Thank goodness for a full stockcupboard

ceridwen

Hmmm....recent posts just had me wondering at what point I would have realized that WWII was about to happen soon if I had lived back in that era.....

My knowledge of history is a bit sketchy - but I think I would have probably realised about a year beforehand that it was about to start as far as I can make out. I know I quite definitely would have realised at some point before it actually did for sure - and made the connection that supplies would probably start getting a bit short. At that point - probably 1938 I think - I would have stocked up to the absolute gunnels WHILST THERE WAS STILL PLENTY OF EVERYTHING FREELY AVAILABLE and most people telling me I was an idiot (or worse) to do so. At the point at which the shortages DID actually start - then I would have just taken my normal "ration" the same as everyone else (if I needed it) and been glad I didnt even have to wonder what attitude I would take about "black market" goods - as I doubt I would have fallen that far short. My garden would have been in full swing production already by the time the war started.

All being well that my house hadnt got bombed - i would have been better able to survive the War than I otherwise would have been (at no detriment to anyone else - as I had done this in advance whilst there was still a state of plenty). I might have been in a position to help others out a bit too because of that forethought - certainly its likely I would have had some surplus garden produce they could have had. I would have been very very upset and angry indeed at finding I was bang in the middle of a country at War - but would have stayed that bit calmer about it - and able to provide help to myself and others to get through it in one piece because I had made my physical preparations.

So - understandable to condemn people for hoarding once the War had actually started - but anyone who had used their intuition to be aware that it was GOING to start and duly prepared should be commended for their foresight. We all use what assets we have - and if its intuition (and picking the brains off others I know who are intellectually in a place where they can understand/interpret things at that level) rather than something physical like money - then that is the asset we use.

EDIT: not to mention the point I have been consistently making - ie that we none of us know what "whirlwind" is about to come along in our own lives. We never know if unemployment, illness or just a very busy period generally in our lives might come along and we are unable to shop - at which point we will be very glad of our stores and knowing that we are able to manage until such time as we can go shopping again. I have certainly frequently seen posters commenting how grateful they were for their stocks when unemployment hit. Illness can also be very time-consuming - even if its other peoples illness and not ones own - all that time spent hospital visiting and the shopping still to fit in somehow.

EDIT AGAIN; I've just been firing questions at Google to try and find out what exact date I would have known a major War was imminent. I would have had an inkling in 1929/30 and a distinct "cold chill" going down my spine in 1932 and known for an absolute certainty in 1938. Quite definitely the "runes were there to read" for those who go in for keeping an open eye on their Society.

THIRZAH

I've been re-reading "Nella Last's War"-she tried to keep a full store cupboard even in the war.

thriftlady_2

Smiley_Mum wrote: »

What's everyone got anyway? I've got tuna, beans - baked, kidney, canellini, mixed. Value noodles which I can mix up with leftover meats, chicken, pork etc or throw into a big bowl of soup to bulk it up. I keep a tub of marigold veg stock, low salt stuff which I can use to make a hot drink. Tinned tomatoes, tinned fruit, tinned custard and rice. Got plenty rice, pasta, noodles, lentils, veg and broth mix for soup in the slow cooker.

Carbs
Third of a sack of spuds, lots of barley, some rice, some pasta, 8 loaves in the freezer, some flour, popcorn for kids' snacks (keep forgetting I have this). Oatcakes and ryvitas, oats and oatmeal.

Protein
A large chicken
sausagemeat
two pig's trotters
4 tins of sardines,1 tin mackerel
couple of tins of baked beans
chickpeas, split peas, haricot beans, red lentils, green lentils, puy lentils
eggs
cheese- but not much
nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds

Fruit
frozen-blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, summer fruits, damsons
dried- raisins, sultanas, currants, apricots, prunes, figs, dates
fresh- apples, oranges, lemons, Bramleys

Veg
onions, shallots
frozen- peas, broad beans, mixed, spinach, veg hash
tinned tomatoes

Miscelleanous
olive oil (not much), sunflower oil, goose fat, lard, butter, suet
vinegar, sauces, spices, mustard
1 carton UHT, dried milk
Jam, jelly, chutney
sugars, cocoa, chocolate (thank God)
A lot of alcohol in the form of spirits mainly
Hm stock in the freezer.

There's fresh stuff in the fridge but that will need replacing.

Non food
Loo rolls, soap, toothpaste, washing powder

This is fairly typical of what I normally have in.

What I really would like to stock up on are; washing powder (would like to have a back up box), soap, milk to freeze, butter, cheese, coffee, pasta, passata/tinned toms and flour. I'm hoping OH will drive me to the supermarket to get these tomorrow. I want some mung beans too for sprouting so that we can always have fresh stuff not because I think we're going to be in a siege situation but because I don't buy out of season salad stuff.

I must say I do rather wish I still had a side of pork in the freezer. Will try and rectify this asap.

pink_numbers

ceridwen wrote: »

so - understandable to condemn people for hoarding once the war had actually started - but anyone who had used their intuition to be aware that it was going to start and duly prepared should be commended for their foresight. We all use what assets we have - and if its intuition (and picking the brains off others i know who are intellectually in a place where they can understand/interpret things at that level) rather than something physical like money - then that is the asset we use.

