Daily Prompt: The Young and the Rested

When was the last time you felt truly rejuvenated and energized? What made you feel that way?

So you are now all waiting to see what a golden oldie who's days of rejunivation and energy are just a dream. Thanks to modern technology dreams can come true. Of course sitting at home with a computer, two felines and Mrs. Swiss can make you feel lazy, worn out and down, but where there is a will there is a way.

This week I was in town once again to discover if the shops still had clothes to fit my luxurious contours, which have expanded in the wrong directions during the Summer. I had my first feeling of triumph when found what I was looking for, so I bought three of them (trousers), as you never know if the stocks are cleared due to a mass invasion of over sized, overweighted golden oldies. I also took a top for good measure. Admittedly it was a shop catering for the larger sizes.

Exhausted from this feat of energy Mr. Swiss and I decided to have a cup of coffee in a street café. We have a nice neat book store in our local town and they serve refreshments on two tables outside, so we chose to sit and watch the world go by. It is quite pleasant as the cobbled streets in town are closed for traffic. The town was not overpacked, the weather was pleasant and we were biding our time. I love book stores, but since my Kindle moved in I very rarely buy something there. 

As we were sitting there drinking our coffee, a small store flashed into my eye on the opposite side of the street, with the name “Swisscom” shop where you could buy the latest in mobile telephones. I still had my good old No. 4 iPhone although Mr. Swiss now had the latest model, No. 6. for some time. I had been talking about getting a new one and now the idea hit me. Now was the time to do it, otherwise I would have to go into town again.

Mr. Swiss found it was one of my rare brainwaves, so we entered the shop and were met by a gentleman that registered our names on a list by hand and said as soon as an assistant was free we would be told. Mr. Swiss found this a little inconvenient as they were not waiting for us, but I decided patience is a golden oldie virtue. It is not often that they let me out. During the next few minutes we went ln an exploration tour of the shop examining the various possibilities.  Eventually a young lady arrived. She was very helpful and in a few minutes my new mobile was ready to go. All I had to do was choose the colour of the model. I went for gold, I mean everyone takes black or white and I always was someone for something completely different. I also chose a cover. I was a little disappointed that they had no english flags (which was my last cover) or even a Swiss flag, so I chose a pineapple which was the most daring one they had. She explained this and that and Mr. Swiss noticed I became quieter and quieter. This was due to the fact that I eventually could no longer follow it all, but knew that Mr. Swiss would organise it when we arrived home. Within an hour at home (or was it 2 hours - I believe a small problem arose) I had a new iPhone fully operative with all my apps installed, but no-one called me which was very disappointing. 

I noticed there is a new installation on these iPhones for walking tours shown by a heart sign. Mr. Swiss had been showing me for some time on his iPhone how many steps he had walked daily, as well as the distance. It is even possible to show how many stairs you climb. As I always take the lift, this feature will probably remain unused. Anyhow yesterday we took a walk in the country and you can see on my phone above the steps (Schritte) and distance (Strecke) that I had covered. You are never alone with an iPhone, it watches every step you take.

Oh and the next day I had to call No. 2 son, but he was not available and I only reached his combox. He returned my call, so that was my first call on my new iPhone. Now I was one of the crowd, totally rejuvinated and energized with my new heart app which can even tell you how healthy your body is by entering various data - cholesterol, iron, unsaturated fat etc. etc. . I have not worked that one out yet.

Daily Prompt: Forward Drive

What is the one thing that drives you to wake up in the morning and do whatever it is you do? Is it writing, family, friends, or something else entirely?

Is it my morning glory flowers outside on the patio that call me to see how many have opened today? No not really, they do it all on their own and do not need me. Actually they should not be there, but I am glad that one seed from last year’s crop poked its head through in April and took over.

I am a golden oldie, no longer have a working routine, but do what I want and not what I have to, although there are certain things that still have to be done. My first drive to leave my bed is at around 2-3 in the morning, due to biological circumstances. It is followed with a second summons to the toilet around 5, but each time I drift back into the world of sleep, no problem.

On the other hand a certain organisation has to be followed. There is a breakfast to be devoured, a computer to be observed and a few house hobbies like hoovering and cleaning. It might even be that I will be let out for a shopping trip, usually in the accompaniment of Mr. Swiss as my consigliere. He is the logistic expert that plans the shopping list to ensure that I do not forget anything important. I know, you wonder, how do I manage to arise. That is quite easy in this modern day and age.

We have one of those illuminated clocks, but only one and it is on the other side of the bedroom. That is my first problem. Not only has my body grown older, but my eyesight is no longer what it was, especially as everything is a blurred picture without my glasses. Although my glasses are on my bedside table, I have to grope to find them, and that can get complicated, especially if they fall to the floor, There are then more gropes with my hands on the floor hoping that my glasses are found. I am a cyber golden oldie, computer magazines have replaced my knitting books and of course I have one of these mobile phones: not just a mobile phone of course, but a so-called smartphone with all sorts of various signs on it. 

