Energy Expenditure

Hello, dear readers!

Spring is well and truly in the air, isn’t it?

I think the clocks going forward is a big part of that. The lighter evenings slotting nicely into place even as days get longer and the nights ever shorter. Add in the fact I’ve graduated from jumper to T-shirt in the last week or two, and even gone out in such an outfit on the sunnier days (of which there’ve been a few), and yes, it all adds up to the turning of the seasons guiding us to a warmer, brighter future.

And it’s about time, ‘cos winter was getting expensive.

Yep, you guessed it, this week’s blog post is all about energy and what it costs.

Wash Day Blues
I know it’s not a happy subject, and it does skate perilously close to the politics my mother hates me covering, but I feel it is one that bears covering. I’ll apologise to my wife, Tina, right now, because this one is not destined to be funny in any way, shape, or form (it’s her occasional opinion, take it up with her).

The fact of the matter is, as the last few weeks have passed, it has become more and more of a daily ritual to consult the Smart Meter we have in our lounge and despair at the cost of such mundane activities as running a load of washing, or a load of drying, cooking a fresh meal, or taking anything like a lengthy shower.

Playing It Smart
As the cost has crept up, we’ve started to react against it, partly in deference to the next big uptick in energy cost that is scheduled to hit later in the year, and partly because I wouldn’t be fulfilling my sacred duty as a thrift-conscious Yorkshireman if I didn’t.

The glances at the Smart Meter have become frequent unfriendly stares and the washing machine an object of outright resentment as shock leads to concern leads to outright worry (leads to the dark side).

It has meant, with that one eye to the future, we’ve discussed putting our payment up now, in order to have a little in reserve come the autumn. It’s also meant that we’ve looked at other ways we can cut back on our usage, how often we put the washing machine on, whether it’s wise to invest in a new washing line, that kind of thing. I’ve even, over the last few nights, started turning all extraneous devices off at the plug, which either means I’m getting super-thrifty, or I’m turning into my dad.

Punch UP

It seems extreme, I know, but as a couple on a limited budget these are consideration that have to play on the mind as prices rise and life gets that little harder. We’re lucky, in a way, that it’s only Tina and I we have to consider, because there are people out there, hard-working, conscientious people, who have it far worse and whose situations are going to surf pretty close to untenable should things worsen without some form of aid.

 

Things might be tough, they might be about to get tougher, but there will always be someone struggling alongside you, and always someone who's got it that much worse. In times like these, those are the people we should all have in mind, regardless of petty things like race, religion, or ethnicity. Perhaps instead of looking down, we should be looking up. Perhaps we should be taking into account the small percent who seem to be profiting in these increasingly difficult times, the energy companies and their major shareholders, the speculators, and yes, the politicians. Perhaps it’s time we asked for something to be done. Perhaps it’s time to make our voices heard (and vote).



Until next time

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Hey, folks! If you would care to take a look at some of my more creative writing, then the links below will transport you to the magical worlds of two anthologies my short (and in one case, very short) stories have been included in. Feel free to check ’em out!

New Tales Of Old: Volume 2

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09TMVTX9H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Death Ship

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9198684140/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_TWEMTA3KWK7T89QEZPF6?fbclid=IwAR322Fx5nfgVUQAA62ZZ6CUsNnBm8pbSxPanzz6Qkjg3vAv4ESipq7iKKhs

https://www.waterstones.com/book/death-ship/david-green/s-o-green/9789198684148?fbclid=IwAR2gP4CXHSG7wTccO39wOqXFtI81k0259Ep8DUM48Ki6kTUdlKoF3yafojA

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9198684140/ref=ewc_pr_img_1?smid=A2XZ7JICGUQ1CX&psc=1&fbclid=IwAR2Wa6sGxb82_VCsC7l1CGXwHjsSwTheqba6jDX_G8EDsywZoGpC93nXr2w

Reaperman

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reaperman-Drabbles-3-Legends-Night-ebook/dp/B099NNPTQ1A