Category Archives: General

Hi tech holidays

A Pipe and a Keyboard Posted on by

Driving through Sarlat in France the other day, it occurred to me just how much technology has changed holidays.

First and foremost, satellite navigation has changed things dramatically.  Part of my preparation for holidays used to be the frantic gathering of maps and then plotting out routes.  Of course if I was going to some new area, this would mean ordering maps for the destination area too.  I would spend hours plotting out the best route to take, frantically jotting down notes to keep by me as I drove.

All that is done away with now.  The first time I took out the maps was the day before we left.  I took no notes and although I brought all my maps with me, I haven’t used them.  I have no need, as if I want to go to a particular spot, I just program the SatNav, and off I go.  Of course there are side benefits too.  If I am running low on petrol, all I need do is ask the SatNav and it will happily list all the nearest petrol stations and how to get to them.  That has been a life saver on more than one occasion and, what’s more, that is something even the best maps can’t do.

The mobile phone has also changed things.  Up to a decade or so ago, if I went on holiday, I was incommunicado for the duration.  No one could contact me, and if I wanted to contact anyone, it meant finding a phone box and making a trunk call.  Now I can instantly text anyone from anywhere.  Apart from that, it makes exploring a town a little easier.  The two of us can separate and go our different ways, and then meet up again after a quick phone call.

The Internet has had a big impact this holiday.  The place where we are staying has high speed wireless access and this has been a tremendous boon.  I have used Google Earth to find the best car parks in a strange town and even found the best areas within that town to visit.  I have used it to find out the opening times of the various shops around.  I have used it as a gazetteer to find out a little more about the places we intend visiting.  Naturally I can use it to keep track of the bank accounts and how the spending is going.  I can even use it to top up my mobile phone.

There is one thing that technology has not replaced though.

I still send postcards!

Decisions

A Pipe and a Keyboard Posted on by

I sometimes wonder why I started writing this blog.

I never seem to have that much to say, as the life of a retiree is not exactly full of parties and hectic socialising.  In fact, life is quite quiet, and that is the way we like it.

I started it originally as a counterpoint to Head Rambles, as a way of clearing my name and trying to prove my sanity to those who have read the other site.

However, since I started it, posting has been very sporadic.  The big question is – is it worth it?  Is it worth any time and effort, or should I just let it die the peaceful death?

Decisions.

Decisions.

The lazy hazy days of Winter

A Pipe and a Keyboard Posted on by

Today must be unique.

For the first time since I started working back in the ‘60s, I have no work as such to do.

I have a couple of projects still floating around, but they are more or less complete.  I still have some business bookwork to do, but that can take its time.

I have had periods before when I had no work on hand, where I managed to grab myself a week or two [or more] of relaxation before the next project arrived, but this time I have made the ultimate decision.

I am not taking on any more.

I have had enough of web design and web development.  At my stage in life, it is a hassle I can do without.  I will keep up the web hosting for the time being, as it only causes occasional trouble, and anyway I need somewhere to park my sites.  If an existing client wants work done, I will consider it.

So the week stretches ahead and I can relax.  If I take a good mood, I might do some writing.  If I take a bad mood, I’ll send out some invoices.

Life ain’t all that bad!