Perfectly put!
:T:T:T:T:T

OrkneyStar

Churchmouse wrote: »

:T:T:T:T:T:j:j:j:j:j:j:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou Bronnie:D

I've been flitting round the internet today and happened upon a couple of sites that were very interesting. This obsession with having months of supplies is soooooooo not OS. In the war, "hoarding" ie having lots of stores was considered to be VERY antisocial. Rationing was actually introduced to stop some people having "loads" whilst others scratched around for the basics. I truly believe that the current " me, me, me " culture has seeped into so much of life, that people whose professed beliefs should preclude them from this attitude and mindset, have signed up to it with a vengeance :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: This whole ethos just makes me want to walk away ( regrettably to the detriment of my family ) Still at least I can hold my head high

Even more perfectly put, thank you Bronnie and Churchmouse!
Can I just add, if you do want a full stock cupboard....especially if you live in a rural or remote area (as we do), then by buying 4 bags of flour at once you may be taking half or more of a shops stock, thus preventing someone else having even 1! Therefore, I would definitely suggest buying 1 extra each time you shop to be a much more sensible way off accumulating stocks. Where we live there is no bread flour in the local shop (thankfully I have some, and also some SR/Pl) and there is also no yeast. This is largely because there was no bread from south for a while (we did have limited local loaves)- I hope the yeast was bought by 6-7 individuals to make loaves and not one greedy person, over stockpiling, with a me me me attitude! For the record we also have a small grocer and a butcher in our town, but the larger Tesco (tiny compared to most mainland ones- NOT a Tesco extra or the like) is a 15 mile drive and tbh I am not risking our roads quite yet (and the bus service is now hourly or less!)....of course with a DS in his buggy too it is harder without a car. So in conclusion, we do have small reserves, a sensibly stocked cupboard, but don't stockpile as to me it is just not OS!

voiceofreason

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

......I do know that I have lots of HG Old Spot sausages, and most of a half HG Old Spot pig :j

Oh yes, of course - is this the piggy you were talking about before Christmas?

This is something we're going to be looking at doing this year, taking a side for the freezer (we'll be picking it up from a farm nearby, where the pigs run happy and free - not quite up to rearing our own yet!) - hope you and Penguin family are enjoying the lovely pork

[Deleted User]

OrkneyStar wrote: »

I agree with HariboJunkie (and Penny), a good stock-cupboard is common sense, but there should be no sense of smugness, or wry smiles at anyone. Thinking you have the upper hand in any situation is the first step to downfall. So, instead of revelling in your cleverness, how about thinking how you could maybe help someone less fortunate than you (eg bake a cake for an elderly neighbour etc) ?
I read the other thread you posted Kittie, which was moved. You said you wanted to help people, but you were not willing to accept that there are many others on here who could also help others, and maybe even you!
I appreciate people may find my post harsh, you can do as you choose, tbh I was avoiding reading this thread and now wish I had kept doing so!

Thanks orkney, penelope penguin and groupies. I really am out of here now. No longer any of my warnings etc. I don`t know if you are aware but I am in close dealings with energy stocks and the financial market in general so I do get a picture of what lies ahead. Next step is various industries shutting down as I said a few days ago and then short weeks for many but hey I am sure your breadmaking skills will help them to plan ahead

Genuine thanks to the wonderful virtual friends I have made on here, lots of hugs

OrkneyStar

kittie wrote: »

Thanks orkney, penelope penguin and groupies. I really am out of here now. No longer any of my warnings etc. I don`t know if you are aware but I am in close dealings with energy stocks and the financial market in general so I do get a picture of what lies ahead. Next step is various industries shutting down as I said a few days ago and then short weeks for many but hey I am sure your breadmaking skills will help them to plan ahead

Genuine thanks to the wonderful virtual friends I have made on here, lots of hugs

Kittie, we are all entitled to our opinion on here, and none of us are groupies of anyone else (perhaps we just agree on certain things ?). There are people who agree more strongly with you, and people who, perhaps, disagree more strongly too!
As for your warnings, Kittie, you are entitled to 'warn' as you desire, just as people are entitled to take that information along with any other information, and do with it as they will.
I am no expert on energy supplies etc, but I did catch a bit of a programme on tv last night stating how we in the UK, don't have the same gas reserves as many other countries do, perhaps due to the ready supply which was coming from the North Sea (of course we all know that is now dwindling!), so I do appreciate that there are genuine concerns in that area.
Here on OS we all try to help each other, so just as I will read your advice/information and decide what to do with it, you should do the same with others surely ?
Just because we don't agree on stockpiling does not mean we are unable to gove insight in other areas. We don't all have to agree on everything, and I am sure all of us who agree on the topic we are discussing on here may well differ on other OS and non OS subjects!
Sorry that was so long but I think it was needed!

HariboJunkie

kittie wrote: »

Thanks orkney, penelope penguin and groupies. I really am out of here now. No longer any of my warnings etc. I don`t know if you are aware but I am in close dealings with energy stocks and the financial market in general so I do get a picture of what lies ahead. Next step is various industries shutting down as I said a few days ago and then short weeks for many but hey I am sure your breadmaking skills will help them to plan ahead

Genuine thanks to the wonderful virtual friends I have made on here, lots of hugs

Kittie, this is an internet forum. People will always disagree with eachother. It's perfectly normal and there really is no need to respond the way you have in this post.
As you believe yourself to be a "kind, caring, sharing" person perhaps you can allow for the fact that some of us are not privy to the insider financial world that you say you are, nor can we all claim to be scientists like you.
I am happy with my bread making skills. I don't expect to save the world with them but I don't think I can do that by stockpiling food either.
I'd rather be able to make a loaf of bread for my elderly neighbour than sit with a wry smile, knowing how well stocked my cupboards are compared to others.

lilac_lady

I hope you're just abandoning the thread Kitty - not MSE.