OVER THE HILL, RE-TYRED

'The Hero Shot' - art on canvas        

  Art by Gerlinde

Upon reflection, 

I thought I would extend the series On Over the Hill and relate my life in retirement.  Well, up to now.

Thus, because my current journey is aligned to riding a bicycle, for me, my retirement is a renewal and newness, I have re-tyred my bicycle.

A number of years ago I stopped working in the university environment and started my own business because I wanted to do my own 'thing', work my own hours and only be dictated by my own conscience. 


There are two things I never realised, firstly, how busy I would be and secondly, how it would set me up for retirement. I wasted more money than I thought but gosh...the rewards of seeing the world, meeting some wonderful people and experiencing and being involved in world events (to a small degree) was mind enriching.

However, because I am in the habit of doing whatever, whenever I am inclined, although I am 'properly' retired, I still live my life simply doing pretty much the same things, including staying up late and getting out of bed even later. However, I can't stop working because I am driven.

§

I have arrived at the plateau of life. I aim to live to age 105. I figure by peddling slowly doing things that give myself and others pleasure and continue loving those both present and absent in life, with myself and my vehicular device (my bike) being re-tyred, life is good. I believe it is important that we realise the rough tracks we followed or adventured through as tough as they may have been at times, they are still to be cherished. Like love, once we love it stays for us forever, cherish all events encountered on your journey and continue to love.

Then there is the love we have for doing things whether it is work or recreation.

It is not so much in doing things we love, but I find there is immense pleasure in the physical and mental feelings of moving muscles and enjoying the thought processes involved. I enjoy the feeling generated by the thought processes itself as much as the thoughts. I see thought processes and the thoughts as separate entity. Although they may be one, they are separate things and are detached from each other. This gives me enjoyment. I hope you know what I mean.


When I refer to working, to me it refers to pleasures in my life such as reading, writing doing research for another book, after I have finished the two I am working on and one that is in the pipeline that is.


However, although I am still winding down my business, I have realised that it will continue in a small way and I will never stop working. Whether good or bad, I am not sure but science and the medical sector say that when one becomes older, it is best to keep active both physically and mentally. So, I figure that a little work, reading, writing and pottering around in the garden is a pretty good.

§

I am what is now termed an 'Older Australian' which is a phrase I chuckle over. No longer are retirees referred to as 'pensioners' or 'senior citizens'. I have no idea why, perhaps because the word 'older' is not able to be quantified because to be referred as 'older' the question may be asked 'older than what?' 'Older' than age five perhaps? Therefore, it is not clear what 'older' means. Political correctness speak perhaps?

Anyway, this Older Australian is enjoying a wonderful life in my 'older-ness'.

I may be seen to be a member of the 'approaching the hill brigade' but as I said in my last post Over the Hill - Enjoy the Ride, there is no hill to get over anyway it is a plateau with no end on the horizon, a picture I enjoy, relish in fact. Do what I want, when I want and only if I want to...sure is good for me!

Peace to you all,


VERDE

HUMAN AGEING - THE THRILL OF THE RIDE!

The Thrill of The Ride is the second instalment of my posts on Human Ageing.

Man Oh Man!!!!!
Am I on a roll!
And boy...is life different once you get to the top of the hill or what!

Life is strange, and strange is life.
In fact, the trail we follow through life, and the rough off-course tracks or routes we take and where we end up is somewhere we could not have imagined in pre-life, childhood, youth, adult and even later.

My bike is old with wonky wheels, threadbare tires, brakes that work...occasionally and, the handle bars are bent and loose. The seat?  Well...with all the miles my bike has travelled under my bottom, both are sagging however, we are comfortable with each other.

Gosh..what a journey I have taken to make it thus far.
After many years pushing pedals as the hill seems to become steeper and harder, ever upward and now, here I am, cresting the hill.

Know what folks?  It is all very different than I, or maybe you imagine.

