What's the Story in Dalamory » Blog

Technologised again

freda — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:37:04 +0000

Prior to today’s little rant, I must just say that recovering from the dental treatment carries on apace though a bit slowly…… but I’m getting there. The sun has been shining today and it is amazing how that helps. The answer to any question is go outside and forgo the dusting.

Back to technology. Like many people I enjoy the portable telephone system that enables the phone to be on hand no matter where I am – within reason. These systems have a base phone and radio/wifi system with up to 3 handsets. The 10yr old model was replaced before Christmas but it turned out that it was a duff sale offer which didn’t do half the things possible with more up to date models.

In short, it was replaced with a BT cordless digital set of three. At last, I thought – technology mastered by the experts. Indeed all went well for a couple of months. I was lazy about keying in numbers in the phone book, so call recognition wasn’t fully functional. Now it may just be that the phone took the huff at not being used to its full potential; sufficient to say that all of a sudden the phones either worked or did not work, speech was either heard or not heard. No combination of secrecy buttons or otherwise could put the matter right. It was not only frustrating for me, the caller, but probably left those being called upset as to who the mystery phone call was from.

It used to be that in these circumstances a handy booklet could be consulted – not nowadays. A 100 page pdf file has to be downloaded on the computer and then searched to see if there is anything indicative of the fault. Again – no luck. So I phoned the help number where I was given a Fault Reference Number, so that I can get the phones exchanged. The interesting thing is that there was no attempt on the part of the operative to try and rectify the fault. It is obviously cheaper to ditch and spend than to try and mend. Typical.

What happens if the new set doesn’t function either? Does it mean I have outgrown telephone technology?

Dentist again

freda — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:41:13 +0000

What I want to know is why does going to the dentist give you a pain in the shoulder? Was it being tensed up against the chair trying to get away from the multitudinous number of drills he used? Or was it trying to avoid the automatic reaction to give said dentist a thump in the jaw? I must explain that this in no way reflects on his skill. He is one of the good guys, but years of near terror caused by some of his predecessors take their toil. The worst was one who looked about fourteen – and I am not exaggerating.

As you can tell, an outing to visit the dentist can be quite entertaining. There was I trying hard not to be too anxious – fair do’s, he had warned me he didn’t know what he would find once he started excavating the offending molar. Anyway, ping! All of a sudden there is one poor crippled dentist with part of my tooth in his eye. High drama ensued……. dare I say it was a “man-chip”? After some coming and going and a full-scale eye wash out we were ready to resume the digging. Of course by then I found myself wondering if the anaesthetic would be worn off. Thankfully this was not the case and modern glue meant that the tooth has lived to fight another day.

Unfortunately I did not get off completely and have been warned that all may not be well. Thus a follow-up is scheduled for the end of the month. It remains to be seen whether my cobalt plate beds in or not. So I am feeling a tad bruised and in need of gentling. Indeed I am considering instituting a pre-birthday month of treats. Well, it’s a thought.

Enforced break

freda — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:28:00 +0000

It is good to be back in blogland again. The last week or two have been an enforced rest, courtesy of power cuts, email cuts and blog-hosting problems. It is strange how unsettling it has felt, and now that all is working I don’t seem to have anything to say – except to have a little moan. In truth, the space should have given me the chance to think about my whole purpose in blogging. Unfortunately, the inability to send or receive emails has been much more problematic – the consequent stress nearly shutting out the resting benefits.

In other words, it has all been a bit of a damp squib. I’ve not even been keeping up with online news and blogs. And all of a sudden January is coming to its end; the days are lengthening and the air is somehow heavier…… a bit the way I feel with online bills and banking to see to.

Aha! I’ve worked it out; as so often happens when writing things out, the answer pops into my head. My body/mind/soul are getting ready for the annual spring-clean. That’s why the air itself feels in suspense. And it is a good enough excuse to hover on the cusp a bit longer. I’ve not seen the signs of spring like friko, but I am going to look harder.

Turning the corner

freda — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:52:51 +0000

Today it is dull, dark, damp and cold…….. despite winter’s dismal try to make us feel that we are going further and further into the wintry mire, I can sense that we are turning the corner towards the hope of spring. If the pre-Christmas season was one of frantic shopping, this post traumatic season is all about starting to try and get things back to a semblance of normality. Lots of things aren’t working – three bits of repair needed on the campervan alone. This has necessitated multiple phone calls, (a salesman left and didn’t leave a proper message about ordering parts.) But the magic of digital photos and email meant that the bits can hopefully be ordered up without a 225 mile round trip twice.

