Such a BOON

The last thing she needed was yet another gadgetbut then again...

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It didn't take long for my daughter to bring up her favourite subject. I'd only just cleared the table when she started. 'We're worried, Mum. We don't like to think of you living in this house on your own. I wish you'd move in with us.' 'Thanks, Susan. I'm grateful for the offer, but...' I waved a hand around my familiar living room, 'I've lived here for more than 40 years.

I'm not ready to leave.' 'But what if you had a fall?' My son-in-law, who had hardly said a word since they arrived, sprang to life. 'What you need is Alexa. She'd be such a boon.' For a moment, I had no idea who he was talking about.

'Sorry? Who's Alexa?' 'It's not actually a she, explained Simon. 'Alexa is a gadget. You can ask it questions, like "What's on TV?" or "Will it rain tomorrow?" It can make phone calls too.

Susan clapped her hands. 'That's a brilliant idea! If Mum did have a fall, she could ask Alexa to call an ambulance.

As my family got excited about yet another gadget, I felt more of a dinosaur than usual.

Of course I knew what Alexa was. Who didn't? Foolishly, I'd just assumed Simon was talking about an actual person.