Preparedness for when

fuddle

GreyQueen wrote: »

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 shall be doing this, thank you!

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

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.

I don't use one :eek: But I will not let it beat me, there has to be something in the cupboards, garage. Something will pop into my head, wacky money saving ideas normally do :rotfl:

Edit: halagon oven shelf

So, I have sticks, dried bits of bark, paper/card, tumble dryer fluff. Can you help me with how to light a fire in a roses tin? Right, read back. How does this sound. light bark/dryer fluff and put paper around it in tripod shape. As that burns ad further sticks? Did someone say to drill holes in the tin? In the coming days I willtry to boil the camping kettle outdoors.

I thank you all so much. I now feel even more in control. Ray Mears? I've enjoyed watching him on TV in the past. Is his survival books worth a read?

prepareathome

You definately don't need any expensive equiptment for cooking outdoors, I have survived to the grand old age of 56 without my goodies and wouldn't have them now if son had not given me 3 years birthday money in one go and I didn't need to spend it on anything else.

We happily wild camped for weeks using a hobo stove with a biscuit tin on top of it as an oven. Did go hi tek for one thing we had a kettle for boiling water but have used tin cans before now. I brought my kids up with just them.

I was a brownie and guide,girls in my youth could not join scouts but we did all sorts of outdoor activities in the scottish hills. There was none of the OTT Health and Safety rules and regs then so we really got hands dirty so to speak. Then even as a member of WAC we not only learned flying but camped out and learned to live off land. At Secondary school I was a avid member of the hill walking and skiing groups and we used to go off in the summer with very few basics and live off the land. I was a Tawny owl at the Brownie pack I had attended as a child before I left Scotland and we used to take our pack off out for a week under canvas. When I came down here I created and ran junior section of Lads/Girls Brigade of a local group and again we took them out under canvas.

Now I feel I deserve a bit more comfort as getting old but so long as you can get yourself a catering size tin and a metal biscuit tin you can have the finest stove and oven in the world. I don't know if its the same now but for one of the sections of my Duke of Edinbrugh Award we were dropped off with zilch, nada, nothing just the clothes on our back and had to cook without pots. We were in a group and had been taught obvious what leaves are best to cook things in and were near a river for fishing. We had either 48 or 72hrs to get back before they came looking for us. I remember actually stayed dry that time.

I have forgotten so much, if you dropped me now in middle of no-where am not sure if I would make it now, hence my books and now thanks to disabilities I have to find ways to do things that once I did without thinking about but old bod will not co-operate and a crutch can get in the water if trying to walk through a wood catching on roots etc. So Ghillie kettle means have a stable surface for boiling water and cooking, with fire contained as now my mind can get a bit wandery and I might not notice if fire was moving where I once would. So I adapt and change, which is what preparedness is all about.

GQ way back then we were taught sawdust/cotton wool in eggbox and covered with candle wax but that was because in 1969 there were not many tumble driers to be found in the UK

2tonsils

Hi all....had a lovely anniversary meal last night so very happy today. Went to the gym this morning as I want to keep my fitness levels up to top notch before the winter...which I suspect may well be the time the SHTF here in Greece. Not sure about anywhere else, I am too busy keeping up with all the underground news in Greece, so I know what's going on before it breaks....pre warned is pre armed to deal with it.

So heavy weight training it was..then swimming for cardio and to cool off.

Have just done all my ironing (yes its 38 in the shade as well) and have started sorting out the winter clothes and getting them ready for our winter. It gets a lot colder and wetter here than you would think it does!

Yesterday I was given 50 pounds by my MIL for my birthday later this month. On the way to our anniversary meal I spotted a shoe shop with Italian leather shoes....and found a pair of soft kid leather boxing boots with thermal linings and rubber soles...perfect for prepping in that they fit amazingly well without wearing them in and will be warm and dry in the winter. They will also be perfect for wearing on the scooter and going for my long power walking excursions up the mountain next to my home...and I got them for 40 euros which is very good considering the quality of them. They will last me for years...

It's nearly cool enough to start walking up there again and I have decided to collect pine cones and kindling while its tinder dry. It got our log fire going all last winter! I go up there regularly so know where the wild food is to be found (including wild strawberries which grow in the winter here ) and where there is a great bug out shelter should I need to leave home or go to much higher ground.

It's just been on the news that large numbers of irate pensioners have stormed the government building in Athens in protest at starvation level pensions (which are going to be cut again) and the removal of medical care and drugs even though they have paid a lifetime of contributions for them. It seems the health minister locked himself safely in his office lol.......no doubt there will be many more such demonstrations in the coming months. The tourism staff who have worked all summer (some without any sign of pay...) have been told they are not getting their unemployment money this winter, even though some have been paying 400 euros a month contributions!

2tonsils

Just a quick update while I have a signal...I only seem to have a local connection to the internet for most of the time today, It has taken me six hours to get it to work to post these two updates. I don't know if the internet is being restricted as all my friends have the same problem and they all have different suppliers for the internet. It's very strange. I can't read my emails or get on facebook either. It' s making me wonder if something is going on they don't want us to know about as the telephones are not working properly either and the tv only has certain stations tonight which is unusual when there are no storms around. Just off to bed to read my book , goodnight folks!

westcoastscot

Fuddle my cooling trays aren't robust enough for using on a stove - I use my grill insert (the wire tray in the grill pan). I know you can buy them at bbq times for folks who make their own bbq's with bricks if you wanted a particular one. Small enough to carry about also if you want to.

Pinecones make great firelighters if you have somewhere to collect them.

prepareathome

2tonsils, doubt you will see this but hoping all is ok with you, if people are rising up they might be pulling the plug, its what they want to do here with the big brother bill.

Stay safe you and everyone

suburbanwifey

Can anyone tell me how to post a photo in my post? uploaded to PB (as won't work at all with Flickr) and even though resized small on PB site, it still comes up HUGE on here, filling more than page. That's using direct link option on 'insert image' button. Whatever I choose on PB it comes up on here in preview as HUGE picture. Can someone help? want to show you something

2tonsils

Have discovered I still have access to this group so will post while I can. My internet is still being blocked on facebook, twitter and emails so I have little communication worldwide. The phones are also playing up. Someone thinks this site is not a threat so I still have it lol.

Glad we have stocks of fuel , food and a little money in just in case. We have water in all the time as our mains water is not drinking quality. We use huge containers from the spring as its cleaner than bottled water.

I feel as though I am slipping into prep mode and dont even know why at the moment. But I trust my intuition! Today we are doing some work around the house to prep it for the winter, or when the SHTF...not sure which will happen first.

Have heard from friends in C**prus ( changed so they don't block it) that there are a lot of stealth aircraft and helicopters heading east from there.

Later peeps! Meanwhile I am happy, fit and optimistic......the aliens are coming to save us LOL

mardatha

Remember you can use a biscuit tin lid as an excellent frying pan - fish fingers and omelettes are great on lids

Possession

2tonsils that's all rather sinister. I'm glad you're so well-prepared. Keep in touch with us here and take care.