The shower has needed unblocked, the floors cleared of the last of the Christmas tinsel lingering in corners and even the spare room is dusted off and ready for the next visitors. In actual fact I am trying to write myself into a coping mood, for next week begins the rounds of hairdresser, dentist and vet (Misty’s routine vaccination – I’ve been wondering whether she might need counselling sessions for my choice of her new coat – see the comments.) I’m using the technique of splatting thoughts onto the page, and hoping that some of it makes sense.

So – what does this afternoon bring? More paperclog unclogging? A walk in the confused countryside? I suspect it might be a gentle potter at the edges of my mind…… and wherever that takes me. How about you? How do you deal with jaded January?

Christmas Coat

freda — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:18:29 +0000

Misty looks as if she is saying - I enjoyed opening the present but I’m not so sure about wearing it!

Paperclog

freda — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:37:24 +0000

The post-Christmas paperclog is causing me much concern. This afternoon has reminded me of working back in an office. When life got too overwhelming I used to deliberately make myself slow down, take one piece of paper off the top and deal with it and keep going like that………. sometimes till late in the night.

Life couldn’t get like that in retirement could it? I hear the echo of many voices in my head saying…….Of course it could. So this afternoon I have managed to reduce the total of nine inches high of paper, down to six and a bit inches. There has been a measure of satisfaction, and I managed to resist the temptation to go faster and faster to try and finish it off. Those days are long gone.

A few more days and all shall be tamed. All shall be well and all manner of things…….. as Julian of Norwich said. Thus I surmise that God is in the paperclog and lowly things.

A Luddite

freda — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:08:21 +0000

It’s been a strange old week – yet more power cuts. I’m afraid it has led to some grumpiness, more from me than HBTW. I really am grateful for the quality of life we have in Scotland, but not having a shower in the morning makes me feel like a dlg. (dirty little gnome – oops is that being politically insensitive to gnomes?)

What I want to talk about is the negative attributes of the internet. Come to think of it I am not really sure that the internet can be thought of as having a separate identity. Anyway, I was talking with someone this week who confesses that they are a true Luddite where computer technology is concerned. I was struggling to be sympathetic to this view until this illustration came up.

Someone in London presses a button (computer key) and buys a million shares from a firm in China; ten minutes later the shares increase by £x – the London holder of the shares sells at a profit of £x never having moved from their desk. Thus the whole of the world economy ends up going round in circles and imaginary/real become confused and prices fluctuate on a whim.

I’m not sure if I am explaining myself very well. Take a simpler example: violent computer games leading to violence. In fact this is starting to happen where drones are controlled from one country and piloted to the enemy causing perhaps widespread destruction and violence. The drone commander is totally isolated from the consequences of their action.

I had to start to admit that there is something to think about in all of this, though I would hate to do without modern technology, even if it does lead us all into the realms of ethics that we never envisaged. I was going to ask – What do you think? – but if you are reading this you are probably like me and are committed to “progress.”

A novel nativity

freda — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:55:58 +0000

As I start to pack away the Fontanini Nativity for another year, I thought you might like to see the one over at Rev Elizabeth – see here.

Resolutions?

freda — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:12:21 +0000

It’s getting a bit late for resolutions – whether to make them or not. I’m more interested in seeing what other bloggers are up to, though I have one observation.

Which is more likely to succed?

I resolve to play the piano every day
or
I resolve to practise the piano more.

And No, I haven’t started either yet.

The New Year (13)
A typical New Year’s Day (0)

Hogmanay

freda — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:06:29 +0000

Note the gap between the two dogs. Bertie is gradually learning that he cannot take liberties with Misty. By the time he is going home on Monday he will be acclimatised, and hopefully that means he will be well-behaved at the next visit. Misty has had to growl, snarl and bark at him but hasn’t yet resorted to a nip or two thankfully.

It has been a busy and eventful ten days and it seems right to do a catch-up on Hogmanay. A significant day when thoughts tend towards people near and far, relatives long gone and other such things like changing world events. I wonder how much more we techie-age 21st century beings think about a global perspective than did our ancestors many centuries ago? I suspect we are simply encompassed in the gloup of cyber-soup that is the instant news and messaging of our times. All the more important to breathe a prayer for the world at “The Bells” tonight.

I have been effectively having a rest from the computer for the last week or so. Things that demanded my attention included:

Winter camping to collect Berties’s mum
Travel in severe gales – not funny
2 different power outages – each quite lengthy. The candles were very atmospheric and festive, but resulted in missing favourite TV programmes….
A night of nasty vomiting – don’t know whence it came
A three day trip to visit #1 Son and family – lots of fun
Time recovering from said sickness – must make tonight’s party!

As you can see, it is no wonder #2 Son was worried when his emails went unanswered. He couldn’t understand what had happened to his techie Mum. I must admit I am looking forward to being back to normal and catching up on reading friends’ blogs and so forth.

Many blessings be with you and yours in the coming year. Undernoted is a photo of a very happy cairn opening one of her Christmas presents.

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