The other week when I was doing my Volunteer Visiting at the Hospital, a very cheerful patient asked if I could help her. She had a small tablet on her bed-table, and was trying to listen to the radio through earphones. But the cable had got horribly tangled. It wasn't too difficult to get everything straight again, and we had a brief chat, then when I left she plugged in again to listen to her programme.
Don't you worry about confusing left and right? she asked. I said that they were marked, with tiny letters, but I had put a sticker in the right earbud, to make it easier. And most of the time it doesn't really matter.
These past couple of weeks they have been put to a lot of use. If Bob is using power tools, I can still hear my programmes, and when I am at the sewing machine, I can still hear quite clearly.
For years I have listened to fiction and drama on Radio 4 Extra, but just recently I have got into the Limelight podcasts from Radio 4.
Also The Specialist by thriller writer Matthew Broughton [whose 'Tracks' I listened to last year on 4Extra]
I am currently working through the slightly bizarre Aldrich Kemp series. with great actors Tim McInnerny and Nicola Walker.
Most of these are serials with half a dozen 45-60 minute episodes. Whjilst listening to The Specialist, I built SIX kitchen cabinets on Tuesday!
I am not sure why people make such a fuss about IKEA flatpacks. The instruction booklets are like Delia Smith recipes. Begin by reading through, and checking you have all the right ingredients [components] and bakeware [equipment] Then follow the instructions in the set order, doing exactly what they say. And you will end up with a lovely cake or cabinet.
Cupboard one took me 45 minutes, but after that, I was assembling them in 20-25 minutes. And all the while enjoying a radio drama!
Have you listened to Limelight? and if so, what would you recommend?
Our daughter has built all their furniture-she lays it all out on the floor and puts labels on each piece. Can you tell she’s a teacher? Catriona
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!! I have a tick list too.
DeleteLove the flat pack Easter eggs!
ReplyDelete🍫❤️🍫😊🍫👍
DeleteI love those too, shows they have a sense of humor! JanF
DeleteWow you are now a master cabinet maker! Loved the comparison to Delia recipes. It sounds like you are on the home run with your kitchen. Won't it be stupendous when finished and you can cook your first meal? Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteThe finishing line is way in the distance. This is a marathon and not a sprint!! Cabinets relatively simple. "Trim and cover panels" at the ends, in the corners and round piping are proving more of a challenge. Currently "first meal" maybe Xmas dinner!!!!
DeleteMy daughter is able to decipher Ikea assembly instructions which are mostly line drawings over here; I am not! I need written instructions, not line drawings. She has assembled all the furniture in her room and half the furniture in the family room, including the sofas.
ReplyDeleteI guess IKEA would say illustrations work in any language - the cost of translation would be high.
DeleteI've never tried building anything from IKEA so don't really have an opinion on it. However, my son who is on the spectrum does great at putting things together so I probably would just hand it to him. lol
ReplyDeleteWe could have done with his help this week!!
DeleteI've used both IKEA and Argos flat pack, for both, like you say, read first and follow exactly. In my experience IKEA is usually better quality goods than Argos.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever had any flatpack from Argos. In fact the only time I go in Argos these days is to get a new cylinder for my SodaStream!
DeleteWe, too, have never had a problem with IKEA furniture. Sometimes we have to confer over a drawing to confirm just which hole the screw goes in as the angle on the diagram can be confusing but otherwise no problems. We’ve never had any missing pieces either. So many people we know have a terrible time putting IKEA stuff together and complain of missing pieces that we can only assume that they can’t (or don’t) follow pictorial instructions.
ReplyDeleteI suspect you are right.
DeleteEarbuds and headphones are amazing. DH, bear and I will be sitting in the same room, all watching different films, listening to different music or playing different games with sound effects, all with our headphones and earbuds. We get company and we get to enjoy our preferences at the same time. Besides, in winter it means that there's only one room to heat.
ReplyDeleteThat's much better than being in 3 separate rooms. I often sit in the lounge listening to the radio whilst Bob watches Formula One.
DeleteI do like Ikea furniture and we have all become experienced in flat pack construction in this house. You seem to have got it down to a fine art too.
ReplyDeleteOur daughter has Samsung wireless earbuds and loves them. I don't use ear phones often but she is trying to convince me.
My daughters used them for ages before I did
DeleteListening to a talk or drama certainly helps, when doing chores. You have done well becoming a master (mistress?) cabinet assembler!
ReplyDeletePractice makes perfect
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