I lived for about 11 months in the 1970s without electricity. I had two very young children, one still in nappies, one barely toilet trained, and the third just at school. We did cheat, several of us in the same situation - the town of Healesville was only about three miles away and had a Laundromat. We each took it in turns to go in after the kids were in bed and filled up ALL the machines, with a couple of loads left over - whilst the second loads were washing, we threw the most urgently needed stuff into the dryers - just two of them as I remember. I went about every week to 8-9 days I remember. Strangely I do not remember doing ANY had washing! - though the nappies went into Napisan and were washed and rinsed out well after that, and reused as needed. We had a bottled gas stove, as normal. We were loaned a small camping frig, and it ran on bottled gas - about two cubic ft. Astonishingly the Tupperware kept a lettuce and carrots fit for use for several days on the bench even in summer - the house was well built by my husband and he insulated the walls well, well before it was considered necessary. We had a briquette hot water service and a pot bellied stove both of which I had to light every day of course. We had gas lanterns too and candles but as the electricity was being connected soon by the then SEC, the house was wired and we found the 12v battery from the car gave a night light as needed. We just got an extra battery and changed them from car to house switchboard every night! Water - we had tanks but also (dirty) town water after husband had dug the trench through over half a mile of stone to bury the connecting pipe. After half was done, the neighbour approached him and said could they go on it with us, IF he "borrowed" the digger for the rest of the trench from work! He did and a great relief it was. We had one tank for just the town water - had to leave it to settle the mud out for a day or two before using it. We never drank it, mind you. The town flushed the pipes out every Tuesday and no-one with any option used it for a day after that either! The town supply was too small and needed replacement pipes but they did not have the money right then or probably for some years after that. Even today, living in suburbia, I insist on having a duplicate way of doing things at all times. Hence, I have a fire stove with "wet back" which takes care of heating and cooking and hot water in winter and power strikes. I also have an open fire, and an all electric kitchen - and a reverse cycle heater/cooler on the wall, and an old fashioned air conditioner in a windo. I use the cheapest option always, and the air cons get turned on say three times a year max - well insulated (different) home unit stays cool for about two days of heat - high heat, only one day. I have think curtains.. But, Grandma and Da, my maternal grandparents, lived without electricity and phone and town water AND had to empy the bucket out under the sink outlet every time the washed up. One tap, low down for gravity feed NOT over the sink, and a fire stove for all cooking but Da had a primus stove for the early morning meal - porridge cooked/soaked overnight in a double boiler on the back of the firestove, delicious - and a cup of tea. I have tried to get one - double boiler - nowadays but not found anything like it. The young shop people offer me steamers! I got one from overseas but it is very small, and has a non stick coating that does not work. I think it needs throwing out, actually! A good life can indeed be had without electricity.. but I must admit, modern life is not geared up to it And electricity at the poush of a button does make life easier. Dawn (Melbourne) -----Original Message----- From: aus-tasmania-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:aus-tasmania-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Amanda & Dmitri Wenn Sent: Tuesday, 20 May 2014 9:09 PM To: Lyn Cc: <aus-tasmania@rootsweb.com> Subject: Re: [AUS-Tas] OCCUPATION: BUSHMAN These stories are all great, and we must make sure they're passed on. My family no longer live in the bush but I feel a sense of loss, as my kids found it hard to believe I spent time shooting with dad, fishing, woodcutting and swimming in the river. My dad rode a horse to 'town' and grew up without electricity despite being only just over 60. Thanks everyone for sharing. Amanda Wenn > On 20 May 2014, at 8:44 pm, "Lyn" <chedoona@beagle.com.au> wrote: > > What wonderful memories, thankyou for sharing Bob > cheers > Lyn > a 'City slicker' turned "Bush woman' :-) > > > > ------------------------------- > AUS-Tasmania Mailing List Website http://www.rootsweb.com/~austashs/ > Contact Admin AUS-Tasmania-Admin@rootsweb.com > Search the Archive (type AUS-Tasmania in the list box) > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AUS-TASMANIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- AUS-Tasmania Mailing List Website http://www.rootsweb.com/~austashs/ Contact Admin AUS-Tasmania-Admin@rootsweb.com Search the Archive (type AUS-Tasmania in the list box) http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AUS-TASMANIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! 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