--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My grandparents lived with us. And I…" description: "\"My grandparents lived with us. And I remember watching 'Doctor Who' with my granddad on his new telly. These were the days before remote controls but m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/bill-bailey-2171_control_my-grandparents-lived-with-us-and-i-reme_1280424.png" --- # My grandparents lived with us. And I remember watching… ![“My grandparents lived with us. And I remember watching 'Doctor Who' with my granddad on his new telly. These were the days before remote controls but my granddad, being quite a resourceful sort of chap, had fashioned his own remote control - which was a length of bamboo pole with a bit of cork…” quote by Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/bill-bailey-2171_control_my-grandparents-lived-with-us-and-i-reme_1280424.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/bill-bailey-2171_control_my-grandparents-lived-with-us-and-i-reme_1280424.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/bill-bailey-2171_control_my-grandparents-lived-with-us-and-i-reme_1280424.png) > “My grandparents lived with us. And I remember watching 'Doctor Who' with my granddad on his new telly. These were the days before remote controls but my granddad, being quite a resourceful sort of chap, had fashioned his own remote control - which was a length of bamboo pole with a bit of cork that he'd glued on the end.” [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The anecdote highlights creative problem‑solving and nostalgia, showing how ingenuity can replace technology. **In simple terms:** Resourcefulness can substitute for modern gadgets. Key Takeaway Embrace creativity when tools lack. Themes creativity nostalgia resourcefulness technology Mood humorous nostalgic Type anecdotal inspirational When to use this quote - DIY projects - teaching kids - solving everyday problems Key Concepts improvisation human ingenuity cultural memory Questions to Reflect On - What simple tools can you repurpose? - How does nostalgia affect your problem solving? A Different Perspective Solutions may be temporary; modern tech often offers safety and reliability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Controls Granddad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controls-granddad-4136191/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Fashioned Remote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashioned-remote-4136192/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remote/) [Remote control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remote-control/) [Remote Controls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remote-controls-779035/) ## Related quotes > [He who controls the remote, controls the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/he-who-controls-the-remote-controls-the-world/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [Television remote controls encourage couch potatoes to exercise their options while broadening their base.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/television-remote-controls-encourage-couch-potatoes-to-exercise-their/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, allowing us to do things more quickly and efficiently. But too often it seems to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-surowiecki/technology-is-supposed-to-make-our-lives-easier-allowing-us-to-do/) [James Surowiecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-surowiecki/) > [I have five television sets. (I like to think of them as a set of five televisions.) I have two DVR boxes, three DVD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moranis/i-have-five-television-sets-i-like-to-think-of-them-as-a-set-of-five/) [Rick Moranis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moranis/) > [I have a lot of gadgets, remote controls for everything - the curtains, pool cover - it's like The Jetsons!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-romeo-2/i-have-a-lot-of-gadgets-remote-controls-for-everything-the-curtains/) [Lil' Romeo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-romeo-2/) > [You ever look for the remote control, but you can't find it, so you just decide, "Ah, guess I'm not watching TV. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/you-ever-look-for-the-remote-control-but-you-can-t-find-it-so-you/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Television is the most perfect democracy. You sit there with your remote control and vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-brown/television-is-the-most-perfect-democracy-you-sit-there-with-your/) [Aaron Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-brown/) > [I couldn't find the remote control to the remote control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-couldn-t-find-the-remote-control-to-the-remote-control/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I am like a TV and remote control, because every time I turn on the TV and use the remote control my life becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menilda-echipare/i-am-like-a-tv-and-remote-control-because-every-time-i-turn-on-the-tv/) [Menilda Echipare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menilda-echipare/) > [“Watching television with elderly members of your family. VERY LOUDLY INDEED. They can't understand how the remote control works but keep trying to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-hart/watching-television-with-elderly-members-of-your-family-very-loudly/) [Miranda Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-hart/) > [55% of all Americans lose their remote control 5 times a week. That means that they must see the same show for up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/55-of-all-americans-lose-their-remote-control-5-times-a-week-that/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“...what a leveller this remote-control gizmo was...it chopped down the heavyweight and stretched out the slight until all the set's emissions, commercials, murders, game-shows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/what-a-leveller-this-remote-control-gizmo-was-it-chopped-down-the/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Life is like a very long TV show, without a remote control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-very-long-tv-show-without-a-remote-control/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is not a business where you can hand off and run by remote control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-neeleman/this-is-not-a-business-where-you-can-hand-off-and-run-by-remote/) [David Neeleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-neeleman/) > [Don't let negative pictures play on the movie screen of your mind, you own the remote control. All you have to do is change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anmol-andore/don-t-let-negative-pictures-play-on-the-movie-screen-of-your-mind-you/) [Anmol Andore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anmol-andore/) ## More by Bill Bailey > [I tried to like it. For me, it was like being smacked around the head by a piece of IKEA furniture: it hurts, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-tried-to-like-it-for-me-it-was-like-being-smacked-around-the-head/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Three blind mice walk into a pub. But they are unaware of their surroundings, so to derive humour from it would be exploitative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/three-blind-mice-walk-into-a-pub-but-they-are-unaware-of-their/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I did a show in this tiny town called Longyearbyen. We went snowmobiling around Svalbard and saw Arctic foxes, snow bunting, polar bear footprints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-did-a-show-in-this-tiny-town-called-longyearbyen-we-went/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I hate getting ill, it irritates me so I try to stay reasonably healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-hate-getting-ill-it-irritates-me-so-i-try-to-stay-reasonably-healthy/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Hitler was a vegetarian. Just goes to show, vegetarianism, not always a good thing. Can in some extreme cases lead to genocide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/hitler-was-a-vegetarian-just-goes-to-show-vegetarianism-not-always-a/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [There is something very poignant about plastic bags. These lonely plastic bags that gradually disintegrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/there-is-something-very-poignant-about-plastic-bags-these-lonely/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [At college, I felt frustrated thinking three years was a long time and I just wanted a job but afterwards I was in employment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/at-college-i-felt-frustrated-thinking-three-years-was-a-long-time-and/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I am pretty laid-back as a parent, but I do like a lot of activity. So I am constantly suggesting things to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-am-pretty-laid-back-as-a-parent-but-i-do-like-a-lot-of-activity-so/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Work hard, save and live within your means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/work-hard-save-and-live-within-your-means/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [There's more evil in the charts than an Al-Qaeda suggestion box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/there-s-more-evil-in-the-charts-than-an-al-qaeda-suggestion-box/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I don't think any comic could say there isn't a bit of them that doesn't want to show off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-don-t-think-any-comic-could-say-there-isn-t-a-bit-of-them-that/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Three blokes go into a pub. Something happens. The outcome was hilarious!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/three-blokes-go-into-a-pub-something-happens-the-outcome-was-hilarious/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [You spend a lot more time on your own as an only child. And there's space to allow your imagination to take flight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/you-spend-a-lot-more-time-on-your-own-as-an-only-child-and-there-s/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Nostalgia: How long's that been around?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/nostalgia-how-long-s-that-been-around/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [My mother was a classic matriarchal figure. She'd sing round the house and always had music on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/my-mother-was-a-classic-matriarchal-figure-she-d-sing-round-the-house/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) [Explore all 182 Bill Bailey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) [Thomas Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-miller/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My grandparents lived with us. And I remember watching 'Doctor Who' with my granddad on his new telly. 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