Telly?

[JoceAndChris]

For 36 years I've held out against the full on horror of telly, though in recent years I've compromised and taken on other's unwanted sets to allow us to watch films, without having an aerial installed. I'm afraid I've seen the connection to BBC 1, Sky etc, as a slippery slope to EastEnders and illiteracy. However, recently I've been wondering if I've been cutting off my nose to spite my face for all this time, and that perhaps it is useful to occasionally see an image of our Prime Minister or our Queen (I don't take a paper either), to watch interesting documentaries about period properties or adaptations of literary classics.

It's not just the fact that I'm reluctant to pollute my extremely pure mind, it's also the look of the thing. The set we have has been banished to the attic bedroom, but there are now icicles there which defy the most determined efforts to watch the thing in an out-of-the-way spot.

So we moved it downstairs last night, and it's completely killed the look of the front room. It has to sit next to the fireplace as there's no other space, and to put a TV next to a fireplace is barbaric. I could move it to the music room, but it would look equally out of place.

Is there any solution? These pieces of furniture are interesting, but could be thought by some to be a bit pretentious I suppose, particularly for a little cottage.

http://www.plasmacab.co.uk/Plasmacab%20P2.html

Any ideas?

 

[Feltwell]

Joce, Joce. Be careful - before long you'll be watching Big Brother, Strictly Come X Factor on Ice and Jeremy Kyle, your brain will turn to mush, leak out of your ears and you'll think that Ant and Dec have some talent. :wink:

No, that's going too far, no one could possibly think that!

If you really want an invisible telly then you can get "projector" ones that beam the picture up on to any pale-ish plain surface, much the same as used in every workplace in the land to bore colleagues into submission with "Death by PowerPoint."

Those TV cabinets look very OTT to me. A small-ish TV in a plain cabinet with doors would be much more subtle, if the projector idea doesn't appeal (or you have heavily patterned wallpaper everywhere).

 

[biffvernon]

If you really want an invisible telly then you can get "projector" ones that beam the picture up on to any pale-ish plain surface,

Ah, so we could have a lime-wash telly.

 

[Feltwell]

More lime-watch I reckon.....

I'll get my coat.

 

[Flyfisher]

If you're after invisibility (until actually watching, of course!) and your walls are not suitable, then the projector idea could be combined with a motorised projection screen arranged to drop down from a hidden something-or-other - although Biff's limewash suggestion would be perfect for a flat (-ish) wall.

If you're yearning to watch specialised property progs then (I assume) you'll require a satellite package as the main five channels don't seem to show anything of great interest unless you want a quick makeover or relocate to the country. Oh yes, you've done that already. :wink:

Don't forget that you can "watch again" loads of programmes these days via the BBC iPlayer or their ITV/C4 equivalents (assuming you have a decent broadband internet connection). A bonus of this approach is that you don't need a TV licence - a licence is only required if you "receive" a programme at the same time it's being broadcast (which includes video recorders).

Otherwise, just get a great big flatscreen and fix it unashamedly on a suitable wall as a sacrifice to 21st century living. You can always use it to display photos of old masters when you're not watching Big Brother and other abominations.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Joce, Joce. Be careful - before long you'll be watching Big Brother, Strictly Come X Factor on Ice and Jeremy Kyle, your brain will turn to mush,

You see, they're just words to me - with no meaning at all. And I like it that way! But surely most of you have television and are able to control yourselves with this indiscriminate dulling of the senses? I am seriously worried that you get sucked into this kind of anodyne vortex of popular culture, and never take the trouble anymore to thrash your husband at Scrabble or decipher the constellations.

The limewash TV idea is very cool though, very PPUK. Pity I don't have any lime-washed walls.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Flyfisher -I do have a good Broadband connection and use iplayer a lot. This way I can watch stuff and be in the electric blanket bed at the same time! But I'm thinking that a TV is actually quite a relaxing thing to have, and to really make a confession here, I need a Playstation as my friend beat me on a singing game at Christmas and I can't deal with it.

Otherwise, just get a great big flatscreen and fix it unashamedly on a suitable wall as a sacrifice to 21st century living. You can always use it to display photos of old masters when you're not watching Big Brother and other abominations.

