Write’n’Easy
But not achievable
Here’s a story about shopping and trying to write.
On Monday last, I went into the tech store and bought myself a tablet with a keyboard. I had an hour to kill before a medical appointment, and when I saw the price of the thing, I thought — I need a consolation prize.
Small thing, my new tablet. Heavier than it looks, but just about okay to carry without feeling the weight.
Convenient-ish. I already write in coffee shops, but I have a background daydream running in my head about not having to transcribe out of my notebook later. [Yes, I write on my phone sometimes, but my daydream suggests a sweet spot: phone too small; laptop too heavy.]
Anyway, I got my cheap new gadget home and opened it up to configure Google Docs.
And got a headache.
I now know, because I’ve been told (reminded, I suppose, by a person in the tech store), that touch-screens glare.
In its wisdom, I’m told (reminded), the tech industry has come up with a (cheap) screen that you can prod with your finger, but you can’t look at for more than a few minutes without getting a headache.
This could be so easy!
Went back to the tech store and asked for an anti-glare screen protector — no. Try Amazon. Went to the other tech store and several phone stores — no. Try Amazon.
The entire high street suggested I shop at Amazon.
So what did I do?
So I went to Amazon. Friday, this was. After lunch. Anti-glare screen protectors for many brands and models, but not for the thing I’d bought. Got out my tape measure and ordered one with nearly-right dimensions.
This story is not intended to be an ad for Amazon (and there’s no affiliate link here, in case that needs saying), so we’ll fast-forward to Saturday lunchtime and not mention the rapid turnaround of my order. The words “within twenty-four hours” will not be worked into this story.
No, I don’t have Amazon Prime. And I ordered my anti-glare screen protector without accidentally signing up for Amazon Prime. I think.
Anyway. Fast-forward to me clicking Track your package on Saturday.
There was a map with a dot on it! Never seen that before. Nine stops before mine! I refreshed the map. Seven stops!
It was at the end of my street! I rushed outside and there was the van. I waved to it and it pulled out from where it was and drove straight past me.
For whom the van stops
My street doubles back on itself and goes steeply downhill. It’s a dead end. I went to the wall and looked down. The Amazon van did a three-point turn just before the steps at the bottom and started back.
I watched it stop at three houses. Three stops!
This time when I waved, it was my turn. The van stopped and the woman inside gave me my package. Total of five stops on my street, including mine.
No wonder the high street — never mind.
I’m now the proud owner of a Mr.Shield screen protector. With any luck…
…but I can’t quite nerve myself to open it yet. I’m sure it’ll work. I’m sure it’ll be what I want.
On the back of the packet it says: Premium Japanese material Designed in Seattle Made in China. And now sitting on a desk in Falmouth…
…next to the Leuchtturm 1917 medium-sized notebook that I actually use to write.
That I picked off a shelf in a bookstore, unwrapped, opened and started filling with words. Old-fashioned of me, I know, but believe me, I am trying to upgrade to a more convenient state-of-the-art Writing Solution.
It’s just so difficult.
I’ve written before about my beloved Psion Organiser Series 3, so I won’t repeat myself any more than I have already. Back then, writing into the Psion was easy but getting the words from that into anything else was complicated.
Maybe I should uninstall this daydream about finding a digital device. After all, we have come a long way. Writing into the Leuchtturm is easy and getting the words from that into anything else is — not complicated.
Maybe that’s as good as it gets.
