Winter blackout contingency planning

ariarnia

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Dolor said:

Bear in mind that those of us in our 70s and older lived through the three day week. I recall that it was a very cold Winter. When I mentioned this to my late Mother she gently reminded me that she had lived through the 2nd World War blitz and the Germans didn’t provide any prior notification of power outages! 

... you could be coming home to a dark cold house and have no way to make a hot drink or something to eat. 

I think this is a bit dramatic, hot drinks aren't essential and you can make a full meal without electricity, you don't have to cook a sandwich.

we've had the conversation about 'essential' before  its about relative experience and comfort vs the relatively small cost of some basic things to make life more comfortable.

after a full days work (plus commute) on a cold wet winters day then sometimes all people really want is a hot drink/meal. winter is tiring and depressing for a lot of people. january and febuary can be entirely miserable months even without powercuts.

and there's a not small group of people who live entirely by electric (often living alone and in flats) so a badly timed power cut has the potential to make them a lot more miserable than people like us in our house with other people alternative cooking and heating and hobbies that dont require electric. those are the people who will benifit most from knowing what block they are in and thinking about what they can do now so if theres a power cut (or more than one) they can be more comfortable. 

Just my opinion, but I say being "comfortable" in an emergency situation isn't a priority, people just need to stay safe and survive.

My parents remind me of the times they spend many nights in air raid shelters in the dark and cold but they survived and lived a long life. 

Being prepared is half the battle with thing like this, having a plan means that unexpected power outages can be dealt with and are quite exciting when your emergency plans come into play.

Part of my job role involves planning for emergencies, had one this week when a tree fell on a powerline and resulted in an unexpected power outage to one of my offices. We had a plan, executed the plan, everything was ok. 

i dont think a planned/pre notified time limited blackout really counts as an emergency, do you? 

people will survive for three hours without any planning or preps at all. they have an opportunity to plan to be more comfortable so why not take advantage of that to plan to do more than just 'survive'? 

Exactly, so what's the problem with not having a hot drink during a planned / short black put?

i think it's the other way around. whats the problem with someone making plans to let them have a hot drink in a blackout if it would make them more comfortable? 

Priorities is the problem.

I don't consider a hot drink a priority.

Around half of the world's population have a shortage of water and the risk of dehydration. Being in the other half and being upset about your water not being hot is not a real problem.

I don't think that someone in a third world problem has a drinking water shortage is really relevant, this is a comfort issue for people who are used to a comfortable lifestyle, however I would also have to question about the psychological state of someone who feels uncomfortable if they do not have a cup of tea or coffee for three hours.

maybe it's just me and my 'psychological state' but i can clearly remember back in 2008ish when i just joined this forum i was living in a little bedsit and commuting for an hour each way on the train and by foot. there were several days when i would be going to work in the dark. standing on my feet all day. and coming home in the dark. sometimes soaking wet because theres only so much an umbrella can do when the rain and wind are up. and i would get into my flat completely miserable wet and cold. being able to change into dry clothes make a hot water bottle and put the kettle on was a god send on those days. 

powercuts arent likely but if i was still by myself in that flat then knowing i was expecting a power cut and knowing the caf by the station wouldn't be having one so i could make sure i had a £5 on me for something hot before heading home wouldn't be 'psychologically' a problem if i couldn't but would make my day better and more comfortable. 

i'm really not understanding why some people think that's unreasonable? 

Sounds like you've lived a sheltered life.

Waking up the following day alive, well and safe is probably the priority for most people in this world.

If having a hot brew matters most to you then I'm totally lost on this one.

so we've reached the passive aggressive insults part of the conversation have we? 

what matters most to me is that my family are safe healthy and happy. mostly in that order. we agree these blackouts arent an emergency. so everyone is safe and healthy. so next priority is happy. and little unnecessary affordable things can make people happy (or happier). like cups of tea. so again i ask you why shouldn't someone plan to be able to have a hot drink if they can and it would make them more comfortable? 

its very possible to care about people in bad situations around the world (and to support causes that help them) while at the same time understanding that you being unnesessarily uncomfortable does absolutely nothing to help them. the only benifit wearing a hair shirt can bring is by making the person wearing it feel virtuous.  

