Russia cutting off gaa supplies.. How worried should Europeans be?

[Ewetoo]

Russia switched off the gas to Germany on Wednesday, they said it was for maintenance & for 2 days only . Russia announced this morning due to more maintenance needed they won't be switching it on as planned & gave no date for it to be switched on... I find this very scary & the winter is already predicted to be bitterly cold (can't find link to weather prediction)

Btw, I'm all for taking Putin out.
If I fall out of a hospital window soon, you'll know where I've gone to.

Heat pumps are not the answer for the millions of homes completely unsuitable for them and if the cost of electricity stays high they will become another white elephant.
We looked at solar panels /battery + heat pump and solar water tank , cost would be approaching £20k and would probably need to replace half the radiators for bigger ones too.
We could afford it but then our savings would be gone and it would take years to recoup the cost.
We have a very efficient 5 year old gas boiler and if they do end up banning the sale of them in 2025 ( they wont) we will buy one beforehand and store it in the garage as will lots of people.

www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/defence-forces-monitor-russian-warships-off-irish-coast/

This dude is not stopping. He has no designs on Ireland however, he literally tested the waters in February before invading the Ukraine. He knows that Ireland has no defence and he knows that the UK will get involved.

It's not random testing. He's provoking Europe and testing what it will take to get the UK involved.

I'd prefer Boris in charge of a nuclear weapon that Liz Truss. Who would think that we'd be asking for Boris to come back?

*One thing that worries me about electric blackouts is how would we be affected trying to buy things either in store or online - how can we pay if people mostly use their card and systems/electric are down? We could get cash out from the ATM but would there be enough physical cash to go round but even then, most shops use electronic tills. Will blackouts only happen to certain businesses and homes?

Am I worrying unnecessarily? I hope I am.*

As I understand it, if there's not enough energy to meet demand then blackouts would be planned and shared in advance so you'd plan to do your shopping around the black outs or go to a different area. If I understand your post correctly I don't think this is something that you need to stress about too much.

A rolling programme of blackouts to conserve energy is not new.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_blackout

Ireland is neutral but it's also pissing distance to London.

Why can't anyone figure this shit out? It's obvious!

That's our take on them as well.

I keep hearing media interviews pushing them and dismissing people's concerns.

The other often touted solution communal heating agreements - not covered by unit price caps.

The people who wish they had an energy price cap

My parents have just had a new gas boiler - I think we'll end up needing one before 2025 anyway not we'd probably get one before that.

I shower at my gym
People considering this as a cost saving exercise always make me smile. Would it not be more cost efficient to shower and exercise at home and cancel your gym membership?
Especially when their prices double because of all their members coming to take long, hot showers 😆

At the moment I pay £20 a month for swim only membership.

I swim early morning/late evening. So I get 2 free hot showers a day and am getting considerably fitter. And my water bill is reduced.
My electric was £27 last month and Gas 10.40.
At the moment it works for ME
Its a positive thing for my Mental health and stops me sitting worrying.

People in Ukraine don't want to be be part of Russia. Democracy is worth fighting for. The Soviet Union grew out of post war Europe. Countries didn't get a choice to join. Everything between Russia and Berlin got swallowed up behind the Iron Curtain; living with secret police and command economics. When people got actual choices; they wanted free markets and democratic freedoms. The idea of Russia just being allowed to 'take back' lands held by under the Soviet Union is appalling- and if that happened; there would be wider impacts on the global economy- there's not a scenario here where we get 'left alone'

I was homeless at 16 and squatted in a house without gas or electric for just over a year.

Is it just in the UK that people need to heat their homes,or is that world wide? Because we have taken more than our fair share of energy for ages and priced other countries out of the market for ever. If power, wealth and energy get redistributed is that a bad thing?

Only defence we have in Ireland is our Cork fisherman.... No faith in Simon Coveney whatsoever... Also the Russian Embassy plans with a bunker etc were quite worrying!

I have no words.
Did you buy a new kettle too?

@Ewetoo yes! That Russian bunker in the “heart of Dublin” was horrifying and literally right under noses!

just a quick fyi - someone mentioned that they’re enjoying outside temps of 17 today. There are parts of the uk that don’t reach 17 on any day of the year. Unless the house is on fire. I know, because I live in one of those places.

Terrifying, what did they want it for? The plans also included private water supply just for the embassy, their own generators for electricity... Basically anything they would need to stay entirely self sufficient in their underground bunker in Dublin 4!

i can’t remember what they said they needed for, but it was as sensible/believable as “gets a bit hairy when the rugby’s on”.

For all the posters laughing at me for showering at the gym etc which costs me £20 a month... It comes across as utterly spiteful.
It means I get to stay clean and warm and 2 showers daily at home would cost me a lot more than £5 a week in electric.
Im just trying my best to give me a sense of control over some aspect of my life.

Laugh and mock all you like but at least I'm trying to do something proactive.

To give myself a sense of control.

I think some people are being deliberately obtuse. For many a gym membership is a priority- its great for physical and mental health. Even someone who can afford a membership ergo isn't on the breadline is wise to save a few quid by showering there- its not rocket science and those making it so are just being purposefully nasty.

I read your header there @Ewetoo and was wondering what supplies the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) was getting from Russia and why there might be a thread on Mumsnet about it. It must have been a big deal for it to make it on to Mumsnet!

Then I opened the thread.....and now I'll get my coat! 😂 😆

No because I took some personal responsibility and made lifestyle changes.
I put off my expensive summer holiday so that I had a cash reserve.
I shower at my gym and my last months bill for gas and electric was £38.46.

And what about the thousands like me who haven’t been on a holiday for 7 years, can’t afford a gym membership , are under pension age but unable to work due to a progressive health condition? Those of us on a fixed income who are just above the saving threshold to claim benefits . Who are now using their savings to pay our bills .

Before the fuel hikes I had £60 approx disposable income a month after all my bills. Now there is a deficit and I’m having to go into my small saving pot. I suppose when I have bugger all I’ll then be able to claim housing benefit .

For many people no matter how much they cut back, there comes the point there are no more cuts to make. I shop at Aldi, am good at cooking healthy, cheap vegetarian meals. I have 5 min showers and use the washing machine once a week. I don’t eat out, sell anything I don’t use on eBay. My main electric use is the fridge, my ipad and the washing machine. I don’t have a tv, don’t have Netflix or tv licence. I live in a small studio HA flat and my quarterly electric bill from May - Aug was £200. What shall I cut back next do you think?

For all the posters laughing at me for showering at the gym etc which costs me £20 a month... It comes across as utterly spiteful.

Laugh and mock all you like but at least I'm trying to do something proactive.

Yes but you are judging others & implying those who don't want to die of hypothermia are entitled.

Some self awareness wouldn't go amiss!

To give myself a sense of control.

You don't actually have any, & judging those who aren't in your opinion taking personal responsibility and made lifestyle changes to make you feel like you have more control won't work.

Sorry @Fallonangel I didn't intend to be unkind or particularly aim my comments at you. If you can afford a gym membership and find it helpful to you that's brilliant and yes in those circumstances showering there makes some sense. It's just that there's an awful lot of people offering "tips" like, shower at the gym, buy an air fryer, buy an oodie etc who genuinely don't seem to recognise how privileged they are compared to the people who will be the hardest hit.