Judy Amery: “I’ve been using my mobile phone to help me to practise Recorder, recording the alto line, then playing it back and accompanying it with the soprano line. I’d only just joined the Recorder group when Covid-19 hit and I’m really missing it”.
Wendy Sturgess: “I’d been a bit resistant to using Zoom on my PC as I had to have it rebuilt fairly recently. I decided to join a Zoom meeting a few days ago when a family member’s funeral in the United States was broadcast using Zoom. I will keep using Zoom, but on my old iPad, not on my PC.”
Barry (and Pamela) O’Connor: “I’d like to break my IT at the moment! We are continuing to have constant dropouts. It’s very frustrating, particularly when I get immersed in family research and the internet drops out… We do use Zoom for family meetings and celebrated Pam’s birthday recently on Zoom. Our car club – the North East Mini Owners Group - normally meets at the golf club in Benalla on the first Monday of the month with an attendance of 24 to 30 people. Since Covid-19 we have been having a monthly Zoom meeting of around 6-8 people who have good internet reception and the skills to use Zoom. Pamela has regular Zoom meetings with other volunteers in the St Vinnie’s welfare team. Pamela said it’s fine, ‘as long you have a clean top on’!”
Heather Wallace: “I’m using Facetime more with the family instead of the phone, and I’ve learnt to use Zoom now for quite a number of things… I must say though that I’m getting a bit grumpy with the media increasingly forcing us to pay for digital subscriptions which can be quite expensive up front…”
Len (and Rae) Jeffers: “I’ve been vegetating pretty much, U3A wise… no Zoom meetings! Rae’s taken over the secretarial role at Probus so I’ve been working to adapt the U3A data base program to suit their needs. Rae is doing German with Pauline and Horst and has been doing lots of homework. She’s also keeping up with Recorder practice, though apparently waits until I’m out of the house! We’re still riding our bikes every day. We had to take a mask today. We don’t have to wear it when riding, but I had to put it on when I went into the Post Office”.
Bev Lee “I blocked someone on Twitter! I became suspicious when a ‘new follower’ message popped up shortly after I’d retweeted tweets reflecting my concern about the ABC cuts. When I looked at the person’s account their posts were very derogatory about the ABC. They had all the hallmarks of a troll… I certainly didn’t want them trolling my posts! I found a video in twitter’s support area which helped make blocking the person easy to do. Nipped in the bud!”
Les Rodgers: “The Microsoft software on my computer keeps upgrading overnight, so it seems every other morning there’s a problem to be solved, such as the computer not talking to the printer and so on… Something else faintly technical… I decided to bring technology to bear on my tomatoes this year. My total crop last year was three tomatoes after the predators had finished, including birds, fruit fly and other nameless invaders. This year I am adopting an automatic drip-fed hydroponic system in my shed, under high powered variable led grow lights. Hopefully, the fruit fly won’t know about my shed and the birds and others are excluded. I also have a head start as my shed is frost resistant. I have two varieties, one a green tomato which is eaten green and another more conventional red one.”
Also heard around the traps –
“I sold something on Benalla Swap and Sell on Facebook”
“I’ve begun to make voice calls over Facebook Messenger.””
“I’m thoroughly enjoying exchanging video calls with my grand-daughter using my iPhone”
“I purchased a dozen bottles of local red online using Benalla’s new Buy from Benalla website”
Did you know that our website has a search-box? It is at the top of each page and in the footer. With the website containing content added since 2015, it’s a great way to find something you are looking for. Also at the top of each page in the blue menu is the label ‘FB’, which takes you directly to our Facebook Page. Why not ‘Like’ and ‘Follow’ us on Facebook?
Beverley Lee - with thanks to Judy, Wendy, Barry (and Pamela), Heather, Len (and Rae), Les, (and a few ‘anonymous others’), for participating!