Light bulbs

I have cartons of bulbs in my attic, bought just before the new regulations came into force. DIY store still sell the standard light fittings for ceilings and we renewed ours so we could use the bulbs, Downside is we can no longer buy lampshades suitable for 100 watt bulbs.

No, you can still buy the 40w and 60w ordinary bulbs in the UK. They stopped selling 100w and will be phasing the others out. We are stockpiling!

Only long life bulbs are sold now in UK. I think they are potentially very dangerous, on staircases, for example. Oh, phoenix Lily-the-cat is lovely!

They contain mercury too. Awkward to dispose of.

When I first came to live in France, in 2002, I think all bulbs had screw fittings, but now there is a plethora of different types. I also take the old one to the supermarket to check the size. Is it true that only long-life bulbs will be available eventually? Not very good for anyone with poor eyesight - you will have to wait by the door until the light is bright enough.

We've had small/standard bayonet and small/standard Edison screw fittings for ages.

Lilygran Mr P's list is a whole sheet of A4, but perhaps we just have too many lights!

On another subject, I think you and I once "conversed" over the Lily thing? Lily cat is now on my profile!

Good idea phoenix, thank you. Pud I usually do take the old bulb but didn't this time and was utterly confused. No, they don't give enough light and don't last as long as so-called long life bulbs should. As for energy saving, we used to have a standard lamp and an overhead light. Now we have six lamps.

Tell me about it Lilygran! I work in a shop that sells light bulbs. I dread the days when new ones come in as checking them off is like working in a mine field there are so many different ones. I love the people who bring an old one in with them to replace as it makes life so much easier.

Did it light up your life?

Bought a low energy bulb in a shop in Vatican City and it lasted for years! Not sure if it was the Papal influence?

I agree kitty , especially with one particular light fitting in the kitchen.

Plus, the low energy bulb in the home office (which is where I also put my make up on) is so bad that I turn it on before going to have my shower, just to give it a chance to actually produce enough light.

And, they don't last as long as they ate supposed to!

We have so many lights and lamps with different fittings that Mr P typed a list of them all and sellotaped it to the inside of a cupboard door. So now if, for example the standard lamp uplighter thingy in the sitting room blows a bulb, I can look at the list see which type it needs and add it to the shopping list.

The new bulbs are also bloody expensive!