I'm writing this while enjoying a week of respite care at Ethel Tipple Court (run by Age Concern Norfolk in Hellesdon). As well as being to my benefit, it provides a useful break for Jackie as relief from the strain of looking after me. Having been a patron for several years, I look forward to renewing friendships with members of the staff I have got to know and I have grown accustomed to the fine food, fun, and facilities. A fairly recent addition for the residents is a computer where I was able to spend several relaxing hours playing games which I seldom do at home where I am engaged in more serious activities!
I can usually mix well with most of the other residents but difficulties arise when impaired speech, hearing, understanding, mobility (or any combination of these) may occur. The saying that: "You don't have to go very far before you find someone worse off than yourself" is often heard these days. I think the message which has inspired me most about health matters was contained in a sermon: learning to live with your problems can be almost as good as experiencing a cure. In my case, I was particularly impressed by reading about Douglas Bader in the book, "Reach for the Sky", & seeing Kenneth More's fine portrayal in the film. From adolescence to my fifties, I continued in employment while tolerating my ataxia, followed by the additional diabetes. However, with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, I decided that "enough is enough", and took early retirement. In April, 2004, I had a couple of gangrenous toes amputated. They also say: "a rusty gate lasts the longest".
Here are some more sayings:-
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"Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." - Leonard Cohen
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"Obstacles cannot crush me, every obstacle yields to stern resolve. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind." - Leonardo da Vinci
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If you can't be happy where you are, it's a cinch you can't be happy where you aint" - Charlie "Tremendous" Jones
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"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." - Christopher Reeve
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"One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory." - Rita Mae Brown
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Thanks for reading this - keep on keeping on,
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AUGUST 2005
Many already know of my keen interest (some use a different word!) in computing, so this piece (as always, a personal view) is on that subject. I'm reminded of the former local Tape Recording Club where enthusiasm made up for lack of technical knowledge. Trial and error got results. Computing has no age boundary - I'm a "senior surfer" ....... mainly self-taught and proud of it.
My computing (not always on the internet) is almost entirely on "serious" subjects, leaving little time (unfortunately?) for games. My usual activities include such things as:
Purchases - comparing details of items from various outlets before buying (and getting prompt delivery!). I haven't "visited" any of the auction sites yet but these offer remunerative success.
Exchanging emails - friendly chat, jokes and photos as well as other important information (including these articles!) can be sent anywhere in the world with (usually) an immediacy and cheapness that beats "snail mail".
Using a "search" to find out more (including the answers to most questions) about anything. This leads to sites containing the required information.
Looking at sites (personal and professional) and seeing interesting text and pictures at home (e.g. those of the Street Procession). I went online when Radio Norfolk did and I can now swap emails there and see many sights on the webcams. Recently, their output has gone worldwide via the internet.
Automatically logging my blood glucose readings; these are then printed (more legibly than my scrawl!) for the Diabetes Centre.
Letter writing (even typing with two fingers!); a spell-check and the ability to move and/or delete script enable one to ensure satisfaction before printing a perfect document. No correction fluid needed!
Accounting - when church treasurer, I obviously used a computer program giving automatic total and analysis facilities, while now I mainly restrict my recording to bank account and magazine distribution.
Achieving another computing ambition - to establish a "blog" (the term comes from "web log"). It can be seen at 'http://mikes_musings.blog.co.uk' - you may have already found it via the Links on my website. It's little more than a reprint of my "Musings" and was prompted by a phone call from a pleased reader!.
Computer ownership is rapidly increasing (just look at the number of adverts where it is considered worthwhile to include a www address). If you are thinking about joining us there is plenty of help available (some advertise in this magazine!). You can even access the internet and/or use email at NCC libraries..........free! Or, you may agree with these remarks:
"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 15 tons" - Popular Mechanics, forecasting the relentless march of Science, 1949
----------------------------------------------------"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." - Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
----------------------------------------------------"I have travelled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year." -The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957
----------------------------------------------------"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
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What do you think?. Thanks for reading this,