FRUSTRATION REIGNED

Years ago, my house was more like a set of offices, plus kitchen, bedroom and lounge. Honestly! Joe had his office and I had mine, plus mine also served as a work room in the days when craft work and writing went alongside my Women’s Institute duties. You can see that both of us needed a phone, plus one for leisure times when work was finished. The third phone stayed in the lounge and then moved to the bedroom when we got tired. How complicated some people can be!!

Anyway:

When household phones play up beyond repair there is nothing to do but replace them. Let me say here and now that the chore of setting them up was MINE. Joe would have nothing to do with it. Years ago, we thought a three-phone set was best for the two of us, because of our commitments it made sense to have phones near at all times. That was our excuse and we stuck to it - for many years. Now, though, they are no longer necessary. Surely, I thought, one phone is enough for one person. What really made me change was the fact that after a short time talking to someone on the phone everything went faint and even though my callers raised their voices it didn’t help. It’s almost like someone is saying ‘come on, it’s time to shut-up’.

Now that I am the sole phone user it seemed a waste of space to have three phones all of which contained information and phone numbers that had to be repeated when updating every phone. Too much hard graft for little me, so I treated myself to a one phone package from Amazon.

It came the next day, a service that really can’t be beaten.

I couldn’t wait to test it out.

I emptied the box, laid the various bits and pieces on the table and began to assemble my new phone. Only….

First I couldn’t read the small print on the instruction sheet

Next I couldn’t understand what bits I did read

Next I nearly threw the lot in the bin.

My temper emerged and I almost threw the damn thing across the room.

I had worked out that the base of the phone had to be charged but 16 hours seemed to bit long for a charging job. However, it had to be done. Holding the charger in one hand and the phone base in the other, I searched for a place to plug one to the other, without success.

When Joe was here I was the technician, carpet fitter, decorator of sorts, secretary, housekeeper and cook, in other words I could turn my hand to most things. But not this time. I searched and searched and searched some more for a place to plug charger to phone base until I reached a stage of screaming and slamming and cursing. Even Charlie the cat kept out of my way.

When feeling calmer I put all the parts back in their box, picked up the phone and sent a plea by text to next door neighbours who agreed to come in the following day and sort things out. It was lucky I hadn’t chucked the new phone in the bin!

Oh to be back in capability state, which state I entered once the ‘girls’ came round the next day. Without hesitation one of the girls plugged the thing into the charger, into a hole so tiny I couldn’t see it. Thanks to her it is now charged up and running. Oh how I wish I could go back a few years and be as clever as them.

I don’t like it though. The ring tone is like something repeatedly hitting a tin can, and trying to read the names is like deciphering a foreign code. I am used to reading proper print but what was entered in the phone was in fancy letters reminiscent of some fancy print on Christmas cards.

Back to the mobile, then. That's one piece of equipment I can use blindfolded. What to do with the other phone is a matter for future thought! Meanwhile, if folks ring the land line I just have to tell them I can't stay long.