LucasH

If you are the 'tech' person of your family, you will have no doubt found yourself in the position of trying to go against that old proverb , you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I have spent considerable time over the phone attempting to teach my SO's father how to use his mobile phone, or explaining to my mother how to use instant messenger online, and whilst I do know that you can teach an old dog new tricks, I have come to appreciate just how much effort it can take.

Last night, I got a call from one of the workers at my mother's retirement community. It seems that she dropped her old telephone and it no longer works. I am a little surprised, because it was one of those old analogue phones that weighs about a kilo and I think my mother has had it since before I was born. Anyway, it finally died. So the lady politely informed me that I was responsible for buying her a new one, but that they would provide her with a temporary replacement.

The reason my mother dropped the phone is that she is a pace-talker. She doesn't sit still when on the phone, she holds the phone in one hand, receiver in the other, and paces back and forth. With this in mind, I thought I would surprise her with a cordless phone. Of course I would go digital too, so over to PMC to check out their range of digital DECT cordless phones .

There was quite a bit of choice, and I didn't want to get anything too complicated for my mother, but the thought of with a headset did make me laugh. Seriously, the idea of my elderly mother pacing back and forth with a headset on was enough to make the thought of morning traffic bearable.

Anyway, I promptly picked out one of the BT Elements packs , the twin pack would just make it easier for her to have a phone nearby all the time, and I would like to think she can take it anywhere with her and not have to worry about damage to the phone. So armed with that knowledge, this morning I set off to go and pick up the pack, take it to my mother's retirement community, install it and show her how it works.

At first she was very nervous about using it, she said she wasn't sure she could figure out how to answer it. So I called it on my mobile about two dozen times, and I think she now has the hang of answering it. I programmed in the number of her friends and the rest of the family, but that may have just been my hopeful nature emerging, because I am pretty sure she is still going to use her old rolodex to call everyone.