Television!

I wanted to talk a bit about television today; I have just started to watch a new comedy series from the USA; 'Superstore.'  I think the show is based on the British version, 'Trollied' and is absolutely hilarious. To be honest it is unlike me to be watching any American television, but since moving to Spain, I have done a lot of things I have never done before. The truth is, I've had a lot of time on my hands and not a lot of money, having not been working in a year, so the cheapest option, is to stay in and watch the TV.

​As banal as it seems, one of the most important issues for me, while living in Spain, is having access to British TV, without it costing a fortune. In Britain we paid a lot for television, about 70€ a month; in Spain I pay nothing and have access to far more channels than I did in the UK. Obviously things are done a little different here; as well as standard satellite, there are also a number of cable companies servicing the local area, including Grannet, Telecable and Gran Alacant TV. The costs are very similar but the standards of service do vary considerably. I choose not to pay for television at all, preferring to pay 22€ a month for wifi, through Grannet and streaming television through an android box.

​I brought the box off a man in a pub about a year and a half ago, it cost me about 80€ and came preloaded with various applications to stream live TV from many different countries, including Australia, which is great for Darrell. Currently I use Mobdro and Kodi as well as Showbox to play all the latest movies and television shows from the US and UK; everything for free; costs me nothing. Watching TV via the internet does have its challenges, especially with the wifi as it is. We often lose signal, living at the edge of a ravine; speeds can be slow and buffering a problem. I am not sure if this is an issue across Gran Alacant and can only speak for myself and what I experience. There are difficulties with the television service I receive in  Spain, but how can I really complain, when it's free. It does feel like stepping back in time in a number of respects, technology being one, but it makes this place home. I actually quite like the faults and complications that are part of the course; GA has character!

So today I am sat in front of my TV watching all 24 episodes of 'Superstore,' which is certainly putting me in touch with my American side. If you ever get the chance, give it a try and watch it and any of the four programmes pictured below. In my sanctimonious Englishness, I always refused to watch anything imported from the US; I was missing out. There are clearly some great shows out there. Wherever you are watching the box, enjoy it, never say never; If you are watching it free and gratis, even better!

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