Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

Afternoon all.

Hi, sorryImoved, 'I should ruddy co-co' is a old-fashioned interjection meaning 'I don't think so'. Ruddy being the more polite version of bloody, hence terms like ruddy hell.

Such niceties of language have mostly passed or are passing away, and the f-word is freely-used by everyone from the under-tens to pensioners. About the only place you won't hear it in the UK is on broadcast media where it's bleeped out. I honestly don't know what the proverbial troopers and fishwives do for bad language these days, when virtually everyone is using the f-word as a substitute for a noun, verb, adjective and just as general punctuation. It annoys me a lot.

Have been digging on the allotment and have now got a piece of ground ready to sow seeds, so will be looking at getting leeks and early carrots and some beetroots sown this week. More ground still to clear, and other things to be sown once the frost risk is past.

sorryImoved, we only have 3 months or less of frost-free weather in the British climate. In my part of southern England, we will be looking at mostly frost-free from now on, but a stinker of a late frost in mid-May, just in time to damage tender plants. So, with tender plants, you either start them under cover and move them out later, or grow them undercover for the whole season. I will be planting runner beans and french beans (both susceptible to frost) later on this year but probably not until late May/ early June in open ground. Our days will be at their longest before the weather has really warmed up, which is a bit annoying, frankly. And I've seen a white frost on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday (last Mon in August) in Essex, of all places. Wouldn't have minded so much but we were camping. Brrr!

************

In terms of helping those who seem reluctant to help themselves, we have both unused plots on our allotment site available for 50p per week and thefts of veggies and fruits in season. It is a very cynical thief who watches others toil in all weathers and then swoops on the goodies at harvest time. But it happens.

I consider it equally reprehensible to watch others go out to work and then go to their door scrounging for groceries. My income, minus what I'd get paid in housing and council tax benefit if I was out of work, hovers about £30 per week above jobseeker's allowance. So, I don't have a lot more than my unemployed neighbours and am even-stevens with those on long-term ESA.. I have to husband my resources carefully, and have very little patience for those of my neighbours I see outside nearby pubs smoking and drinking and then I hear them crying poor-mouth when it suits them.

I do note that I don't see them up at the supermarket (5 mins' walk away) hovering for the marked-down bargains.

Righty, going to make a big pot of chili con carne which will feed me for most of the week. Nomnomnom.

Butterfly_Brain

Vietnam knows how to deal with crooked bankers

http://www.globalresearch.ca/sentencing-corrupt-bankers-to-death-by-firing-squad/5376772

mardatha

I think we're all working class apart from tory multi-millionaires and anybody who thinks different is deluding themselves!

Butterfly_Brain

This is very very worrying on TTIP and TAFTA
http://www.globalresearch.ca/shale-gas-fracking-gmo-poverty-bankruptcy-under-the-ttiptafta-stop-the-corporate-plunder-campaign-for-an-alternative-trade-mandate/5376290

Si_Clist

greenbee wrote: »

The drug-addicted thieving prostitute who used to live next to me in my last place has a daughter who has recently completed a law degree and is hoping to be a solicitor).

Well one thing's certain - any Americans reading that are going to be :rotfl: for sure!

siegemode

Interesting chat and links today, clicked but not read yet. Thanks all.

I've often commented to OH about the numbers on here that have ME and now I've shared all the medical stories/experiences shared here. It just goes to show how important it is to not just blindly accept a fob off or diagnosis. Follow your gut and stay assertive and informed. Si Cist your story and Fruglsod yours too though shocking doesn't surprise me sadly.

With regard to helping friends and neighbours I'm afraid that I can only name 2 friends who I both trust and have been fairly open with about my stores or preps as basic as they are. Whilst even my family who think I'm paranoid and silly have no idea since it would only bring about more ridicule. I still worry though that the 2 friends that do know could let slip and then their friends and so on could come knocking in a dire shtf situation. As for where we live we keep a very low profile in part due to health, but our neighbours change so frequently and society, values and morals are not what they used to be.
I have always been drawn to the under dog as my mum says, a phrase I hate with passion. What I have a tendency to do is see the potential and the good in others by looking at the root cause of problems or issues. Both Oh and I have helped many friends and aquaintances in the past, but these same people have never returned any help or been their for us unfortunately. It has cost us financially and had effects on our health at times although instinct to help where and when we can means that we have continued to provide help and support even though we have been let feeling used and abused on a number of occasions. I begrudge none of them, but eventually you have to draw a line and look after no. 1. I think in a major shtf anything or anyone that threatens your own survival or life has to be avoided and hard choices have to be made. Sadly I would only help those that could and will help me and mine through knowledge, skills or resources. Shocking as it may appear even certain family members would not be a priority. As we only leave the house when absolutely necessary, (sometimes once a week or less) or a rare afternoon trip out we notice the decline in the world outside more. There are so many boiled frogs out there unaware of what is around the corner and the decline in society values and considerations to fellow beings is so sad. The world seems quite surreal when we do venture out.

As for peasent, lower, middle, upper and ruling classes etc all I know is that my parents have enjoyed a far better standard of life than I have since leaving home. I will never achieve the standard that they have as I reach their age. I don't see myself as being from any class, but I do know that I've always struggled and been skint most of the time. This has advantages in that it makes you more resilient and resourceful or it has in my case. My g grandparents were a mix of shop owners and land peasants and dressmakers. Some fled Europe in the 1800s and so I often refer to myself as a multicultural mongrel. Family research can be so enlightening:rotfl:

As I was reading the thread earlier a few comedy sketches came to mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zekiZYSVdeQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2k1iRD2f-c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQDeU6dHX-c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1a1wHxTyo

Right off to make a choccy cake, it is Sunday after all. Then to catch up with all the links. Have a great evening all:)

nuatha

pineapple wrote: »

Doing a bit of online shopping today and saw this.
Offer Ends at Manager's Desecration.
Sorry nothing to do with TSHTF (unless the manager knows something we don't :huh:).
That's it.
Carry on!

