analogue v's digital

My Illustration Friday entry for 'digital'.


Many folk seem to settle in one of two camps: 'cat people', or 'dog people'. However, in our house a more pressing battle is that of analogue v's digital.

Mr You has a sentimental attachment to an old digital radio alarm clock from his glory teen years. Over the years he had polished up the plastic face with some substance that accidentally caused it to fog, and he had even painted it the colour of a Buddhist monks orange robe. He had loyally perched this clock beside him in many a bedroom... until we moved in together.

You see I'm one of the analogue people. One of those who appreciates the simple elegance of being able to tell the time without numbers, by way of a quick glance at 2 (or in some cases 1) hands. None of this phrenetic reading a list of numbers in the order in which they appear business. I'm one of the remaining few who delight in saying "why yes, it's twenty to three".

Now you may think I'm being cruel for denying the sentimental orange digital clock's right to live on the bedside table, but it's the angry red numbers, they scream out in the night.
2:37am.
2:38am.
2:39am and don't you forget it.
All night long.

We've tried alternatives, including a very cool digital clock with a blue face and subtle grey numbers, I picked up from one of those fancy designer gadget stores. But the angry red digital clock is back, and brighter than ever. 2:40am! And don't you forget it!