| Retired pensioner Keith Harrison of Perth, | | | | family, and he admits that he got it badly wrong |
| Australia, loves the internet. Not only does it | | | | on several occasions. More than once he has |
| provide the 66-year-old grandfather with all the | | | | called various members of his family in the middle |
| latest news on his favourite Aussie Rules team - | | | | of the night, disturbing their slumber. |
| the West Coast Eagles - it also allows him and | | | | "Internet dialling is great," says Harrison "I |
| wife Glenda to contact their daughter, two sons, | | | | can’t ring anyone if they’re asleep |
| and nine grandchildren who are scattered across | | | | because they’re off-line, plus now that |
| the globe. | | | | I’ve got my timetable there’s no danger |
| Before his family clubbed together and bought him | | | | of me trying to contact them at inappropriate |
| a PC, broadband connection and internet phone, | | | | times." |
| English ex-pat Harrison used to stay in touch with | | | | As well as being the most efficient and cheapest |
| them by using his home telephone and the odd | | | | method for him to ring his family, he also uses his |
| letter. Despite his protestations that he didn’t | | | | internet phone to call his ‘mates’ when |
| need nor want the ‘new-fangled | | | | arranging their pre-game meets at the pub before |
| technology’, he is now an avid internet user, | | | | Eagles games at the Subiaco Oval. |
| regularly calling his family via the internet phone | | | | He said: “With so many kids and grand-kids to |
| network to which they all subscribe. | | | | keep in touch with it was costing me a fortune to |
| But, because of international time differences the | | | | make international phone calls. The money I save |
| retired engineer first consults his elaborate | | | | on my phone bills by using the internet phone |
| homemade timetable before attempting to make | | | | almost pays for my seat at the Eagles home |
| a call. Eldest son Malcolm lives in Los Angeles, a | | | | games.” |
| massive 17 hours behind Perth, while youngest | | | | And it’s not just Keith that benefits from the |
| son Lee resides in London which is a more | | | | internet phone as wife Glenda also uses the video |
| respectable nine hours behind. Conversely, | | | | call option to monitor the growth of her nine |
| daughter Eve lives in Sydney which is ahead of | | | | grandchildren that vary in age from 18 months to |
| Perth by two hours. With such varying time | | | | 15 years-old. “While Keith is out at the games, |
| differences Harrison admits that keeping on top | | | | I spend a lot of time chatting to my kids and |
| of it all was confusing and that’s why he | | | | grand-kids,” she said. “They grow up so |
| concocted his fool-proof timetable. | | | | fast and it’s great being able to watch their |
| Before moving to calling via internet Harrison and | | | | progress on screen. |
| his wife used their home telephone to call the | | | | |