Preparedness for when

paidinchickens

Broomstick wrote: »

Thanks for the reminder about glasses. I've been tidying up shelves and have come across a couple of old pairs which I need to take into the opticians to find out which was my last prescription before the ones I currently wear because I think that was still legal for driving purposes.

I think I will also choose an older pair to get fitted with my current distance prescription to keep in the car permanently as the back up pair. I wear varifocals normally but to have a repeat prescription of those would be too costly.

It's the small SHTF things that need to be planned for better in our house. The blinking washing machine has just died. We have tons of washing to do - my DSs are good at hoarding theirs despite reminders :eek:- and we also have masses of washing associated with our sports business. Fortunately my savings pots (bye-bye Kelly Kettle for the time being ) are going to come into their own. I've discovered a laundrette 5 minutes drive away that I didn't know existed, have a load of strong bin bags, have loads of small change from the pots and will spend tomorrow afternoon trying to get the whole lot of our own stuff done in one go. Then Tuesday, I'll start on sports kit. It could have been worse but it could have also been so much better...

The next job that I must, must, must prioritise is to get a back up car key. My spare has vanished. I will be in so much difficulty if I lose the remaining one. Back-up keys are easy to overlook.

B x

I used to love our local launderette, it's where all the stressed out Mums used to hang out :rotfl: Where you could escape the family and sit with a mug of coffee, warm and toasty and the Irish lady who ran it was a wealth of information and some times a little gossip

Things change and the place was knocked down for flats

DH got the bug out bag out yesterday and we just need to get our important paperwork photocopied and we're all set to go I think.

PiC x

GreyQueen

newthrift wrote: »

I have done an couple of kits for each car this week: 2 x high vis vest / 2 x socks / 2 x pairs gloves. Need to add a wind up torch in to both cars and a first aid kit in to one (one already has it in). I added the fresh de-over sprays in to each car & checked ice scrapers were in. Must remember to add two big coats in when we go out too.

This all sounds very good. Can I ask about footwear? We ladies are often out and about in impractical footwear but mens' dress shoes such as those worn with suits can be impractical, too, especially if needing to walk miles or go over rough country.

How about a pair of well broken-in hiking boots or a pair of sturdy trainers? Could be a major boon if you need to hike away from your car.

May I also suggest a head torch as well? They're brilliant because they leave your hands free and you can get on with other things. Imagine fiddling under the car bonnet with a torch in one hand (or between your teeth) and you get the picture.

Oh, and cheap fleece hats are great. You'll be cold if you're stranded in the car and cold if you have to hike out, even if it's otherwise a mild night. Good luck!

paidinchickens

GreyQueen wrote: »

This all sounds very good. Can I ask about footwear? We ladies are often out and about in impractical footwear but mens' dress shoes such as those worn with suits can be impractical, too, especially if needing to walk miles or go over rough country.

How about a pair of well broken-in hiking boots or a pair of sturdy trainers? Could be a major boon if you need to hike away from your car.

May I also suggest a head torch as well? They're brilliant because they leave your hands free and you can get on with other things. Imagine fiddling under the car bonnet with a torch in one hand (or between your teeth) and you get the picture.

Oh, and cheap fleece hats are great. You'll be cold if you're stranded in the car and cold if you have to hike out, even if it's otherwise a mild night. Good luck!

I have some steel toe capped boots as I figure I would drop summat on my foot trying to fix the car if I was stranded :rotfl: sexy not!

Alisonpennypincher

GreyQueen wrote: »

:eek: OMG, that sounds painful and must have been quite a fright. I hope you will let the GP check you over, just to make sure all is OK. Bumps on the head aren't good.

I am OK thanks GQ, took DS to rugby this morning where a medical type OK'd me, she even said it might have knocked some sense into me :rotfl:

Did make me think about my glasses though, and having a 2nd pair and my prescription easy to find (rather than buried in paperwork) needs to be sorted ASAP!

I currently look like one of those Avatar characters minus the blue paint, swelling across the bridge of the nose and forehead does not make for pretty viewing:p

daz378

I too appreciate the skin cancer sig.....got a nagging sore throat...not stopping me make a chicken roast dinner ...as we speak ..working everyday this week until friday...then my 1 in 3 weekends off....need more of them matches you cant blow out....useful if my windows ever smashed being 50m high similiar im sure to GC*S shoebox towers

GreyQueen

paidinchickens wrote: »

I have some steel toe capped boots as I figure I would drop summat on my foot trying to fix the car if I was stranded :rotfl: sexy not!

