still need to spray my trees but the still looked winter dead last week with little change viewing them from the window today when I got home. Not surprising as it is baltic out today. Let us hope this is the last of winter’s blast so we can see life spring again. Winter is getting very weary now.
March 15, 2013
15th March 2013
Tammy has shared another cold with me this week. It was to be expected with the weather turning back to winter snow this week. Just when I thought that spring was showing the first signs of arriving. My strawberries have suffered from the long winter and I may have to replant my patch though that will now be a few weeks away now. I’ll look over them this weekend when I tidy up the garden. It is amazing how much of a mess your garden gets over winter. Stuff blows in with the storms you get and though you clear it several times there is always more that seems to magical find its way in as soon as you think everything it tip top.
The last of the Six Nations is this weekend. Scotland are in Paris and the French are sure to be tough opponents as they try to avoid the Wooden Spoon for the first in their history. The big game though will be between England and Wales as the Welsh try to end the English winning streak while at the same time snatch the championship from their grasp. Italy v Ireland which I think could be a good game though it is the least hyped of the three games.
All the games are on tomorrow with the Scottish game not starting till around eight in the evening which will mean I won’t have the time for gaming this weekend. I didn’t get much last week as the game crashed a few time. The first time it happened I’d been playing for over an hour and as happens to us all I hadn’t saved. My own fault I know. It does mean I’m in the middle of a great game with no time to play. Well it will be something that I can keep to the following weekend.
The last of the Six Nations is this weekend. Scotland are in Paris and the French are sure to be tough opponents as they try to avoid the Wooden Spoon for the first in their history. The big game though will be between England and Wales as the Welsh try to end the English winning streak while at the same time snatch the championship from their grasp. Italy v Ireland which I think could be a good game though it is the least hyped of the three games.
All the games are on tomorrow with the Scottish game not starting till around eight in the evening which will mean I won’t have the time for gaming this weekend. I didn’t get much last week as the game crashed a few time. The first time it happened I’d been playing for over an hour and as happens to us all I hadn’t saved. My own fault I know. It does mean I’m in the middle of a great game with no time to play. Well it will be something that I can keep to the following weekend.
March 8, 2013
8th March 2013
Another weekend of great rugby to look forward to. Scotland will be at home to Wales and I’m hoping my country can continue the streak of wins that it has managed to rack up over the last two games. It will be a tough match I’m guessing so I’ll keep my fingers crossed for Scotland. France will be hoping for a win against Ireland as they have yet to win a game in this years Six Nations. If they fail it would be a huge deal to them after getting to the final of the World Cup last year. England play Italy on Sunday. I expect them to win so placing them in prime position to win the championship as well as the Grand Slam if the can win their final game a week later. I think their hopes are high for this year. As I said a great weekend of sport ahead.
I started another Civ V last week which I shall play this weekend after the rugby. I had a notion to play last Saturday but had to first re-download it from Steam as my installation had vanished from my system. I don’t know how as I ran a virus check just in case on finding it missing but it turned up nothing. So one of those mysteries that there is no answer to. In the end nothing was lost in real terms other than the time to re-install the game and the Steam engine.
I started another Civ V last week which I shall play this weekend after the rugby. I had a notion to play last Saturday but had to first re-download it from Steam as my installation had vanished from my system. I don’t know how as I ran a virus check just in case on finding it missing but it turned up nothing. So one of those mysteries that there is no answer to. In the end nothing was lost in real terms other than the time to re-install the game and the Steam engine.
March 1, 2013
1st March 2013
Why do you always have good ideas when you are working? Sadly by the time you can get to your note pad the words have slid away. This has been my problem this week. Just for a moment the words seem to stream through my mind only to vanish as quickly as they came. And working in a factory leaves little room for taking my pad with me. I don’t know if office work is any different but I do imagine it must. The same can be said for many jobs though as there are just as many that do make writing hard. It can be frustrating when all that is left is ghost of the theme. You might think that may give me the starting point to try to find the magic words that have deserted me so quickly. Unfortunately I seem only to create what appears to be a poor imitation of what for one instant seem so much better. I know leave them to the side and come back to them at a later date then I might recapture some of those shining words that so light up my mind even if it was only for an instant.
