No space, no power – and a hive of flaming bees: my teeny tiny off-grid house nightmare

Being here is part of my attempt to live sustainably and experiment with all the different ways that an individual can help save the planet and humanity from the polycrisis of the climate emergency, pollution, deforestation and extractive capitalism.

My awakening had come when I was living in a flat in south London, but spending most of my time travelling around the world performing my children’s comedy show.

They agreed to pay a UK-based company to replace the solar power system with something that actually worked, and switched the oven and hob for gas ones to take the load off the electrics.

Some bees had moved in and made a nest around the exposed cable; when they connected the circuit with their bodies, a fault electrocuted them to death and set them alight.

‘In effect it’s a well-built caravan.’ Photograph: Amit Lennon/The GuardianThose years gave me a sense that living within my means was a good idea, even though it took until middle age to work out its significance to me.

Luckily, as the days got shorter and the battery level sank, it got colder outside and I could use a plastic box on the front step to keep my food cool.