Am I too late

With the “NEWS” reporters reverting back to their, now familiar / comfortable, role of “speculation”. Facts tend to deter debate, putting pundits out of work?

Apparently we are running out of gas, power cuts will strike any time soon, road grit has been rationed, public transport on its knees, etc.

What could / should we have done?

Please give grave thought before using, anything unusual to you, naked flames in doors.

Ensure you have a phone that will work during a power cut.

We all need back up:

Mine include some of the following.

You may be surprised.

A store cupboard as previously mentioned.

Wind up torches. Most times a torch is needed for less than minute, with batteries costing pounds for this, and then leaking and so torch becomes dysfunction splat.

A portable, (AM / FM, DAB) radio or MP3 player, with fully charged batteries. Rechargeable batteries, last up to three times as long as, an alkaline per charge. Initial costs are about double but a thousand charges for pennies.

Candles and lighters. Always on offer somewhere. Use tea lights on a saucer, with a reflector to direct the light where wanted.

Never fall asleep by candle light, if you must keep the monsters at bay, use a battery powered light.

A coal fire, I buy my coal in the spring when reduced to clear.

A small portable gas barbecue, Primus / Gaz stove for cooking.

Blow up / camping / settee, bed with sleeping bag for use in the living room living room.

My cooker has a gas hob with an electric oven.

I make sure I have a fortnight’s medication in hand when getting a repeat prescription.