After our youngest son moved out at the end of January, my husband and I decided to get rid of our bundled cable, phone, and internet package. The house phone, which rarely rang anymore with the exception of robo-calls and solicitations, was hardly used. The cable T.V. was not used well enough to justify the cost. We watch network television and a few things on the Food Network. So, we decided to discontinue the package with the exception of the internet.
We’ve gone with Roku, a WiFi based streaming television platform. We also signed up for CBS All Access and got PBS Passport. Let’s just say that even with the cost of the Roku box that attaches to the T.V., the monthly fee for CBS all access, and the cost of a PBS membership that qualifies us to use their passport streaming service, we are saving a lot of money a month! Of course, our internet bill went up because we were no longer bundled but we need access to reliable high speed internet, but it’s not as high as we were paying with the bundle service – not even close! So, we still considered it a good decision. We also have Amazon Prime which allows you to stream as well. The prime pays for itself during the course of the year with free deliveries.
Before we made the change, we self-analyzed what programs we were watching and where they came from. This is how we decided what we wanted to pay for as far as streaming services. The Roku system has been easy to get used to, and I can honestly say, I haven’t missed having cable.
One of the shows we’ve been streaming has been the BBC’s Great British Baking Show. We started on season five, finished season four, and are in the middle of season three, working backwards. It’s entertaining and inspiring us to improve our baking skills. Last week, my husband proposed a cookie challenge. I jumped in and made a batch of keto thumbprint cookies….and waited for my husband to produce his batch. They never came! In all honesty, he did have a busy week with his other projects.
But, today we ran a few errands that included collecting the necessary parts for him to make Mary Berry’s Victoria Sandwich Cake from the fourth season of The Great British Baking Show. We even needed the cake pans, as we are normally a “pie” family with all of our fruit trees in our home orchard. And, then the hunt was on for super fine sugar – which, unbelievably was right at our “regular” grocery store! The cake is on tomorrow’s agenda.
I, for one, am glad cutting the cable cord has led to the baking of the cake! If you’re going to both to watch something, it might as well be deliciously inspiring! Right?
Bring on the cake!
Today is day 4 of the Slice of Live Story Challenge. Thank you to TwoWritingTeachers.org for developing this extraordinary community for writers.
The Apples in My Orchard 
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