Anybody else without a telly?

[Oldfogey]

Following on from the posts about adverts, I wonder how many people on here don't have a telly at all?

Perhaps just not in the van? Or not at home either?

We haven't had one for around 20 years - see one every so often when staying in a hotel or self-catering (as per last week), but this just confirms that we really aren't interested.

Not that this means we go totally without visual entertainment - the computer plays DVD's, and at home the main PC has a video player hooked up.

Just doesn't seem worth the money to pay a licence for a load of rubbish.

And then there's all the entertainment from the Licencing threatening to come round and check up on us!

 

[cris_408518]

We never take one in the caravan, but there is to much good stuff that I would miss with out one at home.

I hope it's only a dedicated video player attached to your PC as a VCR needs a colour TV license as it's a TV receiver.

 

[Oldfogey]

Nope, it's a conventional video recorder/player.

You only need a licence to receive broadcast TV, whether terrestrial or satellite, not to own the equipment.

To assist in demonstrating that we do not receive, the channels are not tuned in and there is no arial at the property.

All this is in accordance with a letter I have from TV Licensing; they try to give the impression that you need a licence to own the kit, but that is just not the case. Press them, and they will (reluctantly) admit that this is so.

In fact, from a legal licencing standpoint I can get a friend to record a programme and give me the tape to watch. Of course I will probably be in breach of copyright, but that is a different matter.

 

[cris_408518]

Yes you are right.

But if YOU do not inform them first and just buy a VCR they will fine you i=I undestand.

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

We do quite a bit of winter caravanning, and what with the long evenings, we do sit and watch a bit of TV. But, at other times of year we never bother, we can't see the point of shutting ourselves away in the caravan just to watch crappy programmes when the weather is lovely and you can sit outside.

We tend to read, OH is a great Sudoko fan, so we amuse ourselves in other ways!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Old Fogey, emmerson doesn't own a t.v. either.

I watch very little t.v. although I'm glad we have one because I do like to watch football internationals or certain factual programmes or ones like an Island Parish (that was great).

 

[emmerson2]

Your right LB, but like oldfogey, we do watch DVDs on the PC. Have you seen any of the recent National Geographics which came free with the Telegraph? Herself also buys DVDs from ebay, often for just a few pence, so whilst we don't have a TV, we do have visual entertainment, but we're very selective.

 

[emmerson2]

BTW, the Licencing people have given up on us now. Haven't seen them for some years. It was fun while it lasted though.

 

[Oldfogey]

No Chris, you don't need to inform them. If you buy from a shop, the shop has to tell them, but we got our latest video recorder from a car boot, so no problem there this time.

If you buy a tuner card for a PC, that sale does not have to be notified (far too modern for them to have caught up).

It is their problem to PROVE that you have actually been watching broadcast. The detection gear is not as good as they make out, and they have no right of entry without a warrant.

In fact we have never seen inspectors, despite regular threats, perhaps because we are impossible to find without detailed directions - especially at night!

 

[mealsonwheels]

We don't have a TV in the caravan either, but record any favourite programmes we miss, to watch later at home. We have a radio/CD player in the caravan and love reading, doing crosswords and chatting/planning where to visit, usually over a wee dram.

If we're in a new area, we get the OS maps out and plan a walk or find a National Trust property, Nature Reserve or Museum etc., to visit the next day.

We enjoy walking and when the evenings are lighter we are often out for an evening stroll, watching sunsets and often end up having a beer at the local pub on the way back or we just relax and do a BBQ. We really don't miss the TV when we're away.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

I know this is contrary to my posts about freeview and satellite which would give the impression I would always have one.

We only set up the TV if it is more than a weekend stay and then it is only because I like to keep an eye on some news because of my work.

We have used it before to keep the kids quiet while we have other things to do, but I do not like doing that because it can make it harder to get them out when you want to go out and they are usually just as happy doing other things anyway.

The answer below is for Chris's sake (tongue in cheek)

Without our TV how could we get RapMusicTV and have wild drunken parties until 6 a.m.? The pikeys only come for the music!

 

[rob_jax]

No, we don't have a TV in our Eriba Triton.

We do have a JVC micro HiFi that provides back ground music in the evenings and BBC radio 4 or 2 for breakfast.

Normally outside all day, walking or whatever; and in the evenings, reading or talking with friends if attending an EribaFest.

Robert

 

[JoannaLesley]

We don't have a tv in the van either. We like to use our hols to chill out and catch up with reading and so on. We rarely even buy a newspaper when we are away and find we are able to opt out of the rat race for long enough to recharge our batteries. We have, however, just acquired from our son an old laptop which we plan to take with us in order to watch the odd dvd on a dark and chilly evening.

 

[emmerson2]

We don't have a TV in the caravan either, but record any favourite programmes we miss, to watch later at home. We have a radio/CD player in the caravan and love reading, doing crosswords and chatting/planning where to visit, usually over a wee dram.

If we're in a new area, we get the OS maps out and plan a walk or find a National Trust property, Nature Reserve or Museum etc., to visit the next day.

We enjoy walking and when the evenings are lighter we are often out for an evening stroll, watching sunsets and often end up having a beer at the local pub on the way back or we just relax and do a BBQ. We really don't miss the TV when we're away.

