Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

katep23 wrote: »

I think we'll be alright (blind drunk anyway) if TSHTF.

One word of warning.

Don't drink alcohol, if the emergency is a shortage of water.

[Deleted User]

herbily wrote: »

When they had the 1900s House on telly, the one thing the women said they missed most was shampoo. Ever since, I've made sure I've always got a couple of bottles on hand.

Never use the stuff myself.

VJsmum

Whilst I can't deny that I do love my holidays, they can be quite stressful. This year we went to southern France by train and that I do recommend - tho it can be pricey (my OH works for the railways so we don't pay). The stress went once we got to big city on way to London. Breakfast at St Pancras was like being abroad, Eurostar to Lille and then the train south the following day. Was pure bliss.

I have a significant birthday nest month (NEXT MONTH :eek:) and we were initially looking at a weekend abroad, that weekend is the one directly before Christmas. I wasn't looking forward to it, couldn't be bothered to organise anything. I wondered if it was the turning 50 thing, but I am not bothered by being 49 so why should 50 bother me? In the end we have booked to stay at the Port Meirion hotel in north Wales (where "the prisoner" was filmed) and now I am really looking forward to it. A couple of hours drive and dinner bed and breakfast laid on for two nights, louvverly

charlies-aunt

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

BTW. Have you tried one out yet?

Yes Really thrilled with how much bright white light such a small gadget gives out. I will be putting a couple more on next weeks shopping list :)

Following this thread with interest - I don't watch TV because I haven't got the patience to be watching "Strictly", "Corrie" etc and it seems that even the news is heavily manipulated to tell us what "they" want us to know. Will be checking the links posted though to try and find out what's actually happening and will work on increasing the existing stockpile in my cupboards before the SHTF

Butterfly_Brain

DawnW wrote: »

I'm sure a smaller one will work just as well. Did the company recommend a specific one as being the optimum size for the room? Ours did, and we were surprised how small it is, for a quite large lounge and dining room (which has a large opening between, with folding doors that can be opened up - and we keep them open most of the time).

A larger one would have fitted into the available space, too.

It will still be lovely and toasty, you'll see. Plus probably a bit cheaper for a smaller one

We ordered a 5kw stove and we have had a look in the brochure and chosen another parkray that is the same 5kw that will fit perfectly. So we have just got to go and tell them tomorrow. Best of all they are English made so it is nice to know that it is keeping someone in a job in this country and not abroad

Butterfly_Brain

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

CRAIGY when we had the strikes and power outs in the 70s the things that dissapeared off the shelves very fast and were in short supply were candles, toilet paper, salt and sugar all of which have a stable and endless shelf life so investing in those items would give you not only enough for your personal use but for bartering for other things in the future. Some things that won't last too long are pulses and flour and there is the added problem of possible infestations of wevils if you do store them for too long.I would opt for dried packets like soups and instant mash and skimmed milk powder as they keep far longer than the best before date indicates and pasta will keep indefinately as will rice although rice has the potential for wevils too. Things like foil packed tea and coffee should also keep far longer than the best before date as will canned foods and foods in sealed glass jars like jam, friut and veg. Hope that helps, Lyn xxx.

Things like soap,washing up liquid, dishwasher liquid and bath products as well as most candles are oil based as are most pharmaceuticals and fertilizers, I have invested in things like the 1000 meter spools of sewing thread and some new needles to make sure I can repair our clothing and household fabric items. Plastics and anything made from them are also made from oil products so things like cling wrap, carrier bags, freezer bags will not be available and also lamp oils and paraffin are oil products and would be scarce and very expensive. Things to repair and maintain what you have would be very useful if THSTF in a major way and would give you a better quality of life afterwards, also seeds for veg and herbs etc would be useful too.

The seeds should preferably be heritage seeds that you can harvest your own seed from not F1 hybrids that you buy in the shops.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

1.3L of Easy Washing Up Liquid is £1 at Poundland.

Likewise, 1L (28 standard washes) of Katie Elizabeth Esscents Laundry Gel is £1 at the same place.

I buy both.

