Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

Si_Clist wrote: »

Well ... very much FWIW, the uPVC windows in our place are of two different makes, installed by different firms, and we were specifically told by both installers to use either WD-40 or preferably GT85 once a year on the mechanisms - never 3-in-1.

Dunno if the theory is that 3-in-1 can have an adverse effect in the longer term on uPVC, or what, but I do know that if you use it to oil your sewing machine, the day will surely come when you'll wish you hadn't :cool:

My manufacturer's manual says 3-in1, don't use WD40, nor anything else. I guess if you don't have the manual but you do know which manufacturer, it would be prudent to contact them for their recommendation.

I wouldn't dream of using anything other than sewing machine oil on my my sewing machine, it cost nearly £300 and I'm not risking its wellbeing......:rotfl:

ETA interesting thread on UK Preppers atm Storing v Hoarding. I occasionally browse this site, not a member, there's some useful stuff up there.

The trouble with governments is that they are apt to change the rules by which they govern with no notice and the changes are usually detrimental to the well-being of regular people. If I choose to buy some tinned potatoes and store them against hard times and A.N. Other person, in the same store, chooses to buy crisps and an energy drink for immediate consumption, I really can't see why I'd owe them a feed in the future if it meant I'd go hungry. And I'd be livid if some grubbyment type decided that they'd the rights to dip into my larder.

Lots of food for thought in that one (pun intended).

thriftwizard

OH longs for uPVC double-glazed windows, as he's under the impression that they are completely maintenance-free. But the current (single-glazed sash) ones have been there for 110 years; I don't think they'll need replacing in a hurry!

This house is pretty hopeless in severe cold; it would have been reasonable for the times when it was first built, as all the original windows face south or west, but it's been added to several times & the newer ones, and the back door, also single-glazed, face north. The drafts have little mini-drafts of their very own, if you watch candle-smoke! I spent the first few years trying to stuff some of the holes (skirting boards, floorboards, crumbling concrete fireplace bases, ceiling-to-wall joints) but came to the conclusion it'd be quicker just to pull it down & rebuild. Which we wouldn't get planning for; our predecessors tried. But we're used to it & have plenty of warm clothes, and good heavy-duty lined curtains keep the worst of the cold out. There's an open fire and one of the other two chimneys is still open, although blocked at the bottom. I sometimes wish we had one big room (other than the conservatory!) but smaller rooms are much easier to keep warm. We rarely suffer colds, and none of the kids have any major allergies or health problems; as a child, once we moved into "modern" centrally-heated housing, I suffered horribly from wheezes and rashes!

Luckily we're in the Deep South here, and it doesn't tend to get cold for very long anyway. We're also sheltered on all sides, by other houses and by small trees. And what we do benefit from is "coolth"; in high summer, I just have to open two windows and we get a constant welcome stream of refreshing cool air. Having worked in "sheltered" housing, I'm not at all sure that constant high temperatures & over-dry air are brilliantly good for us...

GreyQueen

Just110 years? pish, that's young. Before I came to this flat I used to rent part of a shabby 1860s house. With the original windows and draughts thru floorboards which could levitate unfitted carpets to ripple like the ocean wave.

Which was an interesting and spooky sight. We used to wear a lot of woollie jumpers and keep moving. It wasn't a household where you'd snuggle down in front of a TV but we all kept in good health, even the babes and young children upstairs.

jk0

This is scarey for anyone holding gold/money abroad, in view of existing bail-in legislation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26998208

GreyQueen

Goshdarnit, I'll have to get on the blower to my Swiss bank account manager right away and 'fess up to da revenue.

Up pay-as-you-earners can get away with squat and all my money (lol at the all, frankly) is inside this country.

Interesting reversal of normal standards of proof, though; they intend to accuse and it's up to you to prove you're innocent or risk a big fine or imprisonment? Is that possible?

Frankly, the serious wannabee evaders will off-shore their money outside th G20 and good luck to finding that.

OK, enough nonsense for one morning. I have been hanging out at the homestead waiting for a pair of curtains to come through the wash to be racked to dry them, and that's now done. This was a reaction to my horror at a story on the Daily Fail website today that Spring Cleaning is barely done in this day and age. So, I thought I should do some housework over and above the call of duty.

