Winter blackout contingency planning

ariarnia

we have one of these (not this one ours was from the market but looks like this) because the sockets in our bedroom arent near the headboard so no bedside lamp. would work well for reading in a blackout. the battery lasts probably 12hours (we use it for between half and hour and 2 hours a night and it only needs charging maybe 2 a month) 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Light-Gritin-Rechargeable-Reading/dp/B08GG42WXY/ref=sr_1_5

jackieblack

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Sea_Shell said:

Can't beat a freshly ironed cotton t-shirt.

Even putting it straight on a hanger isn't the same.

(IMO 😉) 

nicest for me is right off the line. peg it on the hem to avoid peg marks on the shiulders and all the cresses just drop out. plus nothing smells nicer than line dried. 

And the smell of money in the bank not spent on irons, electricity and that free time to do what I want.

Money saving isn't an exact science, but personally, my cotton t-shirts are just fine to wear after going on a hanger out of the machine and I'd rather spend my time and money doing something fun wearing my t-shirt rather than faffing about with them.

I couldn’t agree more - after a few minutes body heat makes any wrinkles in clothes drop out anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ultrasonic

annabanana82 said:

Sea_Shell said:

annabanana82 said:

Red wine, chocolate, a good book and no electronic disturbances for 3 hours sounds like heaven to me

Have you got a head torch 😉

I do, head torch kind of detracted from the romanticism of my notion though 😁

Candles are often viewed as romantic though  .

Mstty

Swipe said:

[Deleted User] said:

Sea_Shell said:

Ironing socks!!??!! 🤣😱


Seriously though, I did a few bits the other day and thought "phew, I'm getting warm doing this".

NSS, it's a 2800w iron I'm wielding about!!!


We need to embrace our creases!!

Never owned an iron in my life, last used one about 1998, Don't think my kids would know what they are used for.

Yay, I finally found someone else who doesn't use an iron. I've never used one in my life and never will.

For weddings and funerals only

TheBanker

I used to iron everything. My mum told me that's what you were supposed to do. She even irons dishcloths!

Now the only things I iron are smart shirts which show the creases otherwise. Even then I only iron the collar in the winter because it will normally be worn under a jumper. Life's too short to waste hours ironing, let alone the cost of electricity. 

(The other problem is that I never put the ironing board away, so it becomes a kind of temporary table for odds and ends, and makes the room look a mess!) 

Eldi_Dos

Saga said:

QrizB said:

Saga said:

Recommendations for a decent 1.5L thermos flask pls?

If you don't want to take pot luck with random unknown brands, Stanley flasks have a good reputation (although not especially cheap).

I'm not sure if they do a 1.5 litre size, but there's a 1.4 or a 1.9 litre of either of those would work for you?

Thanks will look for them

If you opt for stainless steel be careful what you clean it with. Was surprised to learn that the smallest amount of chlorine stops them working as a thermos.

Alnat1

Moved into this house 3 1/2 years ago and so far I've only ironed 3 sets of new curtains, very creased from being in packets, and hubby's 1 white shirt twice for funerals.

It depends on the sort of clothes you normally wear I think, office types with more formal clothes might need to iron a bit more. I avoid buying clothes that will need ironing but I'm happy in jeans and T-shirts/sweatshirts.

Ultrasonic

I would feel very scruffy if I didn't iron my shirts and trousers for work. I must admit I also iron jeans and T-shirts for home as well though.

wittynamegoeshere

I iron almost nothing, although I do appreciate that the better half does iron the bedsheets, that's a luxury worth paying for.  I persuaded her to stop ironing socks lots of years ago, along with teatowels and pretty much anything other than bath towels, it seemed that this was a compulsory part of the laundry process according to her parents, and I suspect that a fairly big minority also think the same (while keeping the LED lights off to save power of course).

I'd suggest that the most important conclusion from this thread is that it does seem clear that gas supply will have to be prioritised over electricity generation from gas.  This is a really important point, which I haven't heard discussed anywhere else.  This definitely makes power cuts much more likely.

If there's no wind, as is often the case when it's really cold, we'd have the triple effects of additional electricity demand, no wind generation AND lots of additional demand for gas potentially swiping the gas that would be needed for electricity.

Section62

wittynamegoeshere said:

I'd suggest that the most important conclusion from this thread is that it does seem clear that gas supply will have to be prioritised over electricity generation from gas.  This is a really important point, which I haven't heard discussed anywhere else.  This definitely makes power cuts much more likely.

It has been frequently discussed on this forum and elsewhere in recent months.

There is no "definite" involved.... just another risk factor on top of all the others.