Since leaving Smalltown and Dullbridge Town Council I have found myself with a lot of time on my hands. Cllr Mrs Fencesitter didn’t want me to stand for re-election, suggesting that we could enjoy our retirement together. To be honest I think she’s regretting that now. So when SomersetClive Editor, Clive Saint, asked me to contribute a word or two to this esteemed publication I jumped at the chance to share my musings with the residents of Smalltown and Dullbridge.
Recently I have noticed that BeFuddled Party Councillor , Headmistress and Town Mayor, Kelsey Dullard, enjoys a lovely cup of tea and I got to wondering how this ties-in with Smalltown and Dullbridge Town Council’s recent decision to declare a Climate Emergency.
Boiling an electric kettle to make a cup of tea takes a lot of energy. Energy which we can’t afford to squander during this cost of living crisis. The solar panels which I fought long and hard to get fitted onto the roof of the White Elephant Enclosure are now beyond repair and require recycling and replacement at further cost. They only worked at the WEE anyway – we couldn’t afford to finance the extra cabling required to stretch from the WEE to the Hayloft Road Palace Retirement Home for Bemused and Bewildered BeFuddled Party Ex-Teachers (and Others).
In order to solve this problem I’ve been toying with the idea of purchasing a gas kettle. Gas powered appliances are the future. Gas prices are currently a lot less than electric. So I’ve got my calculator out and have been trying to compare the energy costs in boiling a kettle of water using electricity and one using gas.
I’ll admit I haven’t got very far with my calculations, mainly because my current kettle uses electricity and I’ll obviously need to purchase a new gas kettle to compare. Gas kettles are quite expensive, so I will need to factor in the cost of purchase.
If I do decide to purchase a new kettle what will I do with my old kettle? Send it for recycling with the WEE solar panels I suppose.
It’s a conundrum isn’t it? I really can’t decide what to do for the best. Much the same dilemma as I’ve faced during my career as a Councillor.