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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shitting it in case the power goes out.

65 replies

Happyhippy45 · 26/07/2018 22:04

I'm home alone again tonight for the second time in over 20 years. 1st time was 2 days ago and there's thunder rumbling in the distance but getting closer.
I usually love a good thunderstorm but I'm genuinely panicking a bit.
Our power quite often gets knocked out durIng storms.
I can't find the good torches. I think dh took them with him for the job he's doing. I don't want to light candles because of fire hazard. I've got MS so coordination isn't great.
I'm imagining sitting in the dimly lit room with no internet scaring myself to death at every noise I hear and scared to move because my vision is terrible in dimly lit places. I'm scared I'll fall.
Someone please tell me to get a grip and reassure me I'll be fine.

OP posts:
keyboardkate · 26/07/2018 22:39

Sorry now, you are massively overreacting imv.

Get an eye mask. ear plugs and a shot of brandy with milk and you will not care a jot. I know this from lightning storms in the past.

I love that solution lol!

JennyHolzersGhost · 26/07/2018 22:39

You literally said ‘Someone please tell me to get a grip‘. People are doing that. Get a grip.

AdoraBell · 26/07/2018 22:40

Well done manycrisps, very helpful Hmm

Glad you are feeling better after speaking to your DH Happyhippy

Original poster
Happyhippy45 · 26/07/2018 22:42

jenny yeah telling me to get a grip is fair enough. I just didn't like manycrisps tone. It's was a bit harsh and insulting.

OP posts:
UpstartCrow · 26/07/2018 22:45

Happyhippy45 I'm in a similar situation to you, and its turned me into a bit of a prepper. I got a bunch of wind up torches off Ebay and they are hung on the door handles. We have a couple of lanterns in various cupboards. It just makes me feel a bit less vulnerable and dependant.

Judydreamsofhorses · 26/07/2018 22:45

I had a weird thing back in February where a lightbulb randomly blew and shattered, and fused the whole house (it transpired the bulb was wrong) and DP was away. I ended up needing a sparky because we have old wire style fuses - fortunately a friend’s husband is a qualified electrician. He really told me off for not having decent torches, just the light on my phone. We bought powerful torches and now have one tucked away in every room, just in case - is it worth doing that after this passes, OP?

I totally get why you are panicking. I was worse because DP was away in the country and he had no phone signal, although I was able to use the bedside lamps, at least. I really hope you’re okay, and that the power stays up.

AhCheeses · 26/07/2018 22:47

HappyHippy, have you looked at lightningmaps.org?
You can see the storms in real time so you be able to see if there's any in your area and how big they are? Might help settle your nerves if you know it's just a mild storm passing by and that it's not going to go right over you?

Original poster
Happyhippy45 · 26/07/2018 22:48

Thanks adora Yeah just speaking to him calmed me down. I mean I wasn't hysterical or anything just pretty anxious.

OP posts:
Aintnothingbutaheartache · 26/07/2018 22:49

Quote from Benidorm when Liam is afraid of dinosaurs
“There is nothing to fear but fear itself, I am in control of this situation and I will not be beaten”!
Say it like a mantra and find your inner Liam!

wikedminx · 26/07/2018 22:50

We have had a lot of thunder this evening, but so far no blackouts (you watch! i have just jinxed myself!!!)
Earlier I suggested to my daughter that she downloaded something onto her ipad incase we get a blackout, I have also made sure all phones etc are charged.
We lived in a rural area 10 years ago, and got used to powercuts, i just wish that all new tech had been available then! trying to keep 3 kids amused with no power was a nightmare!! 3 cheers for new tech - netflix etc!!

I totally get the panic! I still get a bit freaked out by powercuts...

HaveSomeGrace · 26/07/2018 22:51

Op when you go to town next (and this won’t help at all tonight but may in the future!), grab yourself a few packets of light sticks from Poundland, the ones you snap and they glow for several hours. They’re great instead of candles. I have some in my car for my work as I visit a lot of elderly and vulnerable people and if a powercut happens, they aren’t always left with a decent torch by relatives, so these light sticks are great for them, and safe. I’ve used them myself too at home when we’ve had powercuts and there’s some in my go-to box instead of candles and matches.

Original poster
Happyhippy45 · 26/07/2018 22:54

upstartcrow
I usually have my stash of good torches, got a couple of excellent head torches that light up the whole room. Dh took them with him as him and DS need to investigate an unlit attic😱
Got a few wind up ones but not enough energy to operate for long😂

Thanks judy
I think I'll get dh to pick up more good head torches from Costco that are mine and not to be moved. I used to spend a lot of time rounding up my torches because people use them and don't put them back!

ahcheeses thanks for that. I'd forgotten about that site!