After spending many years with the feet sure and steady on the pedals, the wheels going round I had many thoughts on what happens not only after I reach the top but also what the ride down the other side would be like. Would I be going flat out struggling to stay on board and finally be tossed off?
This was a question of which the answer was unknown.

I am not sure if we all ride the same metaphoric hill, or whether after cresting, a different picture is revealed, but I will tell you one thing, the outlook, scenery and experience is very different than can be imagined.

I have no need to peddle my bike any longer, I am over the crest and what I see ahead is absolutely fabulous!  But although my bike is now an oldie but goodie and still has one wheel at the front, one and the back, two pedals, handlebars and a very old battered leather seat.  My bike has done it's job...or has it?

As I pushed over the top of the hill I expected to see a very steep decline ahead which would be traversed rapidly and perhaps with danger. I was expecting my bike to fall apart on the fast descent with such speed that I would fall off, hurt myself badly and to use the bird analogy, 'fall off my perch'.

Man, I have never been so wrong!

My final push on the pedal of the struggle side of life revealed for me, the most unexpected thing.

It may have been a long and arduous uphill struggle all my life, but instead of a rapid decline on the other side, a plateau was revealed.  There is no downhill!

The reality over the hill is that we are on a plateau.
The ground is flat, relatively unbroken, smooth riding and there is no downhill nor falling over the edge.

The world is round and is a continuum.
We can do what we want, stop and sit by the roadside enjoying the grass, rain, sunshine or shadow or we can keep on riding and continue being able to experience and enjoy everything around us regardless.

Sure there will be occasional pebbles, ruts, rain and wind, not to mention perhaps a sore bottom from your tired old seat but, the thing is, there is no such thing as 'over the hill', 'going down hill' or other such euphemisms that reflect the ageing process.

Certainly, we will wear out and need to rest, but it is folly to think that when we reach a certain age, we are over the hill. This is silly.

One of the keys to maintaining mental and physical health when chronologically older is to cease looking at a future of doom and gloom.  If we think life will be negative and be a downhill slide after we crest the hill, it will indeed be negative and this is because of attitude.

If we think our life will be a easier at the top of the hill, it will be easier because we have a positive attitude that reflects cruising the plateau.

With a high standard of living in most places on our planet, we are able to eat well and maintain our health far better than our forebears.  As for exercise, well, we are riding a bike after all.

The human lifespan has increased and the 'baby boomer' and later generations will simply continue doing whatever whenever they want and live far longer than our antecedents however, the time to look after ourselves is now.

So, don't have an 'over the hill and down the other side' attitude.
At the top, rest and enjoy the scenery and plateau out, it is much more fun than going down hill.

Cheers,
Verde.

HUMAN AGING - OVER THE HILL?

This article is 'Human Ageing - Over the Hill?' and this will be followed up next month by 'Human Ageing - The Thrill of The Ride!'

The rationale of continuing the topic over two parts is to allow the first part to provide a sociological reflection on ageing of our parents and grandparents.  The second part is to reflect how different ageing has become in 2015 and how different it will be in fifty years time i.e. circa 2065.

These two united articles were driven by my personal experiences which is very different from my parents.

Recent research authoritatively shows that over 33% of the current Australian population who are baby boomers will have an extended lifetime of 105 years.

Following generations have the possibility of living to 110-120 years.  I would imagine this would be similar to others living in the North Americas and Europe.

____________________________

OVER THE HILL?

Time and Tide passes slowly yet quickly.

When waiting for things to happen, waiting for life to become abundant with health, money or happiness in our relationships or work, time may pass slowly.

If we are not waiting for things to happen and am cruising through our time in this life and fully embrace and enjoy what we have, life can pass rather quickly.

However, there can be a time when we feel chronologically and biologically older.

We realise that all those kids you thought were kids, are running businesses, companies and the government. Those same kids also seem to be popping up on television being authorities on almost anything.

The time has come that we realise that those former kids, yours and everyone else's, are fully grown, mature, productive and fully functioning adults who are looking after our national interests and making a darn good job of it!

When out and about, when before we never noticed, now we begin to feel a degree of deference from the 'youngsters'.

The realisation occurs to us, that if these former kids are now in their thirties and fourties then our life is suddenly passing much faster.  Like...where on earth did those last twenty years go?  Do we feel the challenge of riding our bike up the hill is getting just a little too tough?
What is over the other side of that darned hill anyway?
It is just more of the continuing struggle of pushing a bike uphill over the last sixty years?

_______________________

_________

With time and experience comes knowledge and wisdom.

But great knowledge and wisdom often does not present itself until about two thirds of our life has passed.
The wisdom and great awareness of ageing taking place within us and the concept of our life time running out can become a confronting reality. We realise we have only about 30-50 years to go before we physically permanently depart the 'mortal coil'.

The kids are grown up, have their own children, the house, car, kids, cat and a dog.
We have stopped working and spend time doing what we want, when we want and how we want.
If we don't want to do anything, we don't.  What a wonderful luxury!
Well, my life is anyways.

How we handle retirement or ageing is very much attitudinal within ourselves.

So, how do we live the rest of our life?
Do we live as our parents lived?
Are our attitudes and behaviours of mum and dad or perhaps grandma and grandpa and other forebears how we are now?

Over the past 50, 40 and even the last twenty years much has changed in the civilised world and capitalist nations.

Perhaps you remember when the family entertainment was the radio or wireless taking pride of place in the living room.  We sat in our comfy chairs facing the radio and watched as we listened...no pictures, just sound.  Wow...high tech stuff!

Then along came television.  The TV again held pride of place in the living room, that pride of place often being the corner.  Now, the box not only had sound, but moving pictures as well, almost cinemaesque.  Do you remember that about sixty years ago?  I do, but gosh, as the oldies say, 'it seems like only yesterday' and it is then that I realise I am now one of those oldies, or am I?

How about telephones?  The only folks who had telephones were those who were rich and 'well to do'.
How about refrigerators?  When I was a small kid we, as many of our neighbours, had an ice-box.  Again, when electric refrigerators were invented, it was only the wealthy folks who could afford them.
Motor cars is another thing, when I was a kid we had a little second hand Singer (yes, the car not the sewing machine).

Over the past 50 or 60 years, after the invention of transistors there was a resurgence of technology and innovation and it is these technologies and innovations that have driven the world and society to develop much faster than in the past 100 years.  That is my opinion anyway.

Regards our parents and grandparents, we seem to remember them as being conservative, mostly accepting what politicians said as gospel, and felt the same about the clergy. Folks in those days dressed modestly, rarely cussed or swore and in fact, sadly, only the wealthy had a university education and few rose above the class to which they were born.  The society into which one was born dictated which circular track one would be stuck running around until death. There were the supposed intellectual elite, generally born of university education, who were often liberal in their thought and behaviour.

Older citizens of those days had a far different life than we do today in 2015.
'In the day' older citizens, of whom the mother was the house keeper and kid looker-after-er did not work. Looking after home and family was her job, and the father went to work to pay the bills and feed the family.
So, when the mum and dad retired, all they did was sit on the porch or in the parlour and read, knitted or similar and generally did nothing because in those days, not much existed except socialisation and all were happy with that.  Additionally our parents and grandparents seem much older than we are now although we are now similiar in age. It must be born in mind that also in those days; the average length of life was about 60-75 years of age, or thereabouts.

Time has changed, our life and ways of living have altered or morphed from those of our parents and grandparents because today we have so many things to get on with.  We are far more healthy because of higher living standards and consequently, live longer.

If we look at our parents and grandparents and see how they coped in older life, their declining years, it really can't be compared to us oldies today.  This is because we are not old.  We are biologically much younger than the chronology dictates.

