Julie Jay: When it comes to parenting minus electricity, it’s a dim prospect

A day minus electricity is a reminder that parenting without electricity is kind of like giving birth without drugs — possible, but not  always preferable

Julie Jay: "Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been minus electricity on quite a few occasions... losing power is becoming a bit of a weekly thing in West Kerry."

Last weekend, disaster struck as my black pudding was just starting to crisp up in my new favourite frying pan (it’s small, cute, and non-stick). Suddenly, we were plunged into darkness, and my heart sank.

We were once again minus Benjamin Franklin’s most famed invention. Those short of sight might presume I’m talking about bifocal glasses, but for those of us blessed with gaping pores and 20/20 vision, I am, of course, talking about electricity.