I woke up one morning to the news that there wouldn’t be electricity, water, or gas for a whole month. How do I cope? How do I survive the situation and endure for the timeframe?
It’s no longer shocking news to me, as many Nigerians and people from other countries can relate to the situation of a lack of electricity. To make matters worse, water and cooking gas would be affected because they are all connected to the light. These are basic necessities of life that we can’t do without.
Does it mean I wouldn’t take my bath for a whole month? How about washing my dirty clothes and plates? Literally, water is important and if all other things are gone, why should water go, also? That would be a hard one seriously.
But with this news, I think I would survive, but the only thing is that I wouldn’t be using my laptop for the meantime. What do I mean?
Thanks to the alternative presented to us, that without electricity, we can still enjoy light to a limit, except one has the finances to purchase a higher power to cater for every gadget in the house. For instance, since I already know the situation of my country and the unpredictable electricity, I got a solar power panel which works for charging my phones and lighting the house, including the solar fan, except that it doesn't charge my laptop.
The hardest thing to lose at that moment would be water because lack of electricity means no pumping of water for use, but don't you worry, because I have an alternative to this. In my building, there is a well downstairs. Although it’s a stressful activity. But I have been coping with this for a while now. I fetch from the well every two days and other times, I might just hire the service of someone to help me while I pay.
For my cooking gas, that also isn’t a concern because I have my manual cooking gas, not connected to electricity. I just need to fill the cylinder and continue cooking and enjoying myself until the time the whole issue is resolved.
Life happens at any time, and we must always be prepared for it so we aren’t caught unaware. If I have been negligent about getting a solar then, then it would be a difficult one for me because I know how some of my neighbours complain of heat and are not able to charge their phones but here I am with an alternative where I only need the sun to charge the panel while I enjoy life in my room.
Image is mine