It is no longer necessary to think of ourselves as being almost 'over the hill' like our antecedents, but in reality, because of our higher ldegree of health and standard of living, that hill is becoming lower and much more fun.

So, if we have a mental attitude of being almost 'over the hill' and our bloody bike has flat tyres, the road has rocks, and it is all a struggle, get off and walk the bike up the hill.  After all, that is what the Tour de France riders do when their hills become too tough, and, they get over the hills and humps, so we can too.

I'll tell you what folks, with all the advances of technology, medicine and our high standard of living, there is far more over the hill that will be really great.  We may not yet be able to see over the hill, but I reckon from the top it will look fantastic!

Stop thinking of the age thing, adopt a different attitude and see the reality, 40 is the new thirty and 60 is the new 50!

Hop on your bike, head for the hills, there is a wonderful view ahead.
Experience the world and peddle just over the little hill in front of you, you will be surprised what is ahead.


Enjoy the Ride!
Verde

THE WITNESS OF HISTORY

THE WITNESS OF HISTORY

Academics, researchers and those who document history hold the first person account of an event to be of most value. The most authentic is the first person story.  It is truth and factual from a one person account.  Naturally, we all experience, see and live through things differently.

Apart from us, although there are records held of television and newsprint reports, they are compiled and written from the viewpoint of a journalist.  Although this is often excellent as far as historical records are concerned, nothing can beat the story of feelings and emotions of human observers.

 §

During the latter six months of 2014 citizens of our world have seen, experienced and lived through some horrific events. These events affect all of mankind in some form or other and because of the tools we have such as television, radio, computers, mobile phones and newspapers, these are the tools we use to see, interpret and understand city, state, national and world events.  We often feel drawn to them and sometimes we may feel much news and happening world events, some good, some not so good are thrust upon us.

Sometimes we become sick of being bombarded with news on warfare, terrorism, children being hurt etc and we turn the TV off or close the newspaper.

However, I feel we often become hooked on all the broadcasts as we feel driven 'to know'.

There are some events that I personally need to watch all the broadcasts.

Consequently, on the odd occasion, I feel I am a bit of a voyeur and intruding on people’s lives and their privacy.

This can be exampled in a number of events such as the shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 aircraft in the Ukraine (298 lives) and another lost aircraft MH370 in the South Indian Ocean (226 lives) and the recent loss of Air Asia QZ850 aircraft in the Sea of Java (162 lives).

These three aircraft had a total loss of 686 lives.  

I felt compelled to watch the news reports, especially the Ukraine incident because Australia was heavily involved in the form of international politics and our humanitarian involvement.  Many Australians died and many more were affected.

I was driven, compelled and interested to see how it all ends, what of the people, who survived and what of the families and what our leaders were doing to ensure the deceased were respected, brought home and the perpetrators brought to justice.

None of these events affected me more than the terrorist siege and holding of hostages at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, Sydney where two innocent people lost their lives. 

The siege commenced at the start of the business day and continued until 2.30am.  During those hours I, and a great number of my fellow Australians, were continually watching the news broadcast hoping our police would get the hostages out alive.  At midnight I had to go to bed but because I was continually thinking of what the hostages and their families were going through, I could not sleep.  I arose again at 2.45am to see how things were going.

During the next few days talking with people and seeing some Sydneysiders and other members of the public being interviewed by the media, we enmasse were either up all night or grabbing an hours or so sleep and then going back to the television broadcast again.

Australian outpouring of grief in Sydney's Martin Place following the Lindt Cafe siege was remarkable. A young couple placed a small bunch of flowers on the pavement, and then they were accompanied by another, then another and another.  People who did not know the victims felt compelled to show they care. In a matter of five days, it was estimated that over 1.5 million people had laid flowers in memory of Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson who died at the siege.  Many drove or flew long distances to place flowers at the impromptu memorial to people they had never previously heard of. International visitors and tourists in Sydney at the time did the same thing.

