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

Eventually seem to have convinced others that my electricity supply has a problem which originates outside of my house. The trouble with Spanish houses is that they exist in communities, with shared stuff like outdoor lights, and in my case a shared earth *spike* ( literally a spike) between mine and about 10 more houses. So, somewhere along the line a fault has occurred and I get nearly 400volts of power entering my wires every evening. is not the word. So, my circuit breakers all trip and I am powerless. Such a word, no pun intended. Of course, in the day when the chaps from the power company came to test, my system was perfect and they gave me looks like this I could see them thinking 'mujer inglesa estúpida'

In the first instance we blamed my old refrigerator, and since it was probably very inefficient I have sent it to the recycling depot and ordered a new one. So as well as in the dark, I am without a means to keep my food fresh. It has really brought it home to me how life has changed and we have become so complacent over even a simple thing like not having melted butter due to refrigeration. ( Yesterday the temperature was over 30 degrees C in the daytime and about 25 at night.) Today is cooler, only 25 C, and a pleasant breeze from the sea.


I have ordered my new fridge, which is being delivered on Friday, and on Thursday the electricians are going to install my very own, personal Earth Spike, in my garden. Such a thing! I am impressed. I will take some photos to show you .

So now I have written this down and there is nothing else to do -so I can go and relax - I have been either waiting in for various electricians, who have been unable to locate this source of external volts, or out looking at fridges.

I might even start reading a new book.

...oh yes, I have all the vocabulary needed now for discussing electrical problems in Spanish. I struggled for ages with the word 'wire' it's 'cable' pronounced cah -bleh.

try the old and trusted universal language - hand showing clout round earget it fixed or else

that won't wash here my dahling - Spanish men on this little island are very, very macho still. They are not used to being told to do anything by a woman.

for instance the words 'my wife' and 'my woman' are the same....

Glad it looks like finally being sorted if it makes you feel any better; its very cold and wet and miserable here in the uk today... 25 degrees with a cool breeze indeed.... its about 13 degrees in my house at the moment... with* the heating on

Well done though!

Despite the macho macho, you still got it sorted

<>

unless she is a little old lady all dressed in black with the face like a prune who can dead lift a ton and a half, and on who's like the mediterranean economy relies....

or his mum!!!

Ooo so waht are these Spanish macho men like?

That's why I flew down here. I think I was a migratory bird in a previous life. I loathe the cold weather, and the dark makes me SAD.

haha, crossed postings.

You'd love some of the locals 2legs, especially in Carnivale, when they mostly all dress as women anyway.

And Taff is right, I think they are scared of their mums. Perhaps I should wear black?

Ooo can I come out for a holiday?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F19585?thread=7036042&post=87974294#p87974294

tell them los vikingos are ready to set sail if they don't fix your electrickery pronto!

Perhaps it could be the next place for a hootoo meet?

be my - er - make that: can i be your guest?

Are Los Vikingos a sports team in Los Angeles?

nah, we're usually closer to home

With pleasure! I'm here for the winter (except for Christmas) and it would be great to have some visitors.

Are they welcome even if they're ?

as long as they clean up after themselves, even s would be welcome

It's a long way for them to fly, so they may start their visit by .