Hi
It's countdown time, just under 9 hours till my TV licence runs out, and I am not renewing. At the first stroke of midnight the TV is going to be packed away, and I am going to open a can of cider to celebrate my freedom, yippeeeee.
I previously didn't have a tele for many years, and my friend bought me a licence for Christmas because he thought I couldn't afford it, aaaahhhhh, sweet. Truth is, I didn't want one. After watching for a few weeks I wondered if I could cash in the remaining months of the licence, but I stuck the year out, after which the tele went again. Then a few more years passed and I got a licence and a tele, and now I am sick of the pathetic programmes on offer, so that's it, I am a slave no more.
The bonus is it will save me £135.50, plus £50 for the telly mags, brilliant.
It's stopped snowing, I will take the dog a walk now.
Ilona

You're brave!!
But then, from what you've posted previously, you're always busy! Good job though, well done!

Very brave, I might have to arm wrestle the OH for that one !
Wendy

Meanqueen
I know what you mean about the quality of the programmes....they keep telling us there is freeview and all those other channels, what they don't say is that not everyone in the Country can get them.....

I'd love to ditch my TV but there would be an uprising of a biblical proportion in my household I have told them, though, that when this TV breaks, we will not be replacing it, but my husband just looked mutinous! Well done for doing it, Ilona.

My kids will leave home if I got rid of the tv! Maybe if their still here when their grown thats what I will do.

Yes I know what you all mean. Isn't it funny how women can always think of something more useful/interesting to do, whilst men and children get all stressed!!
Michele

Thank you all for your positive remarks, I have just switched off, 25 minutes early!!! I am fed up of the reality shows, fat people trying to get thin, tone deaf people trying to sing, people locked up in a house - on an island, wife swapping, people stripping off, cleaning mucky houses, cops chasing robbers, people making a barn into a house, it's all too boring.
When I was TV less before it was fine, books from the library, research on the computer, I used to run a singles club/dating agency for 3 years, closed that, then I had a business for 5 years, as well as the driving. Now I have lots to do in my garden. TV is a distraction I can do without.
I have just been outside with my torch, it's 10 times more windy now than it was earlier, scary.
Ilona

Good for you!
I know one husband and wife 'team' with no TV. I do odd jobs for them. They're in their 70's mind you, but when moving to their 'new' home 8 years ago, they didn't plug the TV in and haven't done so since!
When I'm there, it's complete hush for the Archers. But the interesting thing is that they're so well up on current affairs and read a lot.
My longest TV stretch would be two hours. Like I haven't watched anything except University Challenge since Sunday.
But I'd miss it if it wasn't here - strange isn't it.
Good luck, Richard
PS - You can catch a few things on the Internet and the BBC website runs News 24 all the time - live.

I used to love University Challenge years ago when Bamber Gascoigne was the questionmaster, I thought he was lovely.
When I drive I listen to radio 4 and 5 all the time, some interesting stuff on there, and the Archers is my soap. I've heard B & Q are getting busy next week, I might be called in.
I walked to town today (5 miles) spent a couple of hours in the library, and bought some seed potatoes, dog biscuits and bananas. I was planning on walking back but it was blowing a blizzard so I reluctantly had to take the bus. One pound flippin eighty bus fare, I could have bought 2 meals for that!!
I'm sorting my wardrobe out tonight, top of my list of jobs to do.
Ilona

I'd miss Top Gear and QI.

gees i still can't believe you have to PAY to watch TV ther - and at the price you mentioned I think I'd be joining you in declining the offer!!
About half the things we watch are downloaded TV shows anyway as they either don't screen in Australia, take years to screen in Australia and/or get shown at a ridiculous hour of the night and out of sequence and they only show the first series and it's never seen again!
Of course if you want to watch reality TV shows you are well catered for though

That's a point Ilona - you're got Channel 4U and also BBC ipod where you can watch quite a lot of telly.

I'm not sure how that works Richard, do I have to buy an ipod?
There was something on the radio about watching TV on a computer, and downloading programmes. The wording on the licence renewal states it is illegal to watch or record television programmes as they are being shown. This includes the use of a TV set (obvious), video or DVD recorder, set-top box, computer, or mobile phone.
I think you could get someone else to download the programmes for you, but what is channel 4U?
To be honest I am not that bovvered. After all, television is only watching other people work.
Thankyou for your helpfull suggestion.
Ilona