Preparedness for when

BessieBooBoo

Hey

Don't mind if I do! Gets cup of tea and waits expectantly....

BessieBooBoo

mardatha wrote: »

Interesting -

http://news.sky.com/story/1095134/gas-uk-was-six-hours-from-running-out

Thanks Mar

That was a close squeak. So pleased we prepped with the m-f stove, and camping oven as a back up. OH still collecting wood.

Just got back from walking the DDog. Started sunny and windy, then light shower, then heavy shower, then hail! Freaked the dog out and she started running with me heavily plodding after her!

Just hoping all the seedlings and seeds we've planted are ok...

Looks like we may be in for a 'challenging' summer of growing. Again. Can't believe there are still some people out there in denial of any global climate change. Freak weather, late/early spring, floods, etc. And the number of times I have heard 'It's the coldest/wettest/driest (delete as appropriate) month on record' these last couple of years...

Perhaps I ought to revert to growing only under glass/hydroponics?

At least there's plenty of blossom on the fruit trees, with the exception of the plum.

BBB

GreyQueen

Evening all.

I've been up to my eyebrows in water-related issues today at work. Provincial City has been under heavy rain all night and most of today and, basically, if it could leak/ flood/ block/ wash away, it bliddy well has...........aRRRRRRRRRHGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Ahem. Excuse me, but I feel so much better with that out of my system.:o

Was listing to Radio 4 this evening and they were interviewing Sir Ian Fells about the power situation in this country. He was mentioning the same matter as Mardatha's linked article and also mentioned that, 18 months ago, the country came within 3 mins of shutting down with no electricity.:eek:

He was also talking about how they can try to keep domestic gas supply up by diverting limited gas supplies from commercial customers to domestic ones. But some of the biggest users of gas are the electricity generators. So, do the divert, and pretty soon the leccy supply is in trouble, too.

He mentioned that there is a policy, not formally acknowledged, of keeping cities and big towns powered up in a crisis, to prevent civil disorder and looting, and leaving smaller places to fend for themselves.

I guess that's nothing more than we could have guessed but it's something to hear it acknowledged.

What gets me is that the amount of people who seemingly cannot entertain that the electricity could go off and stay off for some time, that the gas could go down, that anything which is uncomfortable or inconvenient could affect them directly. So, naturally, having made a few preps to mitigate the inconvenience isn't something they will have done.

Just had my quarterly utility statement. I'm using 2 kWh of leccy per 24 hrs hours. Most of that probably hanging around online but I don't have a telly so have to make my own entertainment. Pretty pleased with that.

I went to Wilkos after work but they have those washing thingies at £1 not 50p so I'll keep a watching brief and snap up some if/when they go on sale. I like to get maximum value for money. I will also be loitering within intent (or even in-tent - groan-) as Goo Oootdoors have an extra 15% off everything this weekend.

I shall be going to my allotmentino this weekend, monsoon permitting. I shall start ambushing slugs with pellet traps under halved (and eaten) oranges. I'm coming for them, and all their families.

Tonight, I am wearing a fleece, thick socks, slippers and a warm shirt. Oh, and troosers. I do believe this is the season formerly known as Early Summer? I think I shall re-name it Maytober. To be followed by Junvember and Decaugust, no doubt.

It's going to be a trying growing season. My new lottie neighbours have already given up in disgust. I did try to tell them that putting a polytunnel broadside to the prevailing wind on our hilltop site wasn't a good idea but they did it anyway.........

My philosohy in the RW is I'll offer you unsolicited advice once, if I like you and want to prevent you coming to harm, but after that, you're on your own.

Right, quick clearing of the decks by washing up then I shall settle to some of the Divine Elixir.......or tea, as it is less formally known.

boult, you're a star, you wouldn't be able to lob a choccie muffin south of Watford, would you? I'm very partial to them atm.

[Deleted User]

It's a jolly good thing that there are so many of us then who do have the realisation that it can and probably will happen and have made provision for just that eventuality. Who knows what would happen if no one had thought about it, chaos I suppose and mass nastiness to get what was going. I think it will be much safer to do low profile and stay at a distance from anything dangerous. Of course there is no guarantee that you will be safe there, but I think a much better chance than going out and fighting all the world and his wife for the scraps yes?

elaine241

Evening all!

Bl**dy freezing here, blowing a gale most of the day with showers and hail! Most of my veg plants are still in the greenhouse and there they will stay until something like spring/summer decides to appear!

