Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm both a "conspiracy theorist" and a "prepper" yet also a largely normal everyday person.
I don't hide in my basement full of stuff sharpening my knives like some do, but I do take as practical a "be prepared" attitude as I can just like they taught me when I was young...
This winter, even if they manage to keep the power and natural gas supplies running, they are definitely going to fist you all on the price of the commodities.
For those of you who have access to a decent plumber and a place to fit such a thing you ought to look at a solid fuel stove with a back boiler that will work with your central heating NOW.
I want an aga in the garage so we can heat water and the garage and cook on the thing, but MY oh says now she'd rather use the space for something else that owns that won't save us about a grand a year form now on.
Because you KNOW the price is never going to go down again because of "climate change" as well as the massive trousering of our money that is now happening again...
At least we declined the "smart" meter, so I can reduce our electricity consumption with solar and a grid tie invertor. I'll even get the wind turbine to work again.
A secondary heating boiler for the central heating for those who can, would be a great thing. I made my own fuel out of cardboard, and it burns really nice.
Post Brexit we really want to start innovating again. British style. If the gas and electric are going to become unaffordable then we need to make our own on an individual basis.
I can RELY on a solid fuel gravity fed central hearting system. Yer methane fed, combi boiler with it's microprocessor and requirement for electricity as well as fuel, not so much.
IF the electric starts going off regularly on a nationwide basis there is a way to power your entire homes minimum power requirement (fridge TV LED lights laptop charger mobile phone charger) off a suitcase generator plugged into to a socket on the downstairs ringmain, but it's dangerous (and not in an amusing way) if not done strictly right.
But make sure you get a "four stroke" suitcase generator, if things get that grim..
I've still got real fire places and am investing in coal, which is stock piling in my back yard. One of them has an oven and a hot plate. So, I won't go without a hot meal whatever the power situation.
I believe in green energy and my fires have been an autumn/ winter treat; a remembrance of my pre-central heating childhood and my Dad as a coal miner. They may be bad for the environment, but you can't beat a glass of vino and a good book or knitting by your own fireside. But this year, it might be altogether too real again, with frost inside the window until the fire is going.
Btw wish I could invite you round to put a solar panel and wind turbine in for me. How much do you charge for installation, lol?
If you are anywhere near the midlands that could be a thing.
Personally, I've found wind to be quite useless the vast majority of the time, only solar is halfway reliable, and anecdotally, that seems to be true across the board.
Plus, wind turbines are the biggest eyesore known to man.
It's all to punish us, for not electing the Socialists.