Dear LPG,  

I hope that most readers will agree that we really cannot complain about the winter we are just getting to the other end of.  It has been cold but, after the really hot weather we had last summer, every sort of weather seems cold.   I am banking on the fact that the readers of this site have all experienced much worse winters if they have lived in Lewisham for a while.  Let me help you to cast your mind back to the winter of 1963.

Even so, like many I could not help but feel the difference, although the recent sunny days have tempted me to come out of hibernation again without waiting till the weekends when my son and his car are on hand to help with the shopping.  Now that I am braving the wild outdoors and going solo, I have to admit that I am walking more slowly these days and I also feel the need for a rest more often.  But there seem to be less and less benches on our streets, so I just take a bit of a rest where I can.

I hope that my neighbours will forgive me for perching on their fences from time to time.  I also have been known to confuse the bus drivers every now and then by having a bit of a rest on one of the seats at the bus stop near my home, but I have noticed a few very high tech looking structures that are just the right size for me to sit on and, though they have been there for a while, it is funny how you notice things more when you actually can make use of them.

I am wondering if anyone has done more than just see one recently; a smart bench.  They are solar powered and are a place where you can top up the charge on your mobile phone if you need to and, if you have any knowledge about how to use the internet on the go,  they also offer free Wi-Fi although the younger ones in my family tell me to take care when taking advantage of this.  I have been told that if Wi-Fi can be shared with your device so can some of your personal information, and information transfer goes both ways.

I have found a bit of information on line about them and you can see from the videos that, like everything else they appear to be there for the convenience of the young, but these benches offer rest for older legs too, not to mention a bit of added power for your phone if you need it, as more of us older ones get to grips with this hi tech world around us.  So even though there are not that many in our borough, I just want to do my bit to make sure that everyone, young or old, knows that they are out there. 

GF, Sydenham

GF offered us these links to share with LPG readers…

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