public String getType() {
        switch (type) {
            case (0):
                return "free/deleted record";
            case (1):
                return "message coming from the network and read";
            case (3):
                return "message coming from the network and still to be read";
            case (5):
                return "message sent to the network";
            case (7):
                return "message to be sent to the network";
            default:
                return "unknown";
        }
    }