Geekery
Mrs Mouses HTPC is now doing almost everything as it should. Download crashes were sortof bypassed by using Opera instead of Firefox and IE7, so I'm not sure what the root cause of the problem is. Shall have to get rewritable CD/DVD and test the memory as you good folks have suggested.

Loaded WinDVD8 and watched "Almost Famous" and "Snakes on a Plane". Seems stable in DVD playback too, so I'm not sure if memory is the issue. Leeching someones wireless connection with a signal that sinks to 4dB at times could be the problem, so next job is to get ADSL back.

Can't believe that the latest version of the software to operate the front panel and remote is 83 mothafuckin' MB!

TV card has an Unknown Device attached to it which I can't resolve, but then I haven't got round to setting that bit up yet. Also need to work out how to drive Sky TV box from PC.

Today its Wednesday, so I'm off to fix MusicGirls PC, which seems to have a shot hard drive_{she won't be in, so no standard anonimouse diaries}

Legal
Went to see solicitor instead of representing myself and seeking barristers opinion and legal aid, as may be expensive.

Kids
Ms MiniMouse seems remarkably unfazed by the fact that Leopard Seals like Penguins for lunch. And she knows that we're not talking chocolate biscuits.