Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

BTW. Anyone else having trouble browsing/posting on MSE?

I'm getting lots of "Oops. Unable to connect" type messages.

fuddle

pineapple wrote: »

I wondered that - then I remembered that, unlike herself, some people have wifi and laptops with batteries

or a phone with charge left that connects to 3G?

If its a temporary regional problem for a few hours I doubt it would effect mobile internet connection, would it?

westcoastscot

Hi everyone,
Really cold here the past few days - down to 4 degrees overnight and we have a gale heading our way - am hoping my fisherman gets home soon - he's out in the minch today - it's already whipping up here.
moderately depressed over my rapidly worsening hand/wrist function - was struggling today to peel apples for a crumble, and knitting is getting more and more difficult. It's a serious concern to me, as OT's only advice is to purchase frozen/pre-chopped veg, neither of which is available here except for frozen peas/sweetcorn. Going to have to look for a gadget.

I have a food mixer that I use on bad days for baking etc, but it just doesn't taste the same - we adapt recipes to miss out dairy/eggs and i've been baking for so long I mostly go by eye, and that doesn't work in a machine! I think my next good day i'm going to have to find a way to measure out my "eye" measurements and make a note.

Haven't watched Blackout yet but possibly will. We're well used to longish periods without power, but if it brings lawlessness that will obviously be more serious.

Did you all see that the UN Rapporteur denounced the bedroom tax? That coupled with the two successful court cases may bring the misery to an end.

WCS

BessieBooBoo

Hello WCS

I don't know what to say to console you, but, it must be a b*gger to cope with.

Sending virtual hugs and hope you have a better day tomorrow. All I know is that the OH gets more aches and pains/stiffness in the damp weather, but, at this time of year its hard to avoid...



Keep prepping, do what you can, and stay warm...

BBB

Perplexed_Pineapple

Ouch WCS hope your hand gets better soon.

nuatha wrote: »

My biggest problem with paraffin stoves was having to carry a second fuel to preheat the burner, which is why I moved over to Trangia's for backpacking (and found Trangia's most efficient with a decent wind). From the point of view of a backup cooker I still think they are excellent, though my preference is the flat gas ring type.
One of the advantages of many years of camping is a variety of gear to fall back on - though that may make me a contender for the hoarding thread.

It isn't hoarding if it's all stuff you use! (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it :rotfl:)

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Look up 'The Firespout' it's a portable woodburner that you can run on twigs..

That looks very useful MrsLW, but is it anything more than a windshield with a few ventilation holes? More or less like the improvised "hobo" stove but folding?
Thanks to Bedsit Bob for recommending B&Q for bioethanol several pages back, got some this morning, less than half the price of meths and if it works well in the Trangia will be very useful (I'll try it later). While there spotted some loft insulation in the clearance section so another step towards minimising heating bills in the winter - I'm aiming to have the warmest house on the block if the gas gets cut off .

[Deleted User]

PP my model is an older one and actually comes apart into 4 pieces to transport. It's a very useful little gadget and doesn't have a bottom, just the 4 sides and limited ventilation holes, one side has a gap at the bottom to make it draw so you can get the fire very hot very quickly, mine is the mini version so only about 6" x 6" when it's assembled. I love it because it's very economical with fuel and once it's going well you can burn just about anything you find on it. I'd forgotten the newer models were folders not take apart ones. It's made of good strong metal, and I think will last pretty well forever, a hobo stove has a finite life doesn't it? before it burns through but it's a choice thing and I'm very happy with my little stove. Cheers Lyn xxx.

pineapple

FloppyDisk wrote: »

Oh dear, sitting here in my city centre flat an hour and a half into a power black out, even the pub down the road is out! Wishing I had bought a few practical candles along with my pretty girly ones!

Yes yes but what we would all like to know is ... did the zombies get you?:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Perplexed_Pineapple wrote: »

and if it works well in the Trangia will be very useful

It does work well in Trangia stoves, it's cleaner burning than meths, and doesn't have the meths odour when burning.

BTW, and not exactly prepping related, but many pages ago, we discussed the best way to make home made chips.

Well, for anyone who doesn't have a Deep Fat Fryer, but would like one, B&M have some Prolex ones in, for the princely sum of £19-99.

Also, Deep Fat Frying related, £world have tins of Del Monte Pineapple Rings.

These are the large (a good 3.5" diameter) rings, ideal for Pineapple Fritters. :drool:

westcoastscot

Thanks guys, appreciating your support. Fairly typically for my family who never do things by half, my fantastic rheumy team are finding my arthritis quite challenging, apparently it's "stubbornly aggressive" who'd have guessed?? (need one of those rolly-eyed smilies).

Interesting conversation about alternative fuels/cooking implements/light. We have a multi-fuel stove which we love - we regularly use a dutch oven on it, and also use the kelly kettle on its side in it for water inside. We use the KK in the garden too.

Like Nuatha I have loads of camping stuff from a previous life when I was well and love my trangia. I use meths, however my sons prefer the gas adapter for it - quicker and more efficient apparently at altitudes.

Getting really windy here
WCS

[Deleted User]

Bio-Ethanol is cheaper, cleaner burning, and less smelly.