Only The Technology Changes.

I was briefly listening to the radio this morning and heard about an article in todays Sunday Express. Not a newspaper i would normally go anywhere near, by the way.

In the article, they were worrying about the effect watching tv on the BBC iPlayer etc was having on the children of today. The fear being that children were turning up to school too tired to concentrate on their school work. Because they'd been sitting up in bed half the night watching tv programmes on their iPads, or smart phones.

And this is news?

I was doing exactly the same kind of thing about 40 years ago.
The only difference being that back then i was probably listening to Radio Luxembourg, or a pirate radio station, instead of watching tv.
Many other children at that time, were also hiding under the covers, but reading a book, or a magazine that they just couldn't put down, or it was something that they didn't want their parents to see them reading.

I'm sure we've all been in this situation at some time in our lives, especially as children?
The only difference today is that the technology has moved on in leaps and bounds. We've gone from books, magazines and medium wave radio to wireless Internet, iPads and smart phones.

I'm now a parent myself and i'd be very surprised if my children were not doing exactly as the Sunday Express "exposes".
Exactly what i did myself when i was a child, all those years ago.

People are just the same as they've always been. It's just the technology that changes.

And, rather ironically, Express Newspapers do have their very own iPad App should you want to download it.
So, you can read that article in the comfort of your own bed tonight.
Just don't tell your children!

AudioBoo - Kindness Of Strangers.

Some personal experiences.

Have bed, will travel.

We all have trouble deciding on what to pack and knowing what to take on holiday with us, don't we?
There just never seems to be enough room in your case does there? And, in these days of increased airline restrictions on what you have to pack, the reducing of the maximum weight allowed for your case and the hefty penalties if you do manage to squeeze too much in. This has all become even more of a problem and, if i'm honest, more stressful than many other parts of the modern travelling experience.

I'm not even going to mention the problems we also now have with all the extra leads and adapters, for all those new fangled gadgets we all seem to have to carry around with us nowadays. That's a topic for another day maybe?

But, there is one item that i'm sure we'd all love to be able to pack. But, for obvious reasons, we can't.
Our bed (and maybe a sneaky pillow too?)

There is something about your own bed, that just doesn't ever seem to be replicated by any other bed you sleep in. No matter where that might be.
You may be in the swishest hotel in the world. But, there's a good chance that the bed will not be to your liking. Either that, or the bed is acceptable, but the pillows just don't fit your head properly. No matter how much thumping and plumping you do.
So, you wake up with a stiff neck, a stiff back. Or, you end up sleeping on the floor.

So many of us now seem to take more care with our backs and consequently, have invested in often quite expensive mattresses, fluffy pillows, or sturdy bedframes. The mattress that we have at home, uses technology and materials developed for space craft. So, at least i know that i ever get to spend some time on the International Space Station, i should be sure of a good nights sleep.

Unfortunately, this type of technology doesn't usually extend to the beds in hotels, guest houses and holiday properties. I have slept in beds on several different continents and the problem appears to be the same everywhere.

So, what do we do?
Well, i suppose the obvious solution is to stay at home and sleep easy in your own bed, with your own pillows. With that option you can at least also cuddle your own teddy bear as well, if you are so inclined. Although, i can think of better options!

But, personally i enjoy my travelling too much. So, i guess i'll just have to put up with having the odd back and neck ache?
Maybe next time, i should just make a Doctors appointment, ready for when i come home?
Now, where did i put his number?....

Books & Reading.

How do you read

Reading In Bed.

Last night i got to the point where i couldn't work up too much enthusiasm for the Internet (shock, horror!) Well, it was cold & snowy.
What that has to do with the Internet, i have no idea. But, hey...
So, i thought, "i know what i'll do, i'll go to bed early & read my new book".

Now, anybody who reads in bed can probably guess what i'm going to say next?

Anyway, a few pages into the book & my eyes are starting to get tired & i find that i can hardly keep my eyes open! The book was fine, interesting & very readable, so why did this happen?
I'm afraid i can't answer that question, but it's something that always seems to happen.

You feel wide awake. But, as soon as you get into bed, open that book & start to read. Suddenly, it's as if a switch has been turned on & before you know it, you can't keep your eyes open.

Now, i know that i'm not alone in this happening to me. So, i guess i can console myself with that. But, nevertheless, it is bloody annoying.

One of the worst aspects is that you end up reading the same page, or pages over & over again. You have to keep going back, trying to find the place, or page that you can actually remember reading. Another aspect, is that it obviously ends up taking far longer to read a book, which may well end up putting you off bothering next time around.

So, is reading in bed a bad idea?
I tend to think not. At least you are reading in the first place. Which can only be a good thing.
It's far better, in my opinion, than watching the TV.

So many people watch the TV in bed & use it as an aid to sleeping. For relaxation yes, but as an aid for sleeping? I've even heard people say that they need to have the TV on to actually get them off to sleep. Personally, that's one thing that i just don't understand.
Maybe, somebody can tell me why that is?

I fully intend to keep on reading. After all, i enjoy it too much to stop. But, maybe i should try & do it before i get into bed?
That way i might be able to fool my eyes into thinking it's actually alright for them to remain open.
At least for a while anyway.