[Deleted User]

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Dolor said:

Bear in mind that those of us in our 70s and older lived through the three day week. I recall that it was a very cold Winter. When I mentioned this to my late Mother she gently reminded me that she had lived through the 2nd World War blitz and the Germans didn’t provide any prior notification of power outages! 

... you could be coming home to a dark cold house and have no way to make a hot drink or something to eat. 

I think this is a bit dramatic, hot drinks aren't essential and you can make a full meal without electricity, you don't have to cook a sandwich.

we've had the conversation about 'essential' before  its about relative experience and comfort vs the relatively small cost of some basic things to make life more comfortable.

after a full days work (plus commute) on a cold wet winters day then sometimes all people really want is a hot drink/meal. winter is tiring and depressing for a lot of people. january and febuary can be entirely miserable months even without powercuts.

and there's a not small group of people who live entirely by electric (often living alone and in flats) so a badly timed power cut has the potential to make them a lot more miserable than people like us in our house with other people alternative cooking and heating and hobbies that dont require electric. those are the people who will benifit most from knowing what block they are in and thinking about what they can do now so if theres a power cut (or more than one) they can be more comfortable. 

Just my opinion, but I say being "comfortable" in an emergency situation isn't a priority, people just need to stay safe and survive.

My parents remind me of the times they spend many nights in air raid shelters in the dark and cold but they survived and lived a long life. 

Being prepared is half the battle with thing like this, having a plan means that unexpected power outages can be dealt with and are quite exciting when your emergency plans come into play.

Part of my job role involves planning for emergencies, had one this week when a tree fell on a powerline and resulted in an unexpected power outage to one of my offices. We had a plan, executed the plan, everything was ok. 

i dont think a planned/pre notified time limited blackout really counts as an emergency, do you? 

people will survive for three hours without any planning or preps at all. they have an opportunity to plan to be more comfortable so why not take advantage of that to plan to do more than just 'survive'? 

Exactly, so what's the problem with not having a hot drink during a planned / short black put?

i think it's the other way around. whats the problem with someone making plans to let them have a hot drink in a blackout if it would make them more comfortable? 

Priorities is the problem.

I don't consider a hot drink a priority.

Around half of the world's population have a shortage of water and the risk of dehydration. Being in the other half and being upset about your water not being hot is not a real problem.

I don't think that someone in a third world problem has a drinking water shortage is really relevant, this is a comfort issue for people who are used to a comfortable lifestyle, however I would also have to question about the psychological state of someone who feels uncomfortable if they do not have a cup of tea or coffee for three hours.

maybe it's just me and my 'psychological state' but i can clearly remember back in 2008ish when i just joined this forum i was living in a little bedsit and commuting for an hour each way on the train and by foot. there were several days when i would be going to work in the dark. standing on my feet all day. and coming home in the dark. sometimes soaking wet because theres only so much an umbrella can do when the rain and wind are up. and i would get into my flat completely miserable wet and cold. being able to change into dry clothes make a hot water bottle and put the kettle on was a god send on those days. 

powercuts arent likely but if i was still by myself in that flat then knowing i was expecting a power cut and knowing the caf by the station wouldn't be having one so i could make sure i had a £5 on me for something hot before heading home wouldn't be 'psychologically' a problem if i couldn't but would make my day better and more comfortable. 

i'm really not understanding why some people think that's unreasonable? 

Sounds like you've lived a sheltered life.

Waking up the following day alive, well and safe is probably the priority for most people in this world.

If having a hot brew matters most to you then I'm totally lost on this one.

so we've reached the passive aggressive insults part of the conversation have we? 

Nothing passive about my opinions on this subject, I've been very direct so not sure where you are forming that opinion from?

what matters most to me is that my family are safe healthy and happy. mostly in that order. we agree these blackouts arent an emergency. so everyone is safe and healthy. so next priority is happy. and little affordable things make people happy (or happier). like cups of tea  

Agreed, then some easy steps can be taken to provide a contingency for a cup of tea. Camping equipment is often suggested but if it is a planned blackout then a thermos flask will do the job.

its very possible to care about people in bad situations around the world (and to support causes that help them) while at the same time understanding that you being unnesessarily uncomfortable does absolutely nothing to help them. the only benifit wearing a hair shirt can bring is by making the person wearing it feel virtuous.  

