Please educate me on Alexas!

[Settle59]

I have resisted things like internet/on line banking/even emails for the longest possible time on the premise that I was 'quite happy living in 1985, thank you very much!'

I've just been given an Alexa as a gift. How do I use it? What does it do?
Thanks in advance, any feedback welcome!

We have 4 dotted about the house. They control the lights when they feel like it but are mainly used for shopping lists (not linked to a supermarket account) timers and the radio.
We sometimes play games, and we have a couple of smart plugs in difficult to access areas.
As far as the security issue goes I don't feel I'm interesting enough to panic too much over that.

For those of you thinking of older relatives, you may want to watch this. Or just watch for fun anyway!

Oh yes, I can also turn the lights on and off when we're away. Not that that's happening much at the moment mind...

Lights
TV
Central Heating
Calling between various rooms
Timers
Asking ‘how old is’ actor you’ve just seen on TV (similarly ‘are they still alive’)
Shopping
and I’m particularly proud of this one - turning the irrigation on and off on our newly planted hedge! Unnecessary or what!?