We live 14km from the nearest shop and 90km form our bank. We now have internet through Internode radio link giving us high speed downloads. Now we can do banking, booking online tickets and researching. Having 2 mobile phones makes it easy to communicate when we are in Adelaide or away. Also I can ring my father in Europe for $2 for 1/2 an hour via internet phone!

I use the internet and the grapevine, but not the mobile phone as I like to be disconnected some of the time, particularly when driving and gardening, shopping or visiting friends which is the only time I am not accessible. This gives me time to think!

As I’m rural and see friends in towns and city and work in 10 or so households; grapevine is very real - face to face. I also have mobile phone (SMS and sometimes calls - for work, SMA for family and friends). Landline phone with answer machine and dial up e-mail and rarely. Websites on internet, at home. Mobile phone for work - casual bits of employment, but a seasonal pattern to that. People over 70 I work for are still coming to grips with answer machines and get their children and grandchildren to do infrequent e-mails and websites for them. $25 a month mobile only.

Recently I received a letter via Australia Post. I don’t recall a letter via post (other than business) for at least 12 years! My connections in order of frequency are e-mail, mobile phone, direct personal contact, sms, home phone, facsimile, letter via post. I plan to end the use of my home phone and facsimile very soon.

I stay connected by telephone with my family and close friends. The tones of the voice convey contact that other technologies do not. A hug effect.