Preparedness for when

RAS

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

. I know those poor people have had the fabric of thier lives ripped apart by the storm and we're not immune from weather events here in the UK but our housing stock is more substantial and hopefully would withstand the extremes of weather in a slightly better way than the flimsy structures of warmer climates.

The problem is that the area is also prone to earthquakes (biggun last month); in an earthquake a flimsy shelter is an advantage because if it collapses there is very little to damage or kill people. But they offer little protection against wind or water.

But it is the concrete structures that have survived wind and storm surge. If a concrete structure falls as a result of an earthquake it crushes and often kills those beneath it. So they are stuffed both ways

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

What struck me is the total demoralisation of the people, and thier inaction due to this, using umberellas to shelter under rather than trying to construct some shelters from the debris around them, it's a factor I hadn't put into any imagined scenario and is a lesson to learn perhaps for the future?

Ditto; all that corrugated iron would make good water catchers if propped up and they have had a lot of rain since the typhoon ended. Building any sort of shelter would be win-win.

Rosy_Bottom

If I'd lost everything I owned and possibly loved ones as well, I think I just sit there as well

[Deleted User]

Yes ROSY, I think it would be impossible to focus on anything if all was gone and destroyed, I have always had the idea in my head that there would still be some places to shelter if catastrophe struck here in the UK, it had never been part of what I had as a picture in my mind that absolutely everything would just be gone in one stroke. I can't even begin to imagine how that must feel and I'm sure acceptance would be a long time coming. No criticism of those poor people intended, only the hope that they can motivate themselves even if only to put up a piece of corrugated roofing to keep themselves out of the rain until whatever help is coming arrives! Lyn xxx.

Butterfly_Brain

David Cameron after eating his free four course meal and copious amounts of free booze stood up at the Lord Mayor's banquet to declare that austerity must stay forever

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/13/david-cameron-austerity-public-sector-cuts

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/11/david-cameron-policy-shift-leaner-efficient-state

Then this one on £2,000 energy bills

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/12/fuel-bill-increases-edf-big-six

Something is going to give soon and it will not be pretty, all the more reason to prep even harder

[Deleted User]

Bring on the woodburners eh BB?

mardatha

..............or the guillotine!

[Deleted User]

You'd better knit us a good sharp one then MAR, use wire wool?

Butterfly_Brain

Agree 100% with both of you

There is also this little gem.......

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/13/conservative-party-archive-speeches-internet

cornishchick

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Agree 100% with both of you

There is also this little gem.......

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/13/conservative-party-archive-speeches-internet

Umm very orwellian. .....rewriting history !!

ALIBOBSY

Been chatting about Christmas and we decided that all the gift giving was a waste of money tbh. We had already reduced our pressies to parents and siblings, other than our children last year, but both sets of parents are in their 70's and it just seems a waste of their and our time and money. So confirmed with parentals that only the kids will get pressies this year.

I won a craft comp from facebook and have a load of blank Christmas cards and bits to make them with. Just need a couple of stamp pads which I can get cheap on ebay then kids and I can have a nice afternoon making cards for the family-more thought less cost.

We had cut right back in the last few years and still had a good time and we won't be going mad this year either.

Obviously getting our "free" turkey just before the big day, and will take a trip to our local farm shops for the veggies and other meat for the festive period. I reckon no more than £30 £40 all in, and we will get some local cheese from there within that money.

Been buying the odd extra to put away for the day, some chocs, biscuits, sweets etc. at poundstretcher/aldi/lidl/b and m. Will do my normal Aldi shop, but perhaps a few extra bits and treats, nothing crazy. OH doesn't drink and I don't have much, already got my £9 baileys bottle stashed away. May get a bottle of wine for the big meal, may not.

Presents are just for the kids and mostly sorted, basically one "big" own choice pressie each, plus some bits. No debt, no being short in the new year.

We will concentrate of simply being together as a family. The same old tree will come out-bought in a sale at B&Q a few years ago its still lush and is just fine. Add the various bits we have acquired over the years and its covered, it doesn't match, it won't be "artistic", and nor will it follow the "theme" of the room. Our Christmas decs are bright, cheerful and almost all from jan sales lol. The kids love it.

TBH when I remember several years ago when DS and DD1 were small that pressure of having the "perfect Christmas" I cringe. I didn't enjoy much of it and was aways worn out by the end and the kids certainly weren't any happier. What a big, stupid, advertising con. Sadly you still see some falling for it, big piled up shopping trolleys, hundreds of pounds in toys r us/argos et al. Frazzled parents (I know sometimes Dad's help, but mostly it seems to be Mum's organising it all), stressed out Dec 25th's not nearly as "perfect" as you hoped for and all leading to a stressed out skint new year.

I reckon most of us have wised up and hope this year they are more of "us" and less of "them" and I am glad MSE and Martin are pushing this message. No way TPTB will agree with this though as a booming economy relies on the masses falling for their lies and buying a load of old tat to pass from person to person every December.

Ali x