Electricity-free day - part two

This time, our simple day ended with Usain Bolt running the 100m in 9.63 seconds.   We seem to end our electricity free days with memorable radio listening.  Last time it was Stevie Wonder performing at the Diamond Jubilee concert; this time, the London 2012 Olympics.  I went to bed feeling satisfied and full of contentment.  Not so much is different about these days we have without electricity, but we just seem so much more in tune with the natural environment around us - bound by the daylight hours and simple food.

The children were much more supportive and into the whole adventure this time round.  They informed us - rather than the other way round, as they entered our bedroom at about 7am - that there was no t.v. this morning and they had shed light into their room by pulling up the blind rather than by the usual flick of the switch.

Dinner was amusing this time and perhaps not an advert for healthy living!  The children had pasta and cheese sauce all done on the gas hob, and for us, Chris made some delicious avocado bruschetta by toasting the bread over the gas flame!  One problem: we were still hungry, but not hungry enough to make  another whole dish.  Solution: a packet of crisps each and a chocolate mousse from the corner shop!  Oh well... At least we sat out on the swing-chair in the garden enjoying the natural light before retiring to bed with our trusty battery radio.

I can't really put into words why the days we have done this feel so satisfying.  My holidays at a friend's cottage in Shropshire have always stuck in my mind as something I would love to recreate one day.  Her extended family together own a little cottage near Leominster, in a tiny village, and every year she would take a group of friends for a little break in the summer.  No electricity, simple living - one room for the boys and another for the girls, paraffin lamps, a gas-run fridge and a river at the bottom of the garden.  Our days were filled with long, adventurous walks, card games, some wine and swimming in the river - it was bliss!  I haven't quite got the little basic cottage of my own yet but our own days without electricity go some way to replicating the simple pleasures, and the relaxation and feeling of liberation, that comes without technology and electricity.

My useful husband!

My useful husband saved us some money last week!  He is very proud of his achievement as I was just about to phone the plumber when he saved us a call-out charge, with some useful surfing the net to solve the problem ourselves.

We had come back from a few days break to find we had no hot water in the morning!  Help!  Our new boiler was put in about 12 months ago, as our 8-year-old boiler before that gave up for good.  We have had no problems since the new boiler had been installed; we were just pleased that we no longer had to fork out for regular call-outs from the plumber to sort out our heating.  So when the water wouldn't heat up the other morning, I panicked.  I looked at the boiler - that didn't help.  My first reaction was to re-set it, but that did nothing!  Next stop, the instructions - not much use!  Third step is usually a call to the experts - in this case, the plumber.  Chris, who is always trying to fix things himself to save money, has a mixed record.  If it is decorating (painting, plastering, putting together), or electrics, he has a very good record; but anything to do with wood or working with technology tends to mean a failed attempt by him, sometimes spending money on the way, but resulting in us spending a whole load more money after he has had his go!!  So I got the usual "don't call them yet" response when I informed him of my next step.  Reluctantly, on my way to work, I reminded him of the urgency of having hot water in a family of five.  To my surprise, the problem had been fixed only a few hours later after my husband resourcefully checked out fix-it forums which he found via google - all very simple and representing a big saving!