Am now going on foot to the tip and then the allotment to plant some veggies and put the fear of Me into the weeds. Laters, GQ xx

thriftwizard

Spring cleaning? People actually waste good gardening weather cleaning...?

mardatha

Blowing a gale here but it's not cold. My washing looks like it's going to end up in Norway though.
Enjoying reading through the links people have been putting on ...got a wee feeling that this is a lull before the you know what.

nuatha

GreyQueen wrote: »

ETA interesting thread on UK Preppers atm Storing v Hoarding. I occasionally browse this site, not a member, there's some useful stuff up there.

The trouble with governments is that they are apt to change the rules by which they govern with no notice and the changes are usually detrimental to the well-being of regular people. If I choose to buy some tinned potatoes and store them against hard times and A.N. Other person, in the same store, chooses to buy crisps and an energy drink for immediate consumption, I really can't see why I'd owe them a feed in the future if it meant I'd go hungry. And I'd be livid if some grubbyment type decided that they'd the rights to dip into my larder.

Lots of food for thought in that one (pun intended).

Thank you for the heads up.
I tried Googling info on this a few months back in relation to WW2 hoarding charges, without a lot of success. Anyone have information about what was considered hoarding then? I'm presuming that would be the model that any action is based on.

I agree that other people's choices on how they spend their money shouldn't impinge on my prudence - however we already have substantial examples of that prudence doesn't pay. Loss your job when you've serious savings, until the savings are reduced state help is restricted, need care due to illness, means tested based on savings, need to go into a home, ditto - and how you spend those savings can be questioned and if disapproved of then benefits restricted.

There's no reason to think the government would use any different form of logic regarding food stashes.
It may be due to a lack of imagination on my part, but I can imaging more SHTF scenarios that involve or are the result of government action that I can where government is not a factor. In a true EOTWAWKI, government won't have the resources to worry many folk at all - however those scenarios are a lot less likely to occur

(Wondering if I can pass large jars of beans and pulses off as decorative items )

Frugalsod

jk0 wrote: »

Very good idea about the DIY skills. I seem to have one forced upon me every year by my tenants. Before we got the Polish plumbers, you could not get one for love nor money, so I had to learn to do most plumbing jobs myself.

A good plan is to watch the tradesman next time you have a job done. Then, if you think you could do the job yourself the next time, do so.

Regarding the radiators, have you tried a little squirt of WD40? I wouldn't be without a can in the car, and at home.

Why is there salt on the windows? Do they get lashed by the sea?

I do try and avoid damaging anything to start with and then will try and repair things if possible. There are some things that will be beyond me but I think simple carpentry might be something I can do given time.

I have some WD40 so will try that next time. I have a reminder system set up to wiggle them every quarter to keep them loose.

As for the salt I live next to the beach so it goes everywhere whenever there is a storm. So by cleaning out the workings it will allow the windows to close properly, so eliminating draughts.

nuatha

Frugalsod wrote: »

I do try and avoid damaging anything to start with and then will try and repair things if possible. There are some things that will be beyond me but I think simple carpentry might be something I can do given time.

I have some WD40 so will try that next time. I have a reminder system set up to wiggle them every quarter to keep them loose.

As for the salt I live next to the beach so it goes everywhere whenever there is a storm. So by cleaning out the workings it will allow the windows to close properly, so eliminating draughts.

Furniture making is a fun and rewarding hobby, it does tend to need space, which is the biggest drawback.
Old hand tools often come up at boot sales and auctions for very little money and it really is worth learning the "old style" way of crafting furniture. Power tools are useful, but they aren't a substitute for real skill. (Says he who worked out how to power his table saw from his car, but I'm not good enough to cut a 10 foot board straight with a hand saw - I've seen several people do it, its a very useful skill)

Basic maintenance skills are very worth learning and can save you a fortune. I recently had to re-plumb half of my bathroom, a leak from the toilet cistern inlet pipe. I think half inch pipe stopped being the standard in the 70s, 15mm and compression fittings are far easier to work with than old soldered joints - and fit stop valves, wonderful invention.