It's now been well over 3 years since I have had a TV. If I looked at myself as a child and saw I was a person who didn't own a TV, I would be utterly bamboozled. EVERYONE has a TV, don't they? I remember meeting a girl as a teenager at a Science and engineering course at Imperial college as a teenager, who didn't have one and my friends and I were really confused by it.
Why did it happen, you may ask?
It may have escaped your notice, but I am not the most embracive of new technology. I really have no yen to own the latest technology- I am perfectly happy to make do with anyone's old cast-offs (and my laptop and phone are exactly that). Somehow, I was perfectly happy with my old 5 channel, portable (ha!) TV with 5 buttons to press. I didn't get a digi-box. And then on the 24th October 2012, they switched off the old Analogue signal. I often cited myself as 'The last analogue rebel' as I refused to give into buying a box. I'm not sure why really, I just didn't want to.
Going digital would mean new complicated remote controls (what ARE all those buttons for), I never understood those at other peoples' houses. I am a relatively intelligent person, I have all A GCSEs, 6 A levels, a degree, a PGCE, a music diploma and multiple other musical qualifications but I just don't get remote controls.
Have I missed TV?
Well, yes.
I miss being able to have it on the background as I do work. CBC and I would, I suspect, spend more time together on the sofa if we did.
At the same time though, I am quite sure I would fritter lots of time away watching things that really aren't worth my time.
Right now, I only really watch things on BBC iPlayer if we are eating our dinner. The Apprentice, Great British Bakeoff, Doctor Who mainly. Those are all short term programmes. I don't waste time on programmes just because they are on.
Yet, I think I waste time on the internet anyway.
It's worth pointing out that we've saved lots of money on television licenses etc.
The reason I am now bringing this up is because where we are moving to, the kind friends who own the bungalow have offered us the TV.
I'm undecided. He says they will get rid of the TV if we don't take it which immediately guilts me into wanting to keep it. Can't stand the thought that something might possibly be useless.
It would be nice to have a TV again.
But then, I don't want to waste time.
We could be saving the TV License money towards our own house.
It would be nice to have one.
But I haven't really missed one.
Undecided. I have about a week or so to decide.
Any thoughts? What would you do??
xxx