wordpress.org driving me nuts!!!! Why is it all so bloody complicated?

[Bitzer]

I just want to do really straightforward things, for example, add a contact me button. You'd think there would just be a widget there that you could use but now, instead you have to download one from some weird, untrustworthy looking site that keeps refusing the username/password I give it. Anyway after several attempts I thought I'd done it but
(a) it only gives you the option to do contact me at the bottom of the page, rather than in the column on the right
(b) it's not showing up on my site

Can anyone offer any guidance on this? Does it have to be this difficult?!

If it's wordpress.org there is no need for a plug in or a specific widget.

Create a graphic that says 'contact me', even in Paint, if that's all you have.

Upload it to your Wordpress media centre if you don't have any other host access.

Insert a text widget where you want it to appear.

Put into the text widget:

Ta da. Contact me linking graphic.

Thanks v much ScaredTEECat - but I'm afraid I've no idea if I've got Paint. I have a blogging package from Fasthosts but have really only been experimenting with wordpress, is Paint part of wordpress? And if so where would I find it? I've been through everything on the dashboard I think.

Sorry to be so slow about it but I'm completely new to all this so the code sequence (if that's the right terminology) that you included in your post, is all greek to me.

I have a good contact widget - ultimate follow me

It links to twitter, FB, LinkedIn, Youtube (or any combination of these) and provides a Contact Me button too. Seems to work well.

That sounds v promising, was hoping to get onto twitter etc after sorting out the RSS thing... Thanks again, Madame. Will try and install it at the DDs naptime!