 |  |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Profiles |
 |
|
|
|  | |
Sense and Sensibility
 Rosemary Taylor has found friendship, support - and love - through The Archers message board.
Rosemary Taylor
A London girl most of her life, now living in Hackney, Rosie has just taken early retirement after 30 years as a primary school teacher. She grew up listening to The Archers and passed on the habit to her son Saul (now 20), as the evening episode coincided with bath-time when he was little. Rosie has found resonance in Archers stories about the travails and joys of single parenthood, and especially (she describes Saul as "Nolly-coloured") in Kate's experiences.
As a teacher, Rosie was particularly responsible for teaching computer skills, and when she had to learn about this new thing called the internet, she searched for a topic that was of personal interest to her. She quickly found The Archers website, with its fledgling message board, and has been a regular poster ever since, recently clocking up 8000 messages. She likes to listen to the evening episode and discuss it with other members of The Archers community, and often finds that listening to the repeat or the omnibus in the light of the comments of other listeners gives her a new perspective on the programme.
But The Archers is not the only subject of discussion: "If you have troubles to share, there's always someone who will respond with sympathy. There have been times, such as when Saul was ill, that I thought thank god for the message board". And Rosie has not just been on the receiving end of support. She's respected by many as a sympathetic friend, giving "cyber hugs" to those in need.
Rosie likes the nature of the medium. "With a phone call you have to respond immediately. On the board, because you're typing, you can compose your thoughts and get it absolutely right". This sharing of moments of worry or celebration - along with more everyday events - means that message boarders get to know some their fellows quite intimately.
With no television in the house, Rosie finds she has plenty of time for hobbies and interests. Apart from radio listening - especially The Archers - she's a keen gardener and walker, finding semi-rural oases close to home, such as the walk from Finsbury Park to Crouch Hill, rich with wild flowers and butterflies. Evenings bring theatre and classical music concerts, including The Proms, and she's a keen reader, numbering Nick Hornby and Jane Austen among her favourite authors.
Besotted
In fact, her fellow message boarder Mike Gunn sums Rosie up in Jane Austen terms: "She combines the sense of Elinor Dashwood with the sensibility of Marianne". Mike's interest in Rosie is more than literary, however. As long-term posters, each had been impressed with the quality of the other's contribution to the board. Mike appreciates Rosie's insight into character and her brave and touching personal posts, while Rosie cites Mike's dry humour and general good sense. To their surprise, when they met at an informal meeting of message board users, their respect turned to affection, and eventually to love. "I certainly didn't expect to find a partner through The Archers message board, but I am besotted with him", smiles Rosie.
Happy Mike describes their relationship with an echo of Will Grundy talking about his and Emma's: "We're solid" Rosie agrees, although she harbours a lingering suspicion that Mike just wants to get his hands on her vast collection of Archers books ...
<< Back
|
|
 | |  |
|
|
|
 |
|
