Rota power cuts circa 1979: Given the... - Lung Conditions C...

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Rota power cuts circa 1979

teenieleek profile image
42 Replies

Given the prospect of power cuts this winter I have been remembering the last time. We lived in Glasgow then, in a flat near the Victoria infirmary and were on the same electricity circuit as it which meant we never lost our power. We had friends directly opposite with a young baby who did regularly lose theirs because they were in the next area. We also had friends in other parts of the city less fortunate so you can picture the result…..never been so popular in my life! We had a lot of great, if chaotic, evenings that winter as pals cooked their dinner, bathed babies, heated bottles and all accompanied by lots of Hirondelle or Passport whisky (not sure that even exists now but there was a shop nearby sold it cheaply, never asked why, wink). And…..we all made it to work every morning. As Mr Shaw said “youth is wasted on the young”. I wish I had appreciated it more while I had it.

Of course many people without pals like us just went to bed when the power went off, with the inevitable result of a rise in the birth rate that year!

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teenieleek profile image
teenieleek
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42 Replies
sassy59 profile image
sassy59

It takes me back to the 70’s when we had regular power cuts. It nice to have people who help though and you were very kind. We’ve just taken delivery of a camping gas stove and gas canisters just in case. Will need a generator for Pete’s nebuliser though. Lol xxx 😘🤗

Bevvy profile image
Bevvy in reply to sassy59

in relation to Pete’s nebuliser don’t you have a portable one? If not they are easily obtained, I myself have portable one. This runs on batteries so will be no issues to use it should we have a power failure. Would have thought that would be easier than a generator……??

sassy59 profile image
sassy59 in reply to Bevvy

Thank you Bevvy I’ll look into getting him a portable one. Great idea. I was joking about the generator. My daft sense of humour. Xxx

Bevvy profile image
Bevvy in reply to sassy59

oops sorry I didn’t pick up on the joke 😂. I have an Omron portable nebuliser which I am extremely happy with. It wasn’t the cheapest but I tried a cheaper nebuliser and really wasn’t happy with it and it turned out to be a waste of money. I actually have 2 because I keep one at home and one in the car. You can use them via mains but I just use via batteries. I no longer have a large mains operated machine. From what I remember it did take a few goes to get used to a portable nebuliser. The medication comes through a bit quicker than mains operated machine but that could just have easily been due to different makes.

sassy59 profile image
sassy59 in reply to Bevvy

No worries Bevvy👍I’m really grateful for the information and will be taking a look today. A portable nebuliser will be good for Pete and we can take it away as and when we go anywhere.

Have a good weekend and thanks again. Xxx😘

Tykelady profile image
Tykelady in reply to sassy59

Speaking to a neighbour the other day re power cuts and he actually has a portable generator. As the power on our estate is selective about who it cuts off (next door could be off, me on or vice versa) he has offered me the use of it if we have a cut. I don't think my son would take kindly to hauling it up 37 steps to my house though. x

sassy59 profile image
sassy59 in reply to Tykelady

Very kind of your neighbour anyway. Let’s hope you won’t need it. Xxx❤️

Cloudancer profile image
Cloudancer in reply to Bevvy

My nebuliser can also be powered by batteries -fabulous ! Stay safe and well

knitter profile image
knitter in reply to sassy59

I have a battery operated Omron as well as a mains operated nebuliser .

The battery one is faster . Check out with Evergreen nebulisers they give good advice about which is best for which medication etc . Contact by phone or email . Not the cheapest but reliable and helpful.

Gives peace of mind .

Also my electricity provider asked if I used any medical devices , such as a nebuliser .

Cloudancer profile image
Cloudancer in reply to knitter

You are quite right I needed a new part for mine really helpful and delivered promptly.

sassy59 profile image
sassy59 in reply to knitter

Thank you knitter. Evergreen are very good so I’ll take a look. Xxx

Bevvy profile image
Bevvy in reply to knitter

Yes I am also a registered priority customer and made them aware I have medications stored in the fridge and would also reassure struggle if prolonged loss of power. Am just aware that unless planned outage I will be stuck like everyone else. I hope that those who are reliant on machines to keep them alive are discussing contingency plans with energy providers. For me it would be annoying and possibly difficult but not the end of the world. For others who need (for example) breathing and dialysis machines they definitely need a back up plan.

Again for myself I have stocked up on batteries and purchased a additional battery operated lamp. Plus have already bought extra warm items such as an over large hoodie and warm bedding to keep heating bills reduced anyway. IF my fridge was off for a long time and I was worried about medication then I would speak to chemist about getting it replaced.

Tykelady profile image
Tykelady in reply to Bevvy

I've done that after my experience with a power cut last week. Apparently they have to make some provision if the cut is more than 3 hours.

gardenalan profile image
gardenalan in reply to Bevvy

this might be no help at all but you can get a 3 way camping fridge probably cheap second hand one and if you could get cheap small gas bottle easier to get this time of year it’s a great stand by every appliance I have is electric so I must put my thinking cap on take care x

Bevvy profile image
Bevvy in reply to gardenalan

Thank you for the idea. Unfortunately this is something I can’t do. I live in a very small flat and simply don’t have the space to store items such as that. Sure the idea will be helpful to someone else though because it’s a good one.

soulboy118 profile image
soulboy118 in reply to sassy59

I have a small neb i take on holiday carol it can work off mains or batteries , im very confident of its reliability and effectivness x

sassy59 profile image
sassy59 in reply to soulboy118

The portable nebulisers sound good and well worth owning. Have a good weekend. Xxx

soulboy118 profile image
soulboy118 in reply to sassy59

Mine has aleady started carol xx

Biofreak profile image
Biofreak

Oh yes I remember it well. Candles all over the place and torches. My Dad had kept my old grandads miners head torch after he had died and he gave it to me to take with me to school in case there was a power cut on my way home. Sure enough, walking home one night, the street lamps went out and it was pitch black. My Aunt and Uncle's flat was closest so I decided to go there instead of the long walk home. So I donned my miners headlamp and made my was along the tenament corridors, i remember hearing all sorts of echoes and voices and being scared to death that the battery would die on me and thinking I would never get home if it did. Never forgotten that fear. You were obviously a great neighbour teenieleek!

teenieleek profile image
teenieleek in reply to Biofreak

That’s kind but I really wasn’t. It just seemed like a good excuse for a party every night.

