Preparedness for when

mardatha

Historically Scots didn't eat pork - and the reason was that a pig is dear to feed whereas sheep are not. Sheep can live where nothing else will, so they make sense up here.
Living without a freezer is perfectly do-able, but without a fridge would be awkward in this weather. I didn't get my first fridge until years after i got married.

thriftwizard

We picked up a small chest freezer very quickly on our local Freecycle,when looking for one for DS2 & his housemates. Definitely worth a look or even "wanted" ad.

alice-mary

Thankyou all for the suggestions about my lack of a freezer, loads to think about!
I always follow the local freecycle boards and electrical appliances on offer always go within minutes but any requests for them are repeated, 6 or 7 times. I think there are "professional" freecyclers in my area, who claim the good stuff immediately... I think they are also the same people who "womble" anything left outside the houses, before the council comes to collect it, (annoying when you have pre-paid the council to have things taken away) .:(
It was heart-breaking to have to throw away so many meals that had been part of previous batches as well as lots of fish and meat (I did rescue a packet of peas). I have plenty of tins and packs of pasta and rice etc, thanks to this thread so the actual food is not an issue.
I think for now I will have to either cook single portions (I can't remember EVER doing that) or to eat the same meal a few times in a row! I think I will look at this as a learning curve...

In the end, I do want to buy a small energy efficient model (I have a particular one in mind) so I hope this hot weather cