Tuesday 3 December 2019

December 3rd and The Robin

I now have a TV aerial affixed to the side of the house and a brand new up-to-date bigger TV wot-does-things! So far I know how to turn it on and off and change channels. I shall learn more I expect as time goes on.

Now here's a silly thing...........................Very nice bloke fixed aerial up, ran wires along etc and got the outside sorted. Then he came in and unpacked the TV and said " I don't believe it - this TV has Freesat built in as well as Freeview!" "WHAT" said I, "you mean to say I didn't need to have an aerial at all, it would have run off the existing dish?!" He said " I fitted a TV that was the same as this last week and it didn't have Freesat built in, they must have had this slightly different model into stock and no-one knows!"
After he'd sorted everything out and showed me how to work the TV and packed up and left. I rang the shop, explained about the inbuilt Freesat and why had they sold me an aerial I didn't need and there was a deathly silence.........long enough for me to say "are you there?". Yes, he was still there and was completely dumbfounded, he was looking up the specifications online, no mention of Freesat being on this TV. How odd.  He asked me if I wanted the aerial taken down and a refund as I'd been mis-sold.......I said I'd think about it, but it seems a bit pointless as the Satellite dish is quite old so could well disintegrate sometime and now I have a choice between two ways of picking up a signal, which might be useful...........
Although in a few years time we probably won't need aerial or dish as  we'll access new TV's through our broadband connection and search the WWW through the TV screen. That will be exciting??!! I wonder how much it will cost? and they'll have to be big improvement in internet connections for some parts of the UK............Oh I forgot............that's one of Boris' or that other blokes promises!(can't remember which as I've forsworn all election debates etc for the foreseeable future!)


 Anyway,  now to the Advent post .........................The Robin


This is another illustration from the library book by Catherine Hyde borrowed in October


The reason we have robins on so many things at Christmas is explained in one of my little books that I've had for years.




To Quote " Robins choose their mates as early as December so their plumage and song are at their best when other birds' are dull and mute..........................The Introduction of the penny post in 1840 also led to the robin being used as a symbol on Christmas cards and early postmen wore royal red uniforms and were sometimes called 'Robin Postman' "

                                                  There's a robin on my Christmas bell


I wonder how many Christmas cards will feature a robin this year?
  I'd love to have a friendly robin like the one that Joy found in Bury Abbey Gardens and one does visit the bird feeders but not friendly enough to pose for photos.

Back Tomorrow
Sue



34 comments:

  1. He was such a lovely little chap and I'd have taken him home, if I could. I suppose, in a way, I did - in the photos.
    I can see why robins are a favourite bird in this country. They are so bright and cheering and whenever I do a bit of gardening, one turns up to see what I've turned up!
    That's a lovely bell!
    xx

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  2. I have a robin that comes into the garden.
    I don't understand all the things about Freesat I only have the basic TV, I did have a new aerial when I move here and it's on the roof I have never had any trouble with it.
    Love your books and Bell.
    It's a lot warmer here today but yesterday was beautiful and so healthly.
    Hazel c uk

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    1. We changed from old TV aerial to a satellite dish a long time ago at the smallholding as the signal was so poor there, which is when we modernised ourselves and had to learn all the new jargon.
      Cold and frosty yesterday, not quite enough to ice the windscreen while I was at WI.

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  3. My last two lino cut cards were robins and I might even do another this year as they are so lovely to do. Glad you have the TV up and sorted - hope you find something to watch on it!!!

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  4. We already do that with our tv, we don't have an aerial (one of the rabbits chewed through the cable) so we just have Now TV and watch via broadband.

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    1. You are already ahead of the times.
      I could link to NOW TV on this New TV but I think you have to pay for what you watch

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    2. Yes, there are pay options, we have free access to the regular channels but they make their money from people buying passes for extra sport, entertainment, films or kids channels.

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  5. I slump a bit with all this talk of technology and not knowing what on earth you are talking about and what the future holds. Then I brighten up when I realise there isn't very much I watch on television anyway these days, not that there's a great choice. I'll stick to my knitting and books.

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    1. I dither between not wanting to know and wishing I was more up to date!

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  6. Do you remember the robin on farthings?

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    1. I'm not THAT old!
      (actually I was 5 when they ceased to be legal tender and I do have a couple around in my little box of odd coins)

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    2. Oh yes so it was! You're more on the ball than I am today.

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    3. We had a couple in a little drawer by the telephone with things like bicycle clips and marbles and I used to look at them. I loved the wren. I don't know what happened to them. See you tomorrow.

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  7. I think our new tv does everything but the housework and cooking and it wasn't even an expensive one. I can switch it on and off and change the channels but I struggle to change it over to watch dvd's. Can't say I'm over fond of it really.

    Andy insists on Robins on the Christmas tree and dotted about the house. There is also one visiting the garden at the moment. Beautiful little thing.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. I'm waiting for my new Blueray DVD thing to arrive as they had sold out - then a man will show me how to switch from DVD to TV and I think I'd better write it down!!

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    2. Yes make sure you do write it down … I have to show my mum on a monthly basis how to switch from tv to dvd playing ;-)

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  8. I dread getting a new telly. It's the same with everything now that you have to take all the bells and whistles. No one does basic stuff any longer. Anyhow, enjoy it, and I hope you figure it all out soonest.

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    1. I've been putting it off for months, but the picture is so much better

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  9. You should have a really good selection of free to watch programmes with Freeview and Freesat. The aerial will be a good back up, it's a wise decision to keep it.

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    1. I can't remember what he said about switching from one to the other!

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  10. A surprise.

    Ahhhh yes, how to _use_ all the "bells and whistles"?????

    No more techy stuff. I can't keep up, with what's here already. But! It keeps coming! lol

    Love backgrounds of things, like the Robin and Christmas. Delightful.
    Thank you.


    ⛄🎄⛄

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    1. It will take me a while to get used to it -I think

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  11. I had just been thinking that your header just needed a robin and a bit of snow to look very Christmassy!

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    1. Wonder what the chances would be of getting that photo - one in a million I reckon

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  12. Thankyou for the explanation of why robins figure so prominently in British Christmas things. I had always wondered. Here in Canada, our robins are bigger and leaner, but I think yours are so cute! Of course, I never mind see our own, because it means spring is on the way!

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    1. I'm now off to search t'internet for a Canadian robin........

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  13. I think we all love robins don't we, even though they are actually quite agressive little birds.

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  14. Robins fly away here for the winter and come back in the spring. I always look for them as they are really the first sign that spring has arrived.

    God bless.

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  15. Hello, Sue! And before I forget, thanks for stopping by The Marmelade Gypsy -- it's so nice to meet you! I've heard wonderful things about Suffolk from a friend of mine who lives in England and I'm looking forward to digging deeper into your blog so I'm not following!

    Our robins here look similar but a little different and we rarely, if ever, see them in the winter. I really love how they are part of the English holiday tradition. The images you shared are beautiful. Oh, and your antenna dilemma -- truly, I get it. The technology seems to change so fast, even the sales staff can't keep up. Wishing you lovely holidays!

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  16. HIS NAME IS Jeremy Corbyn AND HE WILL BE THE NEXT PM OF THE UK ON THE 12 of DECEMBER 2019.

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