Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

thriftwizard wrote: »

I'm doing a major festival as a trader this summer. I'm already reeling from the thought of doing 5 x 16 hour days whilst camping; the idea of needing Immodium whilst doing so is making me want to turn tail & run away to sea!

I used to work the festival circuit. I've been sleep-deprived in places I can't even remember properly now.

It'll be tough. Just try to schedule about 72 hours straight R & R for when you come back.

Caffeine helps.......... lotsa caffeine.

FairyPrincessk

I've been reading along, but not chiming in. I just wanted to make a suggestion for document storage. My mum came up with this back in the 90s when we were living in all sorts of places. Each of us had a plastic pouch, similar to this sort of thing, although ours tended to be closer to the size of half a sheet of paper and then a bit deeper:

http://www.euroffice.co.uk/i/73d/Snopake-Polyfile-P-Wallet-File-Polypropylene-Portrait-A4-Clear-Ref-13263-Pack-5

we each had our own colour. Passports, immunization records (could be helpful in a refugee border crossing situation), photocopies of credit and bank cards, photocopies of insurance, emergency contacts, extra passport sized photos (always need these!) etc. were all kept inside. I also tend to keep a sheet with all account numbers/sort codes on it and any relevant bank phone numbers for lost cards etc. We also kept a couple of photocopies of passport pages, which are invaluable if your passport is lost or stolen. When not on the move, they were stored in a secure place. If we were moving around, passports were taken out (so as not to be in the same place as the copies and to be easily accessible) the pouch would be kept in say a carry on, separate from where cash, passport and cards were kept. If we had to evacuate, we all knew the pouch was the first thing that got grabbed. They were relatively water resistant, sturdy and since we all had our own colour, easily recognizable. I still use mine now, especially seeing as I had a snazzy one with a popular Japanese cartoon kitty on it:rotfl:. If I had a lock box, I'd probably keep it in there but take it out if I needed to evacuate on foot.

It also proved useful as a teenager when I did a fair amount of travelling without my parents as I knew what should be in there, and if I ever didn't know anything the information was probably in there..if that makes sense.:D

Was just thinking these might be a helpful alternative to the tubes as they pack flat.

[Deleted User]

mardatha: Do you mean a Hexamine Stove?

They're ideal for short trips, but the fuel weighs rather a lot for extended use.

While the stove itself is just 105g, the fuel tablets weigh 25g EACH.

That means, just to brew up twice a day, will require 350g of tablets per week.

Add in meals, snacks etc., and you won't be far short of 1kg of fuel tablets per week.

By comparison, I've just read a report of a Web-tex Warrior cooking for 2, for a week, on a 250g gas cartridge, and still having some gas left, so a single 500g cartridge should be more than enough for a week or so at a festival.

Also, bear in mind, unlike Hexamine, gas cartridges are available all over the place.

Likewise, Meths is available at chemists/hardware stores/B&Q etc., and bio-Ethanol is available at Asda/B&Q etc.

Remember, a stove without fuel, is just wasted weight in your kit.

GreyQueen

Excellent idea, very well-thought out.

When I go travelling, I use an A4 plastic booklet with plastic sleeves in it. Book-format, not a ringbinder with loose-leaves in it.

Into this I put maps, info, lists of information, copies of documents, inc photocopies of the passport, glasses prescription and medical prescription.

It was very cheap, under £1 I think, and is handy as it doesn't scream "tourist" and can be updated and amended easily. I think it would work in a BOB-situation pretty well.

When backpacking, I always had 3 sets of copies of critical docs in different places (one set on my person, always) and min 4 passport type pix. I also always wear a multi-pocket waistcoat with a regular discipline about what goes in which pocket. It's a lot safer than having another bag to mind.

It's a good idea to have up-to-date pix of your children/ other relatives. Regular pix, not all dolled-up for a special occasion. In the horrendous event that you were separated from your loved ones in a crisis, a current photo could be invaluable in searching for them.

Those of us like myself who have medical needs which are acute but hidden might want to think about wearing a medical warning bracelet/ necklace at all times. Could make the difference between life and death.

I have also heard of people writing the names of their young children, with other critical ID details, on the their arms in pen, if they think they may be separated from children too young to articulate their full name, parents' names and address.

Hokay, time for another cuppa then I suppose I better present myself to the salt-mine.

At least today is better than yesterday; I ironed 7 things in one go.............!

D&DD

Morning all

Butterfly how sleek are your filing boxes I lurve them! I'd probably need about 50 pairs to evacuate from here tho..hoarder moi?

Well I had the shock of my life yesterday big bro is taking voluntary redundancy :eek: I can see the sense in it for him and know exactly why but blimey..I can't say too much but my alarm bells are going into overdrive.

Hope you have a great day off Daz even with the cleaning!

Ginny I haven't forgot you asked about the tatties in the dehydrator will sit down tonight and waffle how I did them

Speaking of which I'm off to the kitchen to fill mine with pineapple,apricots,rhubarb from the garden and apples.Still haven't done the spinach pasta yet though..

I need to make some rhubarb and apricot jam for the storecupboard too as I stuffed the last lot with my toast this morning..
Luckily the apricots were on offer and the rhubarb is homegrown,sugar was bought cheap so it won't be expensive but tastes divine!Next year hopefully the apricots will come from the garden too..just need to fathom out how to squeeze some sugarcane in :rotfl:

Have a great day all XX

VJsmum

GreyQueen wrote: »

At least today is better than yesterday; I ironed 7 things in one go.............!

You're winding me up

i paid DD to do 2 hours of ironing this week. Cost me a tenner but was worth every penny. The quality of her workmanship is improving too - only one thing needs re ironing. I think some of it is her folding skills - or lack thereof.

GreyQueen

VJsmum wrote: »

You're winding me up

i paid DD to do 2 hours of ironing this week. Cost me a tenner but was worth every penny. The quality of her workmanship is improving too - only one thing needs re ironing. I think some of it is her folding skills - or lack thereof.

It's a horrendous amount by my standards; 5 blouses and 2 hankies.

Muvva bought herself a new ironing board on Weds. She's thrilled, but then she irons for several hours a week. I keep telling her to just do her own stuff and let the menfolk sort themselves or stay crumpled, but she won't listen. *sigh*

D&DD

VJsmum wrote: »

You're winding me up

i paid DD to do 2 hours of ironing this week. Cost me a tenner but was worth every penny. The quality of her workmanship is improving too - only one thing needs re ironing. I think some of it is her folding skills - or lack thereof.

I don't iron unless desperate I'm only on my 2nd iron from when I first married shake and hang is my motto..

WCS so glad to see you again we've missed you! XX

mardatha

Well I meant for the festivals Bob, not for the BOB.

mardatha

I havent ironed anything in 10 years, since my son left home and took the iron with him. I did buy a cheap one but it lives in the highest top kitchen cupboard...