Living by the Dart
by Heather Long
“i cAN’T GeT ON wiTh ThiS BOOKFAce…”
i’ve finally managed to press SEND on a gripping some smashing folks who were friends of the moment,
magazine feature on cavity wall insulation that i people I thought I would only see in my memories.
have been fiddling about with for days. A classmate who made me laugh, a colleague who
the joy of working from home is also the biggest pit-
shared many a late shift, a drinking pal, sixth form
fall – there are many distractions. my work fits around
friends who remember crimped hair and incense
emptying the washing machine, nipping to the super-
sticks, school choir singers who recall all the words of
market, painting the skirting boards, passing the time of
noah the musical, the girls I shared a room with on a
day with the neighbours, walking the dog, cooking the
school trip to Barry Island aged 10, former bosses long
tea and picking the children up from school.
retired, my fellow band members who shared a six
month dream that we would be a famous indie group,
Indeed on this particular masterpiece the button was friends from ante natal classes, and secondary school
pressed just before midnight – and I really don’t believe friends who laugh about perms, leg warmers and Fame
that working so late is good for anyone. (whoever thought that would all be back in fashion!)
It’s my own fault once again. With subject matter less I would never ring these people. We lost touch
than fascinating, my skills as a writer were truly tested. because we were never close enough to share a
the work was for a friend who heads an insulation phone call or write a letter. But technology has reunited
company and wants some product publicity. however us. through our typed messages we laugh about our
even with the eco angle it is rather tricky to make rock memories, catch up on family news, share photos
wool a must-read. Less a silk purse from a sow’s ear - and dare I say pass on a little gossip. no old flames
more a passable nylon imitation. threaten (we’ve read those stories in the magazines!)
this time it wasn’t housework that tempted me but a
but it is good fun to see how everyone is getting on.
world of distraction that if left unchecked eats up hours And new friends are on there too, making arrange-
– the alluring charms of Facebook have been leading ments for social gatherings, asking if their children
me to shamefully waste my time. this internet site is a need their Pe kit or cookery ingredients tomorrow, shar-
global phenomenon and it is totally addictive. ing experiences and frustrations. even family members
Pausing to search for a particularly descriptive phrase
pop up. Dad is now hooked after dismissing it initially:
for pumping insulation into walls, I flicked over to
“i can’t get on with this Bookface…” he’s found all
Facebook almost absentmindedly, and before I knew it
sorts of former colleagues and friends from holidays.
an hour had passed! there’s nothing like a fresh batch of photos from
For those as yet uninitiated, and I don’t suppose there
1977 to send me off down memory lane. It’s like the
are many of you, Facebook lurks on the internet and is
modern equivalent of the births, deaths and marriages
a social networking site where you can hook up with
we all turn to in the local paper, but on a more elabo-
friends and send daft little messages, share photos,
rate scale.
and communicate for free. I don’t get involved in the But I must be strong and limit my intake or my work
games, quizzes, causes and competitions (I don’t want will suffer, and if I don’t meet my deadlines, I won’t be
to slay zombies or farm imaginary cartoon creatures) paid. so, like a nice drop of red, chocolate biscuits,
but even so the minutes fly away. pasties, a coffee in town, Facebook will be rationed
you see I’ve moved house a lot – six times as a child
and I will work a little harder. Otherwise I will be pale
and many more than that as an adult. On the way I
faced and blinking like a mole rat – not a pretty sight.
have gathered some lovely friends, and arriving here in
And I have to say it is rather a waste of our lovely sur-
Dartmouth I’ve picked up loads more. every day I meet
roundings to be glued to the computer screen, to say
interesting people. Working for By the Dart gives me
the least!
the chance to talk to all sorts of wonderful characters.
It’s great – but discarded along the way in my past are
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