At the moment (almost) nothing can get on to the village website other than through me. I say “almost” because it is possible to acquire the peculiar knack – available on request – of putting items on to the Calendar. It’s a bit of a fiddle – but practice makes perfect. If you give me the details, I will put the event on for you but if you fancy having a go yourself, please do. If the item ends up in triplicate or on the wrong day, I will put it right (if I can!). That aside, rest assured that no one can use the village website scurrilously – except me, of course!

I almost forgot – anyone can leave a message in the Visitors’ Book. There was one occasion when a message from someone in Afghanistan got on there offering cut-price Viagra! Now, however, I automatically get an email informing me of any new entry and, if it were inappropriate, I would delete it.

I still hear of people who have been too bashful to ask to be listed on the Local Businesses page. (Or perhaps they don’t know there is one.) This page is frequently visited so please let me know if you would like your business included. People like to use local services.

I was asked recently if there was a public internet portal in the villages for people who are not “on line” at home. I am ashamed to say I don’t even know if the Mobile Library has this facility. Many people in the villages are keen surfers and, I feel sure, would be pleased to show someone around the website. Perhaps some Broadband users would like to offer this service through Tail Corn?

I had a look at the website recently from our hotel in Spain and was horrified to see the background picture on the front page didn’t fit properly! I do check the website on three sizes of screen and on Firefox (and alternative web-browser to Internet Explorer) but it seems funny things do happen. I suspect this instance was to do with Accessibility Settings on the hotel’s computer – over which the web-maker has no control – but I would still like to hear if anyone discovers that they see a version that is different from a neighbour’s.

If there is someone in the villages who is thinking apprehensively of joining the growing “on line family”, now seems a good time. Hardware prices have plunged. The Computer Club has resumed activity after the Summer break and will welcome new people. There is a wealth of computer expertise in the villages – some of it professional, of course – together with lots of dodgy advice from enthusiastic amateurs like me who love to fiddle with somebody else’s computer! Broadband is usually pretty good in the villages now. You pay for it, of course, about £10 to £15 a month, I think, but it means pictures load quickly, letters with attachments arrive rapidly, your phone still works, updates to virus checkers download in seconds, and, best of all, usage doesn’t affect your phone bill, so you can shop, research, explore Google Earth, book tickets, etc., etc., etc., to your heart’s content.

I am told there’s naughty stuff on the internet as well! Be assured, in my experience IT doesn’t come searching for YOU.

David Farnell    31st September 2007    (From Tail Corn  Autumn 2007)