Although my smartphone is only Grade 4, it works just as well as model No 6. It might be small, but it can tell me the time. Just press the right button (if your find it) and it is illuminated with king-sized figures showing what the time is. My iPhone (I know, I am advertising but iPhone is the only one I understand) has its nocturnal permanent place on my bedside table and so just an extended hand finds contact and I know what the time is. Should I again fall asleep, which is now and again the case, it even tells me to wake up due to an alarm manipulation that is permanently embedded in its iMemory, generally 7.45 a.m. 

So let us forget the writing or family friends. I do not write my literary works early in the morning and the only family friend I have is Mr. Swiss, who is generally out and about an hour before me. Of course, I have the cats, but they tend to sleep 23 hours a day, using the other hour for eating and searching for a place to sleep. 

WordPress Weekly Writing Challenge: Mind the Gap

Smartphones: blessing or curse

One day my son paid us a visit.

“Look dad, I have got a new phone.” Of course, my son would not say “look mum” in this case as mum was still happy with her hand-me-down mobile phone, the third in a row of hand-me-downs from dad.

“I thought you had an iPhone” answered dad.

“No, not any more, I did not like the typing pad. I now have an android.”

Listening to this conversation I had to look at my son carefully. No, he did not resemble ET. He had an Android telephone. My son continued.

“Hey dad, have you seen this app, it’s free?”

I was now completely lost. They were speaking a foreign language which I had not yet learnt. They have apps and androids. Their telephones did not ring any more, or play a simple tune, they spoke, they vibrated, they hummed and buzzed. They were alive.

I was on a learning curve at the time, although I did not dare to intervene in this hyper-technical conversation between two communication experts. I decided to wait for a quiet moment with dad or son to ask my silly questions.

In the meanwhile I spared a few thoughts for the senior members of the human society. How do they find their way in this new system? I do not think they do, unless they have telecommunication experts in the family, as I do. Mr. Swiss is quite good at explaining, he knows just how it all works. Unfortunately he is more interested in showing me what he knows than how it all works. He explains it all with the mobile in his hand at a distance (I am not allowed to touch it) and this all in our house language of Swiss German. I suppose it is called distance learning.

Now and again I travel into town by our local train. On the return journey from the main station, I might have to wait, so I take a seat. The seat is often shared with members of the younger generation, teenagers taking the train home after school. In my younger years we would have a conversation talking about newest fashions or music. This is a thing of the past. A few of these younger commuters are sort of swaying to the music they hear through the ear plug attached to their cell phone. Those not listening are looking at their smartphone. Some are flicking over pages from Internet showing a selection of newest fashion models, perhaps they have logged into their Facebook side, or perhaps they are talking with a colleague per telephone, of course with live visual communication.

One day, my hand-me-down normal average mobile telephone was broken. It was not working. “No problem” said Mr. Swiss and the worse happened, he had bought a new iPhone of the newer generation and gave me is older iPhone.

“Ah” I said.

“You can have it, it is quite easy to operate. Look”. I did not dare to interrupt and after about half an hour he found I now knew how it worked. To be quite honest, I found it quite a good idea. I saw myself waiting for the train and doing what the others did. I now belonged; I was no longer an outsider. I could play with my touch screen, even surf and write messages. Of course, I had to learn all this.

It was then that I received an e-mail from the Swiss Telecommunications congratulating me on my new phone (they already knew?) and telling me that I would have to pay more for this super modern new service. I could discuss with them online, or pay a visit to their local shop. Mr. Swiss told me it would cost more, although he had the minimum. He was not the surfer type with the phone. He actually used it to call people and receive calls.

The next day armed with my new hand-me-down super-duper iPhone (type 3) I paid a visit to the office in town. After a conversation with the young man I decided why be satisfied with a hand-me-down type 3, when for an all-inclusive price I could have it all. Free local telephone calls, free surfing and tons of apps – no problem. I now belonged, I was in the smartphone telecommunications network. Naturally a type 3 iPhone was no longer what I wanted, so I organised the type 4. A type 5 is now available, but I do not like the shape, so at the moment I remain with type 4.

I returned home and Mr. Swiss asked how it went.

“You can have your hand-me-down type 3, I now have a type 4.”

There were a few moments of speechlessness and then the technical questions began. Of course my capacity for loading photos was not so much as Mr. Swiss I did not even think of asking at the shop, but no problem. I have all my photos in Flickr. Flickr have an app, just upload it onto the phone. I do not take so many photos with my phone, as I always take my camera when I go anywhere.

Last week-end my son visited again with another new Android phone. Each time I see him he has a new phone. Now I could join in the conversation, although I actually started the conversation.

“What is the difference between the Android and the iPhone” was my super intelligent question. Before Mr. Swiss could begin to answer, my son filled me in on the details. It is a matter of using iTunes/Apple. My son uses Google on his Android. It seems I could import all my contacts from Facebook into an Android: with Apple that it not possible. I have approximately 900 contacts in Facebook and only really know only about 10% personally. I decided this would not be an advantage. After further discussion, I remain with my iPhone 4.

So, have you noticed? I can now discuss like all the in people that have a smartphone. In the meanwhile I have got myself a mini iPad. I have become an iPerson. I even now play online games on my iPhone while waiting for the local train. I belong.