Techno Prisoners

Patience, perseverance (and tiresome trips to Currys) got silver surfer Judie Surridge connected

It used to be so simple; just one TV, one remote control and three stations to watch. Today, as I scrutinise our conglomeration of boxes, wires, console, not to mention the all singing all dancing 3D HD 63ins gargantuan screen taking up the whole of one corner of the room, I wonder how on earth we have got to this point where it takes me all my time to find out how to turn on the TV, never mind record any programs which I know I will never view anyway!

Blame it on the family. There we were, ancient pensioners enjoying retirement and watching the box whenever we could find the odd hour between all our canal cruising when we were unceremoniously dragged into the 21st century by our techno-savvy family.

First of all, there was the Fitbit. It was a thoughtful birthday present from Matthew, our youngest son. “It will help you walk further,” he advised sagely. I didn’t really feel the need to count 10,000 steps every day, the dog made sure I strode out along the towpaths first thing in the morning, mid-afternoon and last thing at night, but I accepted the present gratefully and he offered to connect it to my computer. I am almost nearly computer literate; that is I can use emails and write letters and articles. It also means that we can keep in touch with our friends when we cruise the canals for extended periods of time. But my laptop is so old that it would not recognize the Fitbit so eventually (don’t tell Matthew) it went in the can’t-find-anything drawer where it languishes to this day.