Although I’m an old fart I pride myself on the fact that I do pretty well when it comes to understanding and using most modern technology. I recently bought a ‘state of the art’ touch screen computer and have managed to find my way around it’s many programs and features without too much trouble, even if I’ll never use half of them.

I manage OK at automatic check-in desks and touch screen ATMs, so why is it that when I try to use Sainsbury’s ‘do-it-yourself’ check-outs that bloody women always SHOUTS at me …

… as if I’m an idiot ? 😦

A couple of weeks ago I received letters and emails from both my domestic electricity and gas suppliers saying that if I wished to avoid estimated quarterly bills and have my monthly payments adjusted to a realistic figure I should telephone my meter readings to an 0800 number or register them on-line.

This sounded like a good idea to me as my bills were nearly always estimated and incorrect, and the meter readers usually knocked at my door halfway through my breakfast, or when ‘she who must be obeyed’ is in the shower and I’m still snoring my head off.

So, I registered my meter readings on-line at the utility companies’ websites, and by return received polite emails thanking me for my co-operation.

Today, in the post, I received an electricity usage statement showing that the supplier owes me £80 ($125) and one from the gas company showing that I owe them £150 ($230). OK, so it’s “swings and roundabouts”, but strangely neither company adjusted my monthly payments.

I had just read these bills and was halfway through my second cup of coffee when the doorbell rang. I opened the door and guess who was standing there ? …

Yes, you guessed it ….

… a bloody meter reader !

Joke of the week is that Charlie our ‘Prince of Weirds’ wants to be known as the “Defender of Nature”. In fact he is now patron of the ‘Red Squirrel Survival Trust’.

Do you think that this new-found concern for our native wildlife will lead to him founding the … 

…    ‘Grouse, Pheasant and Partridge Survival Trust’ ?

What will they complain about next I wonder ? We seem to have a group of people in this country who will whinge and object about almost anything, including children’s TV.

Yes, the latest ‘racist’ programme on the BBC is … ‘Rastamouse’ !

Come on ! ..It’s entertainment for little kids of three or four years of age, and one of it’s creators is himself a black Rastafarian.

Rastamouse was launched on the BBC CBeebies channel as an animated series with particular appeal to young Afro-Caribbean children, and is based on the popular childrens’ books.

It appears that not only do some people think it racist, but they fear that their children will pick up the West Indian patois … and dat’s a bad ting.

What a load of old cobblers ! … When my daughter was young, one of her favourite TV shows was ‘Speedy Gonzales’, and she didn’t grow up …

… sounding like a Mexican.