Preparedness for when

SpikyHedgehog

mardatha wrote: »

I think that's one good prep that people should do if they can, although I know many can't. If you've got any open fires in your house then look into the cost of opening up the chimneys and re- using them. It might cost at first but if you lived where there is wood then you could just Put off the heating and use the one room as a cosy den. Up here, landlowners will let you take fallen wood - it helps them anyway. You get people with chainsaws in lay bys lol cutting up huge bits of trees.

Mum & dad chose their bungalow 6 years ago above other bungalows because it has an open fire as well as big flat garden. It's the worst thing about having a new house, there never was an open fire to open back up.

2tonsils wrote: »

Hi, thanks all for the support and the suggestions. Unfortunately we cannot rent out rooms or anything like that, you need a license to do it here and it would cost me about 4000 euros to get one.The fines are enormous if you rent out a room without it and I would not dare risk getting the fine. You can't even rent to friends and family without declaring it.

We are going to see how it goes, we have to pay the bills and taxes whether we are in the house or not so will stay for the time being, we have no other choice at the moment. We can't afford to leave, rent somewhere in the UK AND pay the bills and taxes. If we are frugal (and we are lol) then we can just manage to live and pay the current taxes.

We would only leave the property if we had civil unrest that put us in danger or if medical circumstances forced us back to the UK for a while. Since we have been here 19 years we are not registered any more in the UK with medical care etc.

So, back to the purpose of this thread...The prepping is going well. People are setting up bartering groups here and the scheme that brought us cheap potatoes and fruit last winter ( direct from the farms to the customers ) is being set up again for this winter. It saved us a fortune on good organic veg and fruit and it made the prices drop in the supermarkets as well. I feel lots of home made soups being made this winter.

Olive oil is plentiful of course and we are coming up to the wine harvest. I have already stocked up on olive oil as it keeps well in the cool dark kitchen. I am a non drinker but will get the local wine for visitors and my DH. At about 2 euros a litre for really good quality wine I can't pass it over... if any is left over I make wine vinegar from it.

Fuel is covered for heating and we are ordering olive wood as soon as its available for the open fireplace. It burns very hot for a long time so is economical..it also smells of incense when burning. We bought a trivet and some old pans last winter to cook on the fire if the electric is off (which happens all the time in the winter storms). The sterna (water tank for filtered rain water) has been kept full all summer to keep the house nice and cool and we will use it in the winter months before the rains come.

Trying to think about my winter clothes when its still 42 in the shade is difficult, but we have thermals from last year (LIdl, skii thermals, fantastic)....yes, it does get that cold here in the winter. It was brass monkey cold last year down to minus ten here in Corfu! We live on the mountain in a village....but at least when its cold its sunny here. If its warm (around 14 in the daytime) then it will be raining torrential rain as well LOL

Have stocked up on prescription meds for now as the doc warned us to do that in advance. I take only thyroxine and a few emergency meds for my allergy to wheat. My husband has blood pressure meds but has plenty in store just in case. Postage here is on and off like a yoyo and often we don't get our parcels or mail at all so reluctant to order online.

Off to cook my Kalimari (squid) and make a salad to go with it...thanks folks for all your support. I feel better about coming on here nowxxxx

We went to Corfu 2 years in a row for 2 weeks - the only foreign holiday we've taken the boys on, & a beautiful island. Like GQ, I'm thinking of the people we met, & hoping they're ok. Ish.

cod3 wrote: »

I am scratching my head here at what disastrous scenario would lead to a vegetarian in Britain feeling the need to eat meat to survive. :think:

Supermarkets not getting supplies in? If, f' instance, crops failed around the world? Most of the high protein foods in my house haven't actually been grown in this country & require an amount of preparation to make them usable. If cheese & eggs are your main protein source, then yes, you should be fine. As long as you can get the eggs & cheese. If you're thinking about prep for a few days with no electricity, or staying home rather than venture out in the ice, sure, you'll be fine - I'm not worried about that, other than making sure we've enough stuff in. Breakdown of the system as we know it? Quorn sausages & lentils will run out... Hmmm, I'd better get another big bag of lentils while I'm thinking about it ;-)

DS1 is browsing instructables for instructions on bow making...

Popperwell

ginnyknit wrote: »

Zippy thats an excellent comment on pet food, they are part of the family and need to be considered, I only have cats and a rabbit at the mo but usually have a shed full of rescued rabbits and guinea pigs - I buy their food by the sack so would need to stock up. I have a few boxes of economy dried cat food which will keep the cats going and they will eat it if there is nothing else - Im lucky rescues usually are not fussy and I do try to keep all my animals on a variety of foods as I slipped up with a cat early on in my adult life and let it get addicted to a certain cat food and it was a rod for my own back. It different of course if they have medical issues or are working dogs.

2tonsils, very interesting to hear how you cope, although not good that you have to :eek: You sound very sensible and are giving me food for thought. Do you have friends who are not organised ? Im sure you see some people who are in a bad way?

I dearly wish the HA that rents us our house was more helpful and would let us open the fireplace up. They are terrible and are more concerned if you front garden is neat - just had a nasty letter as I hadnt trimmed the hedge and lawn - postage stamp size - I would be fined if its not done. E mailed a message to them that I cannot do much due to our situation, although the other day I took the shears to the hedge (cannot use power tools as they leave me with the shakes) and they will get some one to , grudgingly, do it for me next year. TBH I have far more on my mind than a straggly garden, its ok apart from that as I picked low maintenance plants. they will fine you if you dont toe the line - do they realise the world is falling apart out there :mad:

My garden is a mess because everytime the gardener is about to come it rains and then its too wet and he's on holiday this week, now the weather has picked up...so that is a worry of mine, I hate my HA and no one likes them from what I hear...

They had some bad publicity a few weeks ago as they are not doing gardens for those too ill to do them(just basic grass cutting)we've had tennants with no legs in wheel chairs being left with gardens that need doing...I agree with all you say...I alway kept the garden nice for Mum and tried this year doing some tubs and flowers in the borders...but this rain has made everything shoot away...

[Deleted User]

Hi POPS - our garden/allotment etc were all very slow growing this year due to the horrid weather but now, oh my goodness everything seems to have turned into a triffid!!!!! The plus side of this is we now have some crops to freeze, preserve and use now. I was beginning to think we would get nothing this year I've still to see anything flower wise on the squashes though, I suppose you can't have everything can you? Cheers Lyn.

grandma247

Dh and I got three lovely winter squashes from our one and only plant. I started some in a greenhouse bed and only the one plant survived but it became a triffid and dh decided to leave it where it was. It creeps all over one side. There are some small squashes still on but I don't know if they will do much. I hope they will if the weather is not too bad for the next few weeks. Our runner beans have suddenly come to life. I thought they were going to be our first ever failure.

GreyQueen

jeanniefaethecarse wrote: »

I'm really excited! We're in the process of buying the flat we've lived in for years, and not done anything with (because it's not been ours). It belonged to a relative who let it lie fallow for about 50 years, so obviously there's a lot to be done, but DH and I have been having a confab about what we wanted from our home and I put forward this idea...
It has a utility room where we keep the chest freezer, washing machine etc with a space under the stairs. This space under the stairs (which is a fair size) is now going to be my pantry/storecupboard! We just have to sort out lay-out, shelving, that type of thing. (all layout suggestions welcome)
It will make such a difference to my food-preparedness, as currently everything is stored around the house (AF cous cous and tins of tomatoes behind books in the bookcase???- please tell me someone else does this.... anyone???)
Just had to post, as I feel there may be some kindred spirits out there who will relate to my glee

MY tomatoes are under the bed and I'm experimenting with small cans behind the books on my one bookshelf. Looking good for the sardines.

For what it's worth, the tins-behind-the-books way of stashing food is one of those mentioned in a famous book on prepping. You can also get excellent use from old filing cabinets for this purpose and as long as they are standing on a level floor, they should be vermin-proof. HTH.

D&DD

Hiya everyone haven't read back yet so will catch up in a mo..I'm suffering from sticker shock :rotfl:my god went to MrS this afternoon and wanted to check a few prices whilst there.
Plenty x 6 rolls was over :rotfl:£7 :eek: and baking powder was 92p..last time I bought it it was 65p

Pizza cheese has gone up to £3.25 was £2.50 I thought??

So was really pleased when I finally got some reduced cream to try out making butter been looking for aaages!

I bought a pack of washing powder for £4 which used to fill my tin and its only 3/4 filled it I think I need a lay down :cool:

[Deleted User]

GQ - are the sardines from seed or from cuttings?

GRANDMA - I dont know what it is with Runner beans they're like No.29 Busses, none for ages and then three bagfuls come all at the same time don't they? We've also got a triffid in the polytunnel, but ours is a courgette intent on taking over the world. I don't worry so much about the Zombies, it's the courgettes I'm scared of!!!!! Cheers Lyn x.

SpikyHedgehog

viv1956 wrote: »

Anyone looking for the Sept - new year thread - its been moved to Debt free forum - don't understand why as its not about being debt free

Very odd - don't think many will find it there without you're letting us know... Thank you, Viv.

Pets... The cat has a carrier if we need to evacuate, but I've only 1 hamster carrier, & they can't go in together, plus their cages are massive (though I've seen bigger). I posted a question on my hamster forum, & am making bin cages for each ham from 80l plastic bins & lids from Mr T. When not in use, they'll stack together with the food etc inside. Bigger than carry cages, but plenty big enough to live in for an evacuation.

grandma247

I got some baking powder in Mr A after shuddering at the price in Mr S. It should have been 72p but was on offer for 35p. I got three and if they still have it on offer this week will get three more.

D&DD

skintscotslass wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I wanna see Cockneys vs Zombies!!

Its on DVD in october I think IMDB says will check and add date :j

22nd october available for preorder now from Amazon whoop