Preparedness for when

thriftwizard

Yes. But again, useful skills & self-discipline come as part of the package. Air cadets taught my two older lads to iron, as well as a fair bit of woodcraft and how to drive a dog sled & fly a glider, and eldest even got to pilot a plane!

GreyQueen

Hey fuddle, if you want to add to your firestarting tips log, here was a great one which I learned for camping (or home-based pyromanical activities) which requires a little pre-prep but it quite simple.

Using cardboard egg cartons, fill the holes with dryer lint or something similarly light and fluffy, then drip candle wax in. You hae created your very own Blue Peterish firestarter kit with handy tear-off modules.

I have been investing some of my hard-earned in a wind-up LED lantern and am childishly-excited as I wait for darkness........

Good to know about the Roses tin and I will be sure to get my hot little hands on one of those. I have a small stainless steel barrell BBQ which lives on the lottie and is the emergency plan for cooking up there. Erm, at least it will be when I get some charcoal for it.......:rotfl:

Have been talking to Mum who has been reading a local history book which covers, amongst other things, the very bad flooding which has occured in my part of this city in the past.

She asked me if I knew I was on a floodplain? I said yes, that is why I am registered with the Environment Agency for flood alerts, something friend and neighbour SuperGran did separately and why I have a flood plan which involves getting a few bits up out of the wet zone. If anyone would care to check it out, there's lots of useful stuff on that Env Agency site. SHe seemed to think that my having a bug out bad was sensible, given the circumstances with the potential for serious river flooding.

People drowned in their homes here and the experts quoted in her history book said it could happen again. Darned good job I don't have carpets, isn't it?;)

Right, going to see if my meal has been [STRIKE]sucessfully incinerated [/STRIKE] I mean, cooked. Laters, GQ x

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE - Do you have a cooling wrack for when you bake? If you do there is your cooking shelf for your roses tin. Cheers Lyn x.

jeanniefaethecarse

Thank you for the welcome vanoonoo. Odd you should mention Ikea, we were talking about some of their furniture for storing records/cds/tapes etc just yesterday. If we're going to go, (it's a wee way away from here) then I might go online to have a look at these too.
Just now, most of my forward prep stuff comes from AF. I am fascinated by canning though, but need a dint in the right direction as I too was brought up on tales of botulism. Having said that, I totally accept that there are thousands if not millions of people these days that do this at home quite safely! I just need to learn more about it. Learn learn learn! I'm such a "learn new skills" and "just in case" freak! It's pretty much the story of my life

SpikyHedgehog

annie123 wrote: »

The bark from Silver birch trees makes great kindling and even ignites when wet.
It can be peeled off in thin layers with out the risk of damaging the tree and lights easily with a fire steel.
We use it for our open fire in the winter, only I use home made fire lighters as I'm not as good as hubby at using the steel.

He suggested that anyone with kids should make an long term investment in prepping and send them to the cubs/scouts.

He learned how to build; a raised platform as a temporary home, bivouacs, different types of bridges, loads of different ways to start a fire, toilet making, tracking and navigation skills, wild foods to eat, catching animals for food (not good if your a veggie but I might be that hungry one day) lots of cooking ways, make rope (I can do that one using nettles ) and even made his own dug out canoe!
His scout leader was ex army which may have helped as he had friends who went to a different troop and played games, practiced marching etc, not as much fun and not as useful in later life.

I'm guessing the ex-army ness helps lots - DS2 did lots of badge work & craft but not much else at Beavers, at Cubs its lots of games... If I weren't on the committee, I'd have taken him out by now.

Possession wrote: »

I'm afraid our son stopped cubs at the beginning of this year, and one of the reasons was that all they ever did was played games - mostly bulldog. They rarely even did badges, let alone survival skills.

Its jolly frustrating, isn't it?

Possession wrote: »

Oops its sea cadets rather than sea scouts which is military isn't it.

Unless you'd prefer him not to be in a military organisation, I'd go for it - he'll still learn a lot of jolly useful skills!

D&DD

Sorry been neglecting you all hellishly busy here and have the kids off still DS3 winding up for school *zombies hold no fear for me after one of his meltdowns* :eek: and OH not only on a weeks leave but he has a dodgy back somehow too:(

Normal day really!!

Just doing haircuts then will be back later to catch up..ooh treated myself to Juan of the Dead today couldn't resist it Will let you know if its any good..

Caterina you probably won't read this til you get home now but hope you have a wonderful and safe trip XX

Love to all XXX

vanoonoo

heehee we saw juan of the dead a while ago and loved it - please remind me of what it is they say when they pick up the phone when on top of the building - we were trying to remember the other day but couldnt!

D&DD

Will do Noo should be watching it tonight hopefully..it can't be any worse than cowboys vs zombies oh my days that was the worst film I've ever sat through..and thats coming from someone who actually enjoys films made by Asylum Inc :rotfl:

Possession

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

I'm guessing the ex-army ness helps lots - DS2 did lots of badge work & craft but not much else at Beavers, at Cubs its lots of games... If I weren't on the committee, I'd have taken him out by now.

Its jolly frustrating, isn't it?

Unless you'd prefer him not to be in a military organisation, I'd go for it - he'll still learn a lot of jolly useful skills!

It is frustrating, and it has really put him off Scouts, but I'll look into the sea cadets.

jeanniefaethecarse

I was a member of guides and venture scouts (when I was older) and learned so much through the experience. Everything from how to wire a plug to rescue someone from our snow covered Scottish hills at three in the morning.
DD2 is at guides tonight (she's a young leader). They're nail painting *again*. I'm not knocking it, I was involved with it for quite a few years before my chronic psoriasis *really* started freaking everyone out, it's what interests the girls who come along, and we have to move with the times, but I can't help thinking something has been lost along the way. They no longer seem to do the badges. they don't learn how to make fires, forage, and live outdoors. When children do these things, they (largely) come back with a "we did it!!!!" attitude which has to be good. I have a 1920's (I think, maybe 1930's guide badge book. The range of badges is incredible, and it shows you how to get them. Everything from the cobblers badge to the nurses badge! Talk about achievement and self empowerment!
All the children (and I use the term loosely as my eldest is now 24) at some time, took part in foraging walks, or camps, that type of thing. DS1 (now 19) disliked it at the time because it was cold and wet and "when will I ever use this stuff mum?", but looks back and is glad that he, among his peers, can do these things because he doesn't sweat the small stuff the way his friends do. DS2 would lap it up!
The primary (5-12 yrs) school did a foraging walk for the 10 year olds with the local ranger service a couple of years ago and nearly all the children involved wanted more. They didn't do it this year because of health and safety. (I think two parents objected very strongly, and with coherent arguments, so it was cancelled)