I grew up in a house without central heating and it was always chilly making the trip to the bathroom. You needed a dressing gown and slippers and extra blankets. There was a night I had come home from uni and I was in my old bed, fully dressed with all my clothes piled on top of me to get warm. And I was still cold. I can remember it vividly. I’m fortunate to be able to heat my home but I know there are people in bed trying to warm up but cold tonight and trying to keep their kids warm.
Big hugs
I grew up like that too, we had no heating, no double glazing and mould crawling up the walls (this was 1990s Edinburgh so not that long ago). We put curtains, coats and blankets on the bed at night and my siblings and I shared a double bed, it was still freezing. Jack truly has no idea. I'll do anything to make sure my kids don't experience that, my disabled child has a severe lung condition so a draughty home would be detrimental to say the least. I'll pay whatever I have to prevent that, which means no lipfillers or cotswolds for me (don't want them anyway).
Jack mentioned meter payments and gas but failed to mention the extortionate wet heating and oil systems which are currently in many rural Scottish council homes and cost hundreds per week (yes really). Councils are cash strapped and refusing to change a lot of these systems over to gas which would be cheaper. A lot of the occupants are in debt and reliant on foodbanks, many have children and health issues. Its a scandal which is not getting enough media attention but of course its not a problem in the South of England which is also naturally warmer than Scotland. Jack has the privilege of location too. I'm waffling a bit now but Jack Monroe by Jack Monroe is eclipsing everyone else and it's sickening. There are far more deserving people in the UK whose stories need to be heard. Why can't the BBC interview someone living with a wet heating system or an immigrant family who are not aware of their rights and are being exploited by a Slumlord or a real single mother who needs to visit foodbanks regularly. Why does it always have to be Jack, beholder of the latest tech, massive house and aesthetic enhancements.