Tuesday afternoon I scheduled and clicked publish on
Wednesday's post after writing that Storm Brendon hadn't given us much
windy weather here - I spoke too soon! The rain lashed down and the
wind got going and just before 6pm the electric went off. I was eating
my dinner at the time and finished it with the light from the
wood-burner and the mantel-shelf fairy lights which I'd luckily decided
to leave up for the rest of the winter. Then I found the torch from the
drawer and the re-chargable lantern from the cupboard, lit some candles,
put a saucepan of water on the gas hob for my evening drink and popped some batteries in my radio.............. the electric has
been off umpteen times since we moved here so I'm well prepared!
 |
| (A no electric evening but my re-chargable lantern has been a really good buy - enough light to read easily) |
A
knock on the front door was my next door neighbour checking I was OK
and then a text message from next-door-but-one also checking I was OK in
the dark. I was able to reassure both that yes thank you, everything was good up
the end of the lane. (Lovely of them to check but it made me feel very
old! especially as I know I'm better prepared than either of them.........sorry that sounds a bit smug but it's true.......... I'm the only one with cylinder gas cooker for a start! Hope these words don't come back to bite me on the bum!).
Just a little while later came a text message from UK Power Networks telling everyone that over 300 homes
were off due to a tree pulling down power cables and a couple more messages kept me updated with what was happening which is always handy.
The electric came on sometime after midnight I think - it makes the doorbell ring which woke me up.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
I think it's really nice to have neighbours who really care, isn't it? I live in a short cul de sac and when that happens everyone piles out into the centre to check it's the same for us all, not just a fuse, and that everyone's OK. That's what neighbourlyness should be - just checking!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if you were very cosy and snug in the dark and the lantern is fantastic!
xx
I peered out of my kitchen window and saw no lights in either 2 houses so knew it was more than just me........or they might have been out - they sometimes are out until later
DeleteThe Lantern is brilliant - so glad I got it. Just lives in a cupboard and I recharge it when the elcetric comes back ready for next time
We keep looking at those lanterns but don’t think we have enough power cuts to warrant one. Our cuts are often on off jobs with the occasional longer one. Now, have I also tempted fate.
ReplyDeleteA whole week off twice in the past in two different houses made me prepare well
DeleteI always think a power cut is a bit of an adventure. It brings out our resourcefulness. The rechargeable lantern is great. I have a wind up torch which comes in handy.
ReplyDeleteThe lantern gives plenty of light for reading - which is what I did
DeleteIt's nice to feel smug sometimes. That made me laugh. I also like what janipi says, above. We've got camping gas burner and light ready and accessible and have needed them in the last year.
ReplyDeleteIt was always lack of light that annoyed me most in the past so the lantern is my Best Buy
DeleteI really hate power cuts, so I admire your calm acceptance! Luckily, in spite of the wild weather, we didn't get one. It's nice that the neighbours keep an eye out for you. One day you may be grateful for their help.
ReplyDeleteWe always used to check on the previous next door neighbours as they were elderly. New neighbours are younger - when they moved in I asked them if they had a picnic stove as the electric going off was a frequent event
DeleteWe had a power cut at home on the morning we were setting off for Scotland which was unfortunate as we had to wait until it was fixed as we didn't know what lights were on or off - some have a switch at either side of the room so it is impossible to tell by the switch position. it was nothing to do with the storm but a young lad on the building site nearby who had gone straight through an underground cable - which will costs the builders dearly in fines.
ReplyDeleteGood that your neighbours care - you could always check on them next time!!
How annoying and as you say that will cost the builder - trouble is the information they get about underground cables is not always accurate.
DeleteI used to check on the previous neighbours and take them flasks of boiling water for drinks. New neighbours are much younger. I offered them the use of the hob to finish cooking their dinner as P said they were halfway through cooking but they needed an oven and even my calor gas oven won't work without electric.
Pleased you were alright with the power cut. My daughter had one the other night but our village was find. My son brought me one of the big chargeable torches a few years ago but I gave it back to him last year because I cannot work it now for I don't have a lot of strength in my hands I have several small torches so am okay. The wind is still very strong here but it's like vely and bright.
ReplyDeleteThe lantern is excellent - very light weight and just plug in and re-charge after use.
DeleteDuring Mick McGahey's miners strikes in the early 1970s and when we were conserving coal for the power stations and had set power cuts my mother had lights in her kitchen run from car batteries that my brother rigged up for her. Cooking on the Rayburn never stopped and the cows were milked around power cuts so milk production went down because the cows didn't like their routine upset. I was working in Newcastle Civic Centre at the time and we used to finish work at 4 before darkness set in. It was all pen and paper so no computers affected. I have torches and candles in the house now for power cuts and, of course, my smart phone which actually negates most of the other things for light in emergencies.
