If things get tougher?

mardatha

I used calor gas room heaters but didnt like the damp , also paraffin heaters when I was first married --we used to add patchouli oil to stop it smelling paraffiny. To this day the smell of patchouli reminds me of damp houses..
Owl, I was so glad to read your post , I thought I was the only mad woman cooking on a camping gas stove at the back step !!
Word of warning --I had the Scottish Power guy here today to check we have cavity wall insulation and he says elect is going up 40% in two steps very soon.

ceridwen

And...yes....MORE people will get killed by faulty calor gas/paraffin heaters than would have been in a previous era. Reason - we are now used to warm houses and wont go back to cold ones without a struggle. The parents of people in my (middle-aged) age group and people in previous generations to them didnt regard it as a "right" to be warm in our own homes. A lot of people (including me!) now do. So - I can see where people are coming from if they try using unsafe heaters - but I would urge them to take appropriate safety precautions and put "pressure" on the Government to do what they can to sort this mess out (and no I dont mean nuclear power stations - or go and invade another poor country that has oil on its territory!!!!!!) - and not take personal risks to keep warm.

[Deleted User]

I absolutely 100% agree with you ceridwen. Lets get used to the cold and our bodies will adapt.

The library used to be full of wrinklies reading the papers in there for warmth and I can see that happening again. Tea rooms in community halls may start up again and just think of all the oldies who can start making new friends. Every cloud has a silver lining

mardatha

I also think coal fires are the way to go, for anybody who possibly can. Even if the price of coal goes up , then you can still use wood, cook on it in (and out of) power cuts, and no damp !

sammyjig

kittie wrote: »

Lets get used to the cold and our bodies will adapt.

I agree. My mum is always talking about frost on the inside of windows and putting on extra jumpers. My generation and after have been spoilt. I am actually quite excited about the challenge. (scared too!)

mardatha

I 'm laughing at the difference between us on here, and some of my american groups who are also discussing this same subject. We're on about turning sides-to-middle in old sheets, but theyre MUCH more exciting --they're discussing which AK47 to buy and how to dig mantraps !! Oooo we are boring !

ceridwen

kittie wrote: »

I absolutely 100% agree with you ceridwen. Lets get used to the cold and our bodies will adapt.

The library used to be full of wrinklies reading the papers in there for warmth and I can see that happening again. Tea rooms in community halls may start up again and just think of all the oldies who can start making new friends. Every cloud has a silver lining

Errr...wish I thought my body would adapt....it resolutely refuses to...;) I think one other factor which will make us less likely to put up with the cold houses that previous generations did is that we are now used to a much higher degree of privacy and freedom to do what we please in our own homes.

Many of my generation and younger are now used to living on our own and having this much greater degree of privacy and freedom to do what we please in our own home - so its not just a matter of going and finding some communal warmth (the thought has crossed my mind if the worst comes to the worst ever - then I thought about it and realised I just wouldnt be prepared to do that....as I am used to that security/privacy I have now in my leisure hours...and I think many people would feel the same...so would still feel strongly about being warm enough in their own homes). Comfort levels as well - I find a lot of communal settings much less comfortable than my own home....and I think that many of us wouldnt adapt to a lower comfort level in other respects as well for sitting around in. Soft seating, ready availability of real coffee/herbal teas, instant access to computer and phone, clean enough environment....many from previous generations would find us soft I know....but I cant see a lot of us being prepared to spend hours a day in uncomfortable communal settings just to keep warm cheaply...

mardatha

Plus ceridwen, that's how you catch bugs! I am rarely out among company apart from the family, never in buses, never in trains. If I do venture out , then I catch a cold/cough/flu. If the libraries were full of wrinklies reading (free) newspapers then imagine the death toll! Half from fights , half from flu ! LOL

[Deleted User]

but you aren`t a wrinkly Ceridwen. I am not talking about your agegroup. The library used to be full of old men reading the papers and coughing like mad due to all the cigarettes they used to smoke. At least maybe a facility in each area will open up to help the oldies right on the edge of living. It is about choice and possibly some practical help

ceridwen

Thinking on....many of the oldest generation were/are much more "accepting" of whatever-comes-their-way than my generation and younger are.

I am well aware that the lack of "acceptance" of things/society not functioning very well/comfortably translates into many people just "having a moan" about things (only the one stage on from "acceptance") - but still that stage on. And then there's the ones who do actually take action....and I think there is more of them in my generation and beyond than perhaps in the generation prior to mine ( well....I dont think I'm the only "action-taker" I know:D ) - so again I dont see us putting up so readily with cold houses. I think a noticeable number of us will be heading off muttering "The personal is political - I wonder what Government policies need to change..........:D " The Government could have pushed alternative energy a lot more than they have..........:cool:.