Hurrah got my laptop back. Needed to be taken back to manufacturers settings but that's OK. Have some of my files saved on disc to put in & others I can add on bit by bit.
As I said before, busy for few weeks but have started Seasonal Sampler . Will catch up in a few weeks.
It's amazing how reliant we are on computers, and how frustrating it is when one dies.
I have a little computer controlled router/engraver, controlled by a PC. Unfortunately the workshop environment is catastrophic for PC's and kills the thing fairly quickly. Also the software to run it only works on Windows XP, and such machines are getting increasingly elderly and difficult to find second hand. I have one spare, but I don't know how long the two I have will last. And setting up a new one from a factory reset is the work of a couple of days.
I really do sympathise. Anyway, deep joy, back to doing the fun stuff now.