Thank goodness for a full stockcupboard

westcoastscot

Yes we use local shops too for bits and pieces, we used to have lots of shops in our village and now we have only two, a very small co-op and a general store/post office. Would hate to lose them - the post office just got another reprieve thankfully.
Bronnie keeping things in the fridge does make a huge difference - we dont have a pantry as such any more but have cupboards on an outside facing wall which are pretty good. I'm finding it hard to keep enough veggies fresh in this house so am pleased to find the green lakeland bags.

ceridwen

Hi Kittie:j:D

Well - I'm well-stocked up indeed with food - complete with loads of fruit in the freezer. My freezer is a modern one and could last for HOURS....if the electric went off for a while.

I've got loads of:
- throws
- warm clothing
- candles, etc (cough....err...well I would wouldnt I?;):D)
- a storm kettle
- a gas hotplate and cylinders for it
-a gas powered fire - ditto: cylinders for it
- I made sure QUITE a few years ago now that I have gas back-ups for electric appliances and vice-versa - so I can get heat/hot water/etc from one fuel if I cant from the other
- wind-up radio
- wind-up lantern
- loads of thermal underwear.

So - I feel I've done what I can anyways...

Am gradually getting myself used to colder temperatures than the "hothouse" I've gone in for in the past - I must be well on my way - as I checked the house temperature when I got in and found it was 11C - despite no central heating since the morning "session" and I didnt feel too bad - whacked on the central heating for a two hour session and put a couple of fires on...but I was okay with it. In the past - my teeth would probably have been literally "chattering" in those circumstances. Though it has to be said that these days I probably resemble the "Abominable Snowman" sometimes with the way I often dress now.....sheepskin boots (with thermal insoles)/trousers/teeshirt under jumper and cardigan over it....

[Deleted User]

I have just read of an excellent place to store long life tins and dried goods

under the kitchen plinths. Why didn`t I think of that?

westcoastscot

Hi Kittie, kitchen plinths? no sure i understand

ChocClare

kittie wrote: »

I have just read of an excellent place to store long life tins and dried goods

under the kitchen plinths. Why didn`t I think of that?

Just a note that this only works well if you don't accidentally flood the kitchen. Ask me how I know...:D

ChocClare

westcoastscot wrote: »

Hi Kittie, kitchen plinths? no sure i understand

Kittie means the boards which hide the legs of your kitchen base units - they are usually fixed to the legs of the units by clips, so come off quite easily and you can store lots of things behind them out of the way - as long as you don't slop too much water about ...:rotfl:

Smiley_Mum

Last shop I did was on the 30th of December and managing fine. Got enough in the cupboards, plenty tins. Milk and bread in the freezer. Been making big pans of soup and living on that. Got sausages, mince, bacon etc in freezer so going to make chilli and some bolognese sauce tomorrow. Only spent out on the direct debits and a bottle of juice. Hope everyone is managing to keep warm. Got my feet resting on a hot water bottle at the moment and a blanket around my legs as the windows are very draughty despite the floor length curtains. We live in a city centre so managing ok.

Remember though when I was little and we had heavy snow in winter time, we lived far out in the country and we would be without power for long periods of time in the winter and no school etc as the buses couldn't get through. Playing card by candlelight. We had a wood burning stove so cooked on that. Gas tilly for light. Listening to the radio. Those were the days. :-)

Paulie'sGirl

Hi all,

Got to say I've been the butt of a fair bit of ridicule for my storecupboard, but they're not laughing now...

We're 10 miles plus to the nearest supermarket, and the roads are presently impassable. We do have a local shop attached the the village post office, but its choice is limited.

However, as we were aware of this, and the village's tendancy for power cuts, we're well prepared.

We have gas central heating and a gas fire in the livingroom. The central heating wont work in a cut as the pump is electrically powered, so keeping the gas fire maintained is important for us. The oven and hob are both electric, so I keep the camping stoves we use in the Summer in the understairs cupboard and a few spare cylinders around for emergencies. I have several "wee Willy Winkie" candleholders, as well as the usual ornamental ones. We sit with hot water bottles made from boiling the camping kettle under the spare 13 tog duvet in joggers and jumpers and are happy as bunnies. I must admit, I enjoy it in a perverse sort of way LOL

I have a well stocked larder in the understairs cupboard, and non-perishable items in an outside store. We have a small freezer in the house, and a chest freezer in the store.

We're in quite a good position really, I have several pints of milk in the deep freeze, and a fair amount of flour for bread, in addition to a loaf in the freezer. A dozen eggs, a good amount of veg, a good stock of tins and frozen soup, stew etc.

I think it makes sense to be prepared if you know you're vulnerable to these conditions, and in such uncertain economic climes its a good idea to build up the essentials in the fat times to serve you in the leaner ones.

What I'll be looking at tomorrow, when I've put on my fleece-lined walking trousers and walking boots, is how my elderly neighbours are faring. The walk to the village shop is not one for the frail at the moment, and I worry their relatives may not be able to reach us.

PGxx

[Deleted User]

Plinths are the moveable strips under the kitchen cupboards. Not a bad place to hide things either, I suppose. I haven`t used mine yet but never say never

Paulie`s girl, I know exactly where you are coming from re ridicule. I started a ` stockcupboard` thread here a couple of months ago and it was moved to the discussion forum. Needless to say I ended up deleting all my posts as the so called discussion was very inappropriate. I do know a lot about energy supplies etc so can give some forewarning as in the two `tougher` threads I started.

However who cares because I am having a last laugh now. I haven`t had to go near a supermarket since the freeze started and can go on for another month at least as long as I keep the fresh veg growing ala alfala sprouts.

By the way re power cuts, do a trial run in the dark and make sure the candles etc are easily available. Today I intend to fully charge up all my wind up torches, lanterns and radios

ceridwen

ChocClare wrote: »

Kittie means the boards which hide the legs of your kitchen base units - they are usually fixed to the legs of the units by clips, so come off quite easily and you can store lots of things behind them out of the way - as long as you don't slop too much water about ...:rotfl:

...and as long as the firm you had in replacing the kitchen vinyl didnt stop it dead at the nearest edge of the kitchen plinths (ie it doesnt continue underneath the units - because they couldnt be bothered to do their job properly and take off those plinths to run it underneath). Ask me how I know:mad: