Blog Action Day

So, today is “Blog Action Day” – if you’re wondering what that is, then click the link above. This is one advert that I CAN encourage you to click without any punitive actions being taken by Google.  Hurrah!

As part of “Blog Action Day”, I’m going to tell you about my mad-as-a-bag-full-of-monkeys idea, and see how many people I can convince to take part in it along with me.  I’m guessing that most of you will probably recoil in horror and terror at the concept, but at least by telling you, I feel as if I’m *trying* a bit.

I’m going to have an “Off Grid Day”.   During that day, I will attempt not to turn on any electrical things at all.  I will write my blog with a fountain pen, and type it up the day after.  I will use oil lamps and wind-up torches at night.  I will cook with fire (calor gas hob) and boil water on the hob for the washing up.  I will wash clothes by hand, and pin them out on the washing line.  I will entertain my children without the aid of television.  I will, in other words, attempt to see how difficult and time-consuming all of these tasks would be if I undertook them without the help of electricity.

There are, of course, certain caveats to this.  I won’t be turning off my freezer (too much food that I don’t want to risk losing) and if I visit any other places during the day (library, office, school etc.) I will have no choice but to use what is already in play.  However, I can try not to turn anything *else* on, and I may try to turn off anything that I can get away with and have jurisdiction over.

What do I hope to gain from this experience?   (a) A respect for the power that we all take for granted (b) a days’ worth of electricity costs.  I’ll chuck the ‘leccy savings at the debt reduction and try to be more careful about the “taking it for granted” thing.

Anyone care to join me?