SUNDAY 10^TH. APRIL 1999

Oh dear! Oh God! I've started a proper project!

I suppose that I had better tell you why I am sitting down at this machine 'talking' to you.

Twenty-five years ago, I was a bit of an expert in computing. Mainly in getting Joe (Mary) Bloggs to use a computer.

Over the years I fell behind and was increasingly confused by all the references to computers in the media.

I am a poor man! So, I cashed in my life policy for £2400, bought a Funeral Plan for £1200 and decided to spend the rest on a computer. But; I still hesitated. Would I regret the decision?

I waited.

Then I saw what I thought was good value for money and took the plunge.

I have now surfed the net, bought through the net, put these pages on the net. So, what is the use of it to me?

Today while listening to Parky on Radio Two I heard a chap talking about a book he had just had published. He also recounted some tales of his family.

Then the decision was forced upon me.

I am sixty-five years old. It is quite common for people of my age to believe that they have something to tell the world and that they must write a book. I had started to write a book several years ago, but found that I did not have the talent or tenacity. The fellow on the radio gave me the thought that I could put comical and interesting anecdotes on the net and maybe, (maybe!) they will develop into a book.

So here we all are; waiting with baited breath to see what flows out of my fingers. Later it may be my mouth as I have the ViaVoice program.

I'm known as a bit of a 'motor mouth'; so when anyone is willing to listen I will tell them a story. I have quite few that are oft repeated.

So let's start!

Wednesday, 10 April 2002. Well, here I am, three years, and 800 files, later - seems like three hundred! Didn't I do well?
When I started, I said that I was using the site as a 'confessional', and to leave my version of my life for the future generations. That I think I have achieved. It has helped me to get rid of some of my frustrations, though the autobiography has been a bit neglected.
As I write, I know that it seems that I only use the site to 'get at' the family. But, that is not how I feel. I feel that it is all detail relating to my life, and to those I have lived and loved with.
It is always the problem, when writing an autobiography, that someone is bound to disagree about the writer's version of events. However, if documents are available, they can be of use in confirming memory and events. This I have tried to do.
A policy of my site development may be the hosting of the site out-with the UK. This will give me more freedom in relating vigorously disputed items.
I HAVE to make myself the promise to get on with the autobiography part. It is only up to age nineteen, chronologically, at the moment! (I don't seem to have the 'get up and go'!)
Lets hope that I see the next three years round and I add the next review.