Power cuts - are you prepped?

Plenty of candles. There are torches somewhere (I think) used to have a wind-up one, but it gave up the ghost.

No heating but has central heating and an electric plug-in oil filled radiator up up in the loft, so obv. no good in power cuts.
Dh has a good power bank - maybe we should get another, in case.

Maybe we should get a fire pit so we can sit in the garden, wrapped in blankets.

Whenever we were getting ready for a family get together chez nous, DH would head for the kitchen saying, ‘I’ll prep it, you chef it!’ ?

It’s for three hours. Please don’t tell that most ppl can’t survive without a cup of tea for three hours. Freezers won’t defrost, dinner might be late and you’ll need some lighting but the way some on here are talking it sounds like they are going into full siege mode!

They say it’s ‘just for three hours’…

How long was lock down originally supposed to last?

Here I have a gas hob and a gas fire which would take care of most of my needs during a power cut. However, I am about to move to a retirement flat which is all-electric. Shooting myself in the foot?

FannyCornforth

They say it’s ‘just for three hours’…

That's an excellent point. I imagine that they are covering their backs. At the end of the day it does not hurt to have some sort of plan if people think that they might need it. Some will be more vulnerable than others.

Really excellent practical suggestions here.
I shall get the beanie hats for late night dog walking at the caravan, which is sited in a dark sky zone!

We have an unlimited data mifi for use, also at the van, but do remember to ensure that your pc/tv is set up to recognise the network password for any new hotspot, before a power cut!!
It will then enable you to get iplayer, Netflix (if you have it) etc.

backtothe 1970s and the three day week. lots of three hour power cuts then, on a rota announced in advance.

We had a portable tv that could run off a car battery, so just sat on the settee, wrapped in a blanket and watched the tv. We had a gas cooker, so could make a cup of tea, or even cook a meal, as long as I lit the gas with ma.

We no longer have the tv or spare car battery, but, as I said up thread, in its place we have Kindles, and a wood burner. I can cook a casserole on the top of that, and boil a kettle.

It's not that I can't survive without a hot drink for three hours, it's that I don't want to!

Agreed, OaU. It's not meant to be an endurance test.

We know this might be going to happen, and there are numerous ways that we can take a few basic steps to make it less inconvenient. Why not take them?

Thanks Daisymae
I can’t help but think that ‘they’ are softening us up.
They will tell us stuff gradually, in order to not scare the horses (us poor sods!)
If things do kick off in Russia, which is not exactly impossible, then we really will be trouble.
The ‘prepping’ discussions were exactly the same as this at the start of 2020; preppers were exaggerating and scare mongering, everything was going to be fine.

And then when reality hit, the unprepared went bonkers and just bought a shed load of loo roll, for no discernible reason.

Buy the candles and whatever you need now, because in a few months time you won’t be able to lay your hands on a box of Swan Vesta for love nor money.

Oopsadaisy1

Maybe70 you can buy freezers that operate in low temps. Ideal for the garage, we have one in ours.

Of the few low ambient temperature freezer brands available I think Beko are the largest. Most of their freezers will work down to a room temperature of -15 degrees. Not many rooms or garages get down to anywhere near that temperature. We have two Beko under counter freezers kept in the garage (stacked) and they work perfectly well.

Just bought these, two of them, just in case ?

A bargain too!

Candles, torches, thermos flasks, hot water bottles, camping stoves. We’ll read by torch/candle light, we’ll survive without the telly! It won’t be convenient but hopefully we’ll be ok. But we’ll keep our neighbours and friends in mind too.

I remember all the panic for the millennium, bated breath waiting for midnight into 2000. All came to nothing after months of dire warnings and people ‘stocking up’.

Yes, we are well found in case of power cuts. After 12 years of Tory government it's as well to be prepared!

OnwardandUpward

It's not that I can't survive without a hot drink for three hours, it's that I don't want to!

? doesn’t need warming up or chilling down. ?

I can remember how it was during the 3 day week. No internet then but you had a good idea whether your chance of the power going off was high, medium or low. That allowed you to plan what you wanted to do - go to a friend or elative in another area or stick it out at home. Mine only went off once - I just went to bed. Now we have all these devices which will send us the latest news.

My gas central heating would not work without the electricity. However the cooker has a gas hob so I can make a hot drink and warm up a simple meal like soup. With a love of antiques I have a lot of candlesticks that can be used and candles to go in them. I also have a device (like a power bank) that you can use to charge batteries, computers and provide light.

Good posts Fannyc, especially the one about things you can control. We are the ones, the preppers, who will be able to sit back in comfort and cosiness in mid winter with warm food and drinks, with something to read or a radio to listen to. Remember the winter of 2010, it was a struggle for national grid to get enough power out then

Nothing to do with scaremongering as stated by a couple of people on here. It is all about being astute enough to be prepared well in advance, leaving the future scrabbling and higher prices to the sceptics

btw. Weather models are showing early indication of cold weather arriving late autumn and early winter with potential for a white christmas. Models can change, depending on stratospheric conditions but that is what is, unusually, showing right now

Lived through the miners strike during the 70's so 3 hours a day is nothing compared to that. Got torches and plenty of blankets. Not worried and it will save on energy .

MawtheMerrier

^I can still remember the fuss it caused as a student trying to study by candlelight and three of us getting into bed together for warmth^

That was your story and you’re sticking to it? .

Two at the top one in the middle top to tail Maw in brushed nylon PJ that I wouldn't have let anyone else see. Candles were issued by the uni. Oh that sounds questionable as well
DH at the time was in student houses and they were very lucky as the Neonatal hospital was on the end of the row they never got power cuts, unfortunately, in a different city nearby so I couldn't just pop over.

I have all my scented candles together so I am well stocked up. It may be dark and freezing but it's going to smell great!