What 'modern conveniences' could you not live without, and why?

[Earlybird]

...doing my bit to try to start some interesting threads....

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

my computer with internet.

Well, I know I could live without it. But, in idle moments I've been wondering what were to happen if we had a huge gas crisis over here. Much of our electricity is generated by gas power stations. I know that I have enough logs in to keep a room warm for a few weeks. I have a camping stove and enough gas to last 2 weeks. I have candles and quick cook food. I even know how to make pancakes on top of an old bake bean tin
But its the thought of not having the internet to talk about how awful it is and to swap tips that drives me into a state of mild panic.

How about you Earlybird?

[GossipMonger]

I could live without the internet but I wouldnt like it

I could live without my dishwasher but I wouldnt like it

I could live without TV but I wouldnt like it


I COULD NOT live without my hair straighteners and they are not even GHDs!!

[Earlybird]

Hmm - for me would probably be one/all of the following:

indoor plumbing
central heating (am spoiled and hate being cold)
washing machine

[VoluptuaGoodshag]

I don't have a dishwasher at the moment and am actually preferring life without it. DH and I do the dishes together after dinner and have a wee blether and it's great seeing the kitchen all tidy without thinking that you have to go and empty it in an hour.

[waspriceyp]

Mascara

[ilovelovemydog]

washing machine. We had 3 weeks without one, and did trips to the laundromat which was fine for finite period, but long term it would be annoying....

[mrsmaidamess]

Ahhh, Voluptua I too used to think hand washing the dishes was preferable to loading the machine. For 4 long years I thought this.

I have a machine now however, and wonder how I managed with all those stinky pots and plates stacked high in the sink, and damp tea towels cluttering up the place.

I would NOT go back to my previous situation for all the tea in china.

And dh does all the emptying.

[ShauntheSheep]

indoor clean running water in the kitchen for definite and also a washing machine. Would HATE to have to go fetch water for cooking and cleaning and shudder at the thoguth of having to wash clothes by hand.

Love my gas central heating but could do fire/range if necessary. Ditto cooker.

Could cope without a bathroom tho I do love my bath.

Could cope without indoor loo I guess

[Earlybird]

Giving up a dishwasher wouldn't bother me at all. Not a problem.

[Tinker]

No dishwasher so not bothered by that (would like one though)

But, continuing theme of straighteners, I could not do without a hairdryer either

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

washing machine

[Bramshott]

Washing machine
Rubbish collections

[Mercy]

Central heating
Washing machine

[Earlybird]

I could also quite happily give up my mobile phone.

[12StoneNeedsToBe10]

Apart from the obvious ones (running water, electricity, gas, heating etc) I've recently decided to cook a lot more from scratch. Last week I made 5 loaves of bread, I made some biscuits and cakes over the weekend, and I'd be totally lost without my food processor - I wouldn't have the energy or the inclination to stand there kneading dough for all those loaves without it.

[LackaDAISYcal]

washing machine. I have a three DCs including a toddler and a baby in cloth; need I say more.

[francagoestohollywood]

Central heating and washing machine. The rest can go... though I'd be sad to see my mac with the internet connection going...

[georgimama]

I thought I couldn't live without dishwasher and tumble dryer (both broke recently ) but am actually managing surprisingly well.

I do need my washing machine though. I'd rather give up an indoor loo or central heating than a washing machine!

[happywomble]

washing machine

[FAQtothefuture]

washing machine -

why - becaues I can't hand wash clothes to save myself, ended up paying one of the groundsstaff that lived on the school grounds to wash my clothes for me as I was that bad when I lived abroad

[Flibbertyjibbet]

Washing machine.
We recently moved to a house that wasn't finished (long story) and left pc, internet, phone, bread maker, fridge, hot water (shower bath sink etc) and washing machine at the other house. We had no central heating (coal fire) or hot water (kettle) for several weeks.

So, what did I miss the most?

The biggest inconvenience by far with two grubby little boys and a builder partner, was the lack of washing machine.

(Mind you doing without a fridge this last two months has been a doddle, we just keep it all in a box in the yard!).

We haven't had a freezer or microwave for years and don't miss them at all.