My Phone

What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

It’s practically this sacred. Not because it’s technology.

Firstly it has photos of the cats, even the pre-mobile-phone-was-ever-thought-of cats. I love that they’re never far from me. Oh, and hubby and my Frister. Both of whom would entirely agree about the cats.

Secondly, it has maps and I’ve no sense of direction up here . The modern part of this town was built in the 1990’s, and to be honest it’s genius.

In our area you can barely see the houses, they’re all screened by trees. Once you get past the screen there’s a discreet set of houses, walk the footpaths and more pop up. It’s really a huge estate very cleverly built. All the areas have different names: Winyates, Winyates Green, Winyates West, Matchborough, and so on.

We also have dual carriageways, in truth navigation my car is easy, you know the area you want, follow all other routes until it pops up. If you don’t know that you’ll be within ten minutes of home and it will take you an hour to get there.

My first journey out of town was an hour and a quarter long, I got back to Redditch (named after an ancient red earthwork) easily, then got completely lost. It didn’t help that both my phone sat nav and the car one suddenly switched to America and I couldn’t change it. I had to park at a McDonalds, cry out my frustration, and wait.

I could see the headlines “ Woman found gibbering in car at side of highway, her desperate telephone message to the police was her screaming ‘the trees are coming for me?’ It took them 8 hours to find her as her only description of her location was “On a dual carriageway with trees! Where the hell do you think I am?!”

Obviously when you know the place the differences are obvious. There are landmarks. But at first it’s quite disorientating. The water/radio tower at headless cross is an eternal blessing.

I also find the local countryside difficult to navigate. It’s flat. There is the odd house on a hill, and again if you know the area there are clues.

So photos, sat nav, I obviously have one in the Ford but the mini one is awful. Old mini, prehistoric sat nav with the most ridiculous little joystick you’ve ever refused to use ever again.

Music, I can meditate without disturbing Tony at night.

The news is case I can’t bear the verbal versions showing images you never wanted to see, ever!

Hearing. My hearing aids Bluetooth in, so one tap and I can take phone calls, and hear them.

As such the phone is very precious, but mainly because I carry my best memories with me, I can hear, meditate (and hear properly). I’m quite comfortable that it’s tracking my every movement as a woman.

But what I’d really like to take with me everywhere I go are the cats, and joy. And hubby if he wants to come. 😍

Think good thoughts today, you’ll feel better.

Deb xx