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What to do while watching TV

(76 Posts)
KirbyGirl Wed 15-Nov-17 11:50:14

Two weeks into the darker evenings and I'm watching too much television (and yes, I do read a lot, go out , listen to music etc) and would love to know what other gransnetters do, especially during adverts. I cook a meal in the evening and wash up to get myself moving but the darkness from 5 onwards still makes a long evening. Most TV doesn't seem to need one's whole attention and I do sudoku etc. Would love to do something else. Suggestions please, though knitting not easy as arthritis in wrists at the moment from using crutches for a long time.

BBbevan Thu 16-Nov-17 09:35:36

My DH often says " What shall we watch while we are asleep? ". Sleep in the day ? Me, never

suelowe Thu 16-Nov-17 10:06:18

Jigsaws ? Are they a thing of the past ? I find great ones for a pound or two in the many Huddersfield charity shops !

Willow500 Thu 16-Nov-17 10:25:17

If I'm sitting in the living room watching tv I'm usually playing solitaire on my iPad (as is himself) - I can rarely sit and do nothing at all. If I'm in my office/craft/dumping ground for rubbish room I have it on but I'm either on here or doing my nails or keeping on top of finances. I used to make cards and have so much stuff in there as well as packed in the garage I could set up a shop but I've lost the will to do that these days.

Lindylo Thu 16-Nov-17 10:27:05

A bit of knitting or sewing and if the programme is boring I sit and read

gillybob Thu 16-Nov-17 10:37:43

I know its not exactly what the OP KirbyGirl asked but I try to find things to do to avoid watching the TV.

In other words, I think its too easy to come in from work, prepare dinner, eat, wash up and then slump in front of the TV watching crap. So I try to find other things to do instead. Last night I cleared out my walk in larder/pantry and filled 4 black sacks full of "stuff" . Some for the bin, some for the charity shop and some for the foodbank. I felt really happy afterwards and so glad that I did something constructive.

Another night I might get wrapped up and go for a walk along the sea front and buy a bag of chips to eat on the way home. I also do a bit of sewing, scrapbooking etc. while listening to music, in other words anything to avoid the bloomin' gogglebox.

Jalima1108 Thu 16-Nov-17 19:48:50

gillybob !

I admire your energy (after a day's work too!)
Off to stand on one leg, watch tv and do some knitting.
Multi-tasking wink

NanKate Thu 16-Nov-17 21:05:17

I like your style Gillybob 'a walk along the sea front and a bag of chips'. Fab ?

At this moment I am watching the tennis from the O2 as well as:-

Doing the quick crossword
Cleaning off my nail varnish and applying base coat
Writing on GN
Removing my make up
Eating a satsuma

What are these words games that some of you do please?
I play Sudoku, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire, but would like a few word games.

Imperfect27 Fri 17-Nov-17 05:49:55

I don't watch very much TV so when I do stop to see something it tends to get my full attention ... apart from dabbling with GN when the news / current affairs programmes are on! smile

travelsafar Fri 17-Nov-17 06:18:07

I tend to complete crossword, read paper, knit or crochet whilst watching tv.

Also on and off the internet, facebook and gransnet.

I do tend to nod off because as soon as i sit down and relax my eyelids do as well!!!!

maryhoffman37 Fri 17-Nov-17 09:52:31

I crochet while I watch. Currently using up wool to make blankets for refugees.

gillybob Fri 17-Nov-17 09:54:07

I enjoy Word Soup Word game NanKate there's a free version ( if you can put up with the constant adverts popping up) or there's a reasonably cheap paid for version without ads.

I am anything but energetic Jalima but find if I don't "do" something I would just slump in front of the telly box . There's nothing like a walk on the beach in the winter to clear the cobwebs.

Twopence Fri 17-Nov-17 10:00:37

Have you tried colouring for grownups. Relaxing and quite addictive. There are many different books available now. Idea for a Christmas present?

acanthus Fri 17-Nov-17 10:00:45

I would have said 'knitting' but I see you have wrist problems. Having said that, last night I ended up unpicking a couple of inches of a child's cardigan as I was so engrossed in an old 'Taggart' that I went completely off-pattern.

Another thing I do is de-cluttering of drawers which can be plonked on a small table and gone through whilst watching. Sometimes it's quite protracted though!

The only time I watch TV and do nowt is when I'm watching a Scandi-Noir - have to follow the subtitles. grin

muswellblue Fri 17-Nov-17 10:01:18

I play Words With Friends (online scrabble) on the iPad. Have about six games on the go at once with different people. Find I can concentrate on both. It is a bit addictive though.

Lindylou57 Fri 17-Nov-17 10:12:11

Jigsaw puzzles.Always have one on the go.

Cambia Fri 17-Nov-17 10:14:07

Jigsaws! You can get large piece ones if necessary. I love to sit and do them whilst listening to the radio, which usually beats tv hands down. Hours fly past!

blueberry1 Fri 17-Nov-17 10:17:02

I read during the ads or do puzzles from a puzzle selection book.Sometimes crochet or embroidery but if your arthritis prevents this why not try sorting old photos or writing down your memories for family prosperity.I meet so many interesting older people and love listening to their stories-I think it's so sad that when they are gone,their memories will be too.

Jaycee5 Fri 17-Nov-17 10:17:54

I either do online competitions (and I do win a lot of nice things) or crochet for a charity called Knit a Square. In the adverts I do housework. I usually record or then watch programmes because I often find that I have lost my place with programmes.

Coconut Fri 17-Nov-17 10:18:54

I have a very busy mind and cannot just sit and watch tv. So as well as watching, I will either sew patchwork quilts, play scrabble on my iPad or do crosswords !

nanaloca Fri 17-Nov-17 10:26:35

When I was younger I would watch television and give it my complete attention, but now the programme have to be really interesting, ie Blue Planet or history programmes, so if just superficially watching I play Word Chums or surf the net. I often do my online shopping so feel that I have done something useful instead of vegging out.

dragonfly46 Fri 17-Nov-17 10:30:06

I used to knit while watching tv and it wasn't until I got arthritis in my hands and couldn't knit anymore that my DH told he the clicking of the needles used to drive him mad. I now sit with my ipad on my lap and play games.

sandelf Fri 17-Nov-17 10:31:32

Ooh wow what a lot of ideas! I sometime play Tetris, sudoku, - have a resistance band to hand and do some arm and leg exercises (never occurred to me to think I must look pretty weird) - started after I had sprained ankles and weak legs - just become a habit.

Grandma70s Fri 17-Nov-17 10:32:51

I sometimes look at Twitter to see what people are saying about the programme I’m watching. I use the hashtag or search for the programme.

jenwren Fri 17-Nov-17 10:41:49

Play Bridge online.

W11girl Fri 17-Nov-17 10:51:14

I read all those books that I haven't the will to read cover to cover in one go...usually a reference/educational type, so a page at a time during the ads does it for me. I also keep up with a history group forum on the internet,of the local area where I grew up and we talk about all our memories, in one liners. Best of both worlds as its the perfect time to carry out both of these activities without sacrificing something else that needs doing.