I'm not suggesting that at all, I live a very comfortable life every day, but under emergency circumstances such as an unplanned power cut them I'm happy to give up all of those comforts.

Maybe I'm different because my childhood included extensive power cuts and my family just got on with life without making a fuss?

ariarnia

[Deleted User] said:

ariarnia said:

[Deleted User] said:

ariarnia said:

MattMattMattUK said:

[Deleted User] said:

ariarnia said:

[Deleted User] said:

ariarnia said:

[Deleted User] said:

ariarnia said:

[Deleted User] said:

ariarnia said:

Dolor said:

Bear in mind that those of us in our 70s and older lived through the three day week. I recall that it was a very cold Winter. When I mentioned this to my late Mother she gently reminded me that she had lived through the 2nd World War blitz and the Germans didn’t provide any prior notification of power outages! 

... you could be coming home to a dark cold house and have no way to make a hot drink or something to eat. 

I think this is a bit dramatic, hot drinks aren't essential and you can make a full meal without electricity, you don't have to cook a sandwich.

we've had the conversation about 'essential' before  its about relative experience and comfort vs the relatively small cost of some basic things to make life more comfortable.

after a full days work (plus commute) on a cold wet winters day then sometimes all people really want is a hot drink/meal. winter is tiring and depressing for a lot of people. january and febuary can be entirely miserable months even without powercuts.

and there's a not small group of people who live entirely by electric (often living alone and in flats) so a badly timed power cut has the potential to make them a lot more miserable than people like us in our house with other people alternative cooking and heating and hobbies that dont require electric. those are the people who will benifit most from knowing what block they are in and thinking about what they can do now so if theres a power cut (or more than one) they can be more comfortable. 

Just my opinion, but I say being "comfortable" in an emergency situation isn't a priority, people just need to stay safe and survive.

My parents remind me of the times they spend many nights in air raid shelters in the dark and cold but they survived and lived a long life. 

Being prepared is half the battle with thing like this, having a plan means that unexpected power outages can be dealt with and are quite exciting when your emergency plans come into play.

Part of my job role involves planning for emergencies, had one this week when a tree fell on a powerline and resulted in an unexpected power outage to one of my offices. We had a plan, executed the plan, everything was ok. 

i dont think a planned/pre notified time limited blackout really counts as an emergency, do you? 

people will survive for three hours without any planning or preps at all. they have an opportunity to plan to be more comfortable so why not take advantage of that to plan to do more than just 'survive'? 

Exactly, so what's the problem with not having a hot drink during a planned / short black put?

i think it's the other way around. whats the problem with someone making plans to let them have a hot drink in a blackout if it would make them more comfortable? 

Priorities is the problem.

I don't consider a hot drink a priority.

Around half of the world's population have a shortage of water and the risk of dehydration. Being in the other half and being upset about your water not being hot is not a real problem.

I don't think that someone in a third world problem has a drinking water shortage is really relevant, this is a comfort issue for people who are used to a comfortable lifestyle, however I would also have to question about the psychological state of someone who feels uncomfortable if they do not have a cup of tea or coffee for three hours.

maybe it's just me and my 'psychological state' but i can clearly remember back in 2008ish when i just joined this forum i was living in a little bedsit and commuting for an hour each way on the train and by foot. there were several days when i would be going to work in the dark. standing on my feet all day. and coming home in the dark. sometimes soaking wet because theres only so much an umbrella can do when the rain and wind are up. and i would get into my flat completely miserable wet and cold. being able to change into dry clothes make a hot water bottle and put the kettle on was a god send on those days. 

powercuts arent likely but if i was still by myself in that flat then knowing i was expecting a power cut and knowing the caf by the station wouldn't be having one so i could make sure i had a £5 on me for something hot before heading home wouldn't be 'psychologically' a problem if i couldn't but would make my day better and more comfortable. 

i'm really not understanding why some people think that's unreasonable? 

Sounds like you've lived a sheltered life.

Waking up the following day alive, well and safe is probably the priority for most people in this world.

If having a hot brew matters most to you then I'm totally lost on this one.

so we've reached the passive aggressive insults part of the conversation have we? 

