Preparedness for when

THIRZAH

I remember the drought in the 1970s-was it 1976?

My father fixed a hose to the end of the outlet pipe from the bathroom.We had to get out of the bath, get dry and then dress before pulling the plug out so we could move the hose around the vegetable patch.

I iron-dried a top for DD fairly recently. I'd turned up at her flat and she was upset as the top she'd been planning to wear wasn't dry so I got the iron out.Nice to know that I'm useful for something!

savingqueen

Hi everyone (first post on SHTF - at least I think so!)

I also sponge and air kids uniforms - just jumpers and trousers. Generally only last an extra day so 2 days wear rather than 1, occasionally 3 days. Sponge other clothes as well if they are not dirty jsut have a splodge on. I use an apron to cook and wash up too to save stains. I am struggling at the moment to get the washing dry so it makes good sense. Last year was our first year without a tumble drier and I seemed to cope better - maybe there was less rain? I can't remember now.

I was at primary school in the 70s and remember the power cuts and the water shortages - you had to fill buckets from taps in the street. One winter our school (in London) closed for weeks on end and different years would go once a week to a local unheated church hall for a few hours to do some work and collect enough for the comign week. Remember sitting there in coat, hat, scarf and gloves.

sq

Mrs_T_M

This past summer I'd plug the drain in the tub before myself or DH took a shower and carted the water down the stairs and out to the garden in a bucket. I also do that with my washing up and rinse water when needed. The water company *still* doesn't believe there are two people living here! :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Hello SQ welcome on board, lovely to have you over with us too!!!

DAZ our Sunnans live on the upstairs window sill all the time and the light is definately enough to charge the solar cell and keep it charged for instant use, they're a brilliant product and so easy to keep prepared, I love ours to bits.

I'd love to be able to find a free standing separate spin dryer, we had one and a separate washing tub before I had the girls and for the two of us, they worked really well. I wouldn't mind washing the socks and undies every night if I had a decent means of getting them dry enough not to drip puddles on the utility room floor, not possible when hand wringing, the alternative would be a little mangle/wringer like the Acme ones that fastened on the sink and you wound with a handle, now that was a useful little product, I wish they were still made, I'd get one like a shot, Cheers Lyn xxx.

pumpkinlife

I have started sponging off my son's sweatshirts just this week. I only bought two, thinking one in the wash and one on, but it is getting on top of me. Works a treat as long as there are not grease stains. I really need to invest in an apron for my own use around the house, I do far too much messy stuff.

I am changing my 'uniform' this winter, to wearing vest tops, dresses and tights; jeans are to bulky to dry and store in this little house. I bought a pair of those 100 denier tights last year and they are actually warmer than jeans, especially in icy cold conditions. Added bonus I will look a bit more stylish and put together too :cool:.

My Chinese house mates used to hand wash their undergarments every other evening. They had a handful of good quality bits from M&S that they looked after, two bras and vests each and a few pairs of knickers. They did it mostly because they considered it unhygienic to wash intimate things in with the rest of your clothes and swore washing machines ruined delicates anyway. I have resisted hand washing for years as I have horrible memories of doing huge loads of heavy clothes in the freezing dead of winter in my teen years, but actually quite enjoy it now.

The info about the three day week is interesting, I wasn't yet born. My in-laws remember it, but my father in law did receive inflation busting pay rises all the way through, so I don't think they struggled too much. After reading about Grangemouth this morning I do wonder if that sort of thing is on the immediate horizon again though.

siegemode

I'm loving all the 70s memories. The summer of 76 was one of the years we went off to Yugoslavia on our hols camping for 5 weeks and made it to Dubrovnik and further. I missed the last week or so of term in my last year of primary school. The drought conditions certainly didn't reach us on our hols, had the wettest year ever and some amazing and frightening electrical storms. It was only on our way back through France that we became aware of it. The car needed more water and we couldn't get any until after our ferry was due to leave and only just made it on board. When we got into Dover luckily we managed to get some and get home ok. Once we got home we didn't have to go to stand pipes but I seem to remember the water being turned on and off at certain times and having to fill everything we could when we could. I think being a camping family gave us the edge on most others when it came to dealing with the 70s adventures.

Although my parents worked hard and we had a good standard of living it was only achieved because of their OS ways and knowledge.
I count myself incredibly lucky to have been given the experiences and knowledge from them and intend to share as many of those skills as I can with my SDD and her little one who joined this mad crazy world at 7am today. After almost 2 days of labour she finally appeared. Thankfully mum and baby are well, but being kept in for a couple of days. Exciting times as well as worrying. Off to see them and meet DGD later.

GQ thanks for the utube link The Government can, OH and I now have it on the brain.

bluebag

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Hello SQ welcome on board, lovely to have you over with us too!!!

DAZ our Sunnans live on the upstairs window sill all the time and the light is definately enough to charge the solar cell and keep it charged for instant use, they're a brilliant product and so easy to keep prepared, I love ours to bits.

I'd love to be able to find a free standing separate spin dryer, we had one and a separate washing tub before I had the girls and for the two of us, they worked really well. I wouldn't mind washing the socks and undies every night if I had a decent means of getting them dry enough not to drip puddles on the utility room floor, not possible when hand wringing, the alternative would be a little mangle/wringer like the Acme ones that fastened on the sink and you wound with a handle, now that was a useful little product, I wish they were still made, I'd get one like a shot, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Acme mangles can often be found on e-bay, and I'm sure you can still buy spin dryers. Sorry I can;t come up with the funding for you for both these items, very sadly you will have to shift for yourself there. Now, if I was a millionaire...

Possession

Just in case this is of interest to anyone, some recipes for a solar oven:
http://ecofootprintsa.blogspot.co.uk/p/solar-oven-recipes.html

[Deleted User]

Thanks BLUEBAG appreciate the thought, I've seen then come up on Fleabay but they're usually needing new rollers and I'm not sure they're available these days!!!

siegemode

Oh dear OH can't stop whistling, humming, singing the government can and we only watched it once !:rotfl: