Bestest ever

I really couldn't be without my washing machine! But more than that, my life would be over without my mobile phone which is a priceless link to all my family - messages, face times, photos and videos Even phone calls! The most wonderful invention since time began

My favourite thing in my home is my Roberts DAB radio. It provides the background to my days at home and I love listening to the World Service during the night. It is a CD player too. I bought it for myself when my OH was working away from home and it is one of the few things I would be very reluctant to part with.
On a practical level I appreciate my washing machine and would not want to go back to washing sheets in the bath.

Any appliance that saves me time!

Dishwasher here as well. Our first about 48 years ago the crockery was on a circular rack which rotated, where modern ones it's the water that rotates

Macadia I think it’s possible to feel lonely however many gadgets you have. But though I take my iPad just about everywhere I would manage just like before it was invented.
I’ve never sat at home quietly - there is always something on, either a vacuum, washer, oven, boiler, Tv set or radio on. But I love the mute button on my remote controls and employ it whenever I have a visitor or a phone call.
Something several of the older members of the family never learned to do sadly and they then wondered why no one visited or called them?

I wrote about my musical instruments earlier. For me, my new viola has been life-changing. Violas are bigger than violins and come in a range of lengths. My viola was as small a full size viola as it is possible to get, but l have small hands and fingers and it was increasingly becoming too big and heavy for me. I was developing arthritis and it was too uncomfortable to play my viola for any length of time. I then had a brainwave. Violas are now made in smaller sizes for children to learn on rather than being converted violins. I bought the best quality small viola from a well-known (to string players) business. It is the same size as a full-size violin - l call it my ¾-size viola - and it has a beautiful tone. It means that I am able to carry on playing the viola and I am working towards taking a diploma on it.

*never buy

Automatic washing machine, without doubt. I can remember using my MIL's donated single tub (with mangle) washer. Nightmare trying to get sheets and DH's thick cotton rugby shirts through the mangle. I only used it for a few months and persuaded DH, that though we'd said we would never by anything on hire purchase (just married and couldn't afford to buy outright) we desperately needed a new washer. Best decision we ever made!
Also think life wouldn't be half as easy without the internet (phones, Ipads, computers, TV etc). We rely on it for so many aspects of life today.

Coffee machine. Whoever invented the pod machine filled a gap in the market. Also my egg boiler....another very useful gadget for someone on their own.

Washing machine. Because I didn’t have one when my children were little, I remember what it was like without.
Like Saxifrage, I’d hate to be without my iPhone.
During last night’s power cut, no iphone, because our mast was in the cut off area and I didn’t like to put a pan of water on the stove for a cuppa when we only had candles. Luckily it didn’t last long.

Saxifrage

My iPad. It goes with me wherever I am and in whatever room. I use it for many hours a day for seeing what is going on everywhere, communicating, with the family, checking the weather, remembering words I have forgotten, keeping a diary, amusing myself with games, buying a ridiculous range of things on line (eye drops to silver ankle boot),, I have even just read an amusing note from a friend who lives on the other side of the world!

I wonder what it would be like if we had no iPads, computers, or cell phones. Just silence? Would we be terribly lonely just sitting in our quiet homes for weeks waiting for a visitor? Or would we just talk to the birds and our lettuce?

mokryna

Didn’t have any electrical devices when I got married in the late 60s. not even a fridge, even five years later and a new baby, nothing. H left. I then bought a washing machine, bliss, followed by a vacuum cleaner and fridge.

A fridge is nice to have. I used to buy ice every day to put the milk in for my young children. A broom can replace a vaccum cleaner and a sink can wash clothes but I really like the fridge. Mokryna, I am glad that you are so strong and lived through those difficult times. I hope you have blessings now (or notice your blessings now). ♥️

My iPad. It goes with me wherever I am and in whatever room. I use it for many hours a day for seeing what is going on everywhere, communicating, with the family, checking the weather, remembering words I have forgotten, keeping a diary, amusing myself with games, buying a ridiculous range of things on line (eye drops to silver ankle boot),, I have even just read an amusing note from a friend who lives on the other side of the world!

Hot water is a blessing. When I was younger, I used to wake up early, chop wood outside, pump the well in the shed to get water and then light a fire so I could put a baby bath nearby to bathe my newborn daughter when it was frozen outside. Washing machine? I used to wash our clothes in the bath tub and hang them to dry. Dishes? All hand washed. Bed? I slept on the floor. Now, that I am fortunately wealthy, the only thing that is the most important to me is my phone so that I can keep in contact with my grown children. Without my phone to hear their voices and be a part of their faraway lives, I would feel distraught and so alone.

The kettle

Didn’t have any electrical devices when I got married in the late 60s. not even a fridge, even five years later and a new baby, nothing. H left. I then bought a washing machine, bliss, followed by a vacuum cleaner and fridge.

My two pianos, my violin and my viola. I cannot imagine my life without music.

Fridge is pretty high up,remember going to the shops every day,I love the lot

The more items people are listing, the more I realise that giving any of them up would be difficult.

I try not to use my oven now there are just two of us. I still cook a lot from scratch, but where possible I use the air fryer and the microwave instead of heating up a large oven. Five years ago the oven would have been at the top of my 'to keep' list.

The vacuum cleaner (light and cordless) is useful, but again, less so than in the past, as most of downstairs has hard flooring now, and I could manage with a corded one left upstairs if I had to.

Times change, don't they?

Not an appliance, but every time I put away a stack of dishes in the cupboard I marvel in gratitude about the strong screws that hold the cupboard to the wall. So many dishes, bowls, cups in the cupboard (heavy!) and it holds them all safely, year in-year out!

My vote is for the washing machine too, as I clearly remember the twin tubs and the outdoor wringer, and damp washing all week in the kitchen from November to May in the west of Scotland.

The runner up is my vacuum cleaner.

My tumble dryer, especially in winter as it’s to damp to hang the washing out and can’t have damp clothing hanging on airers as it causes problems with my breathing. Had a dishwasher for years when kids were small, but now it’s just the two of us got rid of it.

My sewing machine. It's my friend. I can turn to it anytime I'm bored or feeling lonely. It keeps my mind busy and the great sense of achievement I feel when something turns out perfectly is wonderful. There is always a project on the go and I learn so much from it.

Washing machine number one and most probably my shark vacuum cleaner and my bed lol

I'd hate to be without the washing machine but probably value the tumble dryer more. I could with difficulty wash things by hand but having wt clothes hanging around everywhere would drive me mad. I'd also hate to be without the TV as it's company on an evening even if I'm not particularly watching it.