Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

donny-gal

Our secret is to let the son play and then show us how - I am sure DH will happily let you into the TW secrets. We have the fit too, and take it with us to Spain, very handy especially now we have no UK TV until the satellite situation is resolved, though we will take our caravan one with us next time and we could then get news off Astra 1.

droopsnout

I don't think I'd mind if I lost the satellite telly, but I would be lost without radio. I have Five Live on most of the day (and night). I could, of course, just use the laptop for this, but that's not always convenient. So I have an internet radio, and plug a mp3 transmitter into it. This then sends the programmes out on FM all round the house and garden, meaning that I can listen everywhere on a normal transistor radio (or hi-fi tuner).

Sometimes the broadcasts on the net are geo-locked - i.e., they are restricted to the UK, in which case there is just total silence. (This mainly concerns sports commentaries). When that happens, I use the satellite decoder, plugging the FM transmitter into that to send the signal around. But then, of course, it can't be used for watching TV.

By the way, I came across a great site the other day, stuffed full of vintage radio comedies. I'm a bit of a nut for "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue", and there are dozens and dozens of editions of the programme there. It's at www.archive.org. But be careful, or you'll never come out!!

Merrywidow

Wow Droopsnout - you really are a boffin. When my husband died I had to get stuck in and learn to change plugs, fuses etc. He once tried to show me how to change a wheel on the car but that was not for me. Got an AA card which I wave and that gets me out of all sorts of trouble.

Your Xmas dinner sounded sublime. Don't know that I could have managed half of it but I would have tried. Only had foie gras once, in New York at the Tribeca Grill in lower Manhatten. It was to die for and I have never forgotten it. Lucky you.

Donnygal - didn't mean to sound sad about my dinner. It was the first Xmas ever that I didn't buy a regular turkey. I love to make soup with the remains and freeze upteen meals out of the remains etc. But as I am busy packing for my trip to Holland on Monday, I decided to buy a stuffed Turkey thigh. I like the dark meat. I did all the right things but it was totally tastless and tough. I was glad of the Tesco Pork, Onion and Chestnut stuffing - it was totally scrummy with my home made cumberland sauce. Also cooked a lovely piece of ham so I didnt go hungry.

Would love a coffee visit at the end of January. Free B&B is also available - don't be shy!

droopsnout

No, I'm not a boffin, though it's true that these things interest me. Mind you, if changing a plug or fuse is a challenge, then I suppose what I described does seem complicated. But if you can do things with your computer, you can do internet radio. It's going to be the way we listen to radio in the future, whatever the BBC does to try to sell more DAB radios. Most folks don't get good reception of DAB broadcasts outside of built-up areas. And the quality is often not as good as "old-fashioned" FM.

Sorry - I'm being an anorak!!

donny-gal

Nay droopsnout not an anorak!

We all need our interests now we don't have work to distract us. Yours is obviously sport and the radio. I am also nerdish about pc's and what you can do with them. Trouble it they eat time, and I am still trying to balance time on the PC, digitising music, videos etc., x-stitch, knitting, other sewing, let alone the monotonous chores of preparing food, eating and housework, not that I don't share those with my DH.:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: . However did I have the time to go to work

M-W sounds like you will fit in with the OS daily thread here, where cooking from scratch, and other OS things are discussed between us all daily.

DG

Merrywidow

Thanks Donny-gal - I have always cooked everything from scratch, and I am also quite keen on old style too.

Merrywidow

Droopsnout - of course you are not an anorak. We all have our little obsessions and interests. Its just that hubby and I worked all our lives (no children) and he had his jobs and I had mine. I used to be a computer wizz when I worked for TIME magazine in Amsterdam and could transfer vital data each week to the States with no problems. I was a spread sheet wizz too. That was in the days when 4 Ram was the norm!!!%$£&. Until last year I had a Apple Mac with 4 ram and of course no internet. I used the email on Sky TV for a few years and that was great.

I was staggered when I got this new computer last April. It was like starting over again with the manuals propped up in front of me. Next year I hope to have a lot more time to study and master lots more stuff.

My other interests are candle making and running a Pet Cemetery for the last 15 years. Now THAT is a whole other story.

droopsnout

donny-gal wrote: »

Nay droopsnout not an anorak!

We all need our interests ...Yours is obviously sport and the radio.

Well, not so much sport, though it was good to see Rovers pasting Forest 2-4 today!

I dare say the sum total of our knowledge on here would see us through most situations.

Nice that we can share it.

Now would you believe that we have loads of snow here today. Earliest I can remember having snow here.

LesD

Merrywidow wrote: »

I would like to wish all my friends a wonderful Christmas and a healthy and wealthier 2009. I still owe you a run down on my holiday, but that will have to wait till after New Year. Off to Amsterdam to spend some quality time with my family and Friends over there. Once in a lifetime you all have to experience an Amsterdam New Year. Can you imagine a major city at midnight with fireworks going off in every square foot of it. That's Amsterdam. Geef mij maar Amsterdam. Je moet het proeven. Tot ziens.

Hi MW. We've got 5 hours in Schiphol on Monday en route to spend NY with son and DIL in Virginia - the Shenandoah valley!

What's there to do in the airport?

droopsnout wrote: »

Well, not so much sport, though it was good to see Rovers pasting Forest 2-4 today!

Which got Calderwood the boot there!!!

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Yes droopsnout - we need at least a 1.2m dish, probably 1.5m. The one we have is 80cm. Can't be a r$ ed, frankly - no money to spare for such fripperies!

At our place in Murcia, the standard supply is a 1.35m dish. But this loses some channels in early evening. We have a 1.45m dish which gets us through to midnight on most occasions. Obviously, atmospherics can play havoc when the signal is weak.

Merrywidow

Hi LesD - Bags to do in Schiphol - the departure area is ginormous with rows and rows of shops full of interesting stuff, loads of cafe's, bars, resturants. Schiphol is really a showcase. International trains stop underneath, trams run into town from above, buses start and stop from outside next to a large open air square. Pity you are locked in, there will be great stalls outside selling Dutch new year goodies. Sort of current donuts (olebollen) and apple turnovers (apple flappen) yummie. My brother in law will be picking me up and I will grab some yummies en route to his car - can't wait.

Your trip to Virginia sounds lovely. How come you are routed thru A'dam - are you on KLM - great airline. Have a good one. Happy New Year