I know you can get cheaper washing up liquid, but through experience, its a false economy, as it doesn't last as long... there are some things/brands are worth sticking too, I put a tiny amount of fairy in the bowl, and on the sponge, and that's it, with the cheaper stuff, you got to put a bigger squirt in, and you got to keep topping your sponge up..


I am thinking now re Japan, and hardly anything being on the news,, is the government trying to keep a VERY big cap on it, until they have their nuclear plant past etc?? I have told hubby as a precaution, we will stop buying any, fish prawns etc, Also Again this might sound silly but a lot of the chicken in chicken products now comes from abroad... Would this be likely to be within the radius of the potential fallout???

Think this is another reason we should buy as much british and grow our own produce

westcoastscot

Hi CTC you can still eat these things - just read the labels! My son is fishing for prawns as we speak here on the west coast - he left at 4am this morning.

Really cold again here - and the start of my working week.
Have a good one,
WCS

craigywv

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

CRAIGY is it one of the old solid flat irons? I've got a collection of 4 of them in different weights and sizes and they work a treat too, I heat them up on the top plate of the woodburner, they're really good on natural fibres but you have to cool them a bit for manmades don't you? Lyn xxx.

yes lynn it is ,I love it my sister found it in her barn when she moved to the farm. that and about a 1000 tiny medicine bottles in crates with tiny stoppers in them all empty. its great what you find hoking about. xxx

GreyQueen

Morning all.

Successfully escaped from the clutches of Nat Exp coaches ( I recognise the number of the one prone to door-jamming and that was the one I rode out on but not the one on the return journey so I relaxed a bit).

Bob, having had bad experiences with Easy w.u.p liquid, I'll never use it again no matter how cheap it is, and every woman I know who's tried the bliddy stuff feels the same way about it. I also had an unsatisfactory powder for the machine once, Tosspots own brand, which didn't clean stuff properly until I mixed it with F0rmil (a Liddly brand) to use it up. Cheap for some things can work out expensive.

Re pre-purchases ahead of SHTF, James Wesley Rawles has some sensible things to say about this in his book TEOTWAWKI. He's a real fan of cast iron and also remarks that if you may end up taking relatives or other strays into your home, you should think about getting kettles and pots in bigger sizes than you might need for just yourself.

Buckets are critical, as well. And perhaps those galv birdfeeders if you have/ may want to have chickens? Rat traps and spring-type mousetraps. Bar soaps, salt and sugar will keep indefinately as long as they're dry. Good textiles such as sheets, towels, blankets, pillows. Sewing supplies inc bobbins, preferably metal, for treadle or hand-cranked sewing machines.

Simple sewing patterns, perhaps traced onto thin paper rather than just left on tissue paper. Knitting patterns for jumpers, socks, hats and gloves. Knitting pins, sewing needles inc really big things for heavy duty work like sack and sail needles and darning needles. Pins in quantity (I realised last night I don't have enough of those so will be getting more later this week).

Cans of light oils, like sewing machine oil, 3-in-1 etc. Graphite powder for easing locks. Fishing supplies, assuming you can use a rod or a net. Good quality hand tools such as brace-and-bit instead of electric drills, hand planes etc. A woodworking book.

If I had room to keep one, I'd get a bicycle trailer again. One of those could be an absolute godsend if fuel is scarce and you can't use your car as much as you'd like. Bikes for growing kids can sometimes be got for silly money. I really do consider a pushbike an essential item and trikes could be a work around for those who have balance issues and wouldn't trust themselves on two wheels.

I'm gradually switching out stuff made of plastic for stuff made of metal, such as mixing and food prep bowls. Will also be looking for a galv watering can and a galv bucket or two. Plastic will eventually rot and if you can't replace it in the post-oil age, you'll be kicking yourself. One of my lottie neighbours has a scythe, and there's a knack to using them. I haven't gone that far but I do have my late grandad's hand sickle.

Steel linen lines would be a good thing to have. Such a simple thing to be in want of but it would be a major nuisance. Perhaps those with sufficient head clearance would want to look at one of those trad clothes airers that you lower on a rope?

I think if you look at domestic tech pre-1950s, you won't go far wrong.