A technical hitch and ‘uh oh, bigger boys’
So this is weird, then. I can’t comment on my own blog. I’ve tried everything – logging out, using a different email address, even pretending to be someone else, but no, the result’s the same. It starts grinding, then it hangs, then it says ‘internet explorer cannot display this web-page’. And what’s worse, my hairy web-guru, Grandad, has gone on his holliers and won’t be back for ages. So you’ll just have to do without my sparkling repartee until this glitch is fixed. Sorry and all that.
In other news, #1 has started at his new school. We found ourselves sitting in the car, ten minutes early yesterday. He had his enormous blazer on (black, two sizes too big - well, you’ve got to get a bit of wear out of it when they’re 100 quid a pop), new black school shoes, white shirt, grey jumper (with crest – bought from school supplier at an extortionate price) and his new tie. The tie caused a few problems, actually. Wanting to be ready and prepared on his first day, #1 had set his alarm for about 3am and when I finally dragged myself out of my pit at 7, he was washed, scrubbed, armpit-sprayed, hair-flattened, and very, very cross. It’s the tie, you see? He’s never had one before and had managed to get it into a rare ol’ knot around his neck. ‘Give it here’, says I, ‘I wore a tie for years’ before making an even bigger mess of it (I think they make ties differently these days). Eventually, not wanting him to start on his first day with something akin to a large, stripey pussy-bow tied around his neck, we had to brace ourselves and awake the monster in order for him to show his offspring how to tie a decent knot, before skulking off back to his bed muttering about being woken so early.
So there we were, tie in position, lunch in schoolbag (pasta salad with tomato, mozzarella and ham, banana, frozen yoghurt and a cake, if you must know), waiting outside the school. #1 was a bit nervous and making small involuntary squeaky noises. A car pulled up next to us and a child the size of a small building got out. As the man-mountain unfolded himself from the car, we both craned our necks to check him out – yup, he had school uniform on – and I swear there was a hint of stubble there too. The squeaking got worse. ’Uh oh’, said #1, ‘bigger boys’. Poor chap, when you’ve had a whole year being the oldest, suddenly mixing with 18/19 year olds in the same school is going to come as a bit of a shock.
Still, we met the headmaster, #1 got a check on the squeaking, and I watched him walk away down a corridor for his first foray into secondary education. I got to the front door at the same time as the headmaster’s wife: ‘don’t worry’, she said confidently as I wiped away a stray tear, ‘it’s always worse for the parents’.
25 Responses to “A technical hitch and ‘uh oh, bigger boys’”
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Aw poor #1. I still remember my first day of secondary school (circa 1989). I was absolutely terrified!
My 4 year old nephew starts school next Monday. I can’t quite believe how he transforms from baby to little boy as soon as he dons the uniform!
He tells me you must have done something. Apart from that little gem, he’s pretty useless on the subject! ROFL!
I love the ‘involuntary squeaking’! Sounds like my older boy – he’d have been bouncing up and down on the spot, too. Actually, at nearly 28 years old, he still does that sometimes …
School uniforms are a shocking price; what I’d love to know is how they design them to pop all their seams and fray their own cuffs at approximately 4.5 months of age. ARGH!
I hope #1 is having a wonderful day at New School.
(wouldn’t mind having that lunch, honestly…mmm)
Thrifty: ‘Tis true. He works himself up into such a lather that it kind of leaks out of his mouth in little squeaks!! x
Nats: That is a good idea. I think he would have benefitted from not having to mix with the giants on his first day – although he rang at lunchtime to say he was having an excellent day so fingers crossed. How’s Kirstin doing? x
Jay: I don’t do any of the techy stuff on my site at all (well apart from the writing, natch). Might have to have a little web-holiday until Grandad comes back!
Loops: I definitely think the first day is the worst. He trotted off happily this morning and even [gasp!] caught the bus to school!!!! The tie bit is a problem, though, especially if you’re a ham-fisted family like us x
Susan: Aw thanks. He’s a bit demanding and I think it’s going to kill me to keep him happy in the lunch department. Wow, 18? I can see me dying of some baking-related disease before then if #1 has his way!! x
Thanks again to Nats for this. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!
He’ll be fine, big ‘wedgy’ at first break .. he’ll get used to it !
And yes, one big hug and sloppy kiss for your big brother and the fleas next week coming up
One of my nephews is champing at the bit ‘cos all his little friends from nursery are going on to school. He’s not because his birthday is just a little too late. Poor little guy.
Although he might not admit it readily, unless he’s in a good mood or had one pint too many, I’m a friend of Grandad’s in a bloggish sort of way and one of those rather strange WordPress/computer geeks to boot albeit an old one.
Sounds like some basic troubleshooting is needed here:
Since other folks are commenting (logged out) I assume that your trouble lies when you’re logged in. This means something is keeping the page from refreshing after you submit a comment or an edit to a comment. Is that using WP’s built in comment editor or using a plugin like Ajax Edit Comments? I take it things grind to a halt when you attempt to save the edit. If so…
This might be caused by one of 3 things:
1. Corrupted cache in IE.
Close IE. Clear all IE browser history, temporary internet files and cookies*, start IE and log back into your Admin. Try doing another edit. If it works you’re good to go. (*Under IE’s “Internet Options”, “General” tab depending on version).
2. Internet Explorer in general. (should be using Firefox M’lady. WP doesn’t like IE very much though this probably isn’t the problem).
Give Firefox a try. It won’t rupture Windows or beat IE into a pulp no matter what you may have heard. That plus if you run into trouble using IE you can eliminate the browser as a problem by trying the same thing using Firefox and see if it works then. Anyway…
3. A plugin problem.
a. If you just installed a new plugin prior to this problem happening then deactivate that plugin and give it a test. If it works then that new plugin’s the problem, otherwise…
b. Deactivate all your plugins with the exception of Akismet (if you use it) then test by editing a comment and saving or replying to one…either way. If it works okay, then it’s one of your plugins causing the problem. If so, reactivate each plugin one at time, doing the edit test between each one (yup, pain in the rear but troubleshooting is and all that). When saving an edit fails, the most likely culprit is the last plugin activated.
If you’ve already tried any or all of the above solutions then I suggest beating the thing with an old cricket bat.
Feel free to give me a holler using the email address I used for this comment. I’m always happy to help others out of PC/WordPress jams. Grandad might even vouch for me…if he’s in a good mood that is.
Maybe we should call Wallace. He’s inventing mostly.
Kate: Well it looks like Kirk might have come to my rescue! A knight in shining…erm..code?! xx
Kirk: My saviour! Email on its way.
Baino: Oh no! You know I’m no good at pastry
Oh yeah. Puppychild is leaving me for the big bad world on the 3rd. I’m inconsolable!
Of course you’re inconsolable. Means your a fine mother. However, you have an excellent outlet for your anguish…you’re a taxi driver. Abuse your passengers, it does wonders for your attitude.
Got your email, sent one back.
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