A major win for me over technology!
Last Friday in Melbourne started out warm and got hotter. In the morning, I thought about some of my elderly friends who would be sweltering in their non-airconditioned homes, and decided to invite two of them here for afternoon tea. I knew they both liked André Rieu, so it would be a good opportunity to show them the new Wonderland DVD. This all sounds very nice as I type, but it was not that easy! Ken's home theatre system is very complicated to someone like me who would rather just press an on/off button to watch t.v., so he has always been in charge of anything more complex than watching Ovation on Foxtel! I have never played a DVD on it before, but if I was going to show my dear old ladies André at his best, I had to learn fast!
They were due to arrive at 2 pm, so around noon, I found the DVD and starting turning on the various components, i.e. t.v., DVD player, and amplifier. I put the DVD in one of the three DVD players and nothing happened. I tried to find the right channel on the TV for playing DVDs and got wavy lines on the screen. In desperation I phoned one of Ken's friends who works odd shifts, and luckily he was home. I told him what I was trying to do and he chuckled, knowing what I'm like! He asked which player I had the DVD in and I told him. He said "Try the LG player". I did, and it started whirring satisfactorily. But there was still no picture. M. asked if I had the TV on the AV setting and I replied that I didn't know how to find it. He talked me through all the buttons and we finally struck gold. Voila! There was André!
At 2 pm, my friends arrived and were soon comfortable in my nice cool lounge room, with cups of tea and slices of Xmas cake. We chatted for a while, then I proudly turned on the DVD player etc. and all went without a hitch. They were mesmerised right from the start - clapping at the end of each song, humming along, and laughing at the right places! I don't think they wanted to go home, but Ken was due home by then, so they took their leave after I promised them we would have another André afternoon very soon!
To finish this post off, I want to thank André if ever he reads this or hears about it - if it hadn't been for him, I would never have been forced to learn to play a DVD on our system. My Elvis DVDs sit on the shelf staring at me reproachfully; most of them have never been played, but I guess I have no excuse now!
They were due to arrive at 2 pm, so around noon, I found the DVD and starting turning on the various components, i.e. t.v., DVD player, and amplifier. I put the DVD in one of the three DVD players and nothing happened. I tried to find the right channel on the TV for playing DVDs and got wavy lines on the screen. In desperation I phoned one of Ken's friends who works odd shifts, and luckily he was home. I told him what I was trying to do and he chuckled, knowing what I'm like! He asked which player I had the DVD in and I told him. He said "Try the LG player". I did, and it started whirring satisfactorily. But there was still no picture. M. asked if I had the TV on the AV setting and I replied that I didn't know how to find it. He talked me through all the buttons and we finally struck gold. Voila! There was André!
At 2 pm, my friends arrived and were soon comfortable in my nice cool lounge room, with cups of tea and slices of Xmas cake. We chatted for a while, then I proudly turned on the DVD player etc. and all went without a hitch. They were mesmerised right from the start - clapping at the end of each song, humming along, and laughing at the right places! I don't think they wanted to go home, but Ken was due home by then, so they took their leave after I promised them we would have another André afternoon very soon!
To finish this post off, I want to thank André if ever he reads this or hears about it - if it hadn't been for him, I would never have been forced to learn to play a DVD on our system. My Elvis DVDs sit on the shelf staring at me reproachfully; most of them have never been played, but I guess I have no excuse now!
posted by Gina E. | 1:02 am
5 Comments:
Gina,
I understand 110% how you feel. I like to push the button and make it go :)
Hmmm warm weather, now that would be a nice change. We have a cold snap and right now it's only 20 degrees, icy and snow. BRRRRRRRRRRRRR Of course almost in time for me to go back to work.
At anyrate-Happy New Year!
HUGS and wishes it will be much better for both of us.
-Patty
Clever, clever person. I have felt similarly in my recent technological battles and, at least, was able to get restarted but the machine will still have to go to the hospital for sick puters.
I love the thoughtfulness of getting the people around and entertaining them with Andre. I've been entertaining myself on Foxtel with Andre too. He's very enjoyable.
Dear Gina ~~ You have a very kind heart to think to bring those elderly ladies to your home and even learn the technology to entertain them. Well done. I enjoyed your earlier posts also, and I am so glad that Helen is almost well again. I hope the New Year will be better for her, and all of us. Thanks for your comments.Happy,healthy and Prosperous New Year. Take care, Love, Merle.
Thanks dear Blog Friends, for your good wishes. I've reciprocated on your blogs, and will do so to everyone who leaves a message here. Isn't this fun?
You are always thinking of others! How lucky your friends are to have you in their lives. (I still don't know how to do anything other than turn the tv off and on.)
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