Nothing passive about my opinions on this subject, I've been very direct so not sure where you are forming that opinion from?

what matters most to me is that my family are safe healthy and happy. mostly in that order. we agree these blackouts arent an emergency. so everyone is safe and healthy. so next priority is happy. and little affordable things make people happy (or happier). like cups of tea  

Agreed, then some easy steps can be taken to provide a contingency for a cup of tea. Camping equipment is often suggested but if it is a planned blackout then a thermos flask will do the job.

its very possible to care about people in bad situations around the world (and to support causes that help them) while at the same time understanding that you being unnesessarily uncomfortable does absolutely nothing to help them. the only benifit wearing a hair shirt can bring is by making the person wearing it feel virtuous.  

I'm not suggesting that at all, I live a very comfortable life every day, but under emergency circumstances such as an unplanned power cut them I'm happy to give up all of those comforts.

Maybe I'm different because my childhood included extensive power cuts and my family just got on with life without making a fuss?

but we aren't talking about unplanned power cuts. this thread is about pre-planned and notified cuts. 

tho i wouldn't actually call unplanned powercuts 'emergencies' for most people personally (some people are reliant on medical equipment or similar and for them it would be an emergency). for me an emergency is something which is a risk to health or safety. 

maybe i'm differnt from you because there have been not infrequent times in my life when i've had to go without comforts because i just couldnt afford them or had to prioritise other things to be able to keep getting to work or to keep feeding the meter? 

which is why i see absolutely no point in someone being uncomfortable when they do have the choice and ability to be comfortable. 

SuzeQStan

@[Deleted User] said: Maybe I'm different because my childhood included extensive power cuts and my family just got on with life without making a fuss

 But there does seem to be a fair amount of fuss here over the importance of a humble hot drink. It can be symbolic for comfort and stability in unusual times and therefore become elevated. So maybe we can all make preparations that are right for us whilst acknowledging other viewpoints and values will be different to our own. 

Chrysalis

MattMattMattUK said:

Chrysalis said:

I think the cuts will be hardest on those who are alone, as its far easier to deal with when you have people to talk to, play board games with etc.  Hopefully I will have someone to be with if and when it happens, but if not I get power cuts most years anyway.  I will take a nap.

I live alone, I will have a fully charged laptop, phone, tablet, Nintendo Switch, three high capacity power banks (1 x 10,000mAh, 2 x 22,000mAh), torches, camping lantern, batteries, several hundred books, about 1,300 hours of offline music on Spotify, I can stream through my phone etc. that is more than enough to keep me entertained for a three hour power cut and even ignoring the camping stove I am perfectly capable of lasting three hours without eating hot food. Either that or I could just go to the pub!

If one cannot cope for three hours and find ways to stay entertained then there are far bigger issues than a few three hour power cuts. 

Edit to add: I think such dire times as these, all single people should go to the pub during evening power cuts, it is the right thing to do to look out for your fellow singletons in a safe, warm, welcoming environment. 

I think you have very much over simplified things.  I also said hardest not hard.

What about if you cant go to the pub or cant get there, or you have no power banks, no books, and no offline spotify?  As odd as that may sound to you, your bubble doesnt necessarily represent everyone.  Try to have more empathy.

Apodemus

Auti said:

I think for some people it might be concerns about safety from people who may wish to use the darkness for crime and in darkness sounds can be less easily identified so creaking due heating going off etc can be more anxiety inducing. Coupled with not being able to do self soothing behaviours like making a cup of tea, watching tv or moving around the house without worrying you might fall ( not get found, break your hip etc etc) will all add to the anxiety around loss of power. This will not just apply to the elderly - dark, when not of your choice can play tricks on anyones feeling of safety. Good neighbours perhaps could pre warn vulnerable households that the power would be going off in 15 mins and check suitable items were easily available. Just my thoughts

Probably a lot in what you say, but your post reminded me of the old Spike Milligan poem:

Things that go bump in the night,
Shouldn't really give you a fright.
It's the hole in each ear,
That lets in the fear.
That, and an absence of light!

  

MattMattMattUK

ariarnia said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Deleted_User said:

ariarnia said:

Dolor said:

Bear in mind that those of us in our 70s and older lived through the three day week. I recall that it was a very cold Winter. When I mentioned this to my late Mother she gently reminded me that she had lived through the 2nd World War blitz and the Germans didn’t provide any prior notification of power outages! 

... you could be coming home to a dark cold house and have no way to make a hot drink or something to eat. 

