As I sat at home this morning because of the pandemic, joining the service for my much loved uncle using the latest 'tech', once more the memories came flooding back of so many happy times spent in his company in what is now a bygone 'non tech' era. Being 73 myself I can remember him as a relatively young and hardworking farmer on the many occasions I stayed at Bolitho Barton with my cousin Brian during school holidays. In the 1950's he was 'breaking in' new agricultural land below Crowan Beacon, extending the holding up to 'grass valley', and there were sunny days of corn harvests following the binder and faithful old 'Fordson Major', collecting the sheaves into shocks and building mows, Auntie Joan bringing out crowse, the frenzy of helping at pig feeding time, and with Brian, being sent with the faithful Lassie to bring the cows in for hand milking. I well remember too being hoisted by him for a bareback ride on the carthorse which promptly trotted off with me holding on to the mane for dearlife. I cherish the memory as I've not been tempted to get on a horse since! - all are embedded memories of a man who in his busy labour intensive daily routine, still had time to spend with Brian and I and share many a funny moment. Times moved on 'techwise' to the Fergie, machine milking, that combine harvester, and ultimately retirement for Uncle Harold. We all grew up, pursuing our careers and having children of our own, but family ties have always remained strong and in latter years there has been no greater pleasure than calling in on Harold and Lilian at Bolytho on fleeting visits to Cornwall, and their insistance that we must stay for tea, (even though we'd only recently finished lunch)! 'Just a cup of tea then', - always morphed into the full blown Cornish High Tea and a 'good chat'. It was always a wrench to leave, such was the enjoyment of their company. I feel that wrench again now, but leave we must and say goodbye, cherishing all the great memories of a kind and gentle man, loved by all, and the last of his generation and a quite wonderful bygone era, whilst acknowledging the 'tech' that enables us to share such memories today.