h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I don't normally go shopping on a Friday. Our local supermarket is usually a madhouse for one thing plus Tuesdays is usually my main shopping day. Today however, in light of a very iffy forecast for early next week I decided to nip out early and top up stocks just in case. Imagine my surprise when on arrival the car park to the store was virtually empty and there were more shop staff than customers. Now why is it when the place is so empty virtually every till was manned yet when the store is busy you're lucky if 3 out of 15 tills are manned?Anyway, shopping done, freezer topped up, extra soup in stock which is all well and good but after sitting down with a nice mug of I thought, what happens if the weather is so bad we get a power cut? We have no mains gas so I wouldn't be able to even make a drink let alone cook owt. Tomorrow I'm going to a camping/outdoor centre near here and I'm gonna get me a small camping gaz stove which I will store in our outside locker just in case.I have a good stock of 's and a couple of torches with new batteries. I guess this is called planning ahead somewhat. Hopefully it won't be needed but one never knows.
The only backup power we have is for the alarm systems and the emergency lighting for hall/stairs and entrance doors.
Right, that's it for today. All domestic chores done so time to put me feet up with a , have a good evening folks, stay warm, stay safe. ttfn.

Deb

Hope the apocalypse doesn't arrive for you. Good thinking about the camping stove. I have gas cyclinders for cooking where I is and I always have a spare. They normally last me three months each so at worst, six feet of snow and no electricity I can cook, sit in front of the oven with the door open and read by candle light.

I also have a few sleeping bags and four duvets. If I freeze to death I will have a lot of company.

[Amy P]

Our electric cuts off with startling regularity here. Often it's just the one 'circuit' so next door doesn't get affected just a few of us on the street. Neighbours can be quite making sure everyone's ok, taking hot water round, inviting you round for a brew...

We used to have electricity problems in Lincoln, too, but it was more to do with our rural vulnerability. So we all kept corded phones on hand, plus a healthy supply of candles.

Magwitch: In a wicked world full of sadness, badness, and disaster, neighbours are a shining light.

Can you still get phones that don't run on electricity? We used to have one somewhere.......

Well, I can't answer for England, but yes, you can get them what attaches to the wall with bell wire, and that apparently runs by magic. Conductance. The thermostat to my LP gas wall heater was wired the same way, so I never got cold in a blackout.

I have a non-electric phone plugged into one of my sockets. When I had a power cut a couple of months ago (when my neighbours still clearly had power) I was able to call the power supplier on it.

Deb