How Prepared Are You?

[Eve]

For things like a major power cut or other such incidences with no prior notice.

Following on from Alba's thread, I remember being lost when a power cut occurred one evening and thinking back to when I was younger and how my parents had all kinds of things available, candles, matches, lamps, torches. Even general things like a first aid kit or buckets in case of a leak.

I had none of it, probably too used to power just being there all the time!

Are you prepared for this kind of thing?

[DJHawkes]

I'd just drive the the 24 hour tesco up the road.

[pixie373]

Not in the slightest. I just complain until it comes back on, really. I also have "brainwaves"- like, i can't use the kettle, so I'll boil water on the (electric) hob. Genius

[EvianBaby]

I'd just use the flash on my phone if there was a power cut. Safer than candles and a more powerful light. If the battery dies, ill just go to sleep for a bit :)

[flump1]

Well Eve, now you come to mention it, I am very ill prepared ! No candles, no matches , I do have a bucket and a strip of fabric dressing . Note to self, buy canand hide them ! Thanks Eve.

[flump1]

Candles even .

[4getmenot]

when the electric went last i thought how the hell will i make my boy a bottle up

[gness]

Hi Eve....I always thought I was fairly well prepared until I moved into this house two years ago. If I look sideways at a lightbulb it takes umbrage and throws the whole house into darkness. To fix it I have to climb onto the top of my car so I have torches hanging by the bed and by the garage door. I have the step ladder in a handy place...too flipping old to be leaping onto cars now. I have battery operated radios..can't live without radio. I buy some screw top wine... can be opened in the dark without mishap. Candles I avoid... I can be a little accident prone....x

[Eve]

Love it pixie :)

I used to have a flashlight on my phone too but it does run the battery down then you can't charge it. It was a bit rubbish though, only used it to try and navigate to the outdoor loos on a campsite in Wales at night but was actually quite glad considering there were probably plenty of things I was better off not seeing!

I still have no candles but have now got a lamp thing that is pre-charged - same issue with when it runs out of charge though! :)

I just went to sleep in the end Evian haha, just didn't know what to do with myself!

I bought myself a little one of those wind up torches and put it somewhere so "safe" I couldn't find the damn thing when I next needed it! Still have no proper candles unless you count decorative ones and some old tealights!

[woofgang]

Oh yes, got candles, torches, camping stove, pressure lamp, canned food, wind up radio and torch, old fashioned corded phone, water. I keep my car full of diesel and add blankets boots and spare mobile phone batteries in winter

[Eve]

Yeah, I'm a bit funny about candles, moreso after a few fire incidents years ago and nearly being in a building which burnt to the ground overnight which I'd have been in had it not been for a random change of mind. I have some decorative ones though not lit any for years, especially when I've had cats!

I don't have a ladder either! One of those could have come in useful a few times!

[Eve]

Wow, woofgang, I am seriously impressed! :)

[mazie]

I have loads of massive church candles around the house that the old man won't let me light ... But they are There come the Day. We also have an open fire and lots of logs . The freezer is well stocked and I have lots of Red wine, so, perhaps a week for us. We had a week without power In the late 80's and the Neighbours came round to keep warm . We had great fun.

[Psybbo]

Oops, I thought this was a religious question, but got candles somewhere, lighters and matches so sort of prepared

[Eve]

Let there be light for you Psybbo :)

I think I need a review of useful stuff, trouble is a lot of my "useful" stuff is scattered about the house. Think I need one of those organiser things with drawers somewhere easily accessible!

[humbersloop]

at the risk of sounding like a raving survivalist, once you get used to living without click of a switch power, leccy's often the least of your worries, water is always, always the premium

candles really are a last resort, get a small paraffin lamp - you get just enough warmth as well as light

[Eve]

I have to say, in the event of some kind of disaster, I'd be in serious trouble! These days, sadly enough, often other people can be a danger in themselves.

I do have some bottled water but not enough to last me more than a week at a big stretch.

Paraffin lamp is a really good idea.

[TTG]

Got a windup torch.

[bednobs]

we have candles, matches and a camping stove to hand because we have around six powercuts a year here. I really must get my insurances/passports into a fire proof box tho

[grasscarp]

Looks like none of you have a tool for getting stones out of horses hooves. tut tut

[Eve]

Errrr....not me but, randomly,I think I have a horseshoe somewhere.

I wonder if the more prepared people here live somewhere more rural? At least here on the outskirts of a city, it never tends to get really really dark like it does in the country which is one saving grace.