The Faraway Nearby: Diary of a Taranaki Tech Traveller – Part two

Decluttering. Our children think it would be a great idea as we have rather a lot of ‘stuff’. Dutifully looking for items to discard I come upon an enamelled badge. Not one of my mother’s Bowls medals.

Initials. A Latin motto. A book. Perhaps a school badge? Dim memories that my brother, 70 this year, spent six months at a nearby church school while a new primary school was built. A Google search reveals his first school still exists. Though the name has changed and no motto is evident, the location map shows it’s still in the same place in Christchurch– just bigger.

Happy to find a contact link at the bottom of the webpage. (I love how good websites keep things in predictable places.) Send a “Would you like this old cap badge?” query. Email back that they’d be delighted, so post it away to a new home in a display case. Not much of a dent in the clutter though.

Receive email reminder about upcoming Intermediate School reunion. Oh dear! School Secretary didn’t know to use the Bcc: Blind Copy address option so I now have the names and email addresses of all those interested in attending the reunion. Spot only two from my class …

Cricket! Can’t really stay inside for the duration of the Test matches so happy to find Radio Live on the iHeart Radio app. Pop iPhone in my pocket while we garden and listen, like Dad listened to his Transistor Radio perched on the fence. Note to self – check for pockets when buying clothes. Handy invention that predates technology.

Younger daughter’s first anniversary approaches. Must find suitable small something deliverable in Perth to mark the occasion. Bright idea – personalised Playing Cards for Paper Anniversary! Find a website that can deliver within seven days anywhere in the world. All I do is drag and drop a photo and they will print and post. Now, do I choose Bride and Groom – or their cute cats? I go for both as two packs will get well used.

New son-in-law is from a family of keen card players. Since our visit at Christmas I’ve downloaded a Cribbage app on my iPad and practise regularly so I should be a better partner next time I visit, though I’ll never be as quick at counting – fifteen two, fifteen four…