No thanks to Eliza Dolittle, though. They go to one of the technical bods who kept the computer systems up and running when I was at work; he once showed me a delightful trick with obstreperous keyboards. He demonstrated by taking hold of my board, turning it over, and gently but firmly whacking the edges, then corners, on my desk. Once I saw the heap of staples, hole-punched circles of paper, fluff and general garbage that came showering from beneath the keys, it became quite obvious as to why I'd been having problems typing.
As I'd already tried this method to sort current problems with little success - although with a fair amount of grot dislodged - I rather gave up the ghost on the hope front. However, this morning I thought I'd try another gentle walloping session and Lo! and Behold! It appears to have worked. So far, I've only had a slight 'stick' using the caps lock, but a wiggle round the offending key with a sable brush, plus another gentle tap at the bottom left corner of the board, and things seem to be running normally. Just shows what a bit of fluff in the wrong place can do.
You'd think some bright spark might have started to breed special computer dust mites, that could be bought by the gramme to sprinkle over the keys every so often to feast on unwanted 'stuff'.
I do hope I haven't rejoiced too soon - the little blue Numlock light has just winked off/on. No.1 Son said that can be a sign of impending keyboard doom... Time, no doubt will reveal all.
Special thanks have to go to 'rhymeswithpalgue' (oops! sorry pardon! plague) for his repartee yesterday - 'Sp ace. T he n e w fron ti er...' - for giving me a good giggle. That was exactly what most of what I was typing looked like. Each time the cursor stuck, a good whack on the sp ace bar got it goi ng agai n... AARRGGHH it' s bac k ! Son, where are you?! I spoke too soon! I'm off to do something less frustrating for the rest of the day...
I love the dust mite idea. That would be a great solution.
ReplyDeleteum, i'm pretty sure i said kick it, but beating it works too. glad you're back, although we are still holding our breath, aren't we?
ReplyDeleteKeyboard woes, though frustrating, can be very funny at times. I remember chatting online with a friend of mine when she dripped wine on her keyboard. Her D's suddenly disappeared from her text for about five minutes then spontaneously reappeared and began inserting themselves into her typing at will. We were in hysterics watching her words appear "sodddmedthdingddd ldikedddd thiddds." Once all of the previously-absent Ds reappeared, her typing went back to normal. She said it was as if aliens took over her "keyboar". ;)
ReplyDeleteAre keyboards as cheap there as here? If so, treat thyself!
ReplyDeleteAren't these things supposed to have a lifetime warranty? If the program doesn't quit, then the mechanical parts disapprove of their treatment. Everybody wants a piece of us. Haven't we given enough in our lifetime?
ReplyDeleteWe don't half miss a keyboard. Dust mites being zapped sounds great.
ReplyDeleteCJ xx
Oh Jinksy, I've missed reading your lovely posts. Thanks for the chuckle, glad your eyesight appears to be back, have to catch up on all that happened in my three non-blogging weeks. Good luck with the keyboard hiccups.
ReplyDeleteHugs xx
My Witty Repartee Index plunges meteorically when I'm called "rhymeswithpalgue" (not that I've ever been called that before), and, by the by, what rhymes with 'palgue'??
ReplyDeleteI do believe you have coined a new word. You should update your masthead to 'Napple Notes With Occasional Neologisms'.
Love your Eliza reference...Great minds think alike...you are a kindred spirit, for sure!!!! Hope it all works out more happily soon...~Janine XO
ReplyDeleteGreat Walloping Keyboard antics, Jinksy! Hope you manage to get it sorted without too much violence!
ReplyDeleteGet yourself a can of air, Abe always keeps a can handy, and blows his keyboard quite often and even his computer. It's air under pressure. Myself I do the turn over and whack method. LOL
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful to find a soulmate?!!! Love it! BTW, my desktop keyboard was recently retired...for similar symptoms of suspiciously parallel ailments and paroxysms to that which your keyboard is experiencing!!! Please accept my deepest sympathy and condolences :-) ~Janine XO
ReplyDeleteYour delightfully amusing post has brought some sunshine to rain filled spring day!
ReplyDeleteIt's not working, is it? Oh dear, my old computer used to get too hot and switch off. When it was opened up, the fans were all clogged up wtih dust. They attract the stuff you see. And my sewing machine does too. Dust mite by the kilo? Excellent idea. They're never there when you want them are they?
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Computers don't need the help, Jinksy...they do a fabulous job of going down on their own accord.
ReplyDeleteJinksy, so glad you are back in the land of the blogging/living/tippy-tappying! I just adore the word obstreperous and use it so often - It could almost be my middle name!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting, a new word for me, "obstreperous." Great word.
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