Modern technology? Pah!
Back in the 80s, we had just become the first family in our street to buy a video recorder. Oh how we marvelled at being able to record - and play back - any of the four channels then available to us. What joy as we joined the "Video Library" and could rent out such classics as "Escape to Victory" and "Convoy".

The following week, my gran's house was being re-wired by the council. To avoid her living in a pig sty for a few days, dad brought her to our house to stay. None of us could stand the mean old bag, but that's another story ..

She was given my room (there being insufficient time to hire a JCB to clear my brother's room) and I was to sleep on the couch. The first night, I was settling down to sleep, just dozing off nicely, when there's a "click" and a "whirr" from the corner of the room. I leapt from the couch vertically, and may have made a slight squeaking noise. Oh, okay, I screamed like the girly I was (and can still be if required).

Dad had set the video to record some late-night snooker, and hadn't thought to tell me. Thanks Dad. Even better, he'd heard my scream and remarked to Mum, "Wonder what scared her this time?" but didn't come downstairs to check.
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Thu 3 Jul 2008, 19:16, Reply)