Valkyrie Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 We had a power cut a short while ago, only lasted about 5 minutes and when I went out to collect the girls bowls I could hear loads of house alarms ringing all over the area. Then OH went to collect DD from Basingstoke an hour or so later and he said that we were the only ones to have the power back on - the rest of the village/town is in total darkness. We just had another shut down, so perhaps they have switched everyone back on again. Anyone else had any recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Not today, but on Wednesday evening at about 9.30pm I was in the pub with my sisters and my parents and the whole of Salisbury had a power cut. Some came back on, but the centre was completely black. And the amount of security alarms going off was incredible. Glad we don't live in the centre of town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Sppoky - we had one today too - thismorning at some point between 10.30 and 1pm as we were out, and came back to the oven clock flashing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 We have had five since moving in in January. The longest lasted six hours!! On the first power cut we heard 2 generators in neighbouring properties kick in straightaway. We both looked at each other and said, " Is there something we don't know about this place?' Romantic sitting round candles with the woodburner ablaze. Good job I have a gas cooker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 We have had five since moving in in January.The longest lasted six hours!! On the first power cut we heard 2 generators in neighbouring properties kick in straightaway. We both looked at each other and said, " Is there something we don't know about this place?' Romantic sitting round candles with the woodburner ablaze. Good job I have a gas cooker. I used to work in a pub in the lakes and we had very regular power cuts There were always loads of candles to bring out if it got bad, and we had an emergency standby menu that could be prepared using only the gas supply! Always had the traditional hand pulled ale on standby as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 19, 2008 Author Share Posted December 19, 2008 I was telling DD that it happened a lot when I was little. I had a Chad Valley projector that was used during the power cuts. I remember it had lots of cartoons one was Woody Woodpecker and Roy Rogers with Trigger on another. For years I kept the Trigger one - haven't a clue what happened to the projector. We also used to play silhouettes and dad did his usual torch in the face scary looks. 6 hours!!! Gosh that's a long time, DA. No generators here unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 Koojie, I am really surprised that you have had a cut and we haven't. I normally have to run round to my friend's house in Hook with all my freezer stuff as we get them all the time (especially when the weather is bad.) You would never think that we are just three miles from a major town! Hope everything stays ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 19, 2008 Share Posted December 19, 2008 We get a lot of them here - we are used to it now. We see it as a small downside of living somewhere rural & lovely. Every rom in the house has candles & matches in The last one was a couple of weeks ago at 7.30am & Cleo had to go to school with only half her hair straightenend - disaster!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 19, 2008 Author Share Posted December 19, 2008 Cinnamon wrote: The last one was a couple of weeks ago at 7.30am & Cleo had to go to school with only half her hair straightenend - disaster!!! DD would sympathise with her there - her straighteners broke and it was pure hell until she replaced them! She has lovely wavy hair if it is allowed to go natural - when it was long she had such lovely ringlets, ho hum, thank goodness for cameras. Jlo - apparently it was out up to the railway and anyone the other side would be OK - the Hoggett was fine and Newnham Road, but going towards Camberley was out but I don't know how far. Mum has been at my brothers and when I went to check her house it looked like hers was out for around 2 hours. Probably all went back on when we had the second glitch. OH said everywhere else had candles in the windows. Maybe Hook has overdone the outdoor lights this year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronmusgrove123 Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 thats wierd all of you having them we havnt had a one in about 5-6 yrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 I live in a very rural area, which is why we get them a lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 nothing here for a few years, only lasted a couple of hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 We quite often get tiny power cuts just off then on again but it's still enough to set all the electrical clocks flashing. It is also enough to fry a lap top so I always use a surge protector Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted December 20, 2008 Share Posted December 20, 2008 No power cuts, but that's just as well otherwise we'd really be stuffed as our boiler's broken and we have to use the immersion heater to get hot water and a storage heater for warmth. Luckily the boiler man has managed to find a new pilot light and time switch for it and is coming to fit it on Monday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 We have had 3 power cuts here since we moved in July. The first one was the day after we moved and we were not prepared. The lastest one happened a few weeks ago when someone cut through a major electricity cable at the boarding school where I work. The power went off mid morning but we still managed to feed over 800 people (staff and students) a hot meal. I found out we are connected to the very same cable when I returned home that afternoon and the house was in near darkness. I couldn't make myself a much needed cup of tea. Storage heaters meant the house was still warm and later I lit a lovely coal fire. We played Uno by candle light. Fish and chips were fetched from the nearby town for supper, and the camping stove and kettle were found for hot drinks. We have a torch in every room incase of power cuts, also candles and matches except in the bedrooms. We must get the range cooker connected to LPG and then I could have had my cup of tea The power was off for about 10 hours in total. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 LPG is horrendously expensive at the moment! - we're moving more towards wood! We used to have frequent power cuts back in the village proper, since we moved here we haven't had as many. I think it's because we live nearer a different village now, even though our address is the same one. We have torches or automatic lights in nearly every room as well - and back-up cooking facilities should we need them. Our main problem would be the 6 freezers which are full - the generator we have would not be able to cope with all of them if we have a power cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 LPG is horrendously expensive at the moment! - we're moving more towards wood! . I know. I keep hinting about a wood burning Rayburn but Andy is being stubborn Sourcing wood would be an expensive problem. A Everhot range would be nice, but then we would need our own wind turbine to power it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 That sounds good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jillus Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 We had six power cuts last night over a one hour period, each lasting about 30 seconds and they happened during the Strictly final. Trouble is we have to reset the microwave clock each time and the broadband connection takes time to reset itself. Rang the electricity company but no answers there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 We probably have a power cut every 2 weeks or so. They only last a few minutes. Last year the power went out at 3pm and didn't come back on for 3 days. We also keep candles and matches dotted around the place and torches upstairs too. We bought a camping gas stove as the cooker is electric and we can then have a cup of tea. No help with the internet though - that was my biggest concern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 We get so many that we bought a generator a couple of years ago I will admit to quite liking them though.I find them exciting & a change from the old routine. And I do love candle light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 We get loads here in Banbury, but the office, which is 5 mins walk from home must be on a different 'ring' as we don't get the same power outages. My old gas oven may be rubbish but at least I can still use it in a power cut; I've been known to cook on the log burner too when the oven broke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 When I was a child we lived at the top of a very long,very steep hill in a cottage in the middle of a vast woods. We used to get cut off regularly with heavy snow fall (it just doesn't snow like that any more ), & as you can imagine we had numerous power cuts. I remember once we were without power for almost a week & cooked all our food on the open fire in the living room.Lots of beans on toast! My Dad sledged all the way down Remenham hill (about 2 miles) to Waitrose,stocked up on tins & dragged them all back home on the sledge as the hill was closed to traffic There was also no school for a week as the school bus couldn't get up the hill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 I remember the days of living in the middle of nowhere and snow drifts 4foot deep. We used to have wait for the farmer to come and dig us out ( when he came to feed the cattle in the field opposite the house). We had a camping gas stove and an open fire. Like Cinnamon, no school for a week and we had to take the sled to the village for bread and milk. I remember frost so severe that you could walk on top of the snow drifts.......very surreal walking up the lane level with the top of the fence posts Don't get weather like that anymore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
