bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-...
The next time you feel a little cold and crank the central heating system up a bit whilst putting on your electric kettle for a cuppa before watching that favourite programme on the telly,spare a thought for this little lady who by fortune and now choice has lived off grid for nearly eighty years.
I think she is marvellous and i hope she remains content with her life for the next 20 yrs.
Love ski's and scruffs x
What an amazing lady and doesn’t she look good on it. I hope she stays fit and well to be able to continue her life in her home.
Thanks skis and Scruffy. Xxxx
What a Beautiful lady, Thanks Ski's. Besos xxxxx
She looks happy and healthy, well adjusted to the life. Even "on grid" things have changed a lot. My Gran had electric, but very expensive, we always had ice inside the windows in winter. Baths were one night a week, same night for everyone, as that meant emersion heater on only one night a week and extra heating, to keep warm only on the one night. Each person went to bed after the bath, so kept the warmth. We were not aware we needed to save the world's resources, but finances meant we did.
In a nutshell Happy And Healthy 
xx
We had 1 coal fire to heat the whole house (small, 3-up, 2 down, terraced), with no bathroom (outside loo - out the back door, through the yard and round the corner..., no matter what the weather!), no central heating, and a gas 'Geyser' for our only hot water, and there were 7 of us living there - Mam, Dad and us 5 kids. We had ice inside the windows in winter too, and very strong bladders.....! 😂
We didn't have much else, but it was a home, filled with an awful lot of love and laughter. 😊
That was my Gran in Cumberland, we had a "Gazzunder" the china pot that was kept under the bed, saved ice on the unmentionables. Very few had indoor toilets in those days, everyone managed and fought in 2 world wars.
We had gazzunders to, but just for nightime? For the day, we put our coats on, and there was a 'brolly' (umbrella) by the back door... 🥶
I wonder how many people here would love to be fit enough to live like that. Maybe that's the answer, live like that and be fit? Almost makes me glad to be ill! 🙄
You may have something there Don.... My old grandmas lived a very frugal life with little in the way of modern home comforts and both survived well into their nineties. Not like their central heated all home comforts granddaughter that's fallen apart in her 60s....sigh...
Once i sort out my oxygen requirements Master Po that is how i intend to live in my little Spanish rural paradise,admittedly i do have the luxury of a small solar panel for lighting but l am quite comfortable with my log burner and open fire and my Tilley lamps to read by at nighttime.not sure Scruff's could hack it though x
Well I hope it's not too long before you achieve that young Skis. 😎 I should be careful with that open fire and those Tilley lamps with your oxygen though. No spare room for guests?
Don't worry Don,i have an annexed kitchen,all right to be honest its a brick shed but would make an adequate bedroom for those with short legs and there are 5 kennels dotted around the property so Midge and Scruffy can take their choice lol x
What an amazing person 👍
Yes she is and she generates an inner calm and happiness that many of us would aspire to. x
I agree. To have that serenity and apparent good physical and mental health, and a positive determined attitude, she’s doing something right. Long may she continue.
Charming.
Well mrmelley,you will be glad to know that Donald is aiming for you all to live off grid,without any support,doesn't that make you a happy bunny lol x
Terrific way of living for a determined lady! Like HungryHufflepuff says, a positive mental attitude is the way to go.
The initial thought was that this lady would be sad and isolated but it's the complete opposite as she was heavily involved in the community and has been honoured for it and she radiates confidence and inner happiness and tranquility so i am making her my star of the day. x
Agreed - Gold star for such an amazing lady!
I read that article earlier today skis and was very impressed. Sad to know her childhood ended at the age of 10 when her mother died, but she did what she had to do undaunted, and all these years later, is living her life, happy and healthy. A very courageous and wise lady. Her MBE is well-deserved! I hope she has many more years of health to enjoy her lifelong home.
Yes annienell,i was saddened by the duties she had to take on board at such a tender age and it must have been a very challenging and lonely life at times but she has overcome all that and i was just taken aback at her fortitude and resilience and i am just happy that she is happy and content with her lot. x
I did reply to this post yesterday but it seems to have disappeared ???
So sad that she lost her parents at such a young age. This lady must have alot of strength to not only live on her own for such a long time and to live without modern day necessities, perhaps she doesnt miss them because she never had them. She does look fit and well and hope she continues to be well and happy x
Yes Irene,she doesn't appear to suffer solitude and i expect the harshness of her younger life and her independence and obviously she has her faith played a big role in shaping her life,she doesn't need or even want the trappings of modern day life and her life is richer for it. x
I envy her in a way. Though having copd it wouldn’t be much good living like that, log burning fire and parrafin heater , freezing in the winter etc etc. But i would love to have lived a solitary life. Just me and my sheep and my sheep dogs. We can but dream. She sounds a remarkable lady, i admire her. Reminds me a bit of Hannah Hawkswell who lived a similar life in north yorkshire.
Strangely there are probably more elderly ladies coping better in that sort of life than there are elderly men?the ladies it would appear are made of tougher stuff. x
I think most boys are 'waited-on' from a very early age, so never acquire the necessary requirements (coping skills) for self-sufficiency? As they get older and marry, 'wife' replaces 'mother', so it just goes on...? 🤔
Beautiful cottage contented lady I hope she never has to leave I admire her very much. 😊
Thanks so much for this link. I have lived mainly off grid for 7yrs - had electricity for one year and hated it. Much to recommend it but it is different and takes energy and planning!
Interesting,i have never heard of somebody hating electricity?but you obviously enjoy your alternative lifestyle and i hope you continue to do so for a very long time.
Life's much quieter without electricity- no buzzing freezers etc! Plus no nasty bills. A great resource tho- I use a bit of solar power for phone/kindle etc.
In my finca in spain i have a fridge powered by gas bottles as is the cooker and like you a small solar panel for minimal lighting,even my radio is wind up.i live approx 1 km from a nuclear power station but the local power company quoted me nearly 60,000 euros for an electricity supply so i politely declined their offer
That very funny! Glad you declined-bonkers price.
Should i ever be well enough to return i may well ask for a loan of your goats as i am sure my hectare of rarely weeded land would be heaven for them,the trouble is they might develop a liking for olives and almonds and various fruit trees so they would be on a probationary period.
Same medications for about two years.
Midge.
Update on my treatment 
