6th Jan 2011 - At Last! I Have Finally Started This!!

Welcome! I am new to blogging and despite being unsure whether I have a topic interesting enough to blog - here goes!

Why This Blog?
I have recently decided to make a number of life-changing decisions due to various things going on in my life.  One such decision is to write a blog - not about the life-changing decisions... I am sure there are plenty of blogs around on that.

I have decided to keep mine simple and it is very possible that no-one will read it but at least I will achieve something by writing it.  I also wanted it to be on something that I would personally benefit from.

Whilst I not a technophobe, I find myself completely uninterested in working out how to use various gadgets that we all have.  Subsequently, I own gadgets that remain under-used and worse, un-used.  Hence the name of this blog "I never use mine".

My gadgets include:
- digital camera - I take the pictures and "my man" downloads them on to the PC and I have absolutley no idea how to do this.  As a result even my facebook page has no photos either.
- photograph printer - see, I don't even know the proper name for it.
- ipod classic - "my man" downloads the music and that is all I have on it.  As a result my playlist is old and actually, I would like to compile playlists specifically for my sophisticated dinner-parties, my energetic gym work-outs and the journey to work.
- food processor - only used so far to make breadcrumbs and to chop herbs and chestnuts - think of the pastry and meringues I could make!!!
- sausage maker - not mine but I did buy it for "my man".
- cheese making kit - as above.
- breadmaker - "my man" has become so accomplished that he now makes bread by hand. Me? I eat it!
- cooker - Smeg, it is lovely but I don't use all the functions but I do know how to reset the clock!
- telescope - bought for child, but it is always "too cloudy" to use it, even when it is not.  The truth is I have not even taken the lens cap off, wherever that is!

I appreciate that this list seems quite small but I figured I would learn how to use the basic functions and then move on to all the other functions.  I have also decided that I would add cooking from my various cookery/recipe books.  If I am really at a loss, I have further decided to use the various programmes on my washing machine.  Which reminds me. I only know where to put the dishwasher tablet in the dishwasher and how to switch it on!  Another item for the list!!

Reasons for this Topic
To give you an indication on why my ability and interest in working things out is so low, you only have to look at my experience on setting up this blog. 

It took me 15 minutes to set up the google account required for this blog (before I realised I didn't need a GMail account). I set up the blog using the 'simple template' - I know it looks boring, but I am pleased that I set it up.  My final point to this anecdote is that once I drafted my first post and saved it - I spent about 10 minutes working out how to open it to edit it!  Well needless to say, if you are reading this, I managed it (unless I pressed 'PUBLISH POST' by accident).  What is typical of me is that again, I haven't read instructions on setting up the blog so just learned the minimum required... story of my life!  But you can see why I lose interest in progressing to the intriquencies of using the timer on the cooker, getting out other blades from the food processor box or setting up photograph albums on the PC.

Why Me!!??
Now you may think I am some frivolous (possible useless) woman who has nothing better to do, and relies on her man to do manly stuff - but that is not the case. I am a mother and I work full-time and am considered 'a professional' so really I have no excuse. Possibly I do not know how to do these things because I am too lazy (maybe a little); too lazy to read the instruction manuals (mmm, getting warm); too lazy because I have someone who isn't too lazy (getting warmer); or no time to read instructions or to work out how to use anything other than the on/off switch.  It is ironic really as I keep all the instruction manuals and booklets together, in a safe place, where they can be found and used. Except for my mobile phone and ipod where the booklets remain in their boxes, wherever they may be!

Apart from the fact that I could probably benefit from using more functions, it is only right and proper that I benefit fully from these gadgets that good money has been spent buying them - and has probably added to the growth of capitalism, global consumerism, landfills, and general wastefulness.  I am also very conscious that, as an avowed feminist, I have become reliant on 'my man' to do the things that men traditionally do.  That is not how I was brought up (sorry Mum and Dad - don't want your admiral principles and ethics to have been wasted on me, they are not xxx).

So you see, my purpose may appear to be light-hearted but there is a fundamental principle underpinning my motivation.  There are some things that I should know how to do rather than depending on someone else to do them for me. If I am honest, "someone else" is not just "my man" but also "my child, my 10 year old child"!  Also, it will free up "my man" do all the other things that need doing :-)

And Finally, to Conclude...
I am not sure if setting up this blog counts towards my goal, in this case using my PC more (other than using it to shop on the internet).  Over the next fews days I will think about what my first gadget will be - unless anyone actually reads this and provides a suggestion in the comments box.  I will then write / blog about what gadget I have chosen, what function(s) i am learning to do, my experience in setting it up (which may actually help you if you are as inept/lacking interest in reading instruction manuals as me) and finally the end result, actually using the gadget for it's whole, glorious purpose.  I think it would also be good for me to insert photos of my attempts - that'll be the digital camera first on the list then.

Hopefully my next post will not be arduous as this first post.  Hopefully I will have learned and used other functions of a gadget.  Hopefully it will make for interesting or humorous or even educational reading.

New Year.  New Start.  Here Goes.....