Preparedness for when

mardatha

It bothers me that we used to remember a list of family phone numbers and now we just press a button, so nobody bothers to remember them. If the phone dies then you're lost.

nuatha

D&#8517 wrote: »

You know thats what I love about you lot you are always so positive about life in general even if the S did ever HTF I think we'd all meet it with a smile on our faces and maybe a Rambo bandana or two

And with lots of moral support (and sweeties)

I had an interesting conversation with my eldest one evening about technology.When I was growing up we had books and the outdoors,they have the internet and the xbox..it's a very different world now and an exciting one really when you embrace a lot of the tech it has to offer.BUT although its fantastic what technology can do, is it making us lose even more skills and making us more dependant on power than ever?

I'm split on wether it's a good thing as some inventions such as the mobile phone charger gadget the young girl in the states came up with will be great but if the power goes out and the phone network crashes what use is that?

I am as guilty as anyone now of googling the answer to just about anything whereas at one time I would have got out an encyclopaedia..most homes don't even possess a set now.

A lot to ponder!

Many years back, I took the decision to replace an number of reference texts (including the Britanica) with electronic versions. I'd run out of space for books. Its a decision that I may well come to regret (and one of the reasons I keep a notebook in an emp proof storage box).
Most of my current reading is done on a ebook reader, though there are plenty of paper books in the house to fill in any leisure time. A lot of my tools are electric - I like the convenience and the increased productivity they offer. Doing things without power takes longer and if you only have powered versions of the tools you either need to generate electricity or you won't be doing much.

I suspect many (most) of the X-box generation will struggle - might make those of us who grew up before the digital age a treasured resource - I can dream

[Deleted User]

I couldn't do without my books, having said that DD` got both of us a kindle each for christmas a couple of years ago and I wouldn't be without it, particularly when I'm travelling and away from home. I only have recreation books on it though, anything remotely practical and reference has to be on my bookshelves physically always at hand and ready to use. I'm a bit of an oddity in the kitchen too, I do have a food processor but I also have a mouli legumes and a mouli sieve and use them much more than the electric one. I much prefer to make cakes and pastry etc by hand and love chopping up veg and fruit rather than blitzing them and I even have a manual mincer which I use for meats and an old fashioned stovetop coffee peercolator. I guess it's because I always have in the back of my mind that the electricity probably won't always be there ad infinitum so I like to have the option of a little comfort and ease in our lives even if the power supply is iffy in the future. It gives me a little feeling of peace of mind, Cheers Lyn xxx.

RAS

I think one of the reasons a lot of Americans gear up for total SHTF situation is because for some of them every year, that is the reality.

Think about Moore - 12,000 houses damaged and a good many wrecked in 40 minutes; New Orleans, far more than that inundated over 24 hours.

The same sort of thing happens in many parts of the world but the combination of high assets, powerful unpredictable forces and limited social support makes them feel more vulnerable that we might here. Many places you just do not know when you are going from nice to nothing in the space of a few hours, you just know that it could happen to you.

Here, we tend to assume that whatever happens will be temporary and we will be able to retrieve most of our lives. Because losing everything only happens to a relatively small number of people and because we generally have better social support.

RAS

MrsL - agree about books. Being doing a little sorting of my rather too large collection this weekend. The stuff which is about basic skills stays on paper. I might scan it as well but I think that the hard copy has a higher chance of surviving.

And I like manual equoipment; have been collecting hand tools when I come across them for over 30 years and still pick up stuff as I can. I like hand whisks, mincers, apple corers/peelers, stove top-kettles etc.

D&DD

Oh I hear ya Mar I used to be like a phone book but just lately everything is programmed in here too..

Nuatha and MrsL I have a kindle which I love but some book formats eg the cookery books aren't always great on there so I have a mix here,cookery and reference in print and reading books on the kindle.Recently however I've been picking up a few free prepping books on there too,it's nice to know I have them available if I had to leave home for any reason.I also have it with me when I travel anywhere

You make a good point Ras we haven't really ever had such overwhelming devastation as other countries have had at times,but in recent years with the flooding and snow etc things have been pretty extreme for this country.

Although most things are dealt with swiftly I do remember reading that some affected by the floods this past year were only just rebuilding from the previous floods as the insurance etc was very slow.

I like labour saving gadgets but like most of you I have a manual backup for most things I consider to be important.
I'm tempted after Mar's recent post to have an electricity free day,the kids may hyperventilate at the thought of it at first but I think it'd be fun to try it out,I may however not survive the day due to xbox withdrawal from 4 men...:rotfl:

RAS

D&DD wrote: »

I'm tempted after Mar's recent post to have an electricity free day,the kids may hyperventilate at the thought of it at first but I think it'd be fun to try it out,I may however not survive the day due to xbox withdrawal from 4 men...:rotfl:

Suggestions

1. Make sure it is a nice sunny day.
2. Plan loads of active distractions like frisbee, footie, whatever they love
3. Add a barbeque to the mix?
4. Make a tent/camp (old sheet?) if you have a garden

Once they have done it once, the next time is not so frightening?

Butterfly_Brain

Have you heard that Jeremy 'unt has mooted a motion that you are only going to be able to see your GP a set amount of times and when all your allotted allowances have been used up your only recourse will be to pay to see a private Doctor. This will hurt the sickest the most, how much lower will this vile government stoop?
Sign the petition peeps
http://www.38degrees.org.uk/campaigns

RAS

BB

Cant find that particular Huntism anywhere. Do you have linkie?

Butterfly_Brain

https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/dont-cap-GP-visits#petition