Hell will consist of back to back Antiques Road Trip

[StiffyByngsDogBartholomew]

And news, news, news, news

honestly ART, what an utterly drivel filled programme it is, people buying crap with the unfunniest narrator. My dad loves it. I dread being at their house at the appropriate time, as I am today.

it's even worse than Bargain Hunt and I can't stick that either.

either antiques or Doom Laden News from the Middle East

Your dad is probably right in some ways!

Ok my FIL is much cheerier than this- he does like a good 'scam' show but also loves programnes where people buy places abroad or escape to the country etc -

He likes real life medical ones showing operations etc too

Sadly I can tell when he has been watching GB News as he comes out with a load of completely untrue bullshit - and we just say 'you've been watching bloody GB news again ' - there's no wonder so many older people ( and in 62) have such black and white and illiberal views of life as some of the stuff he comes out with are complete untruths and are actual 'opinions' rather than pure fact but
clearly they are getting away with it.

People are right about 'loud' too- we lived opposite an elderly lady once and could actually hear her programmes through double glazing and across the road. !!

My dad likes to watch programmes like this. If one of us comes in and sits with him he will say something like, 'honestly...who watches this crap?' And I always think (but never say) 'you do, dad. You watch this crap. Here we are, watching it together. The two of us. Watching this crap.'

It's sort of grown on me to be honest. I associate it with low-demand time with my parents where nothing bad is happening and nobody needs anything 😁

Oh. God. This.
I get repeated conversations of what I've already been told (more than once), a plant by plant account of what she's planted/pruned/what's doing well in the garden (max keen gardener), every conversation she's had with a neighbour, the optician, the dentist or her Dr, a repeat of what every family member has said to her that week or the week before, or the last time she saw them, how her best friend is 'wonderful' because she rings her every day, and whatever is frustrating her in that current moment. Her memory for things she's knitted, presents she's bought, things she's bestowed (unwanted) upon us, however is pristine, and she has always, always. managed to make me feel guilty by mentioning aforementioned things, and 'how she hasn't seen you wearing it very much because it makes me look fat and wasn't really what I asked for her need for positive affirmation is never ending. One negative, say, (after being force fed a scone-whole recipe dictated), and your opinion asked for, seemingly devastates her. Takes everything personally. Can't take the mickey, can't give a little jibe, so unlike life was with my dad. He was fun. Not allowed to give the honest opinion of what she's just asked, so we now lie. It helps. And agree. Agree with everything.
This is life with a mid 80yr old mother. No dementia. She does manage very well with lots of things, but my fear is at her age, I'LL BE EXACTLY SAME, or WORSE. We've always had a 'scratchy' relationship and I was more a daddy's girl. Sadly he's gone now. My kids have been warned ... 🤣

there's no wonder so many older people ( and in 62) have such black and white and illiberal views of life I don’t think that's a specifically elderly characteristic. The younger people on our community facebook page are far more black and white/illiberal than the older people I know in real life

Those ads with the walk in baths always fascinate me. Having to sit there getting chilly as the water drains away before you can open the door 🫤🥶

But then those ones where they have the lady in her unlikely demure black swimsuit being lowered on that cross bath strap thing.

Both these things seem fraught with danger. 😱

Can't believe I'm reading posts from people moaning about what their elderly parents choose to watch on TV.

Following/ watching some things takes more mental energy than some people have got. So something formulaic and comfortable is like sitting with an old friend- it wards off loneliness.

Try, at least, not to eye roll at your poor parent/s as you judge their life choices. Please.

I don’t think it’s judging their choices so much as sharing the pain of having to watch the same thing. We could have an equivalent thread entitled “Hell will consist of back-to-back Peppa Pig”

I agree, and my post wasn't meant to be a judgement.

There's little else my mother can do these days. She lives on her own and is not very mobile due to COPD and osteoporosis/arthritis. She has very poor vision now due to macular degeneration.

Due to all of this she can no longer drive or read her books (she used to be a really avid reader too). So she now puts the TV on or listens to the radio or audio book because they are companionable really, and why not? I've just got back from spending a long weekend with her and actually we enjoyed watching some of these programmes together. She won't be around forever and I know I'll miss it all one day.