Entertainment in a prolonged bug-in

[Frnc]

I forgot. I do have my emergency radio. Might still be able to get music on that. I have some on my phone, but not much of a solar setup, so would probably need to save it for more essential stuff.

[grenfell]

and I recently rescued an old guitar that had been dumped so I am trying to learn to play that (very badly).

Good idea and it puts me in mind of a post apocalyptic tv programme called Revolution , in which there were a number of songs played purely acoustically ( plot was that there was no electricity due to nano robots , started well but went to pot) , for example Tom Sawyer by Rush.

[PPrep]

I have some paper novels. Learning to tie knots, as suggested above, is a good idea. A range of activities needs to be considered, perhaps.

I backed up my entire CD collection as MP3's and put them on a couple of cheap MP3 players. These are far more economical on power than using a phone or tablet to play MP3's. I also have guided meditations and other stuff.

For videos, I have many of these, but lo-res 360p to 720p to conserve storage. Again some can go on a tablet. Android games can be sideloaded onto tablets from sources such as APKPure. These can include board games such as Snakes and Ladders, chess, draughts and various arcade games. Useful for those who live alone; one can play against the "computer". My tablets have been rooted and the spyware Google services removed.

I have four decent sized power banks and a simple 12 volt solar setup. Mind you, the physical board games don't use any power.

Depending on circumstances, moving any distance from home (even a couple of miles on foot) may be risky if there are human predators around. There may even be a risk from pet dogs gone feral.

[PPrep]

Hopefully this is not too random a post, or superfluous.

I've given more thought to bug - in entertainment regarding primarily solo games that need no power, and that may be taken to hospital. Here compact games without lots of easy - to - lose pieces are needed. Learning to play patience (solitaire) card games such as the common "Klondike" version, and other popular versions such as "Aces Up" and "The Bogey" is worthwhile. Instructions can be copy/pasted, or downloaded. "Snakes and Ladders" can be played solo; I've bought a magnetic version.

PDF tutorials for various card games can be searched for and downloaded.

I've found it difficult to get a proper peg solitaire game for a decent price. These days, they almost all use marbles which sit in indentations. Very attractive to look at, but fiddly and very easy to knock and lose all the marbles. No good on a hospital bed. I may make my own (peg solitaire, not hospital bed).

If partners are available, the sky is the limit.

Colouring books are also an option. There are a wide variety of these from mandala patterns to animals. Good quality new books can be bought quite cheaply from ebay or Amazon. There are special pens for use with these, but can be expensive for a full set. Decent quality crayons are less vivid, but are far cheaper.

[Frnc]

Hopefully this is not too random a post, or superfluous.

I've given more thought to bug - in entertainment regarding primarily solo games that need no power, and that may be taken to hospital. Here compact games without lots of easy - to - lose pieces are needed. Learning to play patience (solitaire) card games such as the common "Klondike" version, and other popular versions such as "Aces Up" and "The Bogey" is worthwhile. Instructions can be copy/pasted, or downloaded. "Snakes and Ladders" can be played solo; I've bought a magnetic version.

I've found it difficult to get a proper peg solitaire game for a decent price. These days, they almost all use marbles which sit in indentations. Very attractive to look at, but fiddly and very easy to knock and lose all the marbles. No good on a hospital bed. I may make my own (peg solitaire, not hospital bed).

If partners are available, the sky is the limit.

Colouring books are also an option. There are a wide variety of these from mandala patterns to animals. Good quality new books can be bought quite cheaply from ebay or Amazon. There are special pens for use with these, but can be expensive for a full set. Decent quality crayons are less vivid, but are far cheaper.

My travel chess is magnetic. Pieces are hard to pick up, but you can slide them.

Prepping for hospital stays is a good idea. Last time I was in one overnight, you could watch films on a little tv or computer they provided. I think you paid for the wifi by the hour. At my mum's, I watch Netflix etc on my phone. I also have Li Chess on my phone. It's free. I play real humans now. Also on the way there, it's a 9 hour trip by public transport. I have music, chess, X, Facebook (I don't use that much).

[grenfell]

Colouring books are also an option. There are a wide variety of these from mandala patterns to animals. Good quality new books can be bought quite cheaply from ebay or Amazon.

Not really helpful but a little story. One of my customers is a designer and has produced a number of adult colouring books. I told my daughter who was around 10 at the time and she said "oh yes I've seen them" , I was aghast as I had a mental image of line drawings of at best something akin to sci-fy book covers of scantily clad people or even full on porn...
Bit embarrassed when my daughter led me to the books in woolworths...

[GillyBee]

I think I have enough activities here to last a lifetime. Treadle sewing machine, embroidery and naalbinding projects, musical instruments board games and books.
But we learned many years ago when camping that a small compendium covering cards, chess, draughts, backgammon and cribbage would keep us occupied indefinitely. Meanwhile it is not advisable to take funny books to hospital. They make you laugh, which hurts post surgery. An adult colouring book might be a better bet - or a Kindle, well stocked with light reading.

[Snowhunter]

I'm the same, enough projects, things to make or fix, to fill several lifetimes! Even in winter by candlelight, if it came to it, there is no end of stuff that always needs doing let alone things I want to do. Loads of books around the place which I may or may not ever get round to reading.

Never had a tv or done the internet film/streaming thingy, don't need background radio or music,the thought of having to find entertainment is alien. Things would be very different if I had a young family, but I don't for now so it keeps things simple. Roll on the long winter evenings so I can catch up with calm indoor jobs, this time of year it's all go using as much of the daylight as possible!