There Is Joy In Mudville

After an anxious week, I have my old laptop back with a brand new hard drive and a brand new hard drive cable.  Plus I've backed up all of the data off of the old unit and stored it on a brand new 1TB external drive.  And things are looking good for my two final exams (one written tomorrow, the other next Monday).  Phew!


Meanwhile I've got a newer laptop and moved the older model down to backup/auxiliary command centre.  Since my laptop is my primary work computer, I tend to replace it every 2 years.  I was actually due for a new one, but hard drive failure accelerated the need!  Ditto the 1TB backup disk, on my list of "should dos" that were waiting 'til the end of term.

Will the Patient Live?

The latest update from the I-hospital - the new hard drive is fine but there is likely a problem with the cable.  A new one is due to arrive today and fingers are crossed.  I saw the patient yesterday and got my files for my classes this term (finals are on the 17th and 23rd and I need my files to create the exams!).  It's an intermittent problem now as on Wednesday there was no disk to be found but Thursday it was up and running no problem.  In fact when I walked in the shop, the techs were blasting my I-tunes playlist.  I'm sure my Beatles collection has been pirated!


Tuesday I bought a new MacBook (it was my primary university computer).  At first I thought that I over-reacted but now I'm not so sure.  She's a beaut!

The Hard Drive Saga

Ok so the computer worked when I picked it up last night.  Ok I didn't actually turn it on but two techies said that it was good to go.  But when I turned it on this am I got a white screen of death with a single icon featuring a folder with a question mark.


So, after a couple restarts,  I grab my systems disk and try to boot off of that.  It starts up and wants to install OSX - ok at least it's forward progress even tho the boffins said that they did this yesterday.  Then I get the message that really put the sinking feeling in my stomach.  The install wizard came up with a standard "Please select the drive where you want me to install to the software"  only there are no drives to select from.


So it's back in the shop and I've got the fingers crossed.

The Hard Drive is Dead - Long Live the Data

Ok I win the too stupid to live award for the year.  On Saturday morning I fired up the MacBook, updated it's software then rebooted it to finish the install (no this doesn't win me the award).  Only it didn't reboot...it just hung with a white screen and made clicking noises.  The Iboffins tell me that its hard drive failure and that they can put in a new HD and reinstall the operating system...but no idea yet on whether the data can be resurrected.  


Yes you guessed it - there is no backup!!!!  Yes I qualify for the above mentioned award.

Wascanastan - The Forces

Ok it's memory test time.  Let's see what I can remember about what's in the rubbermade...


The Imperial Forces
The dream list goes as follows

• Highlanders (have 2 regiments in kilts and one in trews)
• Sikhs (at least one regiment, possibly two)
• Gurkhas (one unit)
• Bengal lancers (none painted as yet)
• Sikh mountain battery (at least one)
• Other Indian infantry (a unit of Pioneers)
• British cavalry (one unit)
• Non-Scottish British infantry (none as yet, the intended regiment got trews instead of trousers and I'm not sure they are needed)
• British artillery (yes)
• Exotic transport (elephants, camels and mules)
• A steam boat and train

Native Forces
Again the list goes as such.  This is based on readings of the Sikh and Afghan wars.

• native regular infantry (2-3 regiments, using Partha Egyptians and Sudanese, plus it turns out I have enough Highlanders unpainted to add a Highland guard unit as the Imperials certainly don't need more Scots!)
• regular artillery (should out gun the Imperial forces)
• a few regular cavalrymen (I'm eying Perry ACW plastics for these)
• scads of irregulars on foot (check!)
• mounted tribesmen (check!)
• tribesmen with artillery (an ex Partha dwarf bombard!)
• A fortress and walled town

Wascanastan

Ok time to think what I need for Wascanastan (my imaginary nation subbing for the 2nd afghan war).


Geography
Wasacanastan is a independent state Northeast of Peshawar vaguely in the same area as Chitral and Gilgit.  There is a British Imperial polical and commercial interests, requring a residency.


Obviously it's a mountainous country with some swift running rivers and some lakes.  We tend to think of this area as being arid semi desert but Wikipedia articles show that there's some forests and greener pastures in the mountains (Peiwar Kotal was fought in a forest for instance).  The GWR (greater Wascanastan Railway) poerates but the mountains and lakes require a steamboat to reach teh residency. My model here is as follows.

This is Waterton Lake Alberta, no where near the Northwest Frontier but part of the Nowest Territories 100 years ago!  A big long lake in high mountains close up on arid foothills in the middle of a large continent - sounds familiar doesn't it.  The far end of the lake is in Montana and there was a steamboat that used to run rich Yankees up to a very post hotel from a Great Northern Railway station the other side of the border.

It's Official I'll be Heading Back to Wasacastan

The votes were tallied this weekend and Afghanistan 1880 it is.  It's the last couple of weeks of class and I've been knee deep in marking so I've not had much time to post.  Details to follow, once I open up the Rubbermade and find out who's who in the zoo.