Open Writing

I now self publish my poetry in books with wonderful designs taken from my software program of 125,000 pictures. I wrote the story of my childhood in London during the Blitz, and as an evacuee.

Through the Internet, I had my story accepted by The Imperial War Museum in London. It will go into their Printed Book Section and my poetry will go into their ‘Unique Archives of Poetry’ of which they are proud (their words).

I am now the organizer of a group which gives free performances of poems, yarns, and music. There are fourteen of us and we have a wonderful time together, and so far have met with great success. I design the flyers we put out, and the brochures. My letters are presented in a professional way with my own design of notepaper and business cards. All made possible with my wonderful computer.

I am able to polish up on my schoolgirl French with the French Program I bought.

As you can see, I still love the gadgets that technology offers me today. I find I have more fun and interest than I have ever had from other time saving gadgets I have used in the past except for my sewing machine.

I learn more as each day passes and my computer is an important part of my life. I use it every day and love it.

There is so much I want to write, so much to see and so much to learn. It is there at my fingertips, and every penny we have spent on our computer has brought so much into our lives. This new world which has opened up to us is priceless, especially at our time in life.

However there is a sad part in all of this. My husband says he has become a Computer Widower, but he doesn’t really complain as he says he is very proud of what I do and enjoys the fact that I am at home more these days. The days of being tempted to go out shopping and buy things has gone at last, but that beautiful paper with all its different textures and colours I find hard to resist.
It really does make the finished work look so much better.

I know there is so much new software that I am tempted to buy, but I have to look away. For instance, take the Encyclopaedia Britannica. It is now available on disk. Can you imagine what a difference having that would make? I could get rid of the volumes I have had these past forty years, and use the space they take up for something else. That really would be wonderful.
But No! I must resist, I can manage without that, but a Scanner… that is a different thing altogether. That is something I really should have. It would allow me to do so much more, and the prices have come down drastically, so the brochures say.

Of course, there is the latest digital camera. What a wonderful new piece of technology. How wonderful to be able to take photos and put them on to my computer right away.

No! No! No! Out of the question! But I can wait, there is plenty of time and I know what I will do. I will ask my three children to give me one as a special present for my Eightieth birthday.

Yes! I think that’s what I will do.

Just imagine how proud that will make Gordon. He will be able to introduce me then, and say, "This is my Eighty year-old mother. She lives in Australia, is on the Internet and has a Digital Camera."

Great! Yes I really do like the idea of that!

* * * *

Now it is 2005, the world of technology is going so fast, and my life changed .

Five years ago my husband died and my computer became a true blessing.

My need to be in touch with my family and friends and they with me became essential to my well-being.

My computer helped me cope with the great sadness and loss that affected my life.

But life does go on and the age of technology helps us in many ways. I now have a scanner, a CD Burner, a digital camera. I have the Encyclopaedia Britannica disc, presented to me by a friend, and the books have all been given away.

Most people who want one are able to afford a computer in their home. There are now DVD’s and laptops. The original mouse and keyboards as we knew them have changed and are now available without leads .

Large monitor screens have been replaced by thin screens that take up less room. Now we have scanners, printers and fax machines all combined, and the price is very affordable. Mobile phones now have screens that enable you to see the person you are talking, and show pictures of your surroundings.

The world of technology is growing so fast that it is bewildering. .
I love it! I am still interested in the wonders of this Space Age. How I would love one of those laptops which play DVDs abd do not require leads. How wonderful that would be !

Yes! Maybe after all I will ask my children to buy me one for my Eightieth birthday.