Preparedness for when

ALIBOBSY

GreyQueen wrote: »

Re the garage conversion, it might be prudent to work your way through the project sooner rather than later, just in case something were to happen to cause the materials to escalate in costs or your pounds to dwindle further in value. I do know that the £15k from maturing insurance policies which my parents elected to spend on their extension in 1998 would have made very little capital growth in the intervening years and certainly wouldn't buy the same amount of bricks-and-mortar now. They've no regrets about their decision.

This is the way we are thinking, so the priority this year is to get the garage conversion done, finish the kitchen (if you recall we had newish fronts gotten free off freagle, but need new worktops and to decorate) and look into a log burner.

I reckon even best case senario over the next few years power cuts will become more and more common place so the log burner will give us that backup heating source.

Also want to push even more on growing our own, will be adding some extra beds at the front and taking a really good look at what we grow. I grew less brassicas this year and reckon I will cut that even more next year, things like peas and beans are so useful, easy to grow and produce so much in a small area. Also want to look at buying items to help store the harvest and avoid too much reliance on the freezers, so considering a pressure canner and/or a dehydrator. Will be watching the auctions and CS for these and saving up just in case lol.

Ali x

jk0

One or two folk here have mentioned extensions they are planning.

I would be very cautious about these for the following reasons:

1.) If a flat roof, this will need replacing roughly every 15 years. Earlier this year, this cost me £2000 for my 6' by 8' office. (Extra insulation added.)

2.) Extra heating cost: When it's very cold I have to shut off the doors to my office, as it makes the house too cold.

(I did not build on the office. It came with the house.)

ALIBOBSY

Just realised I never posted about our lovely FR turkey. It was unbelievably tasty and moist, I can honestly say I haven't tasted turkey like it.
Sadly looks like the lady who owns the land/smallholding won't be doing it next year as she has had a stressful time and may be getting rid of even her chickens.

So on our wish list would be a peice of land to be able to start keeping some animals for meat ourselves. Bill who helped with the turkeys et al used to go halves on the animal costs and do the day to day stuff, so tentative discussions are ongoing as to if he might want to join in with some kind of land buy/rental. But suspect it may be out of our reach cost wise. Will see what happens, but nothing lost by a bit of dreaming lol.

Ali x

[Deleted User]

DD1 is having her Multi Fuel stove fitted on the 26th/27th of January and the whole thing complete with chimney liner, installation and necessary modifications to the fireplace (including removal of the existing open fireplace), fitting a new hearthstone and VAT comes to £2,700 not cheap but it will transform her victorian semi from a cold box to a warm home so very well worth doing!!!

GreyQueen

Well said, jk0.

The parental extension has a pitched tiled roof. They wouldn't have had it done if a flat roof was the only option. Those things ought to be banned, imo.

As a 1998 extension on a 1963 terrace, it actually has better insulation than the rest of the house, and they had the radiators put in it as it was built, even though it was another year or so before CH was fitted to the rest of the house.

I can still recall what the engineer who installed the CH components into the extension quipped; I'm prepared to guarantee that they won't leak. :rotfl:

ALIBOBSY

jk0 wrote: »

One or two folk here have mentioned extensions they are planning.

I would be very cautious about these for the following reasons:

1.) If a flat roof, this will need replacing roughly every 15 years. Earlier this year, this cost me £2000 for my 6' by 8' office. (Extra insulation added.)

2.) Extra heating cost: When it's very cold I have to shut off the doors to my office, as it makes the house too cold.

(I did not build on the office. It came with the house.)

I am not sure who told you a flat roof needed replacement every 15 years, but I will bet they were someone who wanted to sell you a new roof. Our garage is part internal and part flat roof. OH checks it every year and as long as it is maintained it will last just as long as any other roof. We had the cover layer relaid last year which cost £150. As long as the top layer is water proof-hence maintenance, the wooden parts underneath will last almost indefinately.

TBH OH is good at DIY and would do most things himself so that makes a big difference to costs.

I also have to admit if it was a full new extension rather than an internal conversion I would go for a pitched roof over flat, not sure you would get planning for a flat roof these days anyway?

Ali x

Hollyberry

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

No new years resolutions for us, just keep on doing what we do, keep on being in touch with what is happening in the world, keep on looking out for useful things to add to our prepping equipment, keep on living the simple life and growing as much of our food as we can and never losing sight of the fact that life can change and go upside down for any of us in a nanosecond, so stay on our toes and try to stay ahead of any problems, can't do more than that can we? Lyn xxx.

:T That sounds perfect Mrs L. Keeping on keeping on when you are already doing the good stuff is definitely where it's at.

Quick link to a current Kindle freebie on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Without-Glenis-Stott-ebook/dp/B00480OQQW/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388426840&sr=1-1&keywords=without+glenis+stott. I've downloaded but only read the "look inside" bit so far. It's about managing with exactly what you need (4 cups, 4 plates, 4 spoons for a family of 4) in a society controlled by guards. The bit I have read reminds me of The Handmaid's Tale, so I am looking forward to getting engrossed. Small matter of a pandemic thriller to finish first though.

ETA - This is the preview...
Imagine you are given everything you need but it's all second-hand or even fifth-hand. Imagine there are no cars or trains, no shops or supermarkets, no computers or internet, no money or credit cards. Imagine your food is delivered by horse and cart, along with a recipe telling you what to cook for your family. Imagine Agnes the Guardian watches your every move and can take away everything you have if you put a step wrong. Welcome to Celia's world....

bluebag

Hollyberry,

Please tell what the pandemic thriller is, my DD and myself both love them.

daz378

been working over xmas period except for boxing day ....going to carry on prepping... trying to build some savings .. other than the bank.... just trying to survive and not being a consumer.....dont want latest console etc.... though might treat myself to a few days in berlin.....when my hols start again in april...... hope you all enjoyed the festivities

BigMummaF

Hhmmm..NY Rezzies...hhmmmmm...


~I would like to start writing letters to people again, or at the very least a decent e-mail; there are some folk who are going through their own SHF moments & I owe them a show of support.
~My next reaction is to say to make more time for me, so I can do my letter-writing! Between muvva, my own home & all the poorly peeps around me, my days are filled with filling in forms & attending medical appointments with one person or another. Yes, they're adults, but they don't listen to unusual words coming from the mouths of scary people wearing white coats! Meanwhile, I luvvit; I've always enjoyed learning about the human body so I'm the only one who wants to listen
~Put as much effort into keeping me healthy, as I do for the others. This will include ruddy exercise *folds arms & sulks* & not just of the cerebral variety.


Perhaps I should write a timetable so the others will know what I'm doing...I like planning things...it's the putting them into practise I struggle with *blush*