This is the URL to a photo of about half to - three quarters of the flowers. 

http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/9/t/s/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.12az08.png/1418970939185.jpg

As Australians, we were all surprised to see how strongly we stand up together for each other.  We do not buckle under pressure, especially terrorism.

About a week following the Lindt Cafe Siege, a young Aussie cricketer by the name of Phillip Hughes died very shortly after being hit by a cricket ball during a game.  Again, the public outpouring of grief from Australians was incredible. The public openly grieved for a young man they had probably never met, rearly seen play and had little knowledge of him. Yet, many Aussies were placing their cricket bats and caps at the front of their doors, on the fence, of houses, businesses and schools as a memorial to Phil.

§

Like everyone else on our wonderful planet Earth, I am trying to understand why these things happen, what are those involved experiencing, will there be any survivors and, how they will and their loved ones cope.  As well, how do we prevent it happening again.

We are all the same.  As a part of the 'human condition' we love people, have kind hearts and sympathetic souls and we like to see people survive their difficulties and troubles.

Seeing the reactions of my fellow Australians to MH17, the Lindt Cafe Siege and the death of Phil Hughes by a cricket ball, I have never before seen a public reaction and outpouring of grief as these three events.  I can see that we are becoming a kinder and more caring society.

We have all been the Witness of History

We in this 21st Century are lucky to have wonderful technology and communications as well as journalists willing to go into the fray to find the truth and tell the stories and whether we are physically in place to observe history happening or standing on the sideline, we all are in some form or other in our lives, witnessing history.

We all live through history and endure.

  

Verde

NEVER THE LAST WORD

The last word, the second last word or never having the last word, how are important are these?
The last word in an argument, which in hindsight has little importance, and never having the last word may be equally unimportant.  Perhaps we should consider the last word before we pass on to another life.

Realistically, if we die from illness, or old age we rarely have a last word.  What would it be like if we wanted to utter our last words to loved ones and they were not able to be present.  Perhaps no one is there. This means that your final last words may not be heard.

Although we would like to tell our loved ones how much we love them, who can have the ancient family jewellery, make sure you drink all the wine in the cellar (especially the Grange) and eat all the chocolate left in the cupboards.  Oh, and don't forget to feed Mowser the cat, Woof the dog and Whinny the horse.

Our final words are important but of equal importance is to share and communicate how we have lived our lives.

Not only how we have lived our lives but also ,our experiences, adventures and personal history we have lived.  All simply because we are human beings on this wonderful planet Earth.

It does not matter if we have lived in capitalist or non-capitalist countries whether they be rich or poor, in the East or West or of various cultures or faiths.  How we lived or are living our lives can teach those who follow us on their path.  As individuals and as a collective we all live wonderful and interesting lives.  Moreover, we have all lived through history of our planet, nation, cities and, family. It all has a place in the future.

Yesterday a former Prime Minister of Australia, died.  The Right Honourable Gough Whitlam.  Love or hate him, he, as all of us, played a significent role in many other lives.

During my time I have seen 14 Australian Prime Ministers as head of our nation. For a while I lived in Australia's capital, Canberra, and have three times met Julia Gillard, the first Female Australian Prime Minister.  I have also met high court judges, politicians, writers, artists and performers.  But most of all, I have met many of my fellow Australians simply in the street.  As them, I am a part of the mob, simply another Aussie.

I have seen my city, nation and other countries pass through both wonderful and horrific events.  I have seen those I love pass through distressing and very difficult times.  I have seen people pass on to new lives and I have seen the wonderful newness of babies and children being educated and become productive adults.

But you know what folks?

I have never documented, written down or passed on not so much the story of my life, but rather, how my life was lived.  I have never had the last word that tells my story.  I will...soon.

Documenting our stories about how we lived our lives and the people who passed by us, simply on the street or at a party, the meaningfulness, the lessons that may be taught must be passed on.  Not only that, but what is also important, if not valuable, is to leave pictorial images of where we lived.