I think this is a bit dramatic, hot drinks aren't essential and you can make a full meal without electricity, you don't have to cook a sandwich.

we've had the conversation about 'essential' before  its about relative experience and comfort vs the relatively small cost of some basic things to make life more comfortable.

after a full days work (plus commute) on a cold wet winters day then sometimes all people really want is a hot drink/meal. winter is tiring and depressing for a lot of people. january and febuary can be entirely miserable months even without powercuts.

and there's a not small group of people who live entirely by electric (often living alone and in flats) so a badly timed power cut has the potential to make them a lot more miserable than people like us in our house with other people alternative cooking and heating and hobbies that dont require electric. those are the people who will benifit most from knowing what block they are in and thinking about what they can do now so if theres a power cut (or more than one) they can be more comfortable. 

Just my opinion, but I say being "comfortable" in an emergency situation isn't a priority, people just need to stay safe and survive.

My parents remind me of the times they spend many nights in air raid shelters in the dark and cold but they survived and lived a long life. 

Being prepared is half the battle with thing like this, having a plan means that unexpected power outages can be dealt with and are quite exciting when your emergency plans come into play.

Part of my job role involves planning for emergencies, had one this week when a tree fell on a powerline and resulted in an unexpected power outage to one of my offices. We had a plan, executed the plan, everything was ok. 

i dont think a planned/pre notified time limited blackout really counts as an emergency, do you? 

people will survive for three hours without any planning or preps at all. they have an opportunity to plan to be more comfortable so why not take advantage of that to plan to do more than just 'survive'? 

Exactly, so what's the problem with not having a hot drink during a planned / short black put?

i think it's the other way around. whats the problem with someone making plans to let them have a hot drink in a blackout if it would make them more comfortable? 

Priorities is the problem.

I don't consider a hot drink a priority.

Around half of the world's population have a shortage of water and the risk of dehydration. Being in the other half and being upset about your water not being hot is not a real problem.

I don't think that someone in a third world problem has a drinking water shortage is really relevant, this is a comfort issue for people who are used to a comfortable lifestyle, however I would also have to question about the psychological state of someone who feels uncomfortable if they do not have a cup of tea or coffee for three hours.

maybe it's just me and my 'psychological state' but i can clearly remember back in 2008ish when i just joined this forum i was living in a little bedsit and commuting for an hour each way on the train and by foot. there were several days when i would be going to work in the dark. standing on my feet all day. and coming home in the dark. sometimes soaking wet because theres only so much an umbrella can do when the rain and wind are up. and i would get into my flat completely miserable wet and cold. being able to change into dry clothes make a hot water bottle and put the kettle on was a god send on those days. 

powercuts arent likely but if i was still by myself in that flat then knowing i was expecting a power cut and knowing the caf by the station wouldn't be having one so i could make sure i had a £5 on me for something hot before heading home wouldn't be 'psychologically' a problem if i couldn't but would make my day better and more comfortable. 

i'm really not understanding why some people think that's unreasonable? 

I've done awful jobs where all I wanted to do was get home and be in my own space, but I was never bothered about anything other than getting in and getting some sleep, but I never found I needed anything in particular when I got home and it would not have bothered me what I ate, what I drank, or whether I slept on the bed or floor on some days (I was working 80-100 hours as week across two jobs to pay off debts). 

I think there might be the intricacies of the conversation being lost in text, I do not view a power cut as an "emergency situation" as some others on here seem to, but neither do I think that a three hour window is worth much effort to circumvent if one is an adult without children in the home. I am not going to spend money, or get stressed about mitigating factors. I can watch/read/play/listen to multiple forms of entertainment, I can eat food that does not need cooking, or just not eat, after all it is only three hours, if it is a bit gold I can put on a jumper, or keep my jacket on etc. or in a worst case scenario go to the pub, a friends house a family members house etc.

The part that I think is unreasonable and shows that some people might have bigger issues is those people who take the view that they will be unable to cope for a three hour window without a cup of tea or coffee, or that they are buying additional cooking equipment because the idea either not something which is hot in a three hour window is so upsetting to them. There are people on here who seem to want to spend hundreds of pounds to try and mitigate the very low probability of a three hour power cut whilst also complaining that they do not have enough money for essentials, that seems to me to be an illogical position. 

