Staying In = Staying In Touch?

I hereby declare the outside world largely irrelevant this half term holiday. I am totally enjoying my third consecutive day of watching movies, playing video games, occasional napping, song-writing and catching up on my favourite podcasts. I am currently listening to Richard Herring’s final episode of his first series of “As It Occurs To Me (AIOTM!)” and every spin of the roulette wheel is making me chuckle. This afternoon I’ll check in on a few episodes of “Answer Me This”.

As I alluded to in my last “blog”, I accept that different people like different things, but there are a few people in my life who make me feel like I am being judged (because I am) for enjoying the act of not going out. I am not depressed – I know this because my G.P. says I am not (ooh now there’s a future blog right there though!) and neither am I agoraphobic. In life, there are choices and often I choose to remain at home – because it is where my entertainment is! Plus – it is relaxing – and that is what I need to be doing a lot of (according to my G.P!). And...gasp...it’s cheaper!!!

On my occasional forays into London, I obviously see a lot of people on trains with iPods and I actually start wondering if I might actually prefer to have a long commute these days. I would use every feature my iPod could squeeze out. I don’t have an iPhone – mine is one of those that can play videos though, which is pretty awesome. With a huge commute I would be able to listen to some choice tracks to either suit or adjust my mood. I could watch critically acclaimed series I missed. I could keep up with all the comedy podcasts I wish I had time for. Apart from the back-pain I suffer from, I have even become calmer when sitting in traffic thanks to my iPod.

I am only sorry I can’t listen to a podcast and music at the same time.
But when I am at home, I can do things at the same time. I am catching up with Richard Herring’s podcast right now, as I said. When I’ve finished, I’ll probably have a quick blast on Xbox Live. This afternoon I have a film to finish and I’ll have a chat window open to my Australian chum too, I suspect. This week, I really am Hugh Grant’s character from About A Boy, with my time divided up into units of 30 minutes.

When I collect my wife from work, we will continue our battle to keep watching the television stuff we have chosen to record on our hard drive. We only watch stuff we like. The days of channel hopping to find the least bad viewing are over (I used to call it "channel hoping" - see what I did there?)...The only adverts I have to see are the little tiny bits they cleverly put in shows to catch you out when you’re winding forwards – but I like the competition I have every day with the advertisers...so even that passes for entertainment.

Now don’t get me wrong. I go out with friends most Thursday nights and I do go on holidays for some input. I have tickets for a few live bands coming up and I love going to see a bit of stand-up. I even go on occasional walks where I know things won’t cost me anything.

I suppose if there was a point to this blog up to this point, it might be that the likes of me have no right to be bored in this day and age. But now I’m going to unpick my rant somewhat...You know how listening to your iPod everywhere you go is just superb? Has your battery charge depleted recently when you’ve been out? Have you walked along your normal route listening to the noises of other people getting on with their lives? These are entertaining noises as well.

I have finished off this blog whilst sitting out in my garden, by the way...so have a look at the photograph...and the next time you catch me complaining how hard I have to work to afford what I have got, remind me please.