As some of you may know, I tend to move around a little looking for the perfect place and I am now living in the Australian bush, on a country property.  I went for a walk this afternoon and below, is one of the ponds at the bottom of the garden.  It is very beautiful and it says so much about me (peace, tranquility and open space). The thing is, if I do not include some photos in the story of my life, my great great great grand kids may not have any idea where I lived actually looked like! Mind you in 100 - 200 years, this pond could become a shopping mall.  An example, the pyramids in Egypt used to be a long bus ride from the city of Cairo, and now those same pyramids are on the outer suburbs.

I not only say that our stories must be passed on, but they must be passed on in both digital and paper format.

Sure, write it using a computer or some other digital device, but by printing it out is is there.  Digital technologies and  software become upgraded and new versions made available however in 40 years time I would be very surprised if your story written and placed exclusively in the digital format will not survive as long as paper records.

So, how do I start practising what I preach?
Rather, how do WE start?

I bought an inexpensive large spiral bound notebook the other day and in my notebook I am going to begin by writing down things from my childhood, what my mother and father was like and what I remember of my childhood.  Writing things down help us to remember.

The things I am writing down are simply random thoughts about my mother, what she was like, what she said, how she did things, how she cooked..what she cooked...I remember those wonderful Sunday roast dinners.  On Sunday mornings my sister and myself had to dress up in our pretty lace dresses (mine was lemon) and ribbons and go to Sunday school that was held in church hall. While I was in the littlies class my sister was in the bigger class...and mum and dad were in the church.  I remember when I graduated to the big kids class I was given a celebration bible...still have it...and it has a bookplate that is fancy and dated.  I love my bible, just because it is.

After church, we came home, us kids changed into our play clothes and mum cooked a lamb roast for midday dinner.  This was our routine every Sunday.  Thinking now, mum had long hair that was platted across her head.

See what  I mean?  As I am writing things about my Sunday as a kid, I have remembered the colour of my best dress and the ribbons, my bible and, the fact that mum had platted hair across her head.

Now folks, if you start writing things down like this...in any order, you will be amazed what you remember.  Documenting things can help you in difficult times.  For example, when a loved one passes on, by writing what you remember will be healing and ease the pain in your heart.  Besides, by the time you are 80, think of the wonderful book you can read!  All about your life that may have been forgotten!

By remembering and documenting some previously unforgotten things, your future descendants will find it interesting and may even help them see their place and how they belong in the family.  It will also provide a sense of how society and your city and country was 'back in the day'.

All of this is absolutely invaluable to your family history and, you.

Once we leave our life with our stories and family histories untold, they are gone forever!

Don't Pass With Your Last Words Unspoken

YOUR BOOK - YOUR LIFE

BOTH ARE OF IMMENSE VALUE

Verde

FAT INTO THIN DON'T GO

Since the 1950's and the invention of pantyhose, those spidery fine, stretchy coloured leggings that need no sexy suspenders and very little support garments such as girdles has not only made an addition to fashion but also has changed the way we look at things.

I contended that pantyhose was not only the forerunner of 'one size fits all' but also the reality of 'one size fits most.'  How true is this?  We all know the 'one size fits most' paradigm whether it be hats that swing on our heads, belts that we run out of holes or length of belt and, pantyhose.  No matter how fat the belly and bum it is quite often the chubby lady or lad when purchasing extra tall or extra large pantyhose know their adipose tissue will not compact enough to fit the pantyhose without the feet dangling or the waist will end up above the abdomen or stretch to the breast or chest.

The same is the way we think about things.

Being individuals of various intellectual strengths, we all think differently.  We think our favourite foods, colours, music, books, art and ways of doing things is the best.  However it is only the best to us because our personal preferences are often influenced by the way we are brought up accompanied by our socio-cultural background.

In other words, 'one size fits all' is very much a case of not only being 'one size fits most' but more like 'one size fits some'.  It is like pantyhose, we may plan for and hope the item will fit but the reality can be very different.