From the managers point of view, desecration probably is a SHTF event.

D&#8517 wrote: »

Nuatha/Lyn I do agree my parents lived a frugal life so we might experience a less hard upbringing..I have tried to strike a balance to suit the life we need to live with the boys issues (so they have to have some comfort/luxuries ) with frugality in other areas so that they may have these things.


In other words me and OH lump it and they get spoilt lolol no not really...but I do see where you are coming from.

I'm not saying we don't have any luxuries, we do.
Its just that our priorities are different.
We had the oldest cars on the estate, we replaced both cars in the last year and we still have two of the older cars - but we pay cash and buy functionality not brand names.
We choose not to have children, we get complaints from friends and colleagues that we don't have the ties they do - we also don't have access to tax credits, help with housing when we were made homeless a few years back. We aren't complaining - we're just living a life the way we wish to.

My husband comes in from a day at work and a neighbour who has just got up knocks for cigs he just worked hard for..he looks at me and says who's the mug???
Again it comes back to mindset doesn't it..

We have similar neighbours, though we also have one that deals in flash cars and breeds dogs (while claiming unemployment benefit and boasting about last spends) The local dope dealer is a nice guy, regularly does shopping for some of the less able housebound, and being a former sparky is always willing to offer advice or lend a hand on electrical problems. There's a mixture round here, it used to be a community, and there's still remnants of that, but there's some scroats who will try to take advantage of anyone.

You're right D&DD its mindset.

katep23

nuatha wrote: »

We choose not to have children, we get complaints from friends and colleagues that we don't have the ties they do - we also don't have access to tax credits, help with housing when we were made homeless a few years back. We aren't complaining - we're just living a life the way we wish to.

I've never understood why (some) people with children berate those of us without for being "lucky" enough not to have kids, as if they didn't have a choice in the matter.

Mostly, people have a choice.

My life is an even keel because I don't have the terrible twos or teenage tantrums to deal with, but I'll never know the sheer joy of my child climbing up on my lap to say "I love you". Each lifestyle has its own merits and drawbacks but it is (generally) down to choice and not luck.

siegemode

nuatha wrote: »

I'm not saying we don't have any luxuries, we do.
Its just that our priorities are different.
We had the oldest cars on the estate, we replaced both cars in the last year and we still have two of the older cars - but we pay cash and buy functionality not brand names.
We choose not to have children, we get complaints from friends and colleagues that we don't have the ties they do - we also don't have access to tax credits, help with housing when we were made homeless a few years back. We aren't complaining - we're just living a life the way we wish to.


We have similar neighbours, though we also have one that deals in flash cars and breeds dogs (while claiming unemployment benefit and boasting about last spends) The local dope dealer is a nice guy, regularly does shopping for some of the less able housebound, and being a former sparky is always willing to offer advice or lend a hand on electrical problems. There's a mixture round here, it used to be a community, and there's still remnants of that, but there's some scroats who will try to take advantage of anyone.

You're right D&DD its mindset.

I relate to all this, I choose not to have children and have often been criticized for it as well as envied for what we have managed to buy and achieve along with the concert, festival and holidays I had when young and fit.

I have met and known many scroats and unfortunates, but never judge a book by it's cover. Many of those shunned as the dregs of society have reasons why they have become as they are and it is not just their fault, I think society and the system is in part to blame. We have had some very dodgey neighbours on our nice ordinary estate. All sorts have gone on next door both sides from death threats, arson and robbery. We have lived in fear of the aggressors picking our house or car or letter box by mistake:eek: Thankfully we are enjoying a quiet period. When presented with lemons we make lemonade iykwim.

paidinchickens

Si_Clist wrote: »

Hmmm ... let's see now ...

We live on my State pension plus Pension Credit. However, where the couple up the road are concerned, we would go as far as we can. They're a very sensible family of him, her and young teenage daughter who live a modest lifestyle. Dad's an invalid (if we're still allowed to use that term) and Mum works part time.

Then take the fat childless couple in their 40's who both work full-time less than 2 miles from home. They both drive to work every day, they seem to live on junk food and they're currently having their roof redone, as part of which process they've done away with both chimney stacks. They have a very large back garden which is apparently given over to a collection of sheds and old motorbikes. Should they ever ask us for any help, we are most likely to have just run out of it.

BTW, I'm keeping out of any discussion about the medical trade on account of The Lady Wife's experience with her GP. Suffice it to say that he once dug out a small cyst from the back of her neck and made a complete mess of the job. In due course, the resultant wound turned into a basal cell carcinoma.

He subsequently excelled himself though when TLW noticed that one of her boobs felt wrong. "Nothing to worry about" says he "Boobs are like that". 4 weeks later, TLW presents herself again, only to be told nothing to worry about. And besides, she's due her routine mammagram shortly. Mammagram shows nothing amiss, but we're both convinced all is not well boob-wise, so off we trot to the the surgery and finally see another GP.

Three days later we're at the breast clinic in the local hospital, and 8 days after that, on a Saturday morning, TLW has her mastectomy. The tumour was grade 3, aggressive.

That is terrible, I'm so sorry.

At this moment in time I don't think I would help any of my neighbours. Most of them have knocked on the door at one time or another as they have had an electrical problem of some kind and isn't it the better option to get my DH to fix it for free than have an emergency call out fee?

Its not the doing it for free that bothers us it's the only time they speak to us is when they want something attitude, we're often called "Tom and Barbara snigger snigger"

Would I love to say no bu88er off, yes I bl00dy would but I'm far too soft so I don't know what I would do

PiC x