Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

Alisonpennypincher wrote: »

Could i say a yes to 2Tonsils weather warnings too please. Thanks

Me, too, please.

We've had some torrential rain in this city already this month and what we are finding in several places it that the rainwater gulley drains, those built into the side of the road by the kerb, aren't coping on some streets.

It's not blockages in most cases, it's that the placement and number of gulley drains isn't adequate for the amount of water running down the road, so the poor beggars who are at the lowest point see the water pool, spread across the road, overtop the kerb, cross verge and pavement and enter their gardens and sometimes even their homes. Very very unhappy circumstances.

I have no recollection in my childhood, or even in the 1980s, of getting these absolutely hammering summer rains. I'm not talking the occasional thunderstorm, I'm talking regular rains of almost-monsoon proportions in sounthern England. Absolutely pelting it.

This rainfall is interacting with a drainage infrasructure built for different patterns of precipitation. Plus there is a lot more surface run-off due to increased use of hard landscaping and more development, even inside the city limits. I would say to anyone in the market for a home, to consider the lie of the land as well as other factors. On some streets, it's just one or two houses which bear the brunt, and you wouldn't want it to be you, if you could avoid it.

elaine, thanks for the salting stones explanation, I like to add to the random knowledge in my brainbox, one never knows when it'll come in handy, plus I'm just plain nosy.

Well, feeling a bit odd about not getting ready for w*rk on what would be working day. Weather is grey and chilly and about to rain again, so won't be going to the lottie this morning, but may this afternoon if it dries out. Got plenty of things to do at home, so no problems there.

My colleagues start at staged times (10 hour workday), so the management will find out in the next few hours how many of us are on strike.

Not liking the thought that the public will be waiting a long time on the phones for service but, hopefully, if they're watching the news they will know it's happening and try to not call unless it's an emergency.

I haven't been able to calculate how much money I shall lose, as I'm part-time, have to factor in the deductions for tax, NI, pension which come off my gross etc. Will know at month's end. Just as well I decided late in June to take a fiscal fast.

Ach well, better get a stir on.

the_cake

Good luck to all striking today - hope it has the desired outcome (though sadly I will not be holding my breath with the "all in it together" barstewards ....).
Re power cuts - I now always carry a small but very powerful torch in my handbag - spurred on by that collapse of a theatre roof some months ago, when a lot of people were suddenly plunged into darkness, choking dust etc.. I have always kept a wind-up torch by the bed, and we have a rechargeable one for outdoors (very handy when the stallion got out at midnight and tried to go 'visiting'!) We cook on gas and have a good solar powered lantern. I am not yet organised about water (must try harder).
I am still harvesting: I've lifted the garlic and found that a broken shoe rack which I had not quite got round to getting rid of makes an excellent drying rack! Picked and processed (top and tail, freeze or jam) a total of 7.5 kg. gooseberries off 5 bushes. Redcurrants nearly ripe, blackcurrants will be picked and processed today. Yesterday I cut all the lavender, it is now drying and will be tied into squares of cotton with pretty ribbons to keep the moths out of our fabrics. Picking sweet peas every day - the scent of summer.

jk0

Anyone see this today?

http://news.sky.com/story/1298294/mi5-allowed-to-track-terror-plots-on-internet

The cynic in me thinks that this is just an excuse to record everyone's phonecalls and keep them for a year. (Presumably they will be be doing that, as they won't know ahead of time who the terrorists are.)

thriftwizard

jk0 wrote: »

Anyone see this today?

http://news.sky.com/story/1298294/mi5-allowed-to-track-terror-plots-on-internet

The cynic in me thinks that this is just an excuse to record everyone's phonecalls and keep them for a year. (Presumably they will be be doing that, as they won't know ahead of time who the terrorists are.)

Very worrying, jk0. But I think they're going to do it anyway, just because they can. Won't be long before they want to screen the thoughts in our heads.

I too would appreciate the odd heads-up on the weather front, 2T. OH has a tendency to laugh at my preps, until they're needed, whereupon he will quite naturally take the credit! But I like to be warned, and the Met Office are a bit shy of doing that. We are very sheltered here, but it's not just us; my chickenshed is very elderly & rickety & I need to know when to rope the roof down! And when to wrap the conservatory up warmly in bubble wrap, etc. etc.

fuddle

Mother is school support staff, a member of GMB and not striking as "the miners strikes finished her off" We were not effected by the miners strikes as my dad was a carpenter and my grandad was retired miner but working as a school caretaker back then. My village suffered badly because of those strikes so she would have seen hardship at every turn but I am so sure that miners will be supporting this even if it's based on the horror thought of crossing a picket line!

Maybe the lack of picket lines are what is wrong with 00's striking? I want to show my support but how... via MSE Prep thread?

I haven't put the TV on today as I will be cross with hearing how Timmy's mother thinks the closed school should reimburse her extra days childcare costs or how NUT deeply regrets having to take strike action. Do you think regret is the right word to use? Disappointed maybe but regret? That isn't helping the cause at all!

GQ you are a woman of strength and knowledge but I don't know how you aren't racked with bitterness. The more I am learning, hearing and developing opinions the more I want to kick half the population up the derriere!

[Deleted User]

Only half my dear??? How restrained, with me it's at least 99%!!!

fuddle

Give me time

GreyQueen

fuddle, I am constantly restraining myself from the urge to strangle, kick, smack upside the head and generally shout at people Will you wake the hell up!?!

Or just grow up, and behave and stop being big babies, and show some restraint, self-respect, decency, courage and commonsense.

I fond myself longing for old-fashioned virtues like reticence, thrift, self-reliance and a stiff upper lip.

Have been having interesting convos recently with tradesmen who work on our properties, men with 25+ years in the job. They tell me that there are increasing numbers of homes in appalling filth, disorder, with foul-mouthed bone-idle abusive residents. It's noticably worsened in the past 7 years or so. And that they're having some new hires who are so horrified with what they're encountering that they're quitting after a day or two.

There's something very very rotten in this society, and if the supplies of welfare payments or food and water and power dry up, I wouldn't fancy my chances with people who are already semi-feral.

[Deleted User]

GQ the worst thing about society today is that it appears to be the accepted norm to be 'homogenised humans' and no one amongst the younger parts of society has the slightest desire to be other than an exact copy in appearance, behaviour and belief of every other one of thier peer group and no one is courageous enough to stand as an individual, even the terrorist groups that are seen on TV are beginning to adopt 'uniforms' which is quite ludicrous isn't it? Long gone are the days when to be yourself and nothing but yourself was considered a good thing I think!!!

grumswifie

Our electricity went off lastnight just after 10 until about 2am. Oddly though the people next door had and across from them but not us and up the street. Husband most miffed as was watching football! Went to my box in thehall for torches and got the camping lamp out of cupboard.

One thing l have been thinking about thou should it go off during daytime is that we have an induction hob and electric oven. Have a small camping gas stove just one ring. Do l just need a cheapish kettle? Have the bbq and a toaster rack but that is it. Lots of coal and many blankets so heating not an issue. Lots of candles, torches and batteries. Just wondering what else l should have for a 'just incase' senario, specially with having two children. Want to make sure they are warm, fed and happy.