Too much Internet

We've just moved into the 'granny pad' and BT made a huge faff of connecting our landline and broadband to a building that has always had an active phone line. We have had no broadband for three days and I've been like a bear with a sore head because I rely on it for so much.

The important stuff is obviously banking and bill paying but the fun stuff is a great mood lifter.

However did we manage without the internet?

I could have written that list Nankate. When we changed from talk talk to sky about 3 years ago, we were without broadband for a whole week. I really thought I would go stir crazy. It felt as if id lost

Oops! Hit send too soon...

It felt as if I'd lost one of my senses, or an arm. I was actually quite appalled at the effect it had on me, but it didn't make me use the net any less

I feel as of I use it too much, really. I nip in and out of Facebook like a teenager, some days - and what for? Just to see that someone's asking me/anyone to 'like' their post if I love my grandchildren or miss someone who is spending Christmas in heaven.

Same here; I got so much done when my computer was broke, albeit finding life very difficult without one. In fact, since I retired it's what gets me out of bed in the morning . What worries me is that I don't seem to read books any more and I think that's mainly down to spending so much time on the computer.

Oh Tegan you have hit the nail on the head with reading less. I always think, well when I have finished on the IPad I will pick up my book but it doesn't always happen

I doubt much will change if I am honest.

It is addictive.
I really like Twitter. I was on there for 4 years, with 10 followers, and couldn't see what it was all about and then I had a 'Eureka' moment when I suddenly 'got it' and it is great fun. ( but does waste time)

Tegan, that's my list too. Just add check the news, family history and photos/videos. So much easier since I had the tablet. The old laptop took ages to wind up. Do you find you turn it off, remember something else and switch it on again. I would be lost without it now. So easy to catch up on to progs etc. On holiday I watched 'Enders early in the morning looking over St Ives and the sea. Still read loads though not yet tried reading a book on it. No wonder youngsters are glued to their phones!

Tegan - exactly! I'm really annoyed with myself for the same reason. I picked up 3 books from the library two weeks ago (I'd requested them) and I'm not even halfway through the first one. They're due back on Tuesday next. I really must get my act together. Like Alima, I sometimes close my laptop down, then I remember something I need to check, so I turn it back on again. I really must stop this! Of course....here I am, lying in bed - on my smartphone......don't even need my laptop for social media.....! I'm going to get up, run a bath and take my library book with me!

I wish I could have Eureka moment re twitter!
I still don't understand how it works, although I have an account!!! It's the hashtag s!!

I spent a week last May in a place that had no Internet, tv, radio or phone signal and it was just like a detox. We read, played games and talked to each other.
We could still play games on our tablets so were not completely cold turkey.
It was the fear that I'd missed something that was the worst.
We managed for years without it so how come we are on here discussing it at this time of the morning?

I use twitter as a memo to self. I see an article on line or a recipe and tweet them so I can refer to them again. Facebook is beyond me apart from finding out if my late brother' s children are alive or dead as I would never know otherwise.i do use my iPad as a standby far too much but not after 6 pm as it's like coffee keeps me awake and I'm back to books at night. My kindle is not back lit.

It's just progress, nothing more. People once worried about having too much electricity, or central heating, or whatever. So some of life now happens on the internet, it's no big deal.

I work on the internet, use it when and for whatever I need it, then go and take a walk with the dogs or read a book. In my opinion the thing is there to use for your own purposes and advantage, but don't let it make you a slave. It can make life easier (and cheaper - where would we be without price comparison sites!), but it can also turn you into an iZombie. The choice is ours.

Like everyone else, I waste spend far too much time on the iPad/pc/iPhone. Since being on my own, it's a form of connection with the outside world, but when I am not at home I find it easy to ignore. In future, I am going to try to have an Internet free day a week and spend the time doing all the important stuff.....

Marmight, that's exactly what I do. As I work online during the week I do an internet "detox" on Sundays and do "old-fashioned" stuff like going for a walk, a swim, or just out to a museum or something, and always end up feeling really relaxed and refreshed.

I spend a lot of my time online for one reason or another and I don't begrudge a second of it :-)

Apart from the usual banking and such , I use it to write letters , which I print out and send - I love a good handwritten letter ...well typed anyway! I use Facebook to actually feel like part of the lives of far flung family and friends.

I craft extensively and my die cut machine works from the internet so I'm always designing , or cutting etc.

I read endlessly on my iPad, not just books but articles and blogs.

I NEVER wonder how something is done/made or produced these days - I just google it !!

Its an awesome world which I make top use of . I don't watch much TV and I have some mobility issues but never feel cut off these days.

The only drawback was DH was having trouble sleeping and he now has an iPad curfew . Its goes off at 9pm and he has found he sleeps much better- something to do with the blue light produced by iPads.

If mine was to break or was taken from me - I would need therapy

Last night I was on utube looking up ways to unblock a sink [it wasn't blocked but was on it's way to being blocked]. Then there was the night when I found my new'ish car covered in dried on sap from a nearby pine tree; utube again telling me to use fabric conditioner [it worked a treat!]. Now, of course I also have a Coral betting account and listen to William Hill Racing Radio all afternoon [I know one of the lads who works on it so it's good fun to listen to if you're into that sort of thing]. And, now that my new computer is working well I no longer buy rubbish CD's [you know the ones; hear one track that's great so rush out and buy the CD only to find the rest is awful]. Newly discovered facebook is great fun and I'm back in touch with friends from way back.

I sometimes shut down the laptop, then remember I want to check something else. Trouble is , by the time it has warmed up again, I've forgotten what I was going to look up! Tablet would be quicker, but it is not very responsive - probably my sweaty fingers!

shysal you need a dobber, well that is what it is called in our house.
More accurately known as a stylus, it looks similar to a ballpoint pen but has a rubber tip. Cheap and cheerful ones are only about a fiver, those from more technical shops £15 upwards. I find buying a bright pink one stops DH 'borrowing' it.

There are online sites where you can buy half dozen at a time for a couple of pounds - there is always another in the drawer when you lose one.

You don't need to use #hashtags grannylyn - I never do unless I comment on the Archers so that people know what I am talking about. It is generally unnecessary. It only comes in useful if you want to search for something, but even then you don't have to use it.

I'm not sure why people feel guilty about how much they use their iPad ? Much of the stuff you mention is practical and would still have to be done anyway like finances and shopping, only iPad / computer makes it quicker. FaceTime the grandchildren ? That's essential for those of us who don't live nearby. I use mine to watch TV in my bedroom. It also keeps me in touch with the world as I live alone. My social activities are all arranged online with the groups and friends I socialise with. I organised our huge family holiday online, and communicated all the complex information to the 14 participants.

I also look things up I want to know about, it keeps my brain active. Just the other day I arranged a lovely outing with my cousin who I haven't seen for years, because we both saw a concert we wanted to go to and communicated about it on Facebook.

PS I'm not sure where I would be without YouTube videos showing me how to fix things !