Skype woes

Wouldn't like to be without it as it is all we see of our grandchildren in Spain apart from one visit a year. It can be fraught though as they don't always want to talk and we only do one 15 minute session a week apart from birthdays, Christmas etc.
Leaving it on all the time seems way over the top and would be a joke here anyway with our pathetic half megabyte connection.
Seems like anything else really; no different from parents / in-laws/children expecting to visit for over long periods of time. It is easier to switch off though!

That made me laugh. If I were away and got lonely and my family left the skype on all I would see is my husband watching tv if sport is on, then going up to bed early! I'd be lucky to get more than a couple of minutes out of either of them as my son would be firmly in his den on his own computer. No, my problem would be my MiL as she always wants to talk for a good hour at a time but never lets me speak, then says later accusingly 'YOU didn't tell me that!'

I was glad of it when DD and family were posted to Germany.
What I don't like is my need to make myself and the room look respectable before I log on

Glad I didn't have it when in business as I often took calls in my nightie (or less). We use it to keep in touch with DS, DiL & GS in Germany but I've had to devise ways of using it with a 2 year old in mind as they don't like to sit still for long, want to play with computer keys or refuse to talk. Having regular songs to sing helps & I also try short made up stories. They nearly always Skype when we are about to eat to fit in with when GS. I'd hate it for anything else such as business or GP consultations -I always think I look really ill on Skype!

My daughter lives in Hong Kong and we Skype every Sunday. My best friend lives in England and my sister in America. I could not possibly do without it. I just wish my frail old dad of 90 could have access to Skype so instead of trying to call him on the phone for a chat and bellowing at each other because he is deaf we could at least 'see' what we are saying - if you know what I mean! I love Skype.

I cant bear Skype everyone looks false I hate seeing my own face on there There always seems talk delays freezing scenes and would much rather just talk over the phone I love seeing photos of my grandkids and don't need them sitting looking akward

I hate my face when I Face Time people - every wrinkle etc seems to be magnified. However, I do prefer it to Skype.

Bluebelle I thought I was the only one who didn't like to Skype!

I don't mind it for speaking to adult friends overseas but the freezing and delay annoys me and I end up picking up the phone instead.

I certainly wouldn't inflict it on my grandchildren, who only live in Somerset anyway. Poor kids being pulled-away from whatever they're doing to perform for grandma.

I'm reminded of my ex-husband who was into video cameras, etc - instead of just filming an activity, he'd point the bloody thing at me or the children and say "say something!".

Just thinking about it now irritates me

Skype is ok occasionally for my dd and dgds as I don't see them that often, but I do hate the way it makes me look.

Facetime though is great as my little dgd is always ringing to blow me kisses and kiss the phone screen, and they only live a couple of minutes away!

...and I too thought I was the only one Riverwalk nice to know I have a soul mate on this subject anyway

Looking forward to 'Skyping' with my 'penfriend'( of 55 years standing) in Indiana USA. later this afternoon. How times have changed from our letters, to emails and Skype. It's so good to catch up on family news by actually talking ! Now got to persuade my SIL in Wales to Skype on his new Tablet so I can speak to my Granddaughters more often.

I ve recently over the last year connected with some new global penfriends (Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Australia and NZ) something I used to do when young and without fail they all want to correspond snailmail and photos and I am very pleased with that I should add they are all ages from 30+ to my own 'Nanny age' so its not a generation thing but we all love receiving 'proper' mail

I realise that Skype is a wonderful way of keeping in touch with loved ones,
etc. but I had it for a short while and absolutely loathed it! As a person who doesn't even like having a photo taken, to be on camera was sheer
agony. I spent all my time with my head bent so that only the top of my head could be seen. - therefore I got lots of complaints! Lol
So when I somehow 'lost' it, I was tickled pink.

I wouldn't be without it or FaceTime. It's the only contact we have with our son and grandson in Australia. Couldn't bear not seeing them even if only for a few minutes. Would love a hug but that's impossible

My son is in NZ Natsnan for 18 years but I still would rather talk every week
When my youngest daughters' three children were staying at mine they were absolutely fine talking to their Mum and Dad on the phone every evening but when we Skyped them they all started quarrelling about who went first and the youngest one burst out crying with homesickness on seeing her Mum and Dad so we quickly went back to phone chats

Totally with you Henetha hate looking at myself and it really put me off

Good job we re all different

Bloody communication woes though. If I call the land line they don't answer. Then i text to say how about skyping. Sometimes they respond yea or nay. Sometimes no response (phone out of credit?)Do they ever call without a prompt - not unless there is some major worry or problem.
When i do get GD on Skype she is happy to natter for an hour. Which is lovely of course. We do drawing animals a lot at the moment.
Her brother (5) not keen , having a phase. About 5 minutes is limit on a good day.You can read a picture book over Skype to someone in Australia (hold the book up to the little camera eye so they can see each pic) - that's a plus.
It's a pain if you have not got decent broadband both ends.
It's a pain if you are trying to talk to a child who is more interested in the little picture of her face and making faces than having an actual conversation.
I do talk to my sister most days and that saves a fortune.
Oh it's also a pain if the other perfectly intelligent and grown up son can't get his act together to get on Skype.

I love Skyping my bestie in SA and we can happily chat for an hour.

But I also can't quite work out these days what the protocol is for phoning - my son never answers his landline, so I text him "Can I call?" Then he replies "K" and a smiley face. Then I call the landline and he doesn't pick up. So I am cursing by the time we've worked out what is actually best. He calls me too of course but I always answer the damn phone. Daughter is easy she calls me any time she likes and me her, and if the other person answers then good and well, otherwise we leave a message.

I was thinking the other day, I long for the days when people (usually good friends or family) would just "drop in" at my house over a weekend. Nowadays everything is by appointment.

One of my daughters is like that Grannyknot I ring and ring knowing they are there but no one answers then I text and get no answer then when eventually days later I manage to get hold of her its oh I must have been upstairs ....the text?? oh no credit grrrr