Back in the 1980’s I was a lucky girl…I got my very first computer in 1986 (It was a Toshiba MSX. Don’t laugh because it was actually really good:) and my Daddy and I would buy magazines with lists of code in them, and take it in turns to program so that we could make aeroplanes drop bombs or drive tanks across the bottom of the TV screen. It was great fun, I got to spend serious quality time with my Dad and I loved it. Over twenty years later and he’s making a tentative return to the computer age, but this time it’s the wonderful world of internet and e-mail. Now, no disrespect to pop but he’s of an age where a nice cup of tea and a sit down is considered by some to be the highlight of their day (Actually, it is for me sometimes and I’m only 34!) so kudos to Dad for embracing the internet age with as much gusto as he can muster. Imagine my delight then when he said he was willing to give Second Life a try! I know some people would think it a tad odd that their Dad was in the virtual world too, but why not? It’s great fun, a bit of a challenge for him and I was so very proud last night to take him around the world and show him a few sights. In fact, he managed much better than I thought he would. I’ve got him a ‘mature’ avatar (Upon a recommendation from SLMen.com) that is a tad more fitting to his persona than a winsome young buck stalking around the virtual landscape. ( I mean, he’s my Dad-that would have been too weird!) Of course being my relation he *has* to look good, so I’ve been to Lookr, Hoorenbeek and FNKY! to get him a few outfits and I have to say I think he looks utterly brilliant:) So where did we go? I took Dad to ‘The Pig ‘N’ Horn’, which is a new venue in-world. There are many wonderful bars and pubs in Second Life competing for attention as we all know, BUT this one is a tad different. Forever Delaid, the tractor-obsessed lunatic who had a penchant for shining his vehicle in the much-missed ‘Three Lions’, has created a venue in a barn replete with hay bales, goats, pigs, rats, straw on the floors and the usual kinds of things you see in a farmyard. It looks great-I love it when people inject a sense of humour into their builds-but it’s the people that make the party, and the guys here are just fab. For a first-timer it must have been pretty daunting for my Dad, but he just about managed to keep up with the conversation, contribute and even have a wee boogie with me on the dance floor! ( I was especially chuffed that he did that, I remember when I started it took me AGES to understand the concept of dance balls!) He was really pleased that he got a shout-out too. I think he was a bit perplexed by the tiny ginger cat and unicorn zooming around the pub on beer barrels (Jonny Fraise up to his usual naughty tricks..gotta love him!) Pop agreed it was a highly enjoyable experience, and to give him a taste of what SL has to offer, I took him to Tribute Island to see the wonderful monuments there and show him how Second Life can be the perfect medium for expression of people’s skills. I’m sure It’ll take a while for Dad to get completely au fait with SL but I really hope he perseveres with it!I have to admit though I was kinda speechless when he asked me when we were going to Xcite to get his bits sorted out though..( I’d lent him the tourists guide to SL, and he’d obviously read some of it!) I think he’s perturbed by his avi being somewhat emasculated, but I was equally perturbed by the thought of walking around Xcite with my Dad! I *think* I’ll leave that one for him to sort out on his own at a later date…he obviously has no idea what he’s in for…har har evil chuckles!Anyway, if you want to say hello, then look out for ‘LeapyLee Cliffhanger’ in world. Be nice to him (as readers of this blog I have no doubt that you would be) and feel free to bestow money and gifts on him should you feel the need, LOLOL. You can try chatting him up as well if you like, however I’ve told him to be careful because the buxom young wenches you see in-world aren’t always what they seem…so don’t be surprised if he runs away squealing!