Preparedness for when

fuddle

Enjoyed catching up with you all as always.

I report that the elderberry/clove/star anise/lemon/ginger/honey syrup for poorly people is truly amazing. We have all had a cold this weekend with sinuses swollen and then the whole gubbins on our chest. In two days we are cleared and didn't even need paracetamol (although gave that to the girls' for their temperatures) The down side is we are out of the magic lintus and I now have to cook up another batch as well as source further elderberries to dry for later in the season. I urge us all to try to do this, even without the elderberries because I suspect the other ingredients did a lot of the work too. Thank you

DH was calling it poltis but didn't know why. Anyone know what a poltis is?

Can I ask about prepping for motor way break downs?

We're moving in a couple of months and have a 6 hour motorway journey to do in my 51 plate micra. Now she's a solid work horse with 50K ish on her clock but she's still old... and I'm petrified! I'm wanting to prepare for any eventualities and was hoping you would help me. So far:

I have raincoat and walking boots in boot as standard.
Bottle water and snacks as standard.
I know that I can park in the hard shoulder if I break down (can i?!)
I get out of the passenger side and wait on the side of the motorway behind the barrier.
I have breakdown cover, will need to read what that entails and get numbers ready (no, I haen't already done this... bad prepper!)

Anything else you would recommend I get/do?

Butterfly_Brain

fuddle I think that you may mean a poultice which is a paste applied to a wound, boil or swelling

Shropshirelass

I've been away for a while visiting DS in London (Brixton), haven't had time to catch up properly, conversation here is scintillating, but don't want to miss anything!!

Fuddle one of those HighVis jackets might make you feel safer if you have to get out of car at roadside, not expensive from places like Halfords.

You probably always keep a brolly, a few paracetamol, and 'she-wee' or similar in case of traffic hold up. They do say ladies treat their car like a handbag.:T

fuddle

Thank you B B. Looks like he's got his wires crossed yet again but I can see a little method in his madness. He's hooked on the stuff anyway and is normally quite the cynic to my 'wacky' ideas

Big golf umbrella in the boot too Shropshirelass... as standard of course. My boot is no use for shopping bags. There's no room!

Hi-viz vest an excellent idea and I think a reflection warning triangle too.

I've been wanting a shee wee type thing for a very long time. Time to investigate.

the_cake

Shropshirelass wrote: »

I've been away for a while visiting DS in London (Brixton), haven't had time to catch up properly, conversation here is scintillating, but don't want to miss anything!!

Fuddle one of those HighVis jackets might make you feel safer if you have to get out of car at roadside, not expensive from places like Halfords.

You probably always keep a brolly, a few paracetamol, and 'she-wee' or similar in case of traffic hold up. They do say ladies treat their car like a handbag.:T

I second the hi-viz - very very useful in lots of situations where you want to be seen ....
Fuddle - please could you post the recipe (or give a linkie) to the elderberry syrup? Have just been for a wander up the lane, plenty of elderberries here, and I seem to be horribly prone to winter colds ... Many thanks!

fuddle

Yeah the cake no problem at all. http://www.deeprootsathome.com/its-elderberry-time-making-cough-syrup-and-tincture/ really interesting page about the benefits of elderberry here and a few other recipes too.

I followed pretty much her recipe but added more honey, a lot (decent sized root) of ginger and added star anise as I'd read it was an expectorant. I squeezed a whole lemon in there too.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh or 1/2 cup dried organic elderberries (minus stems)
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup raw local honey ( I only used 3/4 cup)
• 1 organic cinnamon stick, 3 organic whole cloves, and organic ginger

Place berries, water, and spices in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes or until a syrupy thickness. Smash the berries to release remaining juice and strain the mixture. Allow liquid to cool. Stir in raw honey only after it has really cooled to preserve the enzymes and good living food in the honey. This will last for 2-3 months stored in the fridge.

[Deleted User]

I've just looked at Fleabay for dried elderberries and there are many packs some large and some medium. They are sold for home brewing and I wonder if there is a home brew shop nearby your area where you might be able to buy some for less than online prices, certainly worth a look to see, Cheers Lyn xxx.

tryingtobethrifty

We were in France during the summer where it's legal to wear a hi-viz jacket if you break down and what a difference - people were really easy to spot. It seems like such a cheap and easy way to keep people safe.

Daftmummy - I wish it were me that was the secret jam maker - I'd love a prepper friend. I keep my preps secret. My friend saw 4 bottles of water not secreted away yet and asked what they were for. I said "just to have some in case the water goes off" and she went off on one saying how I was a worrier ??? I live in the middle of the country and like Mardartha get snowed in so to me it' just makes sense. She said "couldn't you just heat up some snow?".
Seriously, is it not easier to have some 17p bottles of water in the house?
I can't imagine what she would say if she knew what else I stashed!

ArthriticOldThing

Hi everyone. I read more than I post but just had to say that this week I've had an example of what could be my SHTF situation.

Have had 'flare-up' of arthritis and been unable to move much. Just managing round my small flat has been difficult and any thought of going would have been from fairyland. If had not prepped I would not have eaten at all as my hands have been too bad to contemplate cooking.:eek: Fortunately I had freezer full of hm ready meals and easy opened packets in the cupboard so have managed.

Thank you for all your help and advice.

Now what I mean is that for a week I could probably manage on ordinary shopping but the consultant has warned me the length of these flares will increase with time so have decided to make sure I have at least one month's worth of easy access food available at all times.

Also the other necessities :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Well done AOT, sorry you were so uncomfortable but so well done for having everything you needed in a form you could access. It really does highlight that you never know when a situation is going to rear its head up in your life and emphasises the sense of having made considered plans for if it does doesn't it? I trust that other necessities includes copious amounts of chocolate by the way? Cheers Lyn xxx.