Storylines

Bert's Phone

It takes most of us a little time to catch up with modern technology but it was only in 2005 that Bert got his first mobile. It was an old phone that had previously belonged to the ill-fated Sam Batton.

At first Bert was making calls to all and sundry - and from merely a few yards away. Then when he discovered text messaging, friends and Freda frequently received moments of gobbledygook as he attempted to master predictive text.

However on 28 February the phone came into its own. Bert was walking home when he saw a sheep in distress and went to help. But he slipped, fell into the Am and hurt his ankle. He managed to pull himself out of the water and call David - on his mobile. David was swiftly there, but during his attempt to get Bert up the river bank the phone slipped and went into the water.

Bert was soon home nursing a twisted ankle. He was more upset by the loss of his phone than he was by his bruises. David and Ruth were happy to replace the lost one with another second-hand mobile. This time the previous owner was Alice.

They hadn't foreseen the pleasure Bert would have when he discovered it took photos. And you could then send them to other people's phones...