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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.

06-09-2007, 09:25	#1
MargaretR God Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: c l m Posts: 12,362 Blog Entries: 4 Liked: 518 times Rep Power: 68671	Be prepared 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. __________________ Last edited by MargaretR; 06-09-2007 at 09:34.