In praise of mobile internet.

For the first time ever I am able to address you from my country retreat in deepest Argyll, a delightful place but with no phone line and where previously hanging out the front room window got you a single wavery bar of Vodafone reception if you were lucky, and could thole the midgies long enough to complete a call.

Today however, I have 5 rock-solid bars, even from the sofa, & more importantly my USB Mobile Broadband dongle has got me on-line! Okay, so it's just at dial-up, not broadband, speed, and no doubt this will cost me much more than if I got the full contracted speed, only available in our major cities, but who cares? I can post and check my stats & even do non-boinc surfing should I so choose!

Several times over the course of my just completed holiday thru the Utter Hebrides have I been able to get thus online, most strangely on the Isle of Scalpay, a medieval Wee-Free ruled backwater of an island where alcohol is outlawed [yikes!!!] and which lacks all modern amenities, [except sheep] but you can get online from the room of your B&B where every spare surface is covered in admonishments against sin [although come to think of it sheep weren't specifically mentioned].

Anyway it's great that armed with a lap-top & dongle one can get online even in the depths of the Gaeltachd. The 21st century is here & here to stay!