Update February 2010

The invitation said “go straight to the music room”. Mmmmm? Go STRAIGHT to the music room, thereby implying that we should not linger or make ourselves conspicuous in the sumptuous surroundings of the foyer of the Ritz Hotel. Well yes of course I would go there but the memories of instructions from my mother to a rather shy child “you are as good as anyone else, if you are well dressed, hold your head high and are polite then you have nothing to worry about” came into my mind. So I lingered and took in the surroundings, after all it was unlikely that I would have the opportunity to be in such a place again.

Let me explain.

Last year Age Concern and Help the Aged had a competition to find the Internet Champion 2010. Entries were to be from people over the age of 55 (I think) who had used and benefited from computers and the Internet. I was asked to be one of the judges of the competition. The other 4 judges were from the charity, government and British Telecom (who were  sponsoring and providing the prizes). From the entries a shortlist of 15 of the best entries was made and the selections were made at a meeting at the BT Centre in London. We chose the winners and two runners-up and the awards were to be presented to them at the Ritz Hotel, London. Hence the reason for my visit. The winners received a laptop, a BT wireless router and a years subscription to broadband services. These people will be used in various ways to promote the programme to get more of the elderly to embrace the technology of computing as they are interviewed by the media. I will continue with my efforts to support the cause by collaboration with those that are already doing practical things in the form of classes and instruction via Skype and reporting with my video blogs. I wait to see what comes from the media outlets in due course.

My day started quite early. Although the train wasn't until 10.30 a.m. I had asked that my grandson Scott to accompany me to assist in the travel which involved a journey to collect him from his home some distance away. Since the meeting at the Ritz was not until 4 p.m. I had arranged a visit to the Google offices, where I had some things to report regarding my previous visit to Google Ireland. A very pleasant meeting and a good lunch but, as you too must have experienced, by the time we got to the Hotel were feeling a little jaded and unkempt.

I've always wanted to wave down a taxi, you know like you see in the films with a brandish of a brolly, sort of like Henry calling his troops into battle but this pleasure was passed to Scott (it was raining and I was sheltering inside)....how cruel. But he was going to get a free tea out of it. It is not the most dignified way to exit a taxi by rear end first, especially when a doorman resplendent in a uniform that would have done justice to a knight of the r helm was holding the door. It was now that I thought how stupid to have loosened my belt after lunch and not taken the opportunity to clean myself up. Oh well. So we meandered to the music room taking in all of the splendour. A pianist was at a grand piano playing Noel Coward tunes, the restaurant was full of visitors enjoying the traditional and famous Ritz Tea. Although it had cost a fortune with train fares and taxis for us to get there ours would be free. Staff silently slid up to you if you paused and looked lost to  question you or maybe they thought that you might attempt to steal the expensive watches or jewellery displayed in cabinets.

Why do they serve champaign in those stupid glasses? even without a nose as large as mine it is a matter of contortion to drink from them and to have to switch it to the left hand which already holds the walking stick presented a few problems as we were introduced to the other members and visitors. Tea. All those delicious sandwiches and cakes replenished frequently and cups of fine china, thankfully wide enough for any sized nose. Speeches presentations, chit chat, polite conversations and this time the doorman whistled up the taxi to take us to the rail station for our homeward journey. It was the early hours of the following day that I got into my bed but all in all a satisfactory day. Let us hope that we can achieve some of the goals.

Not much else to report. A radio interview recently but that was by telephone so not much effort there. The Zimmers have been approached by BBC to do something on a show but I  won't be there but will let you know if anything comes of it. Like everyone getting bored with this unusually cold winter but thank goodness for the Internet and the community of friends.

Until next time.......goodbye.