I’m still puzzled by modern technology. I consider myself very fortunate to have experienced a great life so far. And I hope it continues for a good deal longer!

There are, however, two regrets. One concerns musical ability, the other is about technology.

I admire anyone who can sing or play a musical instrument capably. My daughter is an accomplished singer and plays a variety of instruments. She must get that from her mother as I can play nothing and can’t sing a note. I suppose I could have taken, for example, guitar lessons but I just didn’t think I would be able to handle it. Playing an instrument and singing are gifts, which I didn’t and still don’t have.

Some might suggest that calling a race is like singing a song. That’s a long bow, but it’s not a totally silly remark.

Technology is the other bugbear in my life. It’s just not my thing. I can struggle through with the basics, but gee, if You Tube, Netflix or email don’t work, I’m in big trouble.

I have several friends who are what I would call technical experts. No, they are stronger than experts, let’s call each of them a tech genius. If I get into strife I can ask them for help but I don’t really know what they telling me and it’s frustrating. I wish I was more tech savvy but I really think it’s a case of you’re born with it or not. A bit like racecalling and singing I suppose.

To me, it’s frightening how quickly technology moves on. Have you noticed that the Broken Hill greyhounds are now telecast on Sky Racing, and have TAB coverage, on Sunday night? The fact that pictures from such a remote location can be shown is, to me, amazing. It must be cost effective, otherwise the coverage wouldn’t be happening. It’s probably a case of simply tapping into the NBN or a fibre optic cable and it all happens.

This is a far cry from what used to happen with Sky coverage of the now closed Toowoomba track in Queensland. We are talking about the 1990s here. The track was located about eight kilometres from the centre of Toowoomba, in a low-lying area surrounded by hills. To get pictures out of there, it was necessary to install two or maybe it was three pieces of equipment at various nearby sites. I’m not sure what they were called, receivers or dishes perhaps.

 One of these pieces of equipment was permanently installed on the verandah at a property higher than the track and the owner of that house was paid a fee for allowing that to happen. The pictures were beamed from the track to those receivers in the Toowoomba hills, then to a site on a hill in the Brisbane suburb of Mt Gravatt, then to Sydney, then up to the wild blue yonder above. Bingo, you then saw the pictures in your home, racetrack, pub or club.

It was a similar story with the Esk gallops racing which isn’t actually that far from Toowoomba. Esk only had a handful of TAB meetings per year and Sky equipment had to be literally put up and pulled down on a hill overlooking the town each time they raced there.

I also shake my head in amazement at the number of overseas racing venues which are telecast on Sky. I know it’s a sharing arrangement in most cases, but how can it be so simple and cost effective to do all that?

If you can sing, play a musical instrument or are technically bright, you have my congratulations and admiration.