Monday 16 December 2019

Monday News,

The most important Monday News is on the phone front.   After extensive investigation both inside the bungalow and outside the problem has been identified as under my front lawn.   So contractors have now been called in to dig up the lawn and put me a new cable in.   The BT engineer has been this morning and has moved the whole caboodle on to the outside wall and put in a new socket so that when they put in the new cable it can be connected.   A spiral of cable sits on the outside wall awaiting connection - and I await the arrival of the contractors whenever they choose to come.  Of course I am still not connected to my usual Lifeline service but I have my mobile and as long as I keep it fully charged then I am fine.   On the plus side, although there is a bit of snow lying here and there, the sun has shone all day and although there is a sharp cold wind blowing it is a rather nice December day - better than rain, snow or fog any day.

Well Ben Stokes won Sports Personality of the Year 2019 and a well-deserved win I would say.   What a year England's   Cricket Team had and what pleasure they gave to so many people.   Sport of any kind is not my thing but I do always bear in mind the pleasure they give to so many people who for one reason or another are unable to participate.   And Ben's charming acceptance speech was a delight to listen to.

   The fitting of a new point in a different place in my sitting room might well mean I shall have to rearrange my furniture but I shall cross that bridge when I come to it.   When it came time to take Tess for her morning walk I found that the engineer was not allowed to stay in the house on his own while I took her, so my son came and walked her round the block for me.   I would have been quite happy for the engineer to stay in the place alone but seems it is not allowed - understandable I suppose.

Funny how these days we just can't manage without all these contacts with the outside world.   When I think my parents never had a car, never had a phone, (never even had central heating come to that) I wonder whether we have become a bit too soft these days.   What do you think?   Should we take advantage of every bit of modern technology, should we pick and choose what we have or should we just ignore the lot?

20 comments:

Heather said...

Your last paragraph set me thinking. I suppose people move far more often these days and communities are broken up. Back in our parents' day phones and cars were not widely owned and neighbours took more care of each other. While I am very grateful for many modern things I sometimes think in our efforts to improve on 'the good old days', that we have thrown the baby out with the bath water.
Hope you will soon be connected up once more.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Happy new phone line!
Technology wise...as long as there's no voice talking to me or camera following me around, I embrace the conveniences better than they embrace me.

jinxxxygirl said...

We are the architects of our own lives Pat.. I think people jump on the technology before they stop and take an honest look at their lives and think how the technology will change their life and if that is really what they want.

Yeah for the new phone line Pat. Stay safe, be warm, and take care.. hugs! deb

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

If Greta Thunberg is to be believed then we might soon have to make some compromises about what technology we have. I seem to get by with no car, no TV, no tumble drier and no freezer, but of course I'm typing this on a lap top computer. (And I could certainly have done with a way of drying clothes over the last few weeks!)

Joan (Devon) said...

I am a dinosaur and own up to it quite freely. I wouldn't like to go back to the old, old days, but I would like to go back to the time before computers. I believe computers have made our lives harder and more complicated and it seems to be the norm now to talk to robots rather than real life people.

Gwil said...

GT tweeted that she had to sit on the floor of a crowded ICE train in Germany. Forgot to mention DB train staff gave her a place in first class. And doubtless her mountain of luggage too. Train not so crowded after all.

Christine Hancock said...

Brrr I don't want a life without central heating, I remember the ice on the inside of the windows and the old tin bath in front of the fire. I can live without a mobile phone, in fact mine is more often out of 'juice' than charged!

Rachel Phillips said...

I suppose it was what we'd never had we never missed.

Chris said...

Technology does come in handy but I am holding off on having a cell phone as long as I can! I don't want to be at the beck and call of everyone and his uncle day and night. Plus they are quite an expense..

Joanne Noragon said...

I pick and choose, Weave. I could never keep up with knowing how to use all the things the youngsters use.

Red said...

I wouldn't want anybody to live like our folks did. They didn't have a chance for much else. Yes, they were tough but many paid a big price by having such challenging living accommodations.

Cro Magnon said...

Rather than dig-up your garden, could they not just bypass the old cable and put the new one somewhere more convenient?

Librarian said...

I hope all works out well with the contractors, and that they don't make too much of a mess of your garden in the process!
As for technology, we all have different things to consider in our lives. I, for instance, have never owned a car (I don't even know how to drive) and don't miss one in my daily life; I live conveniently close to the train station of my town and can reach all my clients by public transport. Also, I have never had a tumble drier; air does the job quite well, and fast enough for me. But I very much appreciate my washing machine, fridge, electric kettle and kitchen stove. Also, my life has been enriched by the internet and computers in so many ways; take blogging, for example.

Dave said...

Pick and choose the technology thats around and use whatever makes your life better and easier.
I have always said that as we get older we need to kept abreast of the technology thats out and use it , as so many older people just dismiss it and loose out. Shopping, of all kind, on line is a good example, especially when mobility or bad weather is an issue.

Brenda said...

Love your blog
Merr christmas
Would love to hear your history

pam nash said...

I say take advantage and move forward. I would want to not have air conditioning and hot showers!!

Brenda said...

P.S. Merry Christmas...oops in spelling
I love reading your blog.
How long have you lived there?
Where did you live before?
How many children do you have? Grands?
You are so sociable and see so many people at lunch, etc.
thank you for sharing your life.

Rachel Phillips said...

Anything else? None of that British restraint Brenda hey! Don't hold back, I mean.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Rachel you hit the nail of the head with your early comment about what we never had we never missed. My parents would be open-mouthed at today's world - as would everyone from that generation.

Brenda - may be after Christmas a potted history.

Brenda said...

Thank you