Preparedness for when

maryb

Nargleblast wrote: »

Agirlcalledjack mentions taking a sprig of rosemary and putting it into a little jar of water. When it develops roots (about a week?) it can be potted on and grown into a new plant. So I now have a few rosemary sprigs in water in little shot glasses all lined up on my windowsill.

Ooh, Sue had a post about this on her blog

http://ournewlifeinthecountry.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/back-to-my-roots.html

Charis

the_cake wrote: »

On a slightly different (but linked) note - I worked as a Poll Clerk for the European election on Thursday. The turnout (in a small, rural market town) was, we worked out unofficially, 22%. I would say the average age of the voters was about 65. Not a great lookout for democracy, is it? I think most people are now so cynical about politicians, totally understandably, but where do we go from here?

I live in a small rural market town too, and I probably wouldn't have been factored in a head count at the local polling station as I have a postal vote.

Anyone aged 18 or over who is on the electoral register can apply for a postal vote. You do not need a reason to vote by post. (This does not apply in Northern Ireland - see the Electoral Office website for more information).

http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/how_do_i_vote/voting_by_post.aspx

Cheapskate

Hello all, long time no see! RL has seriously hampered my online time and SHTF preps, but I'm back now. . I really need to get going again - I feel the same as one or two here, that "something" is going to occur before too long, but can't put my finger on it - summat in me watter, as the olds round here were wont to say when I was little.

We are in the middle of a serious dejunk, and then I will have more space for preps, etc. my spuds aren't in the ground yet, and I have peas to go in, really hope it's not too late! I've just bought living basil and mint from allydee, less than £1 each, and they've previously survived being transplanted into tubs to go outside. I know it's dear, but given my current state, it will have to do, and I WILL do better next spring. To balance out this profligacy, I have discovered a few new sources of fruit growing wild, can I still be a prepper? :rotfl:

This week, I am investing in needles (tapestry, sharps, sewing machine, knitting), fabric and other scissors, and keeping an eye out for good fabric, new or second hand, that could be re-purposed for clothing, bedding, rugs, window or wall baffling, etc. I know it's only spring, but this carp weather has me more in an autumn mode!!

Have caught up on the thread now, lots of food for thought, thanks for the various useful links posted recently. :j

A xo

nuatha

Charis wrote: »

I live in a small rural market town too, and I probably wouldn't have been factored in a head count at the local polling station as I have a postal vote.

We would be factored into the official turnout figures - nationally 36%. Which is the first time the turnout has not decreased since 1979, though being up from 34% may mean that its turned a corner, that's still almost 2 out 3 people who didn't bother to vote. (near enough the inverse of the last general election).

My area went exclusively postal vote in the early 2000s, turnout at elections since is significantly lower than the previous decade, and approx 5% below the national average over that period (having been very close to or slightly above the national average the previous two decades.
We appear to have a population that is increasingly choosing to be disenfranchised, what that bodes for the future of the country can't be good (though if enough of us decided that a single issue was important enough we could be sure of getting it through if we motivated enough people - ahh, that happened last week)

Head below the parapets, and keep on prepping, that S seems to be getting closer to the fan.

GreyQueen

Morning all.

Nice to 'see' you again, Cheapskate.

I think sewing supplies are excellent preps. I always keep my eyes peeled for old wooden spools of brands like Sylko cotton thread. You just can't buy that quality these days. They go like hot cakes among Those Who Know, literally purhased within seconds of going out on the table in most cases.

Sewing threads are great, and extra strong threads are suitlable for mending such as mending shoes, bags, other things. Heavy duty needles, large-eyed blunt ones for darning, and semi-circular ones, and sack needles (think that's what the ones with viciously sharp points and triangular -cross-sections.

Other supplies are handy, such as buttons and misc fiddly things like that. Plus I never let those nylon snap buckles get away when I dispose of worn out back-packs. Indeed, I once wombled a knackered rucksack from a bootsaler's discards and took it home, washed and dismantled it for the nylon webbing and the snap buckes, and the best of the 'fabric' bits to keep for patching.

Just a gentle reminder that elastic dies in storage, so not worth hoarding quantities of that, just a bit more than you can use in a year or three.

fuddle

What is known as an ok brand in the sewing world? I made a mistake of buying a starter kit in Lidl a year or so back. I am still using it but all too aware that the threads are terrible. *snap *buggor.

I was talking to a lady yesterday. She has dementia and quite severely but she remembered the effect that the coal strikes had on her. She was relieved to have bought an electric fire that she still uses today. Although she couldn't remember so much of it, what I did get was the feeling of anxiety from her. Funny though that I meet so many preppers in my work but this lady doesnt hoard food. I cant help wonder if it is because she is from a wealthy family who owned a delicatessen. My guess is she has never 'wanted' for food but she did live through WW2 in London so she must have obviously suffered somewhat (or may not if they had their own supply of food stuffs?) I wonder if the effects of those miners strikes were the only thing that money couldn't help and her family couldn't control?

Cheapskate

Fuddle, the only haberdashery shop in our town sells Millward needles, so no choice, but I find them quite good, last a good while before starting to catch in fabric. Also Gutermann (sp?) threads are good, bit dear but strong enough for sewing denim, esp the ones labelled as strong. HTH

A xo

short_bird

Don't forget: herbs and spices as replacements for over the counter drugs for some ailments. But that would be for when the S really HTF.

Dee1956

Hi, I have been lurking on this thread for months. I though it was time to join you all I hope you dont mind.
I live 10 miles outside Belfast in a nice village.
I really enjoy reading all the ideas and tips.



Dee:)

[Deleted User]

Hello DEE nice to have you with us on the thread, the more he merrier and the stronger so welcome, Lyn xxx.