What a privileged life I lead
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381776)
Rockingham, Australia
September 8, 2023 9:10pm CST
I have the dish-washer going and the washing machine. How lucky am I to have these appliances. If I wanted, I could have the robot vacuum cleaner going as well. The garden waters itself mostly and the refrigerator keeps our food cold. The only tiny cloud on the horizon is what would happen if the power goes off forever?
Speaking of fridges, on the farm we had kero fridges. There was a wick which had to stay alight which somehow kept the fridge cold. You had to make sure the kero in the tank didn’t run out and from time to time you had to trim the wick.
We had a generator which supplied power. If you wanted to use the washing machine, the generator needed to be running. We called it a ‘lighting plant’, probably because it would run the lights for a short period on stored power.
25 people like this
27 responses
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
9 Sep 23
We've often thought you were privileged. 
I hope you and Vince are enjoying your time back home. 
5 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174208)
• United States
10 Sep 23
@JudyEv I'm glad you enjoy house-sitting... I wouldn't like to be away from home that much.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381776)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Sep 23
@DaddyEvil There isn't much here to really keep us. No doubt it will grow on us in time.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (40020)
• Toccoa, Georgia
9 Sep 23
Yes, thank goodness for my washing machine and dishwasher.
4 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (40020)
• Toccoa, Georgia
10 Sep 23
@JudyEv I agree about sheets and towels. That would be hard.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135583)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Sep 23
@JudyEv It is. They were just talking about robots to help with tasks on TV this morning. They will be everywhere soon
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381776)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Sep 23
@wolfgirl569 There is a cafe in Ireland where the waiters are robots. I wish we'd gone to see it. We were in the right town.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
9 Sep 23
I'm grateful for all my appliances and the power, I would, however, like to have solar power.
2 people like this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
9 Sep 23
Interesting that you have to light wicks to keep fridge cold. LOL. I do not have a dish washer. Kinda, do not have too many dishes, and in any event, the shapes and sizes of utensils and dishwasher ...never tried it out. Where would I keep it in my small apartment. LOL
Washing machine yes. I use it once each week. I do have a vacuum cleaner and do use it now and then. But most of the time, it is the househelp who is doing the job.
Garden..I don't have any. I am expecting power outages. Living in this house would be unbearable come summer.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
10 Sep 23
@JudyEv Even so, don't we use power to cool, which in itself seems to be illogical. LOL
I have never seen those fridges. Though there are methods suggested by people out here, with earthen vessels that do freeze water quite a bit. No ice though. LOL
Not sure we can store anything for more than a couple of days in those. :(
Only 10 degrees lower than the room temperature. Doesn't make sense though. And veggies only for 5 to 7 days...not good enough for me. I keep many things for a month...like ginger garlic paste.
Book online from Mitticool official site for Clay Refrigerator that runs without electricity and Naturally cool vegetables, fruits, Milk,Water etc. Buy Mitticool Fridge online,Clay Refrigerator price india, Buy Clay Refrigerator Mumbai, Buy Clay Refrigerat
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
10 Sep 23
We do have load shedding but I cannot think of living without power - most everything is dependent on power. More power to those who keep the power going
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
9 Sep 23
You realize the luxuries as you have not always had them Judy..a wonderful way to live.
Many take everything for granted.
Myself, every day, I think on how survival would be without. As I have been without many times.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
12 Sep 23
@JudyEv It is hilarious yes and sad..what they call 3rd world problems people moaning about nonsense.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
12 Sep 23
Well, maybe... do all those gadgets make you happier?
We have a washing machine too, which I like, plus a dishwasher which I hate and only gets used if we have eight or more people for a meal (the plates always come out with that nasty smell which makes me not want to eat off them - and no that's not because the dishwasher needs cleaning)
1 person likes this
@Fleura (34927)
• United Kingdom
14 Sep 23
@JudyEv When I lived on my little boat my Mum dug out an old 'posser' which was what was used before washing machines. A bit more advanced than the old 'dolly' and tub, it was a copper cone-shaped device with holes on the end of a long handle, which sort of sucked the water in and out. I did use it and I still have it, just in case!
(that's another thing I'd like to show a photo of!)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381776)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep 23
The dishwasher is used every few days. I haven't noticed any unusual smell thank goodness.
I know getting a washing machine made my Mum very much happier and her life a lot easier. Sheets/towels were boiled in a copper then scrubbed on a board and sometimes wrung out by hand. It took all morning and was very tiring.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222288)
• United States
9 Sep 23
We now have a standby generator, thank goodness. When the power goes out, it will automatically switch on. I can't imagine being without heat or AC. Enjoy your weekend.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222288)
• United States
10 Sep 23
@JudyEv I can understand that. Have to have water.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (15373)
• Hong Kong
9 Sep 23
Yes, all these appliances save a lot of our time.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (38849)
• Philippines
12 Sep 23
I think dishwasher is not common here in my country. So you depend on generators for electricity?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381776)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep 23
This was years ago. Most have electricity now from a grid which supplies all areas.
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
9 Sep 23
The kero fridge sounds intriguing. I’ll look it up.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381776)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Sep 23
They may not make such fridges nowadays but if you're off the grid, I guess that's what you'd use.
@garymarsh6 (23979)
• United Kingdom
9 Sep 23
We have become so used to & reliant on flicking a switch, turning a tap & it works for us. It is really problematic for us when there is some kind of outage!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381776)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Sep 23
You said it. Where we are now, if there is an outage for any length of time, life can get quite difficult.
@JudyEv (381776)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Sep 23
I'm guessing there is no power to your cabin. Do you have a generator there? Again, I'm guessing not.
@JudyEv (381776)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep 23
It was a wonderful thing when power lines were run out through all the country districts and farmers were able to connect.
