I was still not happy with the set up so I changed a few bits and did another test.

Now I am happy; it just works.

One final test next week, probably Monday, full dress rehearsal for on the plinth.

I have to be in London for 6.30 AM Wednesday the 15 July.
Live on the Plinth at 8 AM.

Be there with me on http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/ and Twitter.

‘ontheplinth’ is the username on Skype.

.. of the equipment I will be using on the plinth. I identified a few problems so a bit more tweeking of the technology is required.

A hood for the laptop to keep the sun off the screen.
This works out quite well as I can stick signs with the Skype username on it. (ontheplinth)

I have a plain white desktop background.
Made the mouse pointer bigger so it’s easier to see.
The 3G connection and Skype will auto launch to save time fiddling.

I will do another test probably on Friday. That test will be away from home as if I was actually on the plinth. It HAS to work first time every time when I am live on the plinth.

Live on the plinth at 8AM Wednesday 15 July. Come and talk to me, voice your opinion on the One&Other project. I will be waiting for your call.

Had my first check-up today since getting the new pacemaker implanted. New pacemaker is very sophisticated, it records heart activity continuously. The nice lady conducting the test showed me the readout for the previous 24 hours. You could see when I went to bed, got up, walked to work. The whole thing. Hmm… this could be embarrassing…

The good news is that this device has a life expectancy of over 12 years, so I’ll be retired before it needs changing. Amazing.

Our NHS is wonderful. I know we criticise it but in reality it’s very good. Imagine what it would be like with out it…

I would be dead!

My slot is less than a week away, plans are now finalised. (ish)

I have a folding chair and a table. I will set up the Laptop and open my Skype and Twitter accounts.

I will invite the viewers to call me on Skype to offer their opinion of the project so far. Twitter comments are also welcome but I doubt I will be able to respond as I may have difficulty seeing the screen in bright sunlight.

The advantage of Syype on the Laptop over a mobile ‘phone is that the viewers on TV and the web should be able to hear both sides of the conversation. Indeed the whole point of this is to put the viewers live on air, it’s about their comments, not about me. I am the messenger, they are the art.

15 July at 8 AM

Get yourself a Skype account and call me. Skype is a free download.

My plan for my time on the Fourth Plinth.

I am not trying to be art. I consider the whole 100 days to be the art, I am merely a small part of that art, like a single brush stroke in a painting.

I am going to connect wirelessly to the internet. I plan to take some pictures and post them to Twitpic. Respond to heckling Tweets. Respond to nice Tweets. Answer questions. Ask questions.

Also this is an experiment to see how many followers I can get on Twitter in 60 minutes.

If you don’t think it’s any good it’s because you are not interacting with me in a meaningful way. So it’s all the audience’s fault!

15 July at 8 AM. See you there.

My Twitter account: ontheplinth.
My Skype account: ‘ontheplinth’.

OR

Sit in a deck chair and read ‘The Times‘.

I haven’t decided yet….

Twiddled about with my Twitter page to make it all ONE&OTHER ish.

On the Plinth is my Twitter name for the Antony Gormley event!

Our 24″ iMac, white plastic case variant has been overheating for a while. The problem manifested itself by putting lines on the screen. The graphics become unstable and the picture broke up.

We had a work around for a while by installing some software that allowed us to run the fans at a higher than normal speed, but clearly this was a botch and the fix was to open the machine up and see if it was clogged up with dust and dirt.

If you look at these pictures you can clearly see the problem.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Opening up an iMac is not for the feint of heart, but it’s not difficult if you take your time and have an assistant to hold parts to save having to disconnect the very fine wires and connectors.

It took me less than an hour. You don’t need a hammer. You do need size 0 posidrive, small torx and tweezers.

There is a new verb in the English language. “Plinthing”!

I will be Plinthing on 15 July.

It’s getting close, so I am starting to keep an eye on the central London long rage weather forecast.

I want a nice dry warm sunny morning please.
Not too much to ask is it?

Just registered the Twitter name of ‘ontheplinth’ ready for 15 July.

I have been testing the laptop on the USB wireless 3G internet, and the ability to remote control the laptop camera from my iPod Touch, so I can photograph myself and post to Twitpic. I want pictures of me with Nelson in the background. Using the lappy camera saves taking another bit of kit with me, and remote control is easier than a self timer.

It’s all looking very good but being the cautious person that I am I am going to try a dry run at all of this in the next week or so.

So far two friends say they will come and heckle support me on the day, Anne and Janet. Any more?

Watch this space.

I received a ‘phone call from the One and Other people this evening. We chatted about my intentions, contingency plans if it rains, (big brolly, get wet!) and the logistics of getting into London early in the morning.

The plan is now:-

Drive myself into London, park nearby in a multi storey.
Arrive 90 minutes before my slot on the plinth.
I will take a folding chair and if it looks like rain, an umbrella. I am going to wear my Utilikilt.
60 minutes of chatting to friends (and strangers) on Skype. I will also be on Twitter.

Afterwards I intend to stay in London for a while, maybe find a coffee shop and carry on chatting on Skype, heading home in the afternoon.

If anyone wants to come and support me and meet up afterwards I am on the plinth from 8 AM to 9 AM 15 July.

I will be using the Skype name “ontheplinth”.