Life has been very quiet over last week as, after a year of misbehaving, our landline and internet connection finally gave up the ghost and died completely. 

We have been having problems since fibre broadband was installed, with the internet frequently dropping out many times a day, and phone calls regularly sounding as though they are being conducted underwater. 

It has been extremely frustrating, and trying to run a business when you cannot make contact with the outside world, is far from satisfactory.

The Hunts Post: Anne Marie Hamilton says they want to get one with the day-to-day business of farming.Anne Marie Hamilton says they want to get one with the day-to-day business of farming. (Image: Anne Marie Hamilton)

It was almost a relief when everything finally packed up and we could give up the struggle.  I unearthed my ancient mobile phone (which I rarely use), fired it up and contacted BT. 

After half an hour of questions and line checks, the lady at BT confirmed that we did, indeed, have a problem, and told me that she would arrange for an engineer to call, and would send me an email to confirm the time and date! 

Duh!!  I had just spent the last half hour explaining to her that we had no internet connection or landline, and that my elderly mobile would not recognise an email! 

Luckily, a lovely engineer from Openreach turned up the next day, found the problem immediately, and thanks to a first-class repair, our phone and internet are working properly for the first time since the new line was installed.

The problem is that we are all being forced down the technology route today – even when it is not necessarily the most effective form of communication. 

Mobile phones are fine when they work – but the countryside is littered with ‘dead spots’ where you cannot get a signal.  Internet connections, too, are patchy in many areas, and the bullying tactics of banks and other institutions to force customers down the internet route for their own convenience are utterly deplorable.

The latest bullying tactics being inflicted on the farming community are by an unelected ‘Leadership Group’ who want digital passports to accompany all loads of grain that leave farms to go for processing at the mills. 

Following an industry-wide consultation last year, the proposal was roundly defeated but, arrogantly, they are trying again. Until technology improves nationally, there is a huge cost but little benefit to the industry; pen and paper will do in the meantime.