Jayne's New Computer

Tuesday June 16

Jayne and I went to Merry Hill so she could buy a computer.

Jayne bought a HP notebook Pavilion dv2-1030ea that is really nice, however it cost £599! It has an external DVD player (which was included).

Before the computer was bought I went to Lloyd's bank to change some money. I brought only 50 euros, but I wanted to ask about their policy about accepting 100, 200 and 500 notes. Here is what happened...

I know Lloyds gave me good bills, but it's trying to get others to accept them. but here is something interesting that happened to me concerning euros.

I went back to the same bank and asked if they take 100, 200, 500 notes. I had a different teller this time. he said he'd have to ask. well, a red light went off in me. normally, a bank will say yes, sure. but he had to ask three peope from what I saw - three! He went back and forth, back and forth. I told him what the bank is doing is illegal - they have to accept euros.

Now, I didn't have any on me, but I wanted to know the question. I said, look I just want to change 50s now, which he did. then he said for me to go to the desk. I did, and this girl had to go in the back room, too. I said that I was in the other week and I had one 100 note and she would not change it (to pounds). I guess because of my persistance the girl today said how much was it, and I said just a 200 and 500 (acutally i have no 200 or 500 but I'm trying to get to the bottom of this. She said, after her second visit to the back room that they WOULD as long as I don't have a lot.

Well, the amount never came up!!

She said that that was the reason the teller told me (the teller I saw today) didn't know because it was a lot. again, the amount was never a question.

A red flag went up. What she told me was BS. Jayne and I picked this up, too. What she was doing was waffling and covering up with what they done. as the teller never told me how much I had and I never told him, so it was not a question of it being a lot of money. Plus the fact that two weeks ago there was only one 100 note in question.

Our conculsion is this, and it's scary, that had I not persisted, they would have given me the run-around and said 'no'. They know what they are doing - and other places too - is illegal. Only then she said they'd change the euros. Keep in mind another business would not take them, also. This means that there is trouble changing HALF THE CURRENCY IN EUROS or spending them!!

In the evening Jayne hooked up her computer with my help. She also searched on how to get wireless, as Lil has it in her home. She came to me while I was on Lil's computer to say she's got Internet on her computer. I asked her if she could put this on mine, and she did. Now, we are both surfing on our own computers.
While at the computer store I saw something (I forgot the name of it) where you pay £100 and you can get wireless Internet anywhere. This is good for 12 months or 12 GB of info. I asked if this will work in Spain, and she said yes, but it will cost more - like using your cell phone from another country. So, I'll get one of these items when in Spain to have Internet in the flat.

Though where we'll be living in Spain is nice and modern tourist area, there are no Internet cafes. They are all in the hotels and in flats of people who want one. This will save agravation in getting someone to come out. The fact that we will only be there a month, it will not be worth the cost. So, I hope this 'Internet stick' will work. Otherwise, we will have to do what we did two years ago - go to Cartigania, which is about a 30 minute bus ride away.