Hot Pink is a regular column on nzgirl that's sure to have you in stiches! Don't miss your weekly fix.
To find out all about its author, Penny Ashton, just click here
When I was a teenager I could talk for New Zealand.
My record phone conversation length was four hours. It was with Anna from school who I was going to see the next day. We talked about everything from school, to dance class, to who the hell knows, but we stretched it out longer than Kirstie Alley’s knicker elastic.
When I lived in London I was also a regular phoner. I used to ring home and talk to my family and friends for up to two hours. Then I actually had something to say like; “I just visited Paris and it was nice” or “Why the hell did I move to the other side of the world to work two full-time jobs? I’m a twat!” and so on.
Then in 1999 I got my first mobile phone.
Ever since then big long chats on the phone have kind of dwindled.
Possible reasons include getting older so it puts my neck out to hold the phone on my shoulder, getting older and preferring a human face to a germy receiver, getting older so all my mates have moved back to New Zealand or, um, just getting older.
In actuality though I think mobiles are the key.
I used to know all my friend’s phone numbers off by heart. I have a freakish memory and never had to look them up in those retro pieces of paper we called "Address Books".
Now I don’t even have people’s landlines programmed into my phone. It’s an instant need to contact people NOW NOW NOW and the long conversation has been replaced with a text.
Years ago I would have asked; “Ooohhhh so did you have a good time? Where did he take you? Did he give you flowers? Did he look nice? Is he a good kisser?”
Whereas now that can all be replaced with the simple text, “Did u gt a rut?”
AND I don’t think this is such a terrible thing. I’m a busy girl. Places to go, people to meet, men to do, faffing about for hours on the phone talking huge amounts of gossipy shite isn’t anything I can be bothered with.
Or so I thought…
And then along came Skype.
For those of you who don’t know, Skype is a free downloadable programme that lets you chat to anyone in the world for free! It’s just like a phone.
I just hung up on my mate in London after we waffled for an hour! (You see she has this new man and I had to ask if he was a good kisser… you get the idea.) But all you need is an internet connection some headphones and a mic and you’re in action quicker than you can say “Hold please caller.”
Sound quality is great and you can have a camera too in case the good kisser in question is elsewhere and you want to let your fingers do the talking. Oh and again… it’s FREE!
You can also watch MySpace and YouTube videos at the same time and comment on them to each other just like you’re in the same room! How cool is that? Ok so maybe it’s not that cool compared to say Robbie Williams picking you to be the one to pash at a concert, but it’s still cool.
Warning though, SKYPE may prevent you from writing that column you were going to until all of a sudden it’s 2am. Still it gets you in touch with your inner teenager before the world got hold of it and f**ked it up, and that’s nice for a while.
So I’ll see you online, and you can tell me all about how it felt when he stuck his…
Penny
Poetry Idol – Christchurch Writers' Festival
A Poetry Slam with a difference Poetry Idol at the Dux-de-Lux will put performance poets against each other to see who will win the $450 in cash and prizes. Celebrity judges from New York and Ireland, hosted by Penny Ashton and finally judged by YOU. Get along and see the future of Performance Poetry in New Zealand.
Sunday 10th September
8pm, Dux-de-Lux
Gold coin entry
AND
Papanui Tavern Comedy Night
Hosted by Penny Ashton. Wednesday 13th September, Papanui Tavern, 8pm.
Last updated: 29/04/2008
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