will they won't they will they won't they?

I spoke to my parents this morning. For years they’ve resisted email, the internet, even the cellphones that circumvent Kenya’s horribly defective telephone system The only way we can reach them is by dialing their landline. On average, you have to dial 3 – 5 times, repeatedly, before you make a connection. If it’s a day you’re going to make a connection – there are periods of 2 –3 weeks when you can’t get through at all.

They’ve never seen my website, even though all it would take is to walk into one of Nairobi’s internet cafes. “We’re too old to learn,” they say, to all my exasperated urging.

So I almost fell over with surprise when my father said: “Bring the DVD of your performance when you come – we’ll go to an internet café and watch it.” If I can actually get them onto a computer, is it possible they might try out email? Fingers crossed, and prayers to the gods of communication……….