This and That: Give Me A Ring
Elsie M Eva recalls that when she was a child the majority of families did not have home phones. And now she confronts the the age of text messaging.
My, how life has changed in the last fifty to sixty years. Nowadays, it would appear that almost every home has a telephone. Not only that, everyone seems to have a mobile phone - even young children.
When I was a child, we had no phone. Neither did any other family that we knew. One day during the war, we were running short of fuel, so my mother had to go to the public telephone box to ring the coalman. In common with the rest of us, she was not accustomed to using the phone. Coins in the slot (was it tuppence?), asking the operator for the number, waiting, no reply, pressing button B.
After several attempts, all abortive, my mother was now in a state of exasperation, or was it near panic. Looking up, she noticed the ‘Press in case of emergency’ button. Well, this was an emergency, wasn’t it? The response was instant: “Emergency. Which service do you require? Police, fire, ambulance?”
Just as quickly came my mother‘s reply: “Neither. I want the coalman.” We can imagine the operator’s reaction to that. Even now, the incident still invokes a chuckle in me. Youngsters of today would find this hard to believe.
Although I was not a ‘know-it-all’ kid, I was aware of the emergency button. But that didn’t mean that I was happy with the telephone.
My very first job, as a dental receptionist, was short-lived. As a very shy sixteen-year-old I had to greet patients at the door, making sure that they wiped their feet. This I managed -sometimes - by standing in the doorway with my arm in front of them holding the door until they got the message.
I had to mix the fillings, catch the extracted teeth in the kidney dish, sterilise the instruments, and anything else that was asked of me. Oh, yes - I had to answer the telephone.
As the phone was one of those wall-mounted ones, with only the earpiece removable, I had to stretch up to speak into the mouthpiece. It wasn’t easy. Worse than that, however, the phone was situated just outside the surgery - within earshot of the boss, who terrified me.
I’m sure that my lack of confidence would have been apparent, and yet the dentist never commented upon it, thank goodness.
No doubt my telephone manner improved, eventually. However, I only stayed in the job for three long weeks, so the dentist did not reap the benefit, if any. Shyness prevented me from giving notice - my mother had to inform the dentist.
He did, however, say that he was sorry to see me go. Really? Lack of prowess on the telephone aside, I must have done something right.
I’m happy to report that I am now quite au fait with the telephone - but you can’t beat a good hand-written letter, using a fountain pen. My son bought me a mobile phone a couple of years ago. I think I’m still on the first £20’s worth of calls.
My understanding of the mobile is probably on par with my mother’s knowledge in the phone kiosk all those years ago. I can make a call - if I have to. But text messaging? Never! I couldn’t bear to mutilate the English language with all those shortened/incorrect words.
