The Telly Broke

[poliphilo]

The telly broke yesterday. Well, not the telly itself, but the set-top box that serves it. The men from Virgin are coming to fix it Sunday morning. In the meantime if I want to watch moving images I'll have to stick a disc in the DVD player.

It was pleasantly quiet last night. I sat in my comfy armchair and read David Copperfield. If the telly had been working I'd have watched the second episode of Michael Wood's Story of India, but I can't say I missed it. 

There have been periods of my life when I haven't owned a telly. The longest was between 1998-91 (approx) when money was tight.  How did I pass the time?  I'm not entirely sure but I've got a mental picture of myself sitting at the kitchen table, messing about with water colours like a Victorian lady.  And if there was something I really wanted to see- like the first run of the Sherlock Holmes stories with Jeremy Brett- I went to my friend's house and we had dinner and made an event of it.

I watch TV most evenings. I flip through the channels or leaf through the Radio Times and usually I'll find something  to hold my attention for an hour or two. But there's very little I feel I have to watch. The last show I got wrapped up in was Rome. I like my ghostie programmes on Living and the Sci-fi channel but I'm not going to feel greatly deprived if I don't get to see them. Not being able to access the dim-witted news bulletins is a relief.

Would I want to live without the telly?  No, not really; I enjoy it too much.  Could I live without the telly? Oh, easily.

Comments

[manfalling.livejournal.com]

My first year in Japan I didn't have a TV. I'd rush home after work, cook, then settle down to eat with a book.

These days, I'm gaming on the PC while watching CNN in the background, or watching TV downloaded through the Internet, cabled into my big TV.

When I moved into this new apartment I didn't watch TV or hardly use the Internet for 2 weeks. It was good. But that was when living here was new and interesting. Now, the only thing that changes in my environment is through the TV and the Internet. Forsaking those 2 would mean a much duller life. Though I suppose it may force me to go out more, to bars or whatever- which could result in a more interesting life. Also- less money. TV is a total bargain considering the hours of diversion it provides.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The guy came to fix the TV- in the event he gave us a new set-top box- but it's still not right. We have to go through an elaborate rigmarole to tune the thing in every time we switch on.

I'm not too bothered though. I think this could be the Universe's way of telling me I watch too much TV and it's time I changed my life.