So it is with varying religious and modes of belief.  There are many religions and beliefs in our world and naturally, 'one size does not fit all'.  We are human individuals with many and varied differences and this is why there are indeed so many religious and belief systems.

It follows that it is rather stupid and narrow minded expecting others to follow one particular religion.  Those that force others into a particular religion or belief are after power and control because they feel it is lacking in their individual lives.

It is extremely stupid threatening others who do not follow 'the one size fits all' religion.

Making horrendous threats and carrying them out against others not only puts individuals offside but also a vast number of others.

Those others are much smarter than those of the 'one size fits all religion' who appear to lack any form of humanity nor any particular form of higher intelligence at all.  Most of them are all bleating sheep following others.  In fact, they appear to be the disenfranchised of humanity.

Humans who are smart band together for the sake of humanity and defend all. Those who are disenfranchised in society band together to enforce their particular brand of 'one size fits all'.  These disenfranchised people are not strong enough to stand on their own as individuals.

So, next time you buy a pair of pantyhose that does not fit, toss them out or use them to tie up the roses because if the size does not fit, they are useless for the reason they were intended.

Be vary careful of accepting the 'one size fits all' paradigm, use your individual intelligence to examine the truth.


Verde

VIVA SIMPLICITY!

THE VERDE WORD  

Some of us who remonstrate at the use of mobile/cell phones may at heart be of the Renaissance period or, more attuned to the currency of mobile communications.  However the renaissance period is not classically aligned with this months image above.  Both are dichotomies, or at the opposite ends of the spectrum.  Thus it is with modern life.

Having being involved in communication and technologies for many years I regularly bought the latest mobile (cell) phone.  In fact, I was one of the uptakers of the second models of mobile phones ever invented.  It was the 80s and I owned a 'brick'.  Still have it, and it still works and does what it was designed to do.

That is, it rings like a normal phone sounding 'ring ring' and it is answered the same way that is, 'Hello?'

Quickly the design of mobile/cell phones became smaller, faster and with more facilities and every few years I upgraded.

I tend to be a futurist and on the topic of cell/mobile phones I see the future being of more simplicity further practicality and far less of the extra features that add to the extra cost.  The future of  communication technologies is not more, bigger, brighter.  The future is simplicity in communications.

I find there is no need for me to play games, use the calculator, the diary, the calendar and check the news, weather or football scores on my phone, I can use my laptop or television for this.

Why do things on a phone that cost a fortune, have expensive downloads, the keys or screen icons are small, and if one wants to easily view articles in a similar size to books or the home computer, one has to purchase an e-pad or something similar and carry this lump of technology around in a bag much larger than the pockets of our jeans.  I say, the perfect phone size is one that fits easily in our jeans front pocket.  Perfect.

All I want to do is to talk on my phone.  The fancy stuff is a waste of my time.

I spend between 2 to 5 hours a day on my laptop on my desk with my Dell Studio 17 inch with zillions of pixel resolution, huge memory, multi drives, fab operating system, a machine I have had since 2009.  It still runs extremely fast whilst being remarkably reliable.

Why the heck do I need a mobile/cell phone to do all these wonderful things that a simple 'ring ring...hello' mobile phone does.

While out and about I do not need to spend an enormous amount of time while having my eyes and mind narrowly focused on a 5 x 3 inch screen.  I can do that at home and not miss out on so much more to observe in our wonderful world.

In short, all I need is a plain and simple bloody phone!

I have rebelled!  Done, finished, over!  My current Nokia E71 is still good, but getting faults and is a bit tired.

Know what I am going to do?

I am going to dig out my old Samsung flip or 'shell' phone as it has the most wonderful basic functions I will ever need.  It goes 'ring ring' and then I say 'hello'.

Why does life seem to be so darned complex!

My collection of old phones are brilliant.  The all still go 'ring ring'...'Hello?'

What can be more simple!

Viva Simplicity!


VERDE