I garden in a pair of steel-toed Doc Martens. Fiver from a bootsale, unworn. But I wouldn't like to walk far in them due to the added weight causing more tiredness.

But if you need to kick a zombie in the shins (or inna fork, as they phrase it on Discworld) steel-toes are the way to go.

Way back when I was a shorthaul multidrop delivery driver, we used to go through a LOT of screenwash, particularly in the winter when muck was being thrown up at the screen. Water is easily enough to source but the actual screenwash might be something worth stashing in the boot if you do lots of driving.

One time, a delivery driver from A.N. Other company rocked up at our depot in a pickle and we gave him screenwash. It was OK because he wasn't in the same line of biz as ourselves. If he had been, hmmmm, we might not have been so accomodating.:rotfl:

What I was driving around was car parts and one thing you do notice in that line of biz is that the first frost of autumn will kill weak batteries. Any old rubbish will turn over the engine if it's warm out, but come the frosty days, not so likely. So, if you have an iffy battery, come the end of August, think about replacing it ahead of time.

daz, I'm on the groundfloor. Which has its plusses and minuses. The chief minus one being that river 50 m away across the carpark. I seldom venture onto the upper floors as Strange and Scary Beings inhabit them.

NinjaSavingKat

pineapple wrote: »

I'm sorry to any ex lurkers trying to retreat back to lurking but quitting is simply against the Batty Constitution. We are a bit like the EU - once in it, there is no escape! :rotfl:
Plus there are degrees of prepping - there isn't a magic line where you qualify for your 'prepping badge'. In fact the qualifying level is simply being awake and aware - right through to the few living a life of total self sufficiency.
We are all restricted by our circumstances and it's all good. On that note - if anyone would like to throw a few million squid pineapple's way and turn back time so she is younger and healthier........

Hello. I like this post! I am awake and aware but never thought I would have much to add to the thread so kept schtum. I do think a lot about prepping and what could / should be done however am frustrated by the lack of being able to do anything - however I feel research is key. When I am ready I will know where to get everything....*except that few million you need... or the time travelling thingymabob...

The Manor however could do with some proper prepping in the form of the 7 P's. Situated 500 feet about sea level it gets the best of all weathers - snow when the low level town is free of it, sunshine when the low level town is freezing you get my drift.

Pa works away during the week. Brother only visits at weekend. Mumsy therefore (in her 60's) would be left high and dry if anything went wrong. When asked what she would live on she said "lentils". albeit I think she was having a giggle.... water from outside or rainwater collected and she would sit it out. I politely advised her this is not suitable and she needs a plan especially since she has the space. Too much snow and she won't be able to drive anywhere, no electricity might be ok as the house runs on oil... but there is no stock pile of that in the house... SEE... so many things to think about.....

All very interesting to me. I am learning but I don't believe we can rely on anyone to help us - just one look at the poor folk who are flooded is enough to make anyone want to plan harder and faster no?

Anyway - enough of my prattling. Thanks for the Welcome from all of you - appreciated muchly!!!

mardatha

From another ME sufferer GQ, I know what yer saying re added weight from boots making you tired! Sometimes even slippers are too much, and I live in hand knitted thick wool socks

GreyQueen

mardatha wrote: »

From another ME sufferer GQ, I know what yer saying re added weight from boots making you tired! Sometimes even slippers are too much, and I live in hand knitted thick wool socks

We don't need any extra on the hooves, do we, pet? Seriously, modern hiking boots are all about lightness as weight on the foot is much more wearying than weight on the back.

If I have to do a run to the tip with the wheelbarrow, I take off the gardening boots and put my trainers back on. Gotta look after the strength.

Speaking of which, time to shuffle off the various sites I'm surfing between, get the dishes done and straighten up the place to be ready for the w*rk week.

Have a good 'un and catch y'all tomorrow. GQ xx

jk0

I have wellingtons, gloves, shovel & cat litter in the car boot, in winter as well as the usual break down equipment.

The wellingtons came in handy when I had to visit my flooded tenants back in December.

Did you guys see the vehicle emergency kit belonging to Poet on PP? There are some other useful ideas in the comments:

http://www.peakprosperity.com/discussion/82424/vehicle-emergency-kit

Edit: Not sure why someone thought he needs suppositories.