Getting connected

For someone who lives so far away from family and many of my friends, I've been very slow off the mark with Skype. I did download it a few years back but found it slowed my laptop down. I also got lots of nuisance messages from various Turkish men, and I never actually made a call using it. I eventually uninstalled it. However, under pressure to support the long-distance friendship between my elder daughter and her best friend, who moved to Singapore last year, I've tried again with Skype. Today my daughter had a 45-minute video conference with her friend. As Hannah Montana might say: man, it was awesome!

The friend played her guitar. The girls giggled and gossiped. It was fun. And as I sat next door, eavesdropping, I could see the possiblities Skyping might offer once we move. In particular, I'm going to miss the two writer friends I meet every wednesday; we talk through our wroks-in-progress and convince ourselves we're not delusional in wanting to produce novels. We laugh. A lot.

Now I think, it might still be possible to continue this post-Norway; I'll just have to forfeit the prawn sandwiches and cafe mocca. I might even have to wear a bikini if it's too warm. It won't be the same but it's sure better than nothing.

It may not have been love at first sight for me and Mr Skype, but I think perhaps this slow-burning affection we are now developing may be more likely to last.