MattMattMattUK

Chrysalis said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Chrysalis said:

I think the cuts will be hardest on those who are alone, as its far easier to deal with when you have people to talk to, play board games with etc.  Hopefully I will have someone to be with if and when it happens, but if not I get power cuts most years anyway.  I will take a nap.

I live alone, I will have a fully charged laptop, phone, tablet, Nintendo Switch, three high capacity power banks (1 x 10,000mAh, 2 x 22,000mAh), torches, camping lantern, batteries, several hundred books, about 1,300 hours of offline music on Spotify, I can stream through my phone etc. that is more than enough to keep me entertained for a three hour power cut and even ignoring the camping stove I am perfectly capable of lasting three hours without eating hot food. Either that or I could just go to the pub!

If one cannot cope for three hours and find ways to stay entertained then there are far bigger issues than a few three hour power cuts. 

Edit to add: I think such dire times as these, all single people should go to the pub during evening power cuts, it is the right thing to do to look out for your fellow singletons in a safe, warm, welcoming environment. 

I think you have very much over simplified things.  I also said hardest not hard.

What about if you cant go to the pub or cant get there, or you have no power banks, no books, and no offline spotify?  As odd as that may sound to you, your bubble doesnt necessarily represent everyone.  Try to have more empathy.

Well if I could not get to the pub I would stay at home, a phone charge lasts a lot more than three hours even streaming video, during a three hour power cut the mobile network is unlikely to go down as well as their backups will be adequate. For three hours one should be more than capable of just contemplating life without the need for external stimulus. 

EssexHebridean

General comment - not aimed at anyone specific:

If you are reasonably used to unplanned power cuts, they don't feel like any sort of emergency to most reasonably rational individuals with no specific power demanding needs such as medical equipment. If it's in the dark (and let's be honest, for maximum inconvenience they usually will be, and generally while you're cooking dinner too!) there's a moment of "aargh" where you grope for your phone, get the torch on, and then head straight for the emergency lighting provision and get that turned on. Then you switch off anything that will be problematic if left on and subsequently forgotten (allowing you don't knowhow long before the power comes back on again) and if you were previously doing something that relied on power then you switch to a non-energy reliant form of entertainment. (no sniggering at the back please). If it happens in daylight hours, then the switching off of anything problematic continues but you add in the switching ON of a table lamp or similar which will then tell you when the power comes back on again if by that time it's got dark. 

The people who consider outages to be an "emergency situation" are very possibly those who aren't familiar with them - because yes, if you've grown up and always lived in a world where generally speaking the lights stay on, then it can be scary. 

As said though - this thread was talking about the potential PLANNED outages that are a possibility for this winter. And for some folk, that is not only going to mean returning after work to a dark house, it's going to mean returning to a cold one too - in some cases where heating may have been substantially interrupted for consecutive days, possibly very cold. That in itself isn't a lot of fun. Add in the inability to help warm yourself up by - for example - having a hot shower, making a warm drink, and eating a hot meal - all things that many folk might do as standard after getting in from a long day at work followed by a chilly commute. Now while it's clear that there will always be some folk who will make a virtue out of discomfort - if it's possible by means of a small amount of planning to alleviate some of that discomfort and make life - gasp - a little more enjoyable without causing ANY discomfort or inconvenience to anyone else - maybe some on here need to ask themselves why precisely that is causing them so much angst that they are now ranting at other posters about it? How about - you do you - sit in the dark thinking how fortunate you were to wake up that morning. I'm with ariarnia though, I'll be using my USB lamp to read a book, or maybe doing something on my iPad thanks to my powerbank, with the meal that was in the slow cooker and is still hot because the power only went out an hour before I got home, a cup of hot chocolate from the flask I made up, and staying warm thanks to the nice fleecy throw I popped onto the sofa ready before I left that morning as I knew it was going to be cold when I got home (I'm one of those who consecutive day overnight outages are are potentially scheduled for my area would leave without much heating availability at all.) 

It's not about people not being able to cope for three hours without a hot drink - it's about them not wanting to, and not NEEDING to. If you have a big issue with that - then I'd suggest it's possibly not the person wanting the hot drink that has the "issue" here... 

SuzeQStan

@EssexHebridean - great post - everything you jus said there is 100%