Havent really done any exta prepping although I have bought space blankets, emergency shelter (spaceblanket tube), compass, water container, small flasks and a really good quality rucksack for £8 (usually £42) as it has one tiny weeny flaw that I couldnt see at first!! has a "frame" whaich moulds to your back so it is comfy to carry. Luckily my local mount*n wotsit shop is a clearance one for all the others so we get all their bargains, old stock, returns and stock with no labels or v minor defects at silly prices! My favourite is the bargain bin get loads of stuff £1 just cos its lost its label!!!

I did find some prep type books in a CS, 1001 natural rememdies for health, beauty, home & pets really good ideas for just about everything. Preserving which includes salting, home smoking, curing meat as well as the usual methods. Also 21st century smallholder reaaly good ideas , realistic and gives you plenty of ways to be more self sufficient or self reliant. All three were £1 each so result!!

I have got this week off so I will sort Get Home Bag as it is still packed for winter mode! also start sneaky prepping of emergency bags & hide in the kids wardrobes. OH still thinks I am mad so most prepping is done in stealth mode! I will have emergency bags ready by the end of the week and stashed out of sight!

As it is soooo cold here I have lit the woodburner, turned on CH (!) got the blankets back out the airing cupboard and put extra ones on the beds. So much for summer!

Keep prepping and stay safe, Elaine x

Butterfly_Brain

mardatha wrote: »

Interesting -

http://news.sky.com/story/1095134/gas-uk-was-six-hours-from-running-out

Spotted this http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/may/24/energy-suppliers-held-back-gas-uk
Which means that the crafty beggers were lying all along

[Deleted User]

bornintoit wrote: »

That seems like a good price but would 25l be enough for basic bug out supplies?

Obviously depends on what you are including in your BOB but, I only just managed to squeeze all the contents of my list, into mine.

Indeed, I'd never have fitted it all in, had it not been for the large outside pocket.

Of course, weight is the major consideration.

Travelling fast (especially cross country) is very tiring, with a heavy pack.

Likewise, of particular importance to persons of limited hight (I'm too polite to use the term "short***e" ), the pack shouldn't be too long.

Certainly, when worn correctly, it should not smacking you in the @rse as you walk.

Perplexed_Pineapple

GQ,
"
Was listing to Radio 4 this evening and they were interviewing Sir Ian Fells about the power situation in this country. He was mentioning the same matter as Mardatha's linked article and also mentioned that, 18 months ago, the country came within 3 mins of shutting down with no electricity.:eek:

He was also talking about how they can try to keep domestic gas supply up by diverting limited gas supplies from commercial customers to domestic ones. But some of the biggest users of gas are the electricity generators. So, do the divert, and pretty soon the leccy supply is in trouble, too.

He mentioned that there is a policy, not formally acknowledged, of keeping cities and big towns powered up in a crisis, to prevent civil disorder and looting, and leaving smaller places to fend for themselves.

I guess that's nothing more than we could have guessed but it's something to hear it acknowledged."
What programme was that please? I'd like to listen to that on the iplayer.

A random thought, I have some tokens for the currently running T3sco Pyrex offer. (They have stopped issuing the tokens but you can still use them for a few more days). They have a 3.6L cast iron casserole at £29 with the offer (usually £70ish) and I was wondering whether it might make a good Dutch oven type of thing, because the lid has a sort of lip which would retain coals placed on top. It doesn't have the legs underneath that a Dutch oven usually has, and you can get an ondinary Dutch oven for a similar price, but I was thinking it might make more sense to have a casserole that would get used normally and could double up as a SHTF item if necessary. We're cooking on electric so a Dutch oven with legs wouldn't be of any indoor use. What do people think, does anyone have one?

short_bird

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Spotted this http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/may/24/energy-suppliers-held-back-gas-uk
Which means that the crafty beggers were lying all along

Ah, I was going to post this for the attention of GreyQueen as she'd mentioned the interview on today's You and Yours.

S_Wales_Saver

Yes I saw the article about the gas shortage Mardatha. Glad I can cook with both gas and leccy, but as someone else pointed out shortage of gas can lead in turn to leccy cuts.

I'm still using that scenario as the basis for my prepping. I'm not convinced that a BOB is the way to go for us. OH is 72 me 66 and not the fitness types. We're also on the outskirts of a small town, so may well be better staying put I think?

Got a great wind up lantern in Lidly. Even OH was impressed lol