Fess up, who's done that? I think a big room takes them much better - it's the alongside the fireplace thing that gets me.

I like the idea of the hidden drop down screen, I think. I've never watched anything on anything like that though, so it's hard to imagine it.

 

[JohnB]

Don't do it. It will ruin your life. I got rid of my evil mind control device several years ago. I don't know what most politicians look like, but if their appearance is as revolting as their actions, I'm glad I don't :lol:.

I used to think I was unusual, but I keep meeting more and more people who don't have one. I'm having lodgers in my house, and if anyone wants one they'll have to buy the licence, if I let them move in!

 

[Flyfisher]

Resist, Joce, resist.

Yes, we do have a TV but it really isn't used that much. About the only thing I'll actively make time for is Question Time but otherwise I start getting all fidgety and find it hard to watch anything for much more than half an hour. Which is odd, because I'll happily spend hours in front of a PC and I'm fine when we go to the cinema (Harry Brown last week . . . a bit grim really).

Mrs FF likes to watch films on TV and FF Jnr never misses Top Gear but otherwise we all seem to spend more time in front of PCs than the TV.

Frankly, I reckon I could easily live without a television, but I'd fight tooth and nail before giving up Radio 4!

We've not taken the plunge with a large flat-screen yet so I have nothing to confess (in that area anyway) although a friend recently bought a 50-incher, which sounds horrendous but actually works very well in their particular open-plan house. A projector/screen combination gives a much more cinematic experience and can also work well, especially if you don't watch very often; more like a special event. You have to think about the placement of the loudspeakers though.

I agree about the fireplace thing though. It's difficult to have two focal points in the same room, unless it's really large enough.

 

[Feltwell]

Joce, Joce. Be careful - before long you'll be watching Big Brother, Strictly Come X Factor on Ice and Jeremy Kyle, your brain will turn to mush,

You see, they're just words to me - with no meaning at all. And I like it that way! But surely most of you have television and are able to control yourselves with this indiscriminate dulling of the senses?

Of course. You watch what you want to watch. I was rather amused to find the 3 bricklayers + labourer who were working here one morning earnestly discussing the previous night's episode of Strictly Come Dancing (which is a sort of ballroom dancing talent contest I think, I've never seen it either!) And no, I didn't have posh builders, they conformed to the usual tea-drinking fag-smoking hairy arsed stereotype!

never take the trouble anymore to thrash your husband

What you and Chris get up to in your private time is up to you. He's not a Tory MP is he?

 

[Flyfisher]

And no, I didn't have posh builders, they conformed to the usual tea-drinking fag-smoking hairy arsed stereotype!

Are you quite sure about that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCaDbpeUb9k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqZJ9qd4b_g

 

[MattW]

If you are someone that has a wall of picture frames somewhere, you might want to adapt this idea:

This is a Sony Bravia LCD TV - it shows digital photos when not being used as a TV.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Don't do it. It will ruin your life. I got rid of my evil mind control device several years ago. I don't know what most politicians look like, but if their appearance is as revolting as their actions, I'm glad I don't :lol:.

I take your point JohnB, and for years I've felt the same, but don't you think it's a bit embarassing that I have no idea what the would-be Prime Minister looks like? That I'd vote for soemone I'd never seen an image of, or watched make a speech?

I'd fight tooth and nail before giving up Radio 4!

Me too!

never take the trouble anymore to thrash your husband

What you and Chris get up to in your private time is up to you. He's not a Tory MP is he?

:roll: :lol: No, and he's not here to be thrashed either, the bank have made him work until 9.30 tonight - meanies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCaDbpeUb9k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqZJ9qd4b_g

:lol: You see, that's the sort of fun I'm missing out on! If it wasn't for people sending me links comedy would completely pass me by.

 

[JoceAndChris]

If you are someone that has a wall of picture frames somewhere, you might want to adapt this idea:

This is a Sony Bravia LCD TV - it shows digital photos when not being used as a TV.

It's an amazing idea, but I don't think that kind of wall of photos works next to old fireplaces either, and every potential room has a fireplace here, and the other walls have other things like windows and sofas.

 

[wobs]

I don't know what most politicians look like, but if their appearance is as revolting as their actions, I'm glad I don't :lol:.

