Broken Windows

Your windows are broken said the voice on the phone.
I hadn't noticed I said and I am here at home.
No, Windows 10 he persisted. I'm referring to that
I don't have ten windows. This is a very small flat.
I can see that the kitchen and lounge windows are intact
I would have heard if others were broken  - in fact
There's no movement in the blinds or in the curtains.
This close to the beach, sea breezes are certain.

Your computer, he said. That's windows 10.
I can see it's causing you trouble again.
Let's see if we can fix it just over the phone.
If you give me your password, I can do it alone.
The first thing to do is to move your mouse.
I screamed, I don't have mice in the house.
If you are from the office of safety and health
You're wasting your time. I check it myself.

Which of my neighbours has made a call?
They're all so nosy. I'm sick of them all.
They ring the council if there's noise at night,
If the bin's left out or the parking's not right.
And now they're saying my house has mice.
Next thing they'll say is my kids have lice.
I got up one day and my hose had been slashed
And now you tell me my windows are smashed.

I sorry you have neighbours who are not so nice
But I'd like to check details of your device
If you can find on the back a metal label strip
It will have the make and model on it.
That's easy I say, I can read it from here.
The computer is battered but  the label is clear.
You probably think I haven't a clue
But I can give all the information to you.

I've had it a while but it's still going well.
There's nothing wrong with it, I can tell.
It's a Commodore 64 with an upgrade from 20.
There are dozens of disks, I've always had plenty.
The box is a bit faded but can be read at a pinch,
They are floppy disks sized 5 point 2 5 inch.
I 'm not sure they had those mouse things then
And I can't see anything like windows 10

I'm sorry Madam I have made a mistake
Your computer is quite a different make.
I have never actually seen one, even on show
But I know it was popular five decades ago.
Technology has moved on quite a bit
And you may not have kept up with it.
If I was you, I'd go to an antique fair
You might get a fortune from a collector there.

Cabin Fever

All my Solo friends are getting around
While my feet seem nailed to the ground
I faithfully follow their Facebook pages
And track their travels though all the stages.

I know where they stop and when they roam
While I'm stuck here, sick, at home.
I torture myself now every day
Checking to see where next they stay.

Camping at Mother of Ducks Lagoon
A magical place to be marooned.
Or on Kosciuszko's alpine track
Cool or cold with the wind at your back.

Heading off to yet another rally
Or exploring the lovely Hunter valley.
You can take off with the lift of a finger
Or settle down in a spot and linger.

The winter winds will make you shiver
Along the Murrumbidgee River.
Those in South Australia may stay
At Stony or Sandy or Streaky Bay

Camping by rivers and creeks and lakes,
A couple of days is all it takes
To establish yourself in the rustic peace
And settle again to a life of ease.

Then if the winds pick up or the sun's too hot
Your mobile home is all you've got.
Fold your table, toss your chair in the back
And once again, you hit the track.

The colourful names roll off your tongue
And memories of stories and tall tales spun.
Your visit here may be your last
Or you may be back when only days have passed.

So until I load the van and fire up the power
I get more envious by the hour.
Cabin Fever is almost impossible to treat.
It won't be cured till I drive off down the street.