My Autobiography & The Computer - Anne Colwell

Next Page>

On Wings of Time:

I have called it, On Wings of Time. It has been completed, laser printed and bound.

During my life, I have opened many doors to new pastures and domains. I have been enriched by the experiences that I have had in living on our beautiful Planet, and to my exposure to the Wonders of the World.

In 1983, the portal of the Computer World opened! I entered and longed to explore, to reap and to harvest this new field. The School, where I was a member of the Teaching Staff, was introduced to Microbees. Most of the children had Commodores at home. In 1995 an Apple was given to the teachers---not the proverbial apple, but an Apple Computer! This was the start of my new Adventure!

In 1991, my husband presented me with an IBM PC 2, and an Epsom Printer. The idea of writing my Autobiography was born when my daughter-in-law's mother, who had often listened to me recalling anecdotes in my life, remarked that I should write an Autobiography for my children. The time was right. I had a Computer now. I would not have considered a mammoth task like this if I had to write by hand! It was different now. I had used a Microbee and an Apple in School, and I liked what the Computer World had to offer me.

Clicking Page Set Up in the File Menu and selecting the measurements that I required gave uniformity to the pages of the Text.

My adventure continued. I enhanced the Text with Graphics. This area is my Forte. I began by inserting a design at the beginning and at the end of a Chapter. I would spend an hour at the Computer daily. The Text was making steady progress. Notes jotted down the night before helped with its continuity, and in avoiding repetitions of anecdotes and incidents. Constant editing would eradicate errors and faults. These were mundane exercises but necessary.

Invariably, I would forget the passing of TIME when I commenced to improvise the Cover for the Autobiography. First came the Scene that included the Sea, the shore, and hills in the distance. The Title came next. Whenever I had an inspiration, I would write the phrase down on a pad that was placed in a convenient position. Eventually, I phrased one that expressed my feelings best. I chose the Style, Size, Colour, and the placement, and entered the phrase “On Wings of Time ”.

• I spent my life in India, in England, and in Australia. This entailed the writing of four Volumes and creating four Covers. When one Volume was completed, I would start the next, having improvised a Cover for each that I thought was appropriate. The Cover for India was a Seascape with Palm Trees in the background. The Title was “Halcyon Years”, because I had a glorious childhood and adolescence. They were memorable years. I did not have a care in the World, and I did not have to shoulder any responsibility!

• The Second Volume covered my Life in England. I gave it the Title “Twenty Years of Highs & Lows ”. The Scene for the cover was of a Cottage and a typical English Garden.

• The Third Volume has the Title “Australia My Land of Dreams My Home ”. I chose a Scene for the cover that is typically Australian.

• “Unforgettable & Fulfilling ” is the title that I gave Volume 4 of my Autobiography. The Sydney Olympic Games’ success was a very happy conclusion to the 20^th Century.