Present of the decade methinks

[matgb]

OK, last year, my parents, being the nice people they are, gave my an expensive DAB car stereo with CD player. y'know, the car I spend about half an hour a day in. I love listening to the radio, but mostly I listen to Radio 4, which I can get anywhere in the country on the old analogue thing installed by the manufacturers.

This year, we agreed not much money on presents. My parents weren't going to get each other stuff (right, like anyone believed that), and everyone knows I'm a bit skint (the family don't know how badly, but still).

So, I open my parcel yesterday afternoon. Some shoe polish (yup, from my dad, and even I'll admit it's a good idea), a self inflating lightweight pillow (now in the boot with the sleeping bag and blanket, very useful I think), Louis de Bernieres Birds Without Wings (which I'd never buy for myself but I think I'll like, I think that's what you call a 'safe' book buy; it's good, but it's not what I buy myself, they know half my debt is caused by the bibliophilia). And then, well, a Phillips DA100 portable! It's a third the price of last years gift (not much money they said, right...) and it's GREAT.

Why? Well, BBC Radio 7 of course. It's like Radio 4, but without the dull bits. Last night, I plugged it into some spare PC speakers and listened to Ladies of Letters make mincemeat which was brilliant. Today? Well, it's been Narnia day. Prince Caspian is about to finish, and I slept through Magician's Nephew, and dosed off for Horse and his Boy. So, of the four they've broadcast, I missed the two crap ones. Here's hoping for a quick CD release, go listen again, it's great (oh, tLtW&tW is here).

Thanks M&D. Oh yeah, it's small enough to fit in a trouser or jacket pocket and is completely rechargeable but takes AAs as well. Happy happy joy joy.

Comments

[silentgreeneyes.livejournal.com]

This from Mr 'Bah Humbug'?

see you when I get back to Exeter if you can afford petrol by then :) otherwise come on msn again at some point.

[matgb]

m'yeah, one of the reasons I dislike it is the excessive "you must be happy" that's enforced from the middle of November onwards; Xmas is coming, cheer up! (and that helps, how, exactly?)

No real objection to spending time with the family Xmas day, nor of exchanging gifts and cards with the family. But just not with all and sundry with enforced 'good cheer'.

Besides, last years car stereo was such a strange gift; a lot of money spent on something I don't actually want, still don't, really, which is why it's not installed a year later. I'm avoiding MSN, it pissed me off too much.

[silentgreeneyes.livejournal.com]

Ah fair enough about msn :)

Yeah.. the enforced good cheer annoys me too. Thankfully my mother isn't an 'enforced good cheer' type, and allows me a 'quiet enjoyment of spending time with family' mood :)