Dear LPG,

My mother and I are now housemates and we still go out and about most of the time when grocery shopping, but we have both discovered the joy of shopping on line.  When it comes to buying gadgets and new-fangled experimental things we are gradually becoming eBay and Amazon experts.  We have even got to the stage where we have followed the LPG advice and each opened a separate account so we now feel it safe enough to pursue this shopping habit of ours. (►►►)

The anticipation of receiving one’s goods and finding out if the reality lives up to the picture you saw on the computer screen is perhaps like reliving a birthday present-opening experience, as it is then that you really discover if your money was well spent.  We have to also admit to quite a few visits to our local sorting office to retrieve the things that came to the door when we were not at home.  So, it is then time to play hunt the parcel.  Did they leave it with a neighbour or behind the dustbin, or perhaps they took it to the local sorting office. 

Not so long ago our front door bell went wrong, and so it was off to let Google show us the latest possible replacements.  We decided on one with a little built in camera that allows you to see who is at your door, on your mobile iPhone or smart phone, and also talk to them if need be.

Predictably, the order came (together with the moment of truth) and as we opened it we realised that we were going to have to find someone who knows how to set it all up.  That took a while as did getting used to the new ringtone and remembering to take the phone with you, even if you are in the house but sitting out in the back garden.  There is no longer a reason to miss someone at the front door.  In fact, sitting in a friend’s house waiting in the bus queue and being at church is not either (even if you turn your phone off, when you turn it back on again there is the picture and the time the bell rung waiting for you). 

So, while we can now tell whenever someone visits, know who it is and even talk to them there is one small down side.  We have discovered that there is nothing more frustrating than seeing the delivery man standing outside the door with something you have ordered, and can’t wait to open, when you are not there to answer.

JR, Eltham

LPG has found some information on the sort of front door bell which we think that JR is describing in this article and would also advice that you take another look at the information posted about internet shopping and security.

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