First of all I'd like to thank everyone who left a comment on my last post about my dad, I know I'm not alone in my grieving, many of us have lost one or both parents and it's a hard thing to go through. So much so that many of you are still missing your parents many years on, and I know I'll be the same. It's all still very raw for me but I know in time I shall be able to look back and remember the good times we shared. Your understanding when I've written these posts about my mum and dad over the last twenty months have meant such a lot to me, it's been very comforting reading through your comments so thank you once again.
Let's talk about Christmas traditions, or one Christmas tradition in particular that we had as a family when I was a child. My parents would always buy the Radio Times and TV Times at Christmas. In those days you had to buy two magazines as the BBC channels were listed in the Radio Times and the ITV channels were listed in the TV Times. Nowadays, each publication lists the other channel listings.
I remember all three of us kids sitting down and circling all the programmes we wanted to watch over the Christmas period. I know a lot of people had the same tradition and they still follow this with their own families now. It's something we no longer do, we have Sky so we just go through the programmes on the listing page and set it to record the programmes we choose. I don't think it's as fun doing it the way we do though so I thought I might buy a copy of the Radio Times and go back to our old ways but I got a bit of a shock when I picked it up, the price was £5. I decided I wouldn't bother just for old time's sake, I'll stick with my Sky listings, especially as there aren't that many programmes on my 'must watch' list these days.
We stopped having the Radio Times a couple of years ago, when we realised we had only looked at it once on the day of purchase. With series links most of our favourites will record themselves.
ReplyDeleteWe have RT on subscription here in France. I hardly watch any UK TV these days, but Mrs M likes it for the magazine articles and background information. I keep trying to get her to use the web, but she prefers a paper copy instead!
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas/New Year edition has already arrived, it has square binding this year, very posh!
The Radio Times tradition carries on in my house and now it's just me it doesn't fall to pieces as it used to when there were 5 people looking at it!
ReplyDeleteI've not had a good look at it yet, thought I'd do it day by day
I usually look online each day to see if there's anything worth watching and there usually isn't.
ReplyDeleteWe watch a lot of Netflix and Amazon and record films if they are worth it.
£5 for the Radio Times is a lot.
Hugs
Briony
x
My daughter buys the Radio Times every Christmas and goes through it with a marker just like she has done every year since she was old enough to read. It's a fun tradition even though, like you, we have Sky and can either record programmes or watch them on catch up. 🎅🏻
ReplyDeleteI've been following a certain a blog for quite a few years now and it's his tradition to check out the double issue of the Radio Times with a highlighter pen then share his upcoming favourite programmes on his blog. I do buy a Whats on TV guide but still look on the Sky listings each day :)
ReplyDeleteThe Radio times is always more expensive than the other TV mags I sometimes buy a TV magazine and have bought a Christmas one, so far I haven't even looked at it but I will be circling the programs I want to watch when I get around to it. We used to get a daily Newspaper and just get the TV listings from that my Mother thought the radio times was too expensive even back then.
ReplyDeleteStrangely it was a tradition for us for many years so I picked one up without looking at the price this morning. It wasn't until I was looking at the receipt that I realised how much it cost, too late now but I will know for another year not to bother.
ReplyDeleteIt was nice hearing about your ringing the things you wanted to watch & it made me realise how behind we were here in Oz. I was nearly 11 before we got a TV & the TV Times didn't come out for many years after that. We had 2 commercial channels & the ABC (like your BBC) & they only came on after 4pm & off by 10pm (I think) & that lasted into my teens. I know DH had TV at 4 in the UK & he is only 12months older than me. How times have changed. Take care, stay safe & huggles.
ReplyDeleteChristmas will be bittersweet for you, I know. It does get easier but there are certain times that bring you right back to that moment and the longing for your dad or mum.
ReplyDeleteOur tradition was to go through the Sears Dream Book (catalog) and dream about what we would like to get. Our Christmases were small and I don't remember ever getting anything that I wanted out of that catalog. BUT- we always got a game of some sort and mother would play it with us after dinner...a most unusual thing for her to do.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. xo Diana
I used to do the same and loved the puzzle page too but the magazine has changed and isn't as good as it used to be, such a shame.
ReplyDeleteCool cool memory. I do remember circling what we wanted to watch as kids, weekly. We watched a lot of TV
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thanks.
ReplyDeleteBuying and reading the Christmas double issue of the Radio Times was something we always did way back when. xx
I listened to Radio 2 thought for the day on Wednesday and Sarah whose thought it was, was talking about how this year will be different as she has lost her mother this year. It was obviously it was still raw and she did cry but continued with her slot as it was live on air. It was so eaw and so utterly moving that I cried along with her. I am of the age when my elderly parents may not have many more Christmas' left and with reading your last post and listening to Sarah, I cannot imagine fully what you are going through Jo. I send you my biggest warmest supportive virtual hugs from afar xxxx
ReplyDeleteHehe I did exactly the same, was shocked to see the price too. Seemed to have gone up by £3..So it stayed on the shelf.
ReplyDeleteI saw you recently lost your Dad and Mum previous. It reminded me of some postings I put up on my blog which has been languishing for some time now. But like you I did a few posts about Mum being ill and then Dads first Christmas without her...then a few years later Dad passing. I remember feeling like I had been orphaned, I miss them all the time and chat to them (if you get my meaning.
If you fancy finding my posts the blog is called Happy Yarns....oh this is Knits at Knittylicious just in case it doesn't show up...thank you for following me kn instagram. Kind thoughts
We are struggling to find anything to watch these days even with loads more channels to choose from.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until I read your post that I was reminded we used to have to buy both magazines in order to get the full listings.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking I might buy a copy for old times sake as well, but at that price I don't think I'll bother. X
Sounds like fun, planning your Christmas viewing. There are so many channels these day and so few programs worth watching.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
We didn't have a TV as kids but I did the same as an adult. Struth, a fiver for the TV times now? I wouldn't have bought it either.xxx
ReplyDeleteYes, the Radio Times always played an important part in our Christmas plans ... but it hasn't done so for many years now!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan