I started programming because my ZX Spectrum had a dead tape-deck on arrival. Back in the 80s shops closed over Christmas, so there was no chance of returning/

I started programming because my ZX Spectrum had a dead tape-deck on arrival. Back in the 80s shops closed over Christmas, so there was no chance of returning/replacing it. I ended up reading the manual(s), this being back in the day when computer manuals had tutorials on BASIC, and even pictures of the circuit-layouts.