OP posts:
Ellie56 · 26/07/2018 22:56

Some spectacularly unhelpful responses on here to a disabled person feeling a bit vulnerable. Hmm

LadyOdd · 26/07/2018 22:58

Charge your phone, download a show or book x

Imnotacelebgetmeouttahere · 26/07/2018 22:59

We currently have a power cut...about 3.5hrs and counting...Hmm

I was not well prepared Blush but i will be next time Grin

Original poster
Happyhippy45 · 26/07/2018 23:00

aintnothing thanks that's very helpful for times like these.
wikedminx I grew up in the 70s when there were lots of power cuts. I clearly remember my mum trying to keep 3 kids entertained round the gas fire playing "I spy." It didn't go well😂

havesomegrace that's a great idea! Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Happyhippy45 · 26/07/2018 23:03

imnotaceleb
3 and a half hours! Oh dear. Hope it's back on soon so you can reset all the clocks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Happyhippy45 · 26/07/2018 23:09

ellie56 yeah its amazing how little empathy some people have.
I'm not out for sympathy just had to explain that I wasn't a healthy middle aged woman behaving like a small child.....well I was a bit but there was a reason!

OP posts:
Fourforksakes · 26/07/2018 23:13

manycrisps

I was just looking for a bit of support you twat.

Oh OP I'm sorry, but that did make me laugh - just perfectly put Grin

Not sure if some of those replying missed the bit where you say you have MS that can affect your co-ordination or they're just bloody horrible, but eh, at least they are in the minority. I suffer from severe migraines that affect my balance and co-ordination, and it is bloody scary when that happens even with all the lights on so I can see why you feel anxious.

Glad you are feeling a bit calmer now, some good advice you've been given here. Maybe good idea to get a little 'survival kit' together of torches (hide them!), spare batteries, phone charger etc and anything else you think would come in useful (brandy ha..). You probably won't need it, but just knowing it's there will hopefully ease any anxiety. Take care of yourself.

MissConductUS · 26/07/2018 23:17

I'm also in a semi rural area that loses power quite frequently. It's bad enough that we have a petrol powered Honda generator in the garage we can connect if needed. DH is a bit of a nut about flashlights (torches). We have high quality ones with rechargeable batteries all over the house. The LED ones are excellent and quite reasonable on amazon. Buying a few is cheap peace of mind.

I hope you come through the storm okay Happy.

Fruitbatdancer · 26/07/2018 23:19

I hate power cuts, I always freak out. Slightly better with mobile phones as not so disconnected Flowers I hope the storm passes soon.
Out of interest roughly where are you? I really really want a storm ((not a power cut!) to break this bloody heat!

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 26/07/2018 23:36

What nonsense - pull yourself together

I always find that comments like this sound really quite foolish.

Hope you're okay OP, and the night goes well.

Original poster
Happyhippy45 · 26/07/2018 23:55

Thanks for all,the support. The storm has passed over the Scottish Borders and Edinburgh. Fb has gone mad with all the posts about the storm. I missed it because I was on the phone with dh. I'm a bit disappointed tbh. It looked pretty impressive.
Phone and iPad are charged. Torches in the right places (bathroom, bedroom etc.)
I'll be wondering what all the fuss was about in the morning.
Night night

OP posts:
OneInAMillionYou · 26/07/2018 23:57

Hi OP

Did the incredibly rude posters miss the part about you being disabled? Why be so rude to someone who's posted for a bit of support? It baffles me.

Glad you are feeling a bit better. I echo those posters who suggest making a den or
nest of your bed, with everything around you you might need, so then you don't have to worry about moving around in the dark and possibly injuring yourself. It will be light about 4 anyway, so even if the power does cut out you only have a few hours. Take care.

ratspeaker · 26/07/2018 23:58

Just had thunder and lightning in Edinburgh.
Power still on

I'd look for some camping lanterns, Aldi had some recently, handy in case of power cuts.
Also think about solar lights, like the string garden lights from b and m. You need to charge them up in the sun first of course but they could be strung across a mantlepiece or window etc.
B and M also had some solar hexagonal jars they can be switched off btw. They'd be like candles in a jar on the table . Again keep them charging in the sun until needed.
Think about getting a battery powered radio so you have something to listen to.

I have a gas hob so Im ok for making a cuppa if the power goes off but I also have a backup camping stove ( and a stove with grill running off bottled gas in my campervan )

I grew up with the power cuts of the 1970s so always have backups. My DS just doesnt get it, why I keep torches in every room, a bag of candles ( with matches) on back of pantry door, keep numerous batteries, insisted on gas hob when refitting kitchen.