One of my presents this holiday season was what I understand is called a "NetBox" or "NetTop" – a tiny little PC the size of a small book which sits under my TV and connects to a camera sitting on top. Now I can Skype with my family from the living room, which is much more relaxed than doing it from my laptop. Here I am drinking a cup of tea while talking to my son in Germany. This really is the shape of things to come!

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Seasons Greetings and a very Happy New Year to all the wonderful people I have met here online over the past year. As I have been spending so much time on my computer, my daughter and son-in-law bought me this fantastic and very comfortable chair as a gift. I will now be able to relax more and enjoy the messages I am receiving from all over the world.

Right now I’m snowed in but warm, with a visit from my son and daughter-in-law, and looking forward to more spring-like weather.

All good wishes,

Rita (a.k.a. The VOG)

The best parts of winter are here now – when the snow is crisp and fresh and hasn’t been around for more than a few hours. What a beautiful photo of a Robin my grandson sent me – thanks Zac!

However lovely it is, I hope the snow won’t be around for too long as it makes it so hard to get out-and-about.

I wonder how many of my fellow bloggers order their groceries online and what your experiences have been?

Each time I personally have done so I have had hysterics after sitting for well over 2 hours to set up my order and then having some problem crop up. Whenever there is a problem a call to “Customer Services” receives the same reaction: “we’ve just changed our software and are experiencing difficulties on the website” – not one of them can resolve my problem and they just leave me to abandon the order.

Fortunately I’ve usually managed to solve things myself after that and still have the order delivered – and the delivery men are excellent and so friendly and helpful.

After my husband died over ten years ago, no one prepared me for the probability that I would, in time, become all of the following:

So glad that Miss Manners has come to Facebook. Thanks to @Mari Smith I saw the sad news about Alice:

Though I did once work on a word processor very similar to the one Alice is using, I don’t know Alice, and even if I did I would no longer be friends with her – or Timmy!

NOT a good day today!!

The renewal of my Car Insurance has arrived in the post today and I was speechless when I saw that it has been increased by fifty percent!!

When I phoned the Insurance Company to discuss this I was told that there had been an increase regarding all car insurances but mine was mainly due to my age!!

I pointed out that I had never had a claim during all the years I had been insured with them. Take it or leave it was their attitude – hard cheese!!

Fact is I’ve been penalised for being a V.O.G.!!

I was pretty exhausted after my last shopping trip – and I didn’t even leave the house! Tesco had made changes to their online grocery system, and the helpline wasn’t able to help much – they just wanted me to get rid of my cookies and I hadn’t even ordered any!

The order was delivered yesterday and it was fine, but I may just take the car next time.