Seriously; I do the following, just about. ALL the time but never document or record the fact.

So, for a bit of an experiment, for the next week or month I'll make a note of the kind of free help and advice I'm regularly offering folk who contact me.

Thursday 30/05/2024

Crispin. Sound Engineer - Local cinema

Sound engineer leaves me an answerphone message. He needs a replacement Macbook Pro to become the "brains" of the cinema's audio and video stack of equipment used to project films, deliver audio and supply lighting for its paying customers.

I have several Macbook Pros I've been tripping over for months / years so I give the engineer one of them.

"You can't just give me a Macbook Pro", he exclaims and then adds, "And why would you?"

"You're a neighbour, you've got a problem and I've got machines I would really love to get out of my hair", I reply, "And sure, the Macbook might be worth £200 to sell but you want to dismantle its screen ... and anyway, its old, no longer supported".

"But let me, at least, give you £100 for it". He adds

"Try it first", I reply "and, if it meets your needs, say ... after a week or so of using it ... then sure".

Phil - Busy person I'd already spoken to regarding using MX Linux

Phil phones to apologise for not meeting me as planned on a previous occasion.

I chat and offer a bit of advice re Linux. (I suggest he views some MX Linux videos on YouTube).

"No need to meet now and, after viewing the YT material, I'm sure you'll be fine."

Paul. Globetrotter looking for a replacement portable laptop

We spend hours assessing his 2 laptops, with both now failing his requirements. I wipe a machine of mine to install MX on it but that too fails expectation so I do some homework and recommend he buys a brand new Asus Chromebook Flip from Argos or Amazon.

Damon. Website developer. Has 3 machines he wants me to erase.

PCs belonged to a deceased friend of D's.

a) I destroy machine and data of old Toshiba XP PC, b) delete data and replace 17" Samsung operating system with a nice Linux installation and, c), reset the third machine, (a Lenovo), by reinstalling W10 on it.

I pondered charging D for the 2 operating system installations but ... it was for a deceased friend so no ... and I was just happy to help out.

Friday 31/05/2024

Woman calls by saying husband went away taking her HP laptop adaptor with him.

I ask here if she is local and then I lend her mine. "Please bring it back when you've finished with it though", I plead.

She smiles broadly and thanks me; adding, "Only in Bridport!"