That's cheating!! Oldfogey meant not having a tv at all,not just in the van.

 

[emmerson2]

I know this is contrary to my posts about freeview and satellite which would give the impression I would always have one.

We only set up the TV if it is more than a weekend stay and then it is only because I like to keep an eye on some news because of my work.

We have used it before to keep the kids quiet while we have other things to do, but I do not like doing that because it can make it harder to get them out when you want to go out and they are usually just as happy doing other things anyway.

The answer below is for Chris's sake (tongue in cheek)

Without our TV how could we get RapMusicTV and have wild drunken parties until 6 a.m.? The pikeys only come for the music!

See my comment above!!

 

[Lutz]

We wouldn't want to be without TV while away because that's about the only time we get round to watching it without being disturbed. Besides, with satellite, it's nice to be able to keep up with the local news back home, maybe 600 miles away, and the rest of what's going on in the world in a language that I can understand.

 

[cris_408518]

Home is where we are together, so if it's with the Caravan the last thing we want is News.

We spend the money to get away so why would we want the "sad" news of somewhere hundreds of miles away.

 

[Lutz]

Home is where we are together, so if it's with the Caravan the last thing we want is News.

We spend the money to get away so why would we want the "sad" news of somewhere hundreds of miles away.

I only have the telly to watch news. It's always on one or other of the news channels, even the English broadcasts on Al Jazeera sometimes.

 

[cris_408518]

I can tell you the news for your next holiday now Lutz.

Somebody will be talking war or be fighting one.

There wll be some terrorist fears.

Some sad celeb will be in rehab, doing the apartner merry go round or be on drugs.

The odd muder will have gone down.

Some new tax, fuel price hike or increased interest rates will hit your pocket.

Some numpty politico will be spouting more drivel that means you will be even more out of pocket.

And no doubt the French and Germans will be trying to tell us how to lead our lives via Brussels yet again.

Apart from the usual sleaze, global warming and some numb nut minority squealing that they are hard done by as wearing a size 16 Wellington boot on their ear ring and chanting the TV times backwards whilst pleasuring themself on the number 16 eco bus is quite normal the news will be as normal.

We leave it at home, the only thing we miss is somebody famous who we don't know miht have died whilst we were away ;-)

 

[Lutz]

If that's the sort of news you're getting, Cris, I'm not surprised that you don't take a TV with you when you go away. In fact, I could quite easily do without it at home, too. What I expect from the news is background information, preferably balanced from both sides if it's controversial. I don't want to to be fed with stuff about a celeb in rehab, someone who can read the TV Times backwards, either.

 

[cris_408518]

;-)

 

[MrsMothy]

We wouldn't clutter our caravan up with a TV. We have one at home and occasionally watch University Challenge on a Monday evening. This week we watched a programme about Wainwright's lakeland but sometimes we go for months without watching anything. In the caravan we tend to read or listen to music with an ipod/Roberts DAB radio combination. We've downloaded some of both our folk and classical collections onto the ipod. We spend most of our days out walking, cycling or bellringing when we are away so music is a nice way to unwind and stretch out after a long day out.

 

[Lol1]

So what does everyone do all day? Reading is fine, but it can get uncomfortable bent over a book for hours. Walking is fine, but you can only take in so much scenery before it starts to repeat itself. Listening to music? Well that's a little like the TV isn't it and as such, is the Devils instrument of torture. Sitting and chatting with friends maybe, so you're the noisy party that spends all night in an awning keeping everyone awake are you? Playing games with the kids would take up some time, perhaps a little football or tennis, maybe flying a kite. Nope, hang on that's already been covered elsewhere.

So we could just sit there, in the evenings watching people pass by, we could, but you'll find most of them comfortable in front of the TV enjoying their favorite programs.

Besides, I don't read the newspapers (my contribution to the green cause) so how else am I going to know what's going on in this world?

 

[Oldfogey]

It's probably nosey of me, Denise, but I can't help wondering why you bother to have a TV if you really use it so very little.

It sounds as if it must cost quite a lot per hour of use!

What always amuses me is that so many people can't get their heads round the idea of not having TV. At work people would say "Did you see..." and I would point out why not, and a bit later they would do it again; and some people would do it every day!

I love being excentric!

 

[MrsMothy]

So what does everyone do all day? Reading is fine, but it can get uncomfortable bent over a book for hours. Walking is fine, but you can only take in so much scenery before it starts to repeat itself. Listening to music? Well that's a little like the TV isn't it and as such, is the Devils instrument of torture. Sitting and chatting with friends maybe, so you're the noisy party that spends all night in an awning keeping everyone awake are you? Playing games with the kids would take up some time, perhaps a little football or tennis, maybe flying a kite. Nope, hang on that's already been covered elsewhere.

So we could just sit there, in the evenings watching people pass by, we could, but you'll find most of them comfortable in front of the TV enjoying their favorite programs.

Besides, I don't read the newspapers (my contribution to the green cause) so how else am I going to know what's going on in this world?

Nope we aren't the noisey party...I said talking not shouting. As for scenery...we haven't got tired of it yet. We regularly walk 25 plus miles on either or both days at the weekend either by ourselves or on an organised event. If not walking we often cycle up to around 200km a day. Although new to caravanning we've been walking / cycling for almost half a century but there's still a lot of things to see.