no going back

Am I so pathetic that as soon as our modem packs in, leaving us without internet access at home, the quality of my life drops considerably? It would seem that way. Ten years ago I wouldn't have thought this possible, even five years earlier. For the moment, I retract all the horrible comments I have made about crap websites, where you go round in circles until madness approaches, with ads popping up everywhere, often reducing me to a gibbering, headachy wreck.

(Of course I have been able to access the internet in other places this week, but there's nothing like having something 'on tap', with the drawbacks that brings, of course. I refer to the syndrome of not being able to leave the computer - computeritis.)

In fact, in my delight at being reconnected, I withdraw every nasty thought I have ever had about computers - for the moment. No doubt this euphoria will recede. In the meantime, I am so thrilled to be able to do the following:

* check emails from friends and others: instead of phoning, writing or texting
* attaching pieces of writing to these emails: instead of printing it out and posting it
* SKYPE friends: instead of using a landline or mobile phone
* shop online: instead of going into town
* look up dictionaries and Thesaurus: instead of using hard copies
* play my one computer game
* have access to shared folders for documents
* check our bank balance: instead of going to a cash machine
* conduct research for my novel: instead of borrowing books from the library
* research other things: as above
* check weather reports: instead of getting this info from the telly or newspapers
* read the BBC news: instead of listening to the radio or buying a newspaper
* BLOG
* read other people's blogs
* access Youtube to download music: instead of buying CDs
* buy songs from iTunes: as above
* find out what movies are showing: instead of buying a newspaper or phoning the cinema
* find out what's on telly tonight: instead of buying a newspaper or Radio Times
* check my photos on Flickr

This probably isn't an exhaustive list, but it's enough to be going on with.

As you can see, there are alternatives for most of the facilities a computer provides, but we/I have become so accustomed to sitting behind my little box, typing away. Are there drawbacks? Very likely, but these would take too long to analyse.




Resignedly yours

Jane