I can appreciate that it was very frustrating, but unless you have electric heating (?) then you could conceivably have stayed in, and if you don't have a gas hob got some sandwiches or a take-away or whatever.

I very much doubt that the contents of my freezer amount to ?200, but with most of the festive season behind us could you not have just eaten the rest over the next couple of days?

I agree one is entitled to expect a supply 24/7 in a civilised country but you do seem to be making the worst of the situation and exaggerating your hardship somewhat. What happened to the Blitz spirit? Instead here we are being displaced to museums and crying over defrosted vol-au-vents.

I would have thought the lengthy interruption to the water supply earlier this year was more inconvenient?