cold
gale force winds
internet connection
lashing rain
loss of power
no cooking facilities
no hot drinks
Well, All Is Calm Now And I'm Back Online...
By Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
January 31, 2008 12:43pm CST
... but what a day!!! It's a very close friend's birthday today and I wanted to send a "live" text, as well as a card. Hah... some hopes!!!
I woke to howling winds and rain lashing against the window panes, and looked at the clock! Nothing... there was no power! So, I tumbled out of bed. Now, where I live is a small village, with no gas supply, so we rely on our electricity for everything. No morning cup of tea or coffee, couldn't cook, couldn't get online and talk with anybody, so I tried my landline phone. That worked ok, but not an ounce of power in the house. The water was barely warm, and obviously, the fridge and freezer off.
So, I ate a Special K cereal bar and drunk a glass of fresh orange juice, phoned my Son to tell him why I wasn't online and put his mind at ease, managed to send the birthday wishes by text, then proceeded to read a book. Then, I started to really feel the cold, so I went back to bed, just to warm up and relieve the boredom really. I wrapped the duvet closely around my body in order to get warm, and fell asleep.
Then, at about 3 o'clock, I was awoken by the portable tv which was on standby and must have clicked "on" when the power came back. Woohoooo, I could have a cup of tea! The wind had dropped and it was now calm outside, and birds were singing. I jumped out of bed, switched on my computer and went to make myself a cup of tea and a cheese and onion toastie. Whilst in the kitchen, I glanced out of the window and the workmen outside were just packing their stuff up to go home.
"Hmmmmm", I thought, "Was it the weather or the workmen who caused the cut?" There was no advice put through the door by the workmen, so I had automatically assumed it was the weather had caused the problem. Now, I wasn't so sure!
Anyway... I don't care now... I managed to get back online, and amongst it all, and I'm happy to have the facilities back. It's surprising how much you miss the computer when it's not there, isn't it? How do you manage without yours in times like this?
3 people like this
7 responses
@Darkwing (21583)
•
1 Feb 08
Thank you, my dear friend. I'm happy to be back. If it had only been the computer, I would have been ok. A bit of music or TV to keep me company, but there was nothing. As I've told the others, I read a bit of my herbal book, and then when I got cold, went back to bed to keep warm and get an extra rest.
It all worked out ok in the end. Brightest Blessings. xxx
@GardenGerty (157485)
• United States
2 Feb 08
I saw on a public television show a man who wants every child around the world to have a computer and he has a design to make it hand cranked to give children in under developed countries a computer as well. We need those in bad weather that takes out our power.I want to know what a cheese and onion toastie is, as it sounds very comforting.I am glad your power is back. Would workmen actually take out the power for the whole town? Shame on them.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157485)
• United States
3 Feb 08
Okay, that is what we call a grilled cheese sandwich, but I had never thought to put onion in one. I do like them with bacon, or with ham. It is pure comfort food. I love cheese.
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
2 Feb 08
Wow.. that sounds like a good idea for third-world countries' kids. It would certainly give us a lifeline too, to be able to access the computer and our friends at times when we couldn't do much else.
A cheese and onion toastie! Well, most people do them under the grill but I have a griddle and I like them done thus. Take two slices of bread, and lightly butter both sides of one, and one side of the other. Heat the griddle whilst you're doing this. Then chop up some onion and place it on the unbuttered side of the bread, and place a couple of slices of cheese on top of that. Then, you place both slices of bread on the hot griddle, butter-sides down. When golden brown, you place the slice that's buttered both sides on top of the cheese, toasted side inward, turn the sandwich onto the untoasted side, and cook until golden brown. The cheese melts slightly, and you have a nice, toasted, cheese and onion sandwich. You can vary the filling. Sometimes, I have Cheese and Bacon, sometimes, Cheese and Onion, Sometimes, Ham, Cheese and Tomato. It depends on my mood and how long I want to spend. Of course, bacon is cooked before you put it onto the bread. Try it... I know you'll like it if you like Cheese.
Brightest Blessings.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
1 Feb 08
I panic LOL
Our laptop has been having problems with vista so i asked my husband to reinstall windows XP and because he was busy doing that I wasn't able to use our laptop all evening. I was having withdrawals haha. I could use his work one but didn't want to so I read a book instead. Then I watched a tv program and had a hot bath and went to bed early last night.
I woke up to our laptop working fine and dandy :)
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
31 Jan 08
I get very, very crabby sweets! Sounds like a relief when you got the power back on! I think the cold and lack of tv or music would have upset me the most - I hate total silence, although as long as I have a decent book I would have kept myself occupied with that too! Glad you are back sweety and I hope the weather has calmed down! xxx
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
1 Feb 08
Yeah, I know what you mean, my friend. There's only so many other things you can do during the day. lol. I did get to read a little of my herbal book, but then I got cold, so the best place for me was bed. I managed some extra sleep which made me a little restless last night, but all will be well, I'm sure.
It's a good job it wasn't today because it has turned a lot colder, with strong, northerly winds, and even a threat of a flurry of snow, so that might have been a different kettle of fish.
Pleased to be back, my dear friend. Brightest Blessings. xxx
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
1 Feb 08
Ahhh so Gabs may get her snow after all! I have to say I was out this morning already and the wind apart from being strong is soooo icy but all we have had is a few little flurries of snow that come to nothing - I think the snow is scared to come as it doesn't want to upset our gabs! lol xxx
1 person likes this
@kayrod2 (1304)
• Australia
1 Feb 08
oh how i hate the power going out. the funny thing is, yesterday afternoon and last night we over here had bad weather and power blackouts. our power went on and off for a few hours. so the alarm clocks were flashing, noone was allowed on the computers, which near killed the kids, and tea only just got cooked. we even had a bad fog early this morning, which you dont see much of this time of year. but we needed the rain.
best wishes to you, darkwing, and take care. xxxx
@Darkwing (21583)
•
2 Feb 08
Ohhhhh, tell me about it! The weather is all upside down and every which way lately, my friend. Yesterday, on the other hand, although quite chilly and windy, was a sunny, springlike day, and I daresay today (Saturday) will be a nice one, as I have to go to work. lol.
Brightest Blessings.
@chillymullet (181)
• United States
31 Jan 08
Im glad you are back online,
But I really dont manage at all, I Go crazy if i dont have internet!
@Darkwing (21583)
•
1 Feb 08
As did I, Chilly. There was no company to be had. My neighbour was off out somewhere, so I was pretty bored. A walk might have been nice in better weather, but it was far too windy and wet, so bed was my warmest and best option.
You have the right name for how I felt yesterday. lolol. Brightest Blessings.
