WHEN you have planned a relaxing evening in, and you find that most of the TV programmes are repeats, how do you react? Disappointment, maybe irritation or do you just shrug your shoulders and play some music, or read a book instead?
I used to think we were short-changed by so many repeats, but now Mr F and I view them differently. In fact, we positively welcome a second chance to see certain programmes, particularly many on BBC Four, such as Transatlantic Sessions.
On Catch Up TV, programmes are stored for a whole week, and we love the BBCs iPlayer (just press the red button) which divides missed programmes into categories such as factual, drama, comedy and music.
There are also options on channels like ITV1+1 where items are repeated an hour later. This is great if programmes on different channels clash and you want to see them both.
Last week, we called up repeats of the amazing two-part documentary 56-Up which has followed the lives of 14 children from the age of seven.
They are now (obviously) 56 and, although there is a seven-year gap between programmes, Ive seen most of them and feel Ive shared their highs and lows, from mental health problems and homelessness to successes in the music industry and the academic world.
Of course, with repeats, theres always the nostalgia factor.
Isnt it great to snuggle down with Top of the Pops 1976 on BBC Four and remember what you were doing the first time around?
Mr F and I recently watched Stones in the Park in 1969 we were at that free rock concert in Hyde Park, but we didnt spot our young, daft, long-haired selves.
A group of Hayes residents were victims of my repeats too last week when I regaled them with stories from 20 years as a reporter and my more recent Bm@il column, which is four years old this month.
I was asked to Charville Library to fill their Interesting Hour slot.
Well, no one fell asleep, but my anecdotes were definitely overshadowed by a couple of visual aids two old black and white broadsheet Gazettes from the 1950s and 1980s.
