When Your Power Goes Down, What Do You Have As Backup?
By Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
June 10, 2008 4:25pm CST
As some of you will know, there have been workmen upgrading the sewer systems and the storm drains in our street. Work has stopped for a while during the summer but they will be back soon, and then, I guess, we'll be back to all the power cuts, as before.
What do you have for backup if your power goes down? There is no gas supplied to the village, so when it happens, we can't cook, unless we have Calor Gas, in cylinders. I have a paraffin lamp, a torch and oodles of candle sconces and candle stands, plus a good supply of church and pillar candles for emergencies. There is a candle sconce each side of my chimney breast in the living room and on one dining room wall. Beside the hearth, on either side, there's a candle stand. There's a wrought iron candle stand in my dining room and lots of candle sticks and glass containers with candles in, and one paraffin lamp that I can carry around from room to room.
How do you cope in a power cut, at night?
9 people like this
16 responses
@biggerb (2024)
• India
11 Jun 08
I have an inverter which has a few lights burning but none of the gadgets can be used.I also keep a good stock of candles and a 2 good powerful flashlights.we had very heavy rain and during that most of the trees keep falling and power gets disrupted.
2 people like this
@Celestiamoon (231)
• Canada
11 Jun 08
Power out a night? Depends I might just go to bed lol I have a flashlight or two and I have candles and If I really needed to cook something I guess I would use my bbq. I kind of enjoy it when the power goes out ... which isn't very often. It gets so nice and quiet without all of the noises.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
16 Jun 08
Bed is the warmest place I guess, but I can't always sleep. Yes, a barbecue always comes in handy but I don't have one. It does get nice and quiet when the power goes down, doesn't it, and I think candles are really great for these times.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution, my friend.
@ellie333 (21016)
•
10 Jun 08
Hi like you Darkwing I have plenty of candles and safety matches for if and when they occur. I am all electric too and haven't got a gas back up at all but am thinking about getting a little camping stove so if it ever happens I will be able to put a pan on for hot water. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
10 Jun 08
Yes, I remember back in 1987, when we had the hurricane, that everybody without gas was rushing out to get those little camping stoves to boil water and cook breakfasts etc. I was lucky then, as I was in Brighton and had a gas fire and cooker, so we didn't go cold or hungry at least. I knew you'd have candles, somehow! lol.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution, my dear friend. By the way, I texted, and no reply as yet. 
xx
xx1 person likes this
@littleowl (7157)
•
13 Jun 08
hello my dear friend-in a power cut where I am I am fortunate to have gas so am able to make a drink but not cook! I also like you have umpteen candles everywhere in holders stands a torch so can cope without eletric unless it comes to hot water so tend to make sure that the water is aways hot-your friend blessed be littleowl
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
16 Jun 08
Why couldn't you cook by gas, my friend? Also, you could heat some water in a pan to enable you to wash. I can imagine you have loads of candles, like me, and I'll bet you have some gothic holders also, as I do. lol.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution, my dear friend. xx
@brucekaushik (891)
• India
11 Jun 08
if power goes at the night then i will lit a candle .. i do have a battery light but i prefer to stay in the candle light as i just love to stay in the candle light.
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
12 Jun 08
Nothing I would be snookered, well I have my Candles and the Cooker as you know is Gas, but I suppose I would just make a Sandwich
I would have to try and figure something for the Computer though
As for reading well I suppose I would have to invest in a big Torch, no hot water I guess it is a wash down with cold Water, no Coffee that is bad
I would have to find a Coffee shop that has Power 
Love and Hugs xxxxx@Darkwing (21583)
•
16 Jun 08
Knowing your facilities, you could make your coffee with water boiled in a pan on your gas cooker, and you wouldn't have too much difficulty in cooking a meal, my friend. A big torch or hurricane lamp would be good in the kitchen, as it would give you plenty of room to work by, and maybe either lots of candles or carry the hurricane lamp to the living room, for reading. You could also boil some water in a pan to enable you to have a wash in hot water.
Brightest Blessings, my dear friend and thank you for your contribution. Love you. xxx
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
11 Jun 08
I have very good LED light. No battery needed ever.
The problem is that my boyfriend always keep it in our garage and I can't find it when needed....
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
11 Jun 08
We just have candles. I love candles so I tend to have many of them around the house. We also have a few hurricane lamps that we drag out when the power goes especially if we know the power is going to be out for a few hours. We have access to several flashlights in case we're caught off guard so we can find the things we need. We have electric everything so if the power goes we can't cook. We do have some small gas grills in case we need to cook but we've never had to use them yet.
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
11 Jun 08
We do have a lot of torches in the house and we always try to keep some handy for emergencies , in every roonm. Niamh however , bless her, has other ideas and is forever 'borrowing them! I think there must be a huge stash of torches in her playshed somewhere! We have plenty of candles in the living room , none around the rest of the house but we can move them! I don't like candles in the kids rooms so they have what looks like a paraffin lamp but it is actually battery powereed! xxx
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
16 Jun 08
No... even though I used to have to go to bed by candlelight when I stayed at my grandmother's house as a child, and there was never an accident with them, candles are not a good idea in this day and age, in the bedroom. I don't blame you for that. The battery powered "paraffin" lamp is a good idea.
Brightest Blessings my dear friend and thank you for your contribution. xxx
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
12 Jun 08
Hi Drakwing! I guess I have enough candles to last me for a week but of course the power won't go down that long. haha..I am using an electricity for cooking and don't have a gas alternative but I think I will be using the traditional charcoal way of cooking if the power gets a little long before it gets back again.
Take care and have a wonderful day! 
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
16 Jun 08
That would be like going back to ancient times, wouldn't it, my friend... candles and charcoal cooking? I love the adventure of all that. It gives me an insight into how our ancestors would have lived.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution, my dear friend. xxx
1 person likes this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
11 Jun 08
I always have candles and hopefully batteries in my torch but that is about all. I live in a city so it was takeaways when we had a power cut.
I really wish we had a gas cooker not just in case of power cuts but also I really hate cooking with electricity it's just such a pain to get the right amount of heat.
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
11 Jun 08
No, we haven't really had what you would call a bad one here, for a while. Quite often, it goes out in the night and lasts till about ten in the morning. That's not so bad because you're in bed and not in need of electricity.
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your conribution my dear friend. x
@weemam (13372)
•
10 Jun 08
We have gas pal , I have a gas fire and a gas cooker , My hubby has a thing about torches , he is always buying them and we have lots of T lights and candles in the kitchen drawer so we are fine here , I hope it won't be too bad for you pal , I would quite enjoy the candles but not the cold ,years ago when we had an all electric house we use to huddle together on the couch under the continental quilt xx
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution, my dear friend. xxx
@deeeky (3667)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
10 Jun 08
ASbolutely nothing !
If anything happens to my power such as my electric meter running out of credit ( yes I have to fill it with credit by bying cards from the shop to stick into the meter).
It dosnt bother me as there are 24 hour supermarkets and garages to go to for refreshment or groceries if needed.
I can also go to bed until another day dawns.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
10 Jun 08
Hmmm... twenty four hour supermarkets? What are they? The nearest twenty-four hour supermarket to me is at Gatwick or Brighton and I don't drive, so a need is created for backup stocks! lol.
I think you'd need a generator of your own to keep your computer running. I just don't know how you'd cope without it! 
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution, my dear friend. x
Brightest Blessings and thank you for your contribution, my dear friend. x