Well there was that tory chap who's name sounds like Portaloo, on telly tonight admiring Hull's and Bridlington's stations, and some rather nice period properties in Pontefract.

I used to jokingly muse that many period properties must have been built in the hope that the TV would one day be invented, as the gap in the corner fits a TV so well just next to the chimney breast. Of course with TVs getting bigger, the bay window is now an ideal location for many monster screens.

They really thought ahead those builders of old didn't they

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Oh Joce, I do sympathise, we've just had exactly the same problem! In our previous houses it was always possible to push the telly into an alcove behind a door, rather than by the fireplace. The smaller rooms in this house means that any technical equipment is horribly out of place where ever it's placed. Being a fan of period dramas, house programmes and Antiques Roadshow meant that I really really wanted a decent picture so we decided to treat ourselves to an HD set, which involves a Humax freesat vcr etc.-- 2 blooming boxes. I favoured a make that had a white screen surround, only to find that it is no longer available . There was no alternative in our price range so I have had to have a black surround. I've tucked it into the alcove beside the fireplace under a small modern window.Dressed the window with a draped voile and white blind behind. Placed a tall plant stand in front of the voile with an attractive lamp on top, so drawing the eye upwards towards the pretty lamp and away from the set. The dodgy plank which currently supports the set will soon be replaced by a perspex stand which will help to keep the trailing wires under control and still allows the feeling of space. Not ideal, but bearable, and I have to say that the picture is brilliant, so much detail!
We inherited a sky dish when we moved in, but we have found that freesat gives us plenty of flexibility so no extra expense.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I don't know what most politicians look like, but if their appearance is as revolting as their actions, I'm glad I don't :lol:.

Well there was that tory chap who's name sounds like Portaloo, on telly tonight admiring Hull's and Bridlington's stations,

Would that be the same Portaloo who
a: on Monday's programme couldn't tell the difference between the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board building and the Liver Building? and
b: was part of the government that sold the railways off and made them worse than they already were?

 

[Nigel Watts]

When I was growing up my parents refused to have a telly in the house until I was in my late teens (other than one my father had previously made himself from two surplus Lancaster bomber radar receivers, which no longer worked and long since been packed away into the attic). This is did not reduce my desire to watch TV, so I used to spend quite a bit of time at my friend's house down the street (they also had the Beano, while I was only allowed Look and Learn), but I did watch a great deal less than others as a consequence.

Children and teenagers today (boys at least) seem to have have surprisingly little interest in television. I was quite surprised, when being shown round one of the boarding houses at my son's school, that none of the boys was watching the telly in the common room, preferring to play on their PCs instead, and my boys (14 and 10) similarly watch little TV. Instead they play X-box and other games, watch DVDs and selective programmes on iPlayer or You-tube, and Tanuja and I also watch very little these days.

We have quite a large flat screen TV but it is in our spare bedroom, not our living room. This is now largely monopolised by our older boy who is working hard to raise his KDR on COD (Killeath Ratio on the X-box game Call of Duty Modern Warfare II). However on the relatively rare occasions we do watch something it can be done while reclining on the rather comfortable double bed.

 

[ilona73]

there is also a company called akura who to tvs which are mirrors or pictures.. done in any frame you care to mention... at the touch of a button the screen changes to a tv ....they are a bit pricey though ... there are also tvs that can be put inside a cabinet not too dissimilar to a Radiator cover and even a fireplace that are on a motor with a remote control and so only appear when you want them to...
another idea and one which i have implemented on a few assignments myself is to buy an ultra thin tv and have it wall mounted... it is then covered by a bouble thickness picture fame... and just remove the frame from the font when you ant to watch.. all other times its hidden... there are lots of ways to disguise a tv without going to the extremes of a large cabinet.
It all depends how much you want to spend.
good luck

 

[Flyfisher]

But I'm thinking that a TV is actually quite a relaxing thing to have, and to really make a confession here, I need a Playstation as my friend beat me on a singing game at Christmas and I can't deal with it.

Don't forget that it's possible to buy a flat screen with no TV receiver, so you could still use a Playstation but not be tempted to watch broadcast television (so no licence either). Just a thought.