Long. long ago - when I was only a young lad - before cars and planes and light bulbs and fridges and telephones and bacon sandwiches were invented, people would dread the approach of winter. Winter was a time when the sun rarely shone, when the crops rarely grew, and when it was far too cold for the chicken to lay their eggs. People would have to plan for a times of scarcity, a time of poverty, and a time of want by putting aside a little in the time of plenty in preparation for the lean and hungry times ahead. Which explains why I have been a little absent of late as I try and stock my digital larder.
Here I stand at the end of September contemplating the digital winter ahead. In a couple of weeks time the Good Lady Wife and myself will pack our bags and depart for warmer climes for the best part of a month. And whilst the Caribbean might have wall-to-wall sunshine, clear blue seas, and pina coladas, it is not so well endowed in relation to broadband. This is particularly true of the rather large boat which will be our home. Its' broadband connection is as narrow as a bigots' mind, as expensive as a gold filling, and as slow as a politician's apology.
So here I stand (OK, here I sit), pickling digital downloads, laying aside some of the plentiful fruits of my speedy WiFi in anticipation of the lean times ahead. Digital books hang from my Kindle Library like salted hams hanging from the pantry ceiling. MP3 tracks are stacked away in digital cans like sardines packed in brine. I am a farmer of dreams and I am preparing for the digital winter.
So,. . . . you're looking forward to your trip?
ReplyDeleteOf course. You can't beat digital snow,
DeleteLove this post. Great last sentence.
ReplyDeleteThanks Teresa
DeleteWhat entertaining prose! It's like eating an especially fine chocolate; you want to savor it for as long as possible before swallowing and moving along to the next piece.
ReplyDelete"It takes one to know one", as they say.
DeleteWonderfully put - but that means I will have a famine too if I don't have your posts to look forward to. Maybe I shall reread all your best ones.
ReplyDeleteAh, the Very Best of News From Nowhere, Volume 1
DeleteAnticipation is always the most fun, enjoy your time away, Alan. We are also going on a road trip through able abridge Va country.
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot of good metaphor in that post. Have a great trip. Love your post today.
ReplyDeleteWhoops just read my earlier posted comment and it goes to show tying on an ipad early in the a.m. is NEVER a good thing. What I meant to say was that we are going on a road trip to the Blue Ridge area of Virginia within the next week. I have been told that cellular and wi-fi connections might also be unavailable or slower in some parts due to the mountains blocking signals.
ReplyDeleteWhat boat will you be staying on for your trip and where will you be visiting? Our trips are mostly taken via auto.
You are a farmer of dreams..hopefully you have prepared enough! Soak up that sunshine and raise a pint or two in honor of your friends who are about to enter a real winter. Have fun Alan..we expect a full report and lots of photos upon your return:)
ReplyDeleteA wonderful essay, Alan. May I recommend a book you might enjoy on your Kindle. I just finished "Destiny of the Republic" by Candice Millard on my Kindle and rank it as one of my top ten best books. A history but more a medical/crime thriller about a tragic assassination attempt on President Garfield.
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