I am sure that we all have those abiding memories of dad rushing off to his shed outside and returning with `the toolbox`. Yes, the panacea to all household problems. Every odd-job, leaking tap or blown fuse could be solved by this bag of tricks, or so it seemed. Unfortunately, the common or garden toolbox does not sit very well with today’s hi-tech gadgets and modern house fittings. That is why the only thing you really need inside your toolbox is a home emergency insurance policy!

That may sound very bland, but in reality, tackling modern-day household problems is not a job for the DIY enthusiast. This is especially the case where electricity is concerned. It is one thing replacing a fuse, but houses now use trip boards instead and they can be very frustrating.

All I needed when I got home from work was to be told that the power had gone off! The message came from my son via my wife. I assuredly walked to the cupboard where the trip board was and sure enough one of the switches was down. So I switched it back. Back it went, down again? “What the….I mused?”

Whatever I did, it just reverted back to “OFF”. By now, it was starting to get dark, so where is the torch? I found the torch, but the batteries had run down! So, we had no dinner and no lights and no television.

As I was searching my mind for expletives, my dear wife thrust a piece of paper in front of me. It read, Home emergency insurance `Emergency Numbers`. “Try them” she suggested with a condescending smirk on her face.

I called the number and within a short time a young man in a boiler suit arrived. He did not look much older than my son! Within minutes, he asked if he could check the upstairs rooms. I agreed. Off he went, and within a few moments he came back downstairs with a shabby looking games console. “Here is your problem” he stated smiling sideways at my son.

It seems that my protégé had swapped his old games console for one from his friend. The problem was that the plug was wired incorrectly, so that every time it was switched on, it tripped the fuse.

My wife was quick to remind me that I should remember this occasion next time I am complaining about where the housekeeping money had gone because she was the bright spark who had the foresight to take out an inexpensive home emergency policy.