Preparedness for when

thriftwizard

There definitely is some cold weather on the way, because Madam Feral Cat is trying to move into the house. She's rather hampered by the fact she's utterly terrified of being confined, scared to death of the other three cats and extremely leery of people too, but she came in for a while this morning, stomped up & down on the doormat and purred for a few minutes before being overcome with terror and bolting again. Off now to stock up on wild bird food; got plenty for my chooks, but they're not overly inclined to share with their cousins.

[Deleted User]

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

thanks Bob, didn't think of looking in amazon for one

Although I do have one, in my emergency survival tin, I also have a lighter and matches in there.

The advantage of the lighter and matches is, they will ignite things that a flint and steel will find very difficult/impossible to ignite.

GreyQueen

Winter's here, officially, as Wild Thing, the parental furball moggie who hates being indoors has actually come indoors and is snoozing in chairs. It will be officially baltic when she lies on the top of the radiator.

I love the smell of scorched fur in the morning.

I'm easing into the day, going to head lottie-wards midmorning to delve around in the earth and discourage any dadblasted couch grass regeneration. That stuff reminds me of the magic broom in the Micky Moose water carrying scenes from Fantasia......it just keeps on coming.

Plus, heaven knows how many kilos of glass and nails I keep hauling out of the same bit of ground, it's almost bad enough to make me give credance to the old country superstitions that stones grew in the fields. I almost wish I'd started weighing it from the get-go, it would have been interesting to know how much carp you can drag out of an allotment.

I thinki it's important to mention to any preppers who aren't presently gardening, that you don't just whip into a bit of lawn or a bit of misc wild country and make a garden in one season. You have a lot of graft to get good soil and it requires constantly tending.

Sooo, if you were half-thinking if the veggies get any dearer we're gonna dig up the lawn and grow our own, it might be better to make a start on the project sooner rather than later.

Haven't read Lights Out, who wrote it, please?

[Deleted User]

I left the solar charger connected to my mobile phone all night.

This morning, the phone is half charged (it was almost completely flat when I connected it), and the 99p shop batteries are still showing as "Good", when I press the battery tester button.

jk0

GreyQueen wrote: »

Haven't read Lights Out, who wrote it, please?

My pdf copy shows the author as David Crawford.

[Deleted User]

Have you seen the size of loose spuds ATM?

Just got some from Asda, and they're H-U-G-E. :eek:

Going to have to cut them into quarters, just to get them in the chipper.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Funny enough Bob I have just come back from A$da too, was looking in the reduced section, and they had loads of fish, I mentioned to a woman there, that I am not buying fish for a while because of what is happening in Japan, and she just said wht wasn't it in the news.... Then half way around the supermarket, she wanted more info on it, I did say I presumed the government didn't want it publicised as they are trying to win us over to build a nuclear plant... I said I don't know how much of it is scaremongering or how much of it is actual fact, but I did say for her to google it and make her own mind up.. Did notice she didnt have any fish in her trolley:D It was mainly Alaskan salmon reduced.. so maybe there are quite a few people out feeling the same way

jk0

Mentioning that 'Lights Out' story reminded me about EMP precautions. I may be wrong, but I can't recall anyone mentioning that they take any here.

I keep a spare car key, radio and mobile phone (for what it's worth) wrapped in foil, plastic & in a steel box. I also have a rotary dial telephone.

Does anyone else take any EMP precautions?

ragz_2

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

I know lighters are cheap etc, but I have been looking at those fire starting flint kits etc on the bay for a quid or two, but they are from china, just wondering if anyone has got one, and how easy is it to get a spark from them??? Or do you pay for what you get?

I got hubby one off amazon for a few quid and it works fine, they need wearing in a bit. Aso ordered a few from china, not tried them yet but they look about the same. The cheap ones just don't last too long as they are small, but they do the job.

[Deleted User]

No point keeping a spare car key sealed away as, if the car is new enough to use an electronic key, the EMP will wipe out the computer in the car.

If you want a car that will still work after an EMP attack, you need something that doesn't have computer engine management system.

Something like a Moggie Minor, early Mini, Mk1 Escort, Vauxhall Viva, that kind of thing.

Likewise, the phones (both mobile and land line) wouldn't work, due to the network having been fried.

After an EMP strike, you will have far more important things to worry about (water, gas and electricity for a start), than operating a car, and making phone calls.

An EMP strike would instantly move this country back to the early 20th Century, if not earlier.