Understanding Priorities

Yesterday evening, 19.45. We had just finished eating and everything plunged into darkness. I was not unduly alarmed as power cuts are not uncommon, but the weather hadn’t been at all windy. I stumbled outside to see if our neighbours were also in darkness, but no, their windows all shone brightly. We couldn’t even blame the dishwasher, as this is still being repaired !!..

Whilst I fumbled under the stairs desperately trying to find some candles, Mark examined the fuse box. The fuse box was fine, but there was no power entering the box. An EDF problem.

At 2 minutes to 8, we called the EDF breakdown number, not expecting anyone to answer. But someone did answer, he took all the details and within 15 minutes a blue EDF van was parked outside our house. How did they do that..we live 20 minutes from the nearest town.. incredible !!

The electrician soon detected the problem and in the pitch darkness was climbing up the telegraph pole to replace the defective cable. At 9.00pm power was restored.

This country never ceases to amaze me. Yesterday evening the speed and efficiency in which our power was restored was amazing, and I have noticed this before, in emergency situations the French move very rapidly and resolve problems with minimal fuss. However, the lesser important things in life (my dishwasher !!) take months to repair.

Maybe, they have got it right. We assume that everything should be treated as urgent and important, but that simply is not the case.