Fellow enthusiast Mike Barford posted on the streetlightinguk Yahoo Group, about a video clip of a woman who's kettle can actually switch off a streetlamp!

I've never actually heard of this happening, and I see no one else here has posted about it so I thought it was worth a chance to post it here.

I am guessing maybe an old lamp inside this one...and turning it on makes a power dim making this light.....cycle???

Oops, just realised, forgot to post the link. 

Anyway here is the video. Quite curious indeed.

Why don't they try changing the lamp instead of checking the voltage

Best bet is a poor connection between the house and the substation transformer, when the kettle is switched on the voltage drops enough to get the older lamps, with higher running voltage, to trip until they cool down. Most likely a neutral, unless this house is fed from the same phase as the lights. Didn't get the video (BBC player not cooperating) but from audio seems that it is a few lights, and most likely the house is fed from older overhead wiring.

that was kool but it whould be a real trip if half of england went out as she turned it on lol

Prawnman, that would be Zimbabwe................ The land of the candle, where a week long is not uncommon.