First published in 2009 – Updated 2023.

I have been part of the computer scene since 1990 – I even have a ‘Word Perfect Computer Certificate’ dated 1992 – and I have been blogging, or web logging, since … believe it or not … 2001 … but in those days it was a simple process of writing on a blank screen with a  _ cursor flashing, awaiting the next breathtaking sentence and hitting ‘ENTER’. There was no such thing as  ‘SAVE or DRAFT’.

My first introduction to a computer in the home was an Amstrad computer WITH a printer! A very cool gadget indeed!

Prior to this, I had only used a computer in an office – although I was once given permission, in 1989, to drag a full computer tower, screen, keyboard and associated paraphernalia to my unit so that I could do ‘catch up notes’ and ‘learn the computer’ at home – whilst on annual leave.

I blogged for local not-for-profit groups and joined other blogs, such as ABC National, Peakweare (photos), Beep and Wix (before it re-invented itself) and several other ‘free sites’ to learn how to get words ‘out there’. It has been a rewarding experience and I created several websites over the years.

As I progressed in the computer world and now, graduated as a graphic designer, and with the advances in web templates, hosting, design and of course the WordPress platform, I now have a forum to write and also to showcase the art I have created.

I remember the days before WordPress and Facebook, where I had to ‘join’ a conversation or a ‘chatroom’ to talk to other people around the world.

I first had to select the topic of conversation that I wanted to join.

I would sit at my dining table, near the phone socket, so that I could wait for at least 10 to 20 minutes for the internet to connect through a dial up system, and then wait a further 10  minutes – half an hour, to connect to a chat room.

It was quite easy to wait as I would also cook dinner at the same time and occasionally ‘glance’ at the screen to see what was happening.

When the screen changed and displayed several ‘BARS’ to say the WEB had actually connected to a chat room, pulses started rising. I would chat for, hmmm, about 5 to 10 minutes before the line was cut, disconnected or merely dropped out. But I persevered.

After a car accident left me ‘crashed and smashed’, I was advised by my doctor to seek out a quiter life to rehabilitate. I could no longer work full time and I was disabled with a crushed C2,3,4, broken neck and back. I had several spinal operations and titanium, wires and a computer chip were surgically implanted to ‘keep me going’.

I thought that a drive up into the mountains to look at properties for sale, may do me a little good and no harm.

I found all the information that I could from the WEB, which in reality was a few listings and a page about services and phone numbers available in various rural and country areas. It wasn’t much information, just a few Motel listings, but that was good enough and we travelled up into the Mountains of the unknown and promptly purchased a home in the small village of Ben Lomond, some 50km north of the University City of Armidale in New South Wales.

After our arrival and enthusiasm for a tree change had some what diminished, and having lived on the coast all my life, the shock set in.

We were miles from family and friends. My brother moved to Coffs Harbour later that year, which was only a 3 hour drive, but I started to feel the isolation.

On one rainy day, whilst rehabilitating, at my new mountain home, my home computer was located, plugged in, ready to use, with a satellite dish at the ready, I logged into the WEB and found a strange email waiting for me.

It was an invitation from someone named ‘Mark and Team’ from a new forum called ‘Facebook’.

All I had to do was click on a formula, paste it into the search browser and ‘sign up’ to see other faces from around the world (later emails were signed from ‘The Facebook Team’ – since then I have never received another Facebook email from ‘Mark and Team’).

I signed up but I did not understand what was going on.

I saw all sorts of stuff but I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THIS FORUM WAS.

Who was this person from Spain? and what was I supposed to do?

I promptly phoned a friend and asked if they knew how to work facebook. No, they had not heard of it and I should delete it as it may be viral and shut down my computer forever.

Again, I had strange thoughts about my computer contracting a deadly virus that may penetrate through the vents and infect me or worse, the whole world population! My imagination was growing more vivid with this new language of computers that I was hearing from day to day …

I moved onto my next email and left Facebook for a few weeks as I had no clue to what, who or where it was, except that it was a WEBSITE on my INTERNET until an old friend sent an email requesting that I join a Facebook game.

I followed the link but I still did not understand the way it all worked.

I tried to open the game but it needed to flash or something. I did manage to write my first words on facebook which said – ‘I would love to play Zoo World but I can’t work out the game’.

Within seconds, I had strange people tell me all sorts of stuff I had to do. Later that evening, having made new friends from around the world, I had entered the world of Facebook games.

The next day, I sat at my computer and opened up ZOO WORLD where I was given my very own animal island.

A few other people playing this game helped me to play, winning ‘animals, shaking trees’ and all sorts of really cool stuff that occupied me for the next 4 years.

I was back in the world again, albeit a fantasy world and I had new ‘friends’ that I still have today.

Facebook and associated games helped me through several years of ‘getting well’ and getting over various surgeries.

I loved playing the games and it led me to believe that computers could work for me too.

I thought that someone had to draw these cute little characters and someone dreamt up how to put all this stuff onto the internet, so maybe ?????

In 2009 I signed up for Arts (Graphic Design) and, despite several more spinal operations which have enabled me to keep walking, I qualified in Graphic Design (2013).

Today, my computer world is a lot friendlier and love to see what I can do with both my words and art – or hand drawn art made into digital art – or photography made into … well other forms of art. It is an exciting expression.

As for the purchase of my first lap top … well, that is another blog.

I now have had several lap tops – this one is the latest with touch screen and I love it.

Photographs: google free photostock

Thank you for visiting!