Start Here: New to Tech Ramblings?

Hello, and welcome to Tech Ramblings of a 50 Something. Thank you for stopping by! If you're new here, this page is the best place to begin. It explains what the blog is about and suggests an easy order for reading the guides.

Who This Blog Is For

This blog is for adults, mostly in their 40s, 50s and 60s and beyond, who want to feel more confident with technology. Perhaps you've been given a new phone or laptop, or you're tired of asking the family for help. You might just want to understand what's going on when the Wi-Fi stops working. Whatever brought you here, you're in the right place.

You don't need any technical knowledge. Everything is explained in plain English, one step at a time, and there's no such thing as a silly question.

How to Use This Blog

• Go at your own pace. Each guide stands on its own, so you can stop, have a cup of tea and come back later.
• Follow the series. Most guides end with "Previous" and "Next" links, so you can work through a topic in order.
• Try things as you read. Having your phone or computer to hand while you read really does help.
• Use the labels. Click a label such as "Staying Safe Online" to see every post on that topic.

Suggested Reading Order

1. Start With the Basics

1. Computer Basics: 20 Things Every Beginner Should Know
2. Internet and Wi-Fi Explained for Beginners (UK)

2. Google Basics

1. Google Account Explained: A Beginner's Guide
2. Gmail for Beginners: Organise and Search Your Inbox
3. Google Drive for Beginners: Store and Share Files
4. Google Photos for Beginners: Back Up Your Photos
5. Google Calendar for Beginners: Never Miss a Date
6. Google Docs for Beginners: Write, Save and Share Free

3. Staying Safe Online

1. Google 2-Step Verification for Beginners: Lock Your Account
2. Google Password Manager for Beginners: Save Passwords

4. AI Made Simple

1. Coming Soon: Plain-English Guides to AI, Grok and Gemini
2. Grok Bot Gets Its Own Email Address: A Beginner's Guide

5. Other Tech: Home Lab Notes

These are short, more technical notes about my home network. Feel free to skip them until you're ready!

• Pi-hole Not Working? IPv6 Is Usually Why
• Pi-hole Not Blocking in Chrome? Turn Off Secure DNS
• VPN and Pi-hole: Use a Custom DNS Server
• Using Mullvad VPN with Pi-hole: Check DNS Works

Prefer Watching to Reading?

There's also a Tech Ramblings YouTube channel to go with the blog, where some of these topics are explained on video. Search for Tech Ramblings on YouTube to find it.

Thanks for Being Here

Technology can feel daunting, but you're more capable than you think. Pick a guide, take it slowly and enjoy it. If something isn't clear, please leave a comment and I'll do my best to help.

Happy reading,
Paul