Dear LPG,

During the past year we know that there has been a bit of an electronic revolution.  I am sure that all sorts of new computer programmes, that I may never get the opportunity to know about are in the first stages of being invented, but I am not talking about those.  I don’t think that I am alone when I say that, even at my age, necessity has forced me to learn a few new tricks that, but for the lockdown, I would have never have found time for and I don’t think I am alone in coming to this conclusion.  Among the pensioners of the world there has had to be, because being forced to stay at home has made it necessary to learn so many skills and I am proud to say that, while in search of anything to do that would keep me sane, I spent some of that time learning a bit more about what my laptop can do.

I have now worked out how to use the computer that I was given as a present by my nephew a couple of years ago, and I remember the sense of achievement when I sent my first ever email to that same family member who, defeated the whole object of the exercise while letting me know that I had achieved my goal.  We share the same home so all he had to do is walk up the hall to tell me that he had received the first email that I have ever successfully sent.  That all happened five months ago and I am now very proud to be able to say that I have mastered the art and even find myself sending them instead of letters sometimes.

 I have learned a few other things about using my laptop since then, but I will never forget the sense of achievement that I felt for days after hearing the room door open and my nephew’s voice informing me that I had done it.  I think that the day it happened will become a personal anniversary that I will celebrate for a long time to come.

I wonder if Ray Tomlinson realised just what he started when he sent the very first ever email message 50 years ago this month?

One of the other things I have learnt during my time exploring things electronic, is how to explore the internet and I found some interesting information about this person who is attributed with having sent the first ever email and giving us the ‘@’ sign that we have all come to recognise.

So, even though he most probably didn’t even know what he had started that day, and despite the fact it took me the best part of 49 years to catch up, I for one, would like to acknowledge his achievement because without it, and lockdown, I would have never accomplished mine…

EA, Plumstead.

EA shares what he has learned about the first ever email…

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