I wrote that in a blog post back in February 2022, at the outset of the war in the Ukraine. Four years later, I’m standing with the parents at the village school bus stop, a community of houses, all of which have no mains gas available, concerned about how, within a week, oil for their home heating and water has literally doubled.

1.7 millions homes across the UK are dependent on oil for their basic utilities, so such conversations in village pubs and shops will be igniting up and down the UK this very moment. Whilst the petrol pump prices have increased by 10 pence, my own regular checking of heating oil has increased by that in 24 hours, after a 100% increase the previous 7 days.

So I did, what maybe many oil dependent home-owners like me have done this week,- I checked my levels! I’m OK- half a tank, and fortunately moving into warmer weather. But my last top-up of £689, for just over 1000 litres of oil back at the beginning of December 2025, would now be a staggering £1397. The general consensus for us mere village mortals is flabbergasted disbelief, and whilst we moan and complain, the price rises (seemingly a few pence) during the conversation.

1.7 million homes- 4 million people facing a crisis of basic living needs. Sometimes, we have to (sort of) accept the reality of our situation, and attempt to do what we can to save the gravity fed oil, making its way to the thirsty boiler! Shorter showers, turn the thermostat down a few degrees, wear a few more layers around the house. But the reality; we’ve all become accustomed to creature comforts.

In our home we are fortunate to have two clean-burning eco-design wood burning stove, installed at the outset of moving into our oil thirsty home! Wood, unlike the deeper resource with-in the earths crust, has not increased, and we get to control this aspect of our off-grid living. We are working these cave man wood fire heating sources harder, to give our oil boiler a rest, or at least not to work as hard.

I said four years ago that “ Room heaters are considered secondary forms of heating, but in our home, they are taking first place!”

Back in 2012 Charnwood Stoves Marketing Director, Ced Wells was quoted as saying that a wood burner takes just five weeks to start paying for itself. He went on to say “With more rises in gas, electricity and oil prices, people are looking at ways to cut their bills. Every home’s different but we’re told a wood burner can save up to 30% on fuel bills. Overall, homeowners see a wood burner as an investment.” That was 14 years ago!!!