Preparedness for when

thriftwizard

Hemyock in Devon (anyone who can tell me how that's pronounced pls?)

I think it's Hem-Yock, GQ, but it's a long time since I've heard it said. I'm from the other side of Devon, but my younger brother lives in East Devon now, so I'll see if he knows!

(ETA: "Hem-ee-ock!!" according to He Who Knows!)

Oh dear, another 'flu scare. Cue anxious neighbours eyeing up my chickens again - doesn't matter what strain of 'flu it is! They'll be pleased to hear we didn't lose a single one - neighbour, that is - last time & hopefully we won't this time, either. Must check my bio-security measures, such as they are.

JayneC

Evening,

I've told DD2 that she needs an Armageddon cupboard. She had to borrow £10 from me last week as she'd run out of food post Christmas and payday was this week. She has 2 little ones too. I don't know....

Well foster child has moved out. He went back to his mother in a strop as I told him off for running up the phone bill ringing mobiles!! Ho hum...

Had a load of wood delivered today and delivery driver asked if we are eating it! We must be ordering a lot it seems. We did have about half of last times order left but I'd rather not wait until it's nearly gone before ordering again. I may only get one more delivery from these guys as I've sourced some much cheaper, but he won't start delivering until March. I'm also going to try some smokeless coal as the wood isn't really hot enough. I have a boilerstove and I think I was a bit ambitious trying to run the whole heating system from it, it really only takes the chill off as I have a big old, draughty, Victorian terrace. I'm thinking of getting another one, but not sure where to put it. I would really love a range cooker but they are sooo expensive. I'm pondering a little stove in the corner of the kitchen, anyone recommend one? maybe one that's got a hot plate?

JC

mardatha

Wood isn't nearly hot enough for this house Jayne, I think you'll do far better with coal.

maryb

VJsmum wrote: »

Now, I always thought charing cross originated due to the Eleanor crosses. Eleanor was The Wife of Edward the 1st and would follow him on his crusades. She died away from London and was brought back for burial. At each place the cortège rested overnight, a cross was erected in memorial. The last one being at charing. I have read that Charing comes from "Chere Reine" or dear Queen - though that may be a romanticism too far:rotfl: I am guessing that the real origin is a hybrid of your version and mine

It's like Elephant and Castle. Lots of arguments over it's derived from Infanta de Castile or Oliphant and Castle (an Oliphant is a large horn, name comes from the elephant's tusk - in the legend Roland sounded the oliphant at Roncesvalles to summon Charlemagne).

JayneC

Thanks Mar - I'm a little concerned about it corroding the liner in my chimney as it's a metal chimney installed with the stove. The previous owners tore out the chimneys:( I've posted a query on the other board. 'pose I'll have to just 'suck it and see' as 'twere

westcoastscot

Jayne I have a metal liner in my chimney and like Mar I burn smokeless coal to get enough heat, and use wood over the day (we have a cheap supply) - we get the house toasty with coal. I think the liners are designed to withstand it? You can get it inspected at least yearly when you get your chimney swept.

mardatha

I hope somebody knows, I have never had a metal chimney, always had a brick one, sorry.

ALIBOBSY

Had a lovely day today, kids were in school and OH had a day off. In laws asked us if we fancied going out for lunch with them, them kindly insisted on paying. We went to a lovely little brasserie type restaurant in a big garden centre. A bit pricey, but nice to have a mooch around.

BUT spotted a bargain in the bakeware, they had the prestige "inspire" range of carbon steel bakeware with 70% off. So picked up a 12 cup muffin tray and a loaf tin for £16 (well went to pay and before I could MIL grabbed it off me and put it in with her stuff and said I just needed to send them a nice bake in return). They are really heavy and sturdy and have a 25 year guarantee so very pleased (small things please me lol). We had a really good laugh with in laws and it was nice to go out without the kids lol.

On the subject of baking found a site with lots of local type recipes here:-

http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/

OH loves his Chorley cakes lol.

Regarding family history not sure if I mentioned my great grandad who always dreamed of owning a small holding and ended up living in an old police station and keeping loads of chickens. My Mum reckons thats where I get the desire to grow stuff and have livestock lol.

My lovely old auntie Irene is someone else she thinks I am like, she had four children like me (would have been five but sadly lost one little boy at birth due to the midwifes error), her house was always a bit chaotic, they had chickens and all sorts of animals over the years and she wasn't bothered about having a big house or loads of money, more valuing family, and even now is a bit "off the wall". She will be 100 in a couple of years and still laughs more often than anyone I have ever met so I am glad to be compared to someone so unique.

She had a hamster in her 70's-yes a hamster. Unfortunately he was an escape artist extrodinarie. She once went to put on her furry boots, not knowing he got out in the night and made a nest in the toe of one. As she stuck her foot in, not suprisingly he bit her toe and she fell off the bed in shock-no harm done.
Another time he got out and decided the dying embers of the coal fire would be a warm place to climb in. He shot out acrosss the room and she had to try to get cold water on him and get him to the vets. He ended up with bald patches and sort of a mohican.

Weirdly he managed to live about 4 1/2 years which seemed a long time for a hamster especially after all he went through.

Just chuckling now thinking of some of the things she got up to.

She always had a cupboard full of food as well, so maybe its a prepper/not wanting to follow the pack kind of mentality. I hope I can age as well as she has and have as much fun.

Ali x

JayneC

Thanks WCS and Mar,

Hopefully will be ok... And stop DS moaning about how cold it is, lol

Cake4brains

Hi, can I please ask what you all think about storing canned food in a garage? I was thinking of getting my DH to build me a shelving unit but while browsing online I saw something about fluctuations in temperature can damage the cans and make the food inedible. Wasn't sure if the UK weather would be enough to do this. TIA

Unfortunately, we don't have much space in the house and what little space we have is pretty full of packs of spaghetti I bought really cheap!