Just as one of my neighbours was ordering a spare part for my fuse box in the communal kitchen some workmen came by and glued a notice to the house door. Another neighbour explained to me that it was the National Grid – they were coming to upgrade the electrics in the house – well the fuse box anyway.
I like to think that all my power problems had help push this upgrade. I certainly seem to have more problems than anyone else and I do not use so much electricity really.
I was so pleased to see the large Bakelite equipment lying redundant in the lane and a new plastic modern fuse board with a greater capacity (40 somethings apparently up from 30). 
I cam home from work and immediately turned on the heater, the electric hob and the TV and guess what… no power cut. No longer do I have to turn one appliance off in order to turn another on. This is by far the best Christmas present I could hope for and such a surprise. 
I hope the landlord doesn’t get to hear about it – he might put the rent up now the house is more habitable.