Be prepared

MargaretR · 06-09-2007, 09:25

I woke up at 7.30am to find the electricity off.

I needed a torch to check my circuit board and it was OK, (glad I had the torch handy!)

Still in my nightie and dressing gown, I knocked on a neighbours door - he had power

I went to the phone - a mains powered radio phone UNUSABLE! My mobile phone also UNUSABLE -needs charging (and since my charger went on the blink I can only charge it up in the car - which normally is Ok because that is the only place I need to use it)

I searched out an old phone from the back of the sideboard, thinking 'glad its not happened during a dark evening'.

Then there was a problem with the phone books - what miniscule print!, and so many sections that it it takes time and a good light to find the numbers needed!

I got together my landlord's number and the electricity emergency number and after a few calls, established that there was a substation fault 'engineer on his way'.

Then I decided to have my 1st 'brew' - just relieved that I have a gas cooker for boiling the water. So I sit and wait for power, staring at a blank pc monitor, a blank Tv and wondering whether I threw out that old transistor radio.

Power returned briefly at 10am, then went off again but was restored properly 10mins after that.

This minor hiccup in 'life's normal progress' reminded me of times past when power cuts were a regular part of life.

'The 3 day week' -- 'the winter of discontent'
Three-Day Week - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
CBI fears return of the three-day week | | Guardian Unlimited Business
1978-1979: Winter of Discontent | libcom.org

It has made me realise that we should take small precautions
candles, torches, battery radios, list of phone numbers all to hand when the lights go out -- because they may well do this winter, because the trade unions are unhappy again - trouble is brewing - be prepared.

beechy · 06-09-2007, 11:39

o you arbinger of gloom
just take a look on the bright side
o you cant no lecky he he he
no offence

MargaretR · 06-09-2007, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by beechy

o you arbinger of gloom
just take a look on the bright side
o you cant no lecky he he he
no offence

I can take it Beechy - like the new sig?

beechy · 06-09-2007, 13:34

you could never be that
to much spirit ( dont mean gin )

lettie · 06-09-2007, 14:47

Lol Margaret.... That has just reminded me of my last power cut a few months ago. I keep candles handy and have the electricity number etc but.... I had a new electric recliner chair and happened to be sitting in it on full recline. I was like a beetle stranded on my back trying to roll out of the thing before I could even get to the candles...

jambutty · 06-09-2007, 17:49

I can honestly state that I have only experienced one power cut in well over ten years, maybe even twenty and that one was during a mid summer evening about two years ago for a couple of hours.

I’ve never seen so many neighbours out talking to each other.

BERNADETTE · 06-09-2007, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

I can honestly state that I have only experienced one power cut in well over ten years, maybe even twenty and that one was during a mid summer evening about two years ago for a couple of hours.

I’ve never seen so many neighbours out talking to each other.

Perhaps for a short time as yours was they aren't a bad thing if they get people talking instead of not knowing who your neighbours are

mez · 06-09-2007, 19:41

i bought myself a corded phone after our jet had 2 power cuts recently in blackburn & she had to ring me on her mobile to ring the electricity company for her to find what had happened & report it because she had cordless phones, as i have,... like lettie ive got the phone numbers handy ..but no candles come in this house, got torches, but without gas to boil water with .....so will have to drink water instead not a problem, thanks for the warning margaret..... were you a girl guide too?

jambutty · 06-09-2007, 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Perhaps for a short time as yours was they aren't a bad thing if they get people talking instead of not knowing who your neighbours are

Try a complete power failure on a warship in the middle of the Atlantic in a storm. Now that is exciting.

BERNADETTE · 06-09-2007, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

Try a complete power failure on a warship in the middle of the Atlantic in a storm. Now that is exciting.

Think I will pass on that one, I'm not a good sailor at the best of times

lindsay ormerod · 06-09-2007, 21:12

We had a power cut here last year, for about 2 hours, lit the candles got the playing cards and dominoes out.
When the lights came back on my daughter whinged and wanted to carry on in the dark !

SPUGGIE J · 06-09-2007, 21:36

Why does it take a powercut to bring back basic ways to amuse yourself? Just goes to show how reliant we are on our "gadgets"

Lindsay if you daughter enjoyed it then have a deliberate one every now and again.

lindsay ormerod · 06-09-2007, 22:04

We always play cards etc but she found it more interesting in the dark !

junetta · 06-09-2007, 22:53

You do make me chuckle, Jambutty! 'im indoors is ex Royal Navy and has the same sort of dead pan humour. Well, I sort of put it down to humour, it could be pessimism, or even something worse!

I'm trying to remember the three-day week. I can recall the lack of lecky but am struggling with the sugar shortage.......was it all around the same time?

cashman · 06-09-2007, 23:31

worst i ever had was at work in the lift, it stopped between floors in total darkness, i rang the alarm bell n nobody answered - well it was brew time lol,about 20mins later i could smell a burning, then cashy worried, it was only the welders working nearby i discovered later, the swines had finished their brew n completely forgot the alarm had been rung, good job i had me baccy,just sat on a pallet smoking till the cavalry came.