Doesn't Happen To Be My Day

[niall Y]

I had every intention of spending all of today, in the workshop. After a protracted absence. I needed to start clearing the decks, prior to the start of my next small project. However, Murphy's law came into action at 6 pm this morning, when I tried to turn on the bedroom light and it didn't work. This signalled the beginning of a power-cut, that lasted until 11.30 pm.

Thankfully, we are firm believers in a 'belt and braces 'approach, so the back-up, kettle went on the gas- hob for tea. And toast was cooked on the oil Rayburn. All illuminated by a battery LED lantern.

I think on average we get about 4 power-cuts a year in this part of the world. This is mainly down to high winds and overhead cables coming down. So, during bad weather we do have to brace ourselves for the inevitable.

Having a heat pump operating our central heating, system, means there would be no heat for the duration, (unless, of course, we had alternative ways). Hence the Rayburn stove and the wood burner. Coincidentally, logs for the stove were being delivered today in all the rain and high winds. So after delivery, some very wet wood had to be transferred to storage around the back of the property. Thankfully this was a shared task. So, a thorough wetting, but not too knackering.

A bit late then, to start the wood stove in the workshop for a full days work . So, hopefully I can start afresh tomorrow.

 

[Cozzer]

We get too many power cuts here. I don't know why. Dozens a year, most a few minutes, a few quite a few hours.

Some time ago, I splashed out on a small generator. Noisy as hell, and barely able to power a kettle, but we can run a lamp or two off it.
We also bought a camping stove, and a pack of gas cannisters.
We have a pair of Aldi-type work lights, fully USB charged.

This is the theory.
Power cut after dark. Grab work light. Fight way to shed, power up generator outside back door. Uses Alpen fuel, therefore fires first time. Extension lead through kitchen window, table lamp attached. Wind up Degen radio.
Light front room gas fire. Find toasting fork. Grab work light, rescue stove and gas can from cellar. Make toast over gas fire. Boil kettle albeit slowly. Prepare tomato soup on camping stove.

Suffice to say, we've never done it.

 

[niall Y]

We also get any number of those mini ones, no more than a few minutes at a time. Which is probably things being switched rather than cuts proper.
The dread is to run out of oil over Christmas, and, also have a power-cut. We should be able to cobble together Christmas dinner on the old fire place stove that has an oven and a trivet that goes over the burning wood to hold a pan. Also have one of those small rocket stoves to cook things on - just to be sure.

 

[Cozzer]

We also get any number of those mini ones, no more than a few minutes at a time. Which is probably things being switched rather than cuts proper.
The dread is to run out of oil over Christmas, and, also have a power-cut. We should be able to cobble together Christmas dinner on the old fire place stove that has an oven and a trivet that goes over the burning wood to hold a pan. Also have one of those small rocket stoves to cook things on - just to be sure.

One of the best nights I can recall was a few years ago...we were in our local, an early December evening, when the place was plunged into darkness.
Candles appeared on the bar within a few minutes, but of course the pumps and tills had gone down as well.
Order of the day was bottled stuff and from the optics from then on.
One of the tills was open, so cash sales weren't a problem...any known regulars were allowed to run up a tab to be repaid at a later time...

The atmosphere, courtesy of Christmas/candlelight/booze was absolutely magic....