There are never enough plug sockets. Aside from the plugs for the fridges, oven and washing machine, I have eight plug sockets in the kitchen and it’s still not enough.

Mum’s flat is worse, her living room has two plug sockets, which is ridiculous. She needs three (for her blanket, her lamp and her laptop), I need at least four (my work laptop, lamp, wake up light, charging plug) then there’s things like the treadmill, iron and anything else that needs electricity. There have been lots of extension cords but with mum getting less and less mobile and falling over, I don’t like having too much on the floor and they are so messy. I also worry because this year I had an old one that tripped electric at my house so I’ve been replacing them in both houses.

These are the ones that I have, they rotate so you can have them above or underneath the plug and also come with sticky things so you can stabilise them to the wall. I prefer being able to switch each socket on and off and while it’s not ideal, it’s better than 20 year old extension cords.

It’s a small thing but it feels tidier and safer and we do what we can.