Preparedness for when

2tonsils

Some interesting reading here folks, just took me ages to catch up with you all!

I saw the floods on the Sky news, it looked horrendous. That picture of the block of flats which was washed away to the foundations will stay with me for a while. We seem to have a family tradition of picking houses on steep hills or mountainsides which my sister pointed out to me. We always seem to live high up in the wilds. The village I live in now is between two mountains so whichever way I walk I have to go uphill then down again.

We use aloe vera all the time for burns and sunburn (not usually ours but belonging to visitors ). It grows here so is cheap both in plant form and in gel form. The last plants I saw were huge and were only 1.40 euros each. They grow wild on the mountain but some of them are about 12 feet across......they grow like triffids in this climate.

Trying to ignore all the rubbish that is going on via the politicians and Europe they all seem to be at loggerheads at the moment with each other. Two of our main political parties have said they are about to go bankrupt and need bail outs....you couldn't make it up could you????

Went shopping today and walked out of a supermarket who had put up all their prices. I told the manager that I would be back when they came to their senses. That told them LOL.....so I went to Lidl's to shop and got loads of offers...so much so I gave 20 euros of my housekeeping back to my OH towards the petrol. Went to my local butcher and stocked the freezer with meat and free range chicken.

Someone asked if the shops will be open to supply enough food in the winter......I really don't know and it has crossed my mind to plan ahead. Many of the clothes/furniture/other shops in town have closed down completely so there is much less choice now when you need those things. There are still many food shops open and supermarkets , but I am not sure about shortages of certain imports during the winter if the ferries are reduced in number. They have been threatening to do this to save money. There are no direct flights in the winter we have to travel via Athens from late October till May.

I have gradually changed our healthy eating to include more local foods like seasonal fruit and veggies.Then if the imports disappear it won't be such a hardship to do without them. As a result we both feel really well and are eating very healthy!It's also cheaper to do this of course as the imports are very expensive already.

I am worried about any viruses that might do the rounds in the winter as I have a hyperactive immune system at the best of times. We will avoid mixing with people if the usual flu goes around, which people bring back every year from their Christmas break in the UK. Not that I think many will be able to afford to go back this year.

We plan to keep up our vitamin levels, stay warm and well fed on healthy food and keep up our walks in the fresh air and sunshine. I love the deserted beaches and mountains in the winter months! Neither of us smoke and my other half only has a drink now and again because it plays havoc with his blood pressure.

Trying to persuade some of the Greeks in our village to have a good old fashioned jumble sale. We would all benefit from cheap winter clothes and it would raise some money for the school as well.

I must say I really enjoy catching up on your posts xxxxx

[Deleted User]

Oh er BORN BLONDE Secret Sloes as well, doesn't bear thinking about you poor, poor, dear you, Shall we club together and send you a couple of bottles of Gin to sit in until christmas?, we'll all come and camp with you then and expect a share of the goodies!!!!! I think we've got a severe case of Tomatoes down here, I blame all the time spent picking in the Polytunnel, I always seem to come out with green stripey arms at this time of year!!! Cheers Lyn x.

GreyQueen

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Oh er BORN BLONDE Secret Sloes as well, doesn't bear thinking about you poor, poor, dear you, Shall we club together and send you a couple of bottles of Gin to sit in until christmas?, we'll all come and camp with you then and expect a share of the goodies!!!!! I think we've got a severe case of Tomatoes down here, I blame all the time spent picking in the Polytunnel, I always seem to come out with green stripey arms at this time of year!!! Cheers Lyn x.

I've come out in chardlings. The second mass germination in 4 months. They're all over the blinking ex-potato patch. I will eat as many as I can but suspect will have chard-poisoning by Crimble.

Anyone know if they're killed by frost?!

[Deleted User]

Bad luck GQ - He who knows has just hollered he thinks the little chardlings might just be frost hardy - the little divils they are!!! Do you know a local eatery that might take a large bag in exchange for a free meal for you? Friend of ours does that with all his excess courgettes (many, many, many etc) and takes them to the local Italian in exchange for a meal a week during the season. Nothing ventured nothing gained eh? Cheers Lyn x.

RAS

GreyQueen wrote: »

I've come out in chardlings.

Anyone know if they're killed by frost?!

generally do well until late spring when they run to seed:)

GreyQueen

RAS wrote: »

generally do well until late spring when they run to seed:)

:eek: Oh no! They bolted in the drought of June 2011 and dropped the seeds and they came up the first time with the potatoes, I ate as many as I could but was overwhelmed (you run out of pals before you run out of chard, I've found ). So I pulled them up as they were getting in the way. Then, a few weeks after the tattie patch was cleared, they grew again.

Is there any particular country's cuisine which uses chard, in case I feel up to screwing my brass neck in place and touting green veg around the city? Would I be right in thinking Mickey D wouldn't be interested..................?

2tonsils

It can be chopped finely and sauteed in olive oil with a dash of lemon and some pine nuts or walnuts and raisins added when its young...food of the gods!

D&DD

:rotfl:2T I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to have seen the supermarket managers face when you said that!! Good on you

I have galloping gooseberries here I'm afraid with capes on

born_blonde

Mrs L you are always welcome. I've a medieval round pavilion in the attic which I think is just your style.
Told you too many tents!
I love chard crisps made in the dehydrator, they taste so green ( sorry mardy}.

catznine

The soup turned out to be lovely so will be making that again! We figured if we eat soup first then we won't need so much for the main course and can rule out puds! Or maybe just have some fresh fruit! I am missing the greek yogurt and fruit but bought a reasonable version in Sains and added seedless grapes and poured runny honey over the top, not bad for breakfast. Must get back to making my own yogurt again, just can't seem to get it as thick as the lovely greek stuff.

I am working hard not to waste anything now, all scraps into soup, salads etc., really have to cut back on spending now so I am catching up on this and make do and mend threads for ideas. I have been a member of this site for a long time now but still learning. No more buying cleaning cloths/j cloths- using old t shirts now!

GK hope the pain has eased! (((hugs)))