ReplyDeleteI was working in the library in Bury St Eds - it was freezing and half dark but we had to carry on - wouldn't be able to now without the computer
DeleteFunny that I don't remember the heating situation, just that we all actually liked the change if office hours to finishing at 4 and starting at 8. Starting work at 8 in an office in the 1970s was pretty much unheard of but we liked it and after the power cuts stopped it was agreed to retain the working hours with some very slight adjustments.
DeletePower cuts always remind me of the 3 day week in the 70's! I was revising for my 'O' Levels at the time, which had to take place in candlelight. (When I say revising, I use the term very loosely!)xx
ReplyDeleteSounds like my 'revising' at the outdoor swimming pool!
DeleteI can remember those 1970s power cuts - I was a barmaid at the time so the pub was very atmospheric with Tilley Lamps for lighting I think it was.
ReplyDeleteGlad you were well-prepared. Modern houses seem to be all-electric which is never a good thing in a power cut!
We can heat food up on our wood burning stove and have fairy lights round the place too, candles and torches. Plus the gas camping stove.
I'm dreading going all electric when I have to move away from here but new homes always are nowadays
DeleteIt's lovely that as neighbours you all check on each other. And so good that you are well prepared. There's something nice about an evening without the choice of any power as long as you don't have to worry about losing food supplies by keeping the freezer firmly closed, it can be a relaxing thing just keeping cosy and reading by the light of your lantern.
ReplyDeleteThe doorbell ringing when the power comes back on would make me jump out of my skin though!!
The doorbell has some sort of electric pick up thingy plugged in - I should have turned it off - but never thought about it. It also rings when the electric goes off or flickers - but I'm used to it now!
DeleteMy door bell does phantom rings a lot too. It doesn't bother me either. You get used to it.
DeleteI think if you live alone and are well-prepared for this kind of event then you are entitled to feel smug Sue!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pat - I wasn't worried by the power being off - it's such a regular thing here
DeleteYour no-electricity set up looks very cosy but I'm glad it wasn't off for too long. Lovely of the neighbours to make sure you were OK. xx
ReplyDeleteYes the neighbours are all lovely but I hope they don't think "poor little old lady all on her own!"
DeleteA few years ago our village was completely snowed-in for several days, then the roads became open - with care. A man from the village called in to see whether we needed anything...that made me feel ancient, then I decided that he was just a lovely man looking out for his neighbours, and I am sure it was just the same with your neighbours.
ReplyDeleteYes all my neighbours are lovely and would help out with anything. Reminded me of Col walking up a track to a house across the field from us at the smallholding when we'd had lots of snow. He knocked to ask the elderly owners if they needed anything and the man said "I don't know who you are!" We'd been living across the field from them and speaking when we occasionally saw them about for about 10 years!
DeleteLovely to have good neighbours that will check on you. |i am going to look out for a lantern now, great for the power cuts which can be quite frequent here.
ReplyDeleteCandles are not much good for reading but the lantern is brilliant
DeleteIt is nicer--and very thoughtful---to be checked up on, than to be lonely and ignored, possibly. It was very kind of your neighbors to reach out to you.
ReplyDeleteThat's very true and We all speak to each other and help out with things.
DeleteThat re-chargeable lantern looks wonderful!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteand it is nice, to have people, who care, to check up on you. -smile- Even if you are better prepared than they are. >,-)
♫♪•*¨*•.¸ðŸ’›¸.•*¨*•♪♫
The lantern is really useful and I'm very glad to have good friendly neighbours
DeleteYou are well prepared as a smart person would be. The rechargeable lantern is great. As long as the power doesn't go off too often it can give you a cozy evening.
ReplyDeleteLooks lovely and cosy, but I'm glad it wasn't off for too long. Lovely to have neighbours that care.
ReplyDeleteYour re-chargeable lantern does give a good light. Perhaps you could show your neighbours your 'power cut' ready box, how lovely they made sure you were ok.
ReplyDeletePower outages seem to be the thing everyone is doing these days! We were off for a while Saturday evening and into Sunday afternoon, but like you we are well-prepared, having lived for 15 years of so without it.
ReplyDeleteAfter a couple of very long power outages (one was for a few days) due to ice storms over the years, we had a whole house generator put in a couple of years ago. The power hasn't been off for more than a few minutes at a time since! Not complaining though! It's nice to know we're prepared, especially during the winter.
ReplyDeleteThough it can be a real nucisnce at times I really enjoy having the electric off sometimes. No humming from the fridge or anyting. x
ReplyDelete