Tammy and Magz had a great time in Irvine last week. They went for a meal on me well it was for my daughter’s birthday. While they were out I enjoyed the rugby on TV and did a bit of screaming at the action. Well you can’t always agree with the ref can you, hehehe. It was a good weekend for the Six Nations. Scotland did well on Sunday narrowly beating Ireland even though they were on the defence much of the match. Still they won and that is what counts.
Tammy and Magz had a great time in Irvine last week. They went for a meal on me well it was for my daughter’s birthday. While they were out I enjoyed the rugby on TV and did a bit of screaming at the action. Well you can’t always agree with the ref can you, hehehe. It was a good weekend for the Six Nations. Scotland did well on Sunday narrowly beating Ireland even though they were on the defence much of the match. Still they won and that is what counts.
February 22, 2013
22nd February 2013
The new routine at work is going well. I must admit the last hour was a little taxing tonight it being Friday. Watching as everyone else heads out the door to begin their weekend was a heart sinker. Still it is only an hour watching over the retort and bringing them down. The extra cost of getting to work is another pain but we are managing as a family does in those circumstances. Penny pinching is something we all know about these days isn’t it.
Tammy is going birthday shopping tomorrow with her mum. She turns sweet sixteen this weekend so the ladies have planned to spend the money she is getting for her birthday by going to Irvine. There was talk about Glasgow being the chosen destination though that was dropped for some unknown reason. Irvine is a good place for shopping though t isn’t a patch on Glasgow maybe it was the extra cost of going to the big city that changed the plan. Anyway they should have a good day out which is what is important.
While the girls are away I have the rugby to watch though it is the Sunday match that I am most looking forwards to. Scotland play Ireland. I am expecting a good game especially if Scotland can play as well as they did last time out. Only time will tell. England will be looking to continue their winning streak as they head out tomorrow while France are looking to get a win to end the losing streak. Italy v Wales could also be a good game as both have a lot to play for in Rome. In all it is going to be a good weekend of rugby.
Tammy is going birthday shopping tomorrow with her mum. She turns sweet sixteen this weekend so the ladies have planned to spend the money she is getting for her birthday by going to Irvine. There was talk about Glasgow being the chosen destination though that was dropped for some unknown reason. Irvine is a good place for shopping though t isn’t a patch on Glasgow maybe it was the extra cost of going to the big city that changed the plan. Anyway they should have a good day out which is what is important.
While the girls are away I have the rugby to watch though it is the Sunday match that I am most looking forwards to. Scotland play Ireland. I am expecting a good game especially if Scotland can play as well as they did last time out. Only time will tell. England will be looking to continue their winning streak as they head out tomorrow while France are looking to get a win to end the losing streak. Italy v Wales could also be a good game as both have a lot to play for in Rome. In all it is going to be a good weekend of rugby.
February 15, 2013
15th February 2013
Magz loved the chocolates and card I got her for Valentines. She hadn’t gotten me anything because of inflation driving the cost of living up. This made her feel guilty as I had so she rushed down town while I was at work and bought me some Yorkies, one of my fav chocolate bars, giving me a surprise when I got home. She didn’t have to but it was nice that she did go to the trouble.
More changes at work that will make things far more strenuous financial. I will need to get the bus once or twice a week from Monday as they want me to start an hour later when we are making haggis. This is because they are upping production and need someone to cover the retort for the extra time required to cook the cans. That had been the plan when learning the retort was put to me. Sadly the extra on my wages that would have covered the bus fare hasn’t materialised. Looking on the bright side at least with more production my job feels a little safer.
My task to write more poems to the Nowhere collection has been dead this week. As you know I am hoping to create one hundred poems but so far I have only managed nine. That leaves me a lot of work still to do. Worst still I haven’t done any editing of the ones that I have written. I suppose you can’t force it. You either have something to put down on paper or you don’t. I will have to try harder though.
More changes at work that will make things far more strenuous financial. I will need to get the bus once or twice a week from Monday as they want me to start an hour later when we are making haggis. This is because they are upping production and need someone to cover the retort for the extra time required to cook the cans. That had been the plan when learning the retort was put to me. Sadly the extra on my wages that would have covered the bus fare hasn’t materialised. Looking on the bright side at least with more production my job feels a little safer.
My task to write more poems to the Nowhere collection has been dead this week. As you know I am hoping to create one hundred poems but so far I have only managed nine. That leaves me a lot of work still to do. Worst still I haven’t done any editing of the ones that I have written. I suppose you can’t force it. You either have something to put down on paper or you don’t. I will have to try harder though.
