I needed a new phone — a broken phone meant lost internet access

Photo by Elimende Inagella on Unsplash

Folk who know my backstory will be aware that for some months I’ve been in respite care while convalescing while my broken thigh bone heals. When I was taken to hospital I took my mobile phone with me and then a few months later was able to get hold of my laptop. During my stay in care the internet has been very useful in assisting me to keep in touch with the outside world.

Then on Friday I dropped my mobile phone. I picked the phone up but the hit had been heavy and the touch screen was damaged and not working. It may be repairable but will need a new screen. I went to Argos with one of the carers on Saturday (yesterday) and treated myself to a new phone.

I have a problem logging into the broadband in the respite facility so have been “tethering on” to my mobile phone for broadband. So I did need a mobile phone. Of course I didn’t particularly want to spend out for a fresh phone but I needed one.

Nowadays connection to the world wide web is important for many methods of earning. I’m not especially enamoured taking surveys but they offer a way of acquiring some income, albeit small. Nowadays most surveys are held online.

In the circumstances, I couldn’t access the internet on Friday night. So I’ve been reading “real” books and been watching a little TV. I’ve been surprised how long the times are that adverts run these days. It used to be that there would be that a segment of a show would be broadcast — then there would be a short commercial break (giving you time to pop to the loo or make a cup of tea) but now the commercial breaks seem to last as long as the TV show segments do. I’m wondering whether TV stations are suffering some financial pressure that they feel it necessary to transmit commercials for such extended intervals.

Do you find that surfing the web can be addictive, dear readers, or are you disciplined and know how to sensibly separate your periods of internet activity and time interacting with the physical world? Notwithstanding availability of books and TV shows, I am very pleased to be reconnected to the internet but I want to concentrate on using the internet wisely so that it doesn’t overtake my life and I still have capacity for other activities.