Dear You ...

I originally posted this on Christmas Day, 2010 - for reasons I hope will become obvious!  As a travel blogger, there's really only one BIG tool of the trade I can't do without ... see if you can identify it below!

This FAAAAAABULOUS Thursday Theme day comes courtesy of Toni at Chick Chat!!  It'll be interesting to see if anyone else has this same tool of the trade!!

25/12/10

Dear You

We first met 19 years today – love at first sight, and we've been together ever since. We've been inseparable through all my Aussie adventures and you've been by my side at all life's important events. I never dreamed you'd bring me so much pleasure over the years - better even than ... Well, never mind about that!

You're so important to me that I rarely leave home without you and I can't imagine life without you. I always thought we'd grow old together, that you'd be with me through the frightening realities of old age - the scooters, the walking frames, the lifestyle village, the old folks home!

BUT ... now it's time for us to part.

You're too old for me, they say.  Too old fashioned.  Too unreliable.

Your performance isn't up to scratch, I know, with parts that don't always work properly. But I never thought that there'd be anything wrong with you that couldn't be fixed. A quick service, bit of a tune up, you'd be right as rain.

But no. They say you're too far gone.
My pleas that I don't want to abandon you fell on deaf ears. They say there's no point trying to fix you. Better get used to it and move on, they say.

Time to stop being sentimental.

Sentimental? Sentimental?? Puhleeeeese!! What's sentimental about not wanting to part? What's sentimental about trying to make it work – you still work brilliantly most of the time!

'Sentimental' indeed! I call it practical and sensible.

It's not like it's just between you and me now anyway. Our relationship has been recorded on this blog! People know about us. They've seen – and commented on – how well we work together! So why would I just toss you in the trash because they say you're too old fashioned?? And unable to be mended??

Sure, they laughed when I brought you in. That old thing, they said. It's not performing? You want the problems fixed? Don't bother even trying on something of THAT vintage!

I begged and pleaded. I don't care how much it costs, I said. Whatever it takes, I said.

They laughed again. Yeah, whatever.  Sure, we'll check if it's even possible, they said. The alacrity with which they returned meant either a resounding 'NO' or that they hadn't bothered to even ask the question.

Sorry, no can do, they said.

So who are 'they', anyway? And who are 'they' to dictate the terms of our remaining life together??

Those evil bastards at the camera shop, that's who! Who presumably are speaking for Pentax when they tell me that Pentax won't repair - or even service - a 19 year old 'Zoom60-X' camera in perfect working order but for a sporadic shutter button sticking problem! 

What a shame things were built to last back in 1991 (yes, SOOOO long ago!!).  You've lasted – and would last a helluva lot longer, but not without the support services to keep you going. What's the point, they say.  There's virtually no processing centres left, or shops that sell film.

I guess we learned that lesson – now Pilchard's 2 year old camera (that NEVER worked as well as you) is now not worth repairing because it's 'old technology'.

By an incredible coincidence, however, the head camera shop bastard just happened to have a brochure handy that just happened to have an offer on 'the best camera I've ever had in 35 years in the business'!! Amazing, huh?!?! What kind of a lucky break is that? I get to throw you away AND spend a mere $439 on a replacement with a number of amazing features that I'll probably never use ...

Of course I declined.  BUT ... I fear I'm just delaying the inevitable.  So I took a brochure.
'Ideas for life' it said. Huh? Give me a break!! It's not a time share in the Whitsundays, or a Xmas flight over Uluru, its a CAMERA!!!! And it'll probably be expendable in about 6 months …

Weirdly, I don't actually consider myself a photographer, but I've had a number of lovely comments about our photos from my kind readers – so maybe, just maybe I can start calling myself a happy snapper! Well, that's one step up from rank amateur! I wonder do our readers realise your amazing achievements – you're responsible for ALL photos on this blog (other than those credited elsewhere)!!

So, goodbye my faithful friend – I wonder will our readers notice a difference in photo quality when you've finally been replaced with something I don't want?
Only time will tell.