Biofreak profile image
Biofreak in reply to teenieleek

My kinda neighbour 😁

hypercat54 profile image
hypercat54

I remember the power cuts of the 70's. I was 17/18 and working on machines. With the cuts it was great as we could leave work early! I do remember my mum though moaning for England....

I also remember as a poverty stricken student in the 80's in London though when my central heating went off and I couldn't afford to get it seen to or even a small fire.

I spent a lot of time with a friend the other side of London who had working central heating. It was a bitter cold winter and I still swear she saved my life to this day,

Greenthorn profile image
Greenthorn

Those Glasgow blackout times paint a picture of how we all should share what we have. I can imagine the fun and the laughter.

knitter profile image
knitter

1972 , went into labour, alone in the house and for some unknown reason decided to wash my long hair .

Disaster ….power cut …no hair dryer .

Worked out ok as the baby wasn’t born for another day and a half . Back up generators in the hospital , and torches on the ward.

Remember that time very well. - however, now at the age of 86 I am faced with a problem .. in that I am a carbon retainer and require a NIV machine all night to remove the carbon build up ... otherwise..!!!

Fortunately this machine was provided by the NHS for which they do not provide a battery or back up in case of power failure- I have contacted the manufacturer who has quoted me £800 for a battery and lead or c£150 for a car lead.

Using the car lead is ok during a warm day within reason - but I don't fancy staying out on a cold night. So - somehow it looks like I need to save or find the money from somewhere- just in case....!!

Blackbird9 profile image
Blackbird9

I had my children in the Rottenrow hospital so many years ago but you mentioning the Victoria brought back so many memories... some good some bad

🥰

teenieleek profile image
teenieleek in reply to Blackbird9

I had my first child in Rottenrow.

Blackbird9 profile image
Blackbird9 in reply to teenieleek

Do you remember the big nappy pin outside 😂

teenieleek profile image
teenieleek in reply to Blackbird9

I’ve seen it but it only appeared after Rottenrow was demolished I think. What I remember are the wooden cubicles where you went in one side, took off whatever clothes you were told to, then waited until someone opened the other side and took you to be examined. Always made me think of magicians’ boxes because they were made of varnished plywood and not much bigger than a coffin!

Blackbird9 profile image
Blackbird9 in reply to teenieleek

I dont remember them .. mind you i was taken in by ambulance every time ... my longest labour was 36 hours shortest 27 ...

I do remember having magic water parties though some of the best nights ever 😂

Izb1 profile image
Izb1

We had a power cut a couple of years ago and the one thing I couldnt stand was the quiet so am getting a store of batteries so I can at least have the radio on x

Nula2 profile image
Nula2 in reply to Izb1

Brilliant idea! Checked and mine can run on batteries - ordered some immediately. Thank yooo😊👍xxx

Izb1 profile image
Izb1 in reply to Nula2

You are welcome x

Blackbird9 profile image
Blackbird9 in reply to Izb1

When you need to light your candles and have no candlesticks ...open a bottle of wine drink it up then use the empty bottle as a candlestick holder 😂

Izb1 profile image
Izb1 in reply to Blackbird9

Another good tip BB thank you x

ghousrider profile image
ghousrider

Good morning ghoust rider here yes i am 58 years old when i was a kid i remember my mom bought candles we had power cut in the 70 s so when i herd about us could be having them i ranfg my power suply up askedthe question they say because i am on the piroty list they get help to me that made m=thing better any all the best have a got weekend 🖐️

MoyB profile image
MoyB

Imagine we're back in the early 70s.

My very young baby was getting close to needing her bottle feed that needed warming. My home had no gas. So when the power went off, I despatched my husband to 'Nanny and Grandad's' to fill up a couple of flasks with boiling water, as they were on a different grid to us.

There was no tele to watch so I got out the ironing board.

My husband asked what I was doing. 'It's ok,' I said, 'the candles will give me enough light to do the ironing by.'

I was plugging the iron into the socket before the penny dropped!🤣🤣🤣 xx Moy

Biofreak profile image
Biofreak in reply to MoyB

🤣😂 That's something that I would probably do 🤣 just shows how much we are used to electricity just being there.

Jaybird19 profile image
Jaybird19

I lived in a YWCA blockof flats a few ya rds from the Belgrade theatre in Coventry. so some of us descended on tne bar there for coffees. Tney had power when we didnt .

Morrison10 profile image
Morrison10

interesting re nebulisers. My NHS is Phillips Innorspire deluxe, takes nearly hour twice daily. Bought Phillips battery operated innoSpire Go, does job quicker but not sure as effective. Keeping it fully charged in case power cut. Recall effect of power cuts in 1940s 50s, and 60s, don’t want them again! x

Alberta56 profile image
Alberta56

You must have been a brilliant neighbour. It's worrying, even without the prospect of necessary appliances going off. I look at all the tripping hazards around our house- so many, plus no doubt a few I haven't thought of. xxx

Izb1 profile image
Izb1

You reminded me with this post that my daughter sent me a powerpack which i had left in the drawer, just got it out and charged it up, it will be a blessing to charge my phone and tablet if we have cuts x

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