I've been wanting to write a blog for years but simply couldn't seem to get started, a bit ridiculous considering I write a weekly column in the Weekend section in the Examiner. But it's even more bizarre than that because I never learned to type, all my books were written in my scrawly longhand and then typed by my unfortunate secretaries, corrected, retyped and on and on and on......
Consequently, I had a major block about any kind of technology but as I travelled particularly in the US I felt increasingly embarrassed to have to admit that I was a technophobe.
The ultimate proposterous situation occurred when I was scheduled to appear on Martha Stewart Kitchen, live. Her research team sent a list of questions to Sharon at the Cookery School, she forwarded them to my hotel who delivered the email to my bedroom. When I arrived back I tried to telephone the TV station, I could only get an answering machine, by this stage Sharon in Ireland had gone home for the day so I was going to have to wait for her come in next morning to dictate my answers for her to send to Martha Stewart, problem was it would be too late, I'd already be in the studio. Even I could see that this situation was beyond ridiculous - this was the turning point!
On my return I asked for an I Pad for my birthday and the rest is history. It's been and still is a slow and painful process. At first a short email would take me at least 20 mins to do and then I would somehow manage to loose it and be totally traumatised by the experience. I felt like throwing my hat at it several times but then a pal suggested I type everything in Notes initially so I couldn't lose it - another big break through . I'm still very slow and still reach for the pen more often than my IPad but I'm working on it and this, my very first post marks another milestone for me.
Consequently, I had a major block about any kind of technology but as I travelled particularly in the US I felt increasingly embarrassed to have to admit that I was a technophobe.
The ultimate proposterous situation occurred when I was scheduled to appear on Martha Stewart Kitchen, live. Her research team sent a list of questions to Sharon at the Cookery School, she forwarded them to my hotel who delivered the email to my bedroom. When I arrived back I tried to telephone the TV station, I could only get an answering machine, by this stage Sharon in Ireland had gone home for the day so I was going to have to wait for her come in next morning to dictate my answers for her to send to Martha Stewart, problem was it would be too late, I'd already be in the studio. Even I could see that this situation was beyond ridiculous - this was the turning point!
On my return I asked for an I Pad for my birthday and the rest is history. It's been and still is a slow and painful process. At first a short email would take me at least 20 mins to do and then I would somehow manage to loose it and be totally traumatised by the experience. I felt like throwing my hat at it several times but then a pal suggested I type everything in Notes initially so I couldn't lose it - another big break through . I'm still very slow and still reach for the pen more often than my IPad but I'm working on it and this, my very first post marks another milestone for me.
Congratulations! I am thinking now of the things I don't do myself out of habit or fear or whatever. I think I may follow your example and jump in to change things.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and welcome to blogland :) I'm also a pen and paper girl!!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to blogland Darina. I look forward to reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteI find typing on a ipad is very slow and annoying. If you really want to learn to type, can you not use a laptop?
Amy Vickers @ thedailymuttering.blogspot.com
Welcome to Blog Land Darina. Technology is like Cooking - there is always a new way to do something traditional! All it takes is a little learning and a little patience and you can create anything! Looking forward to your posts.
ReplyDeleteDelighted to hear you have taken the plunge. Looking forward to reading your blog. Beautiful photos of the sea urchins.
ReplyDeleteOh now, this is exciting! Welcome, and happy blogging.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading your blog,Darina. Well done on losing the 'technophobe' title.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the world of blogging Darina and for taking the plune! I am also a late starter! Really looking forward to your blog posts and I will consider them letters from home... as I now live in the middle east! :)
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your weekly letter, so I'm very much looking forward to following your blog. Well done your new venture!
ReplyDeleteCongrats and good luck with the blog, I hope it goes well for you
ReplyDeleteSimon
www.irishkitchengarden.com
Very exciting!! I definitely look forward to reading your posts! Soon enough the 'technophobe' title will be a thing of the past. Who knows maybe one day we'll see a Darina Allen iPad app!! ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy blogging, and of course, happy cooking!
Morgan
Thanks, Morgan, but I'm still painfully slow and need to have regular blogging tutorials from Lucy, my blogging mentor, who patiently repeats the same things again and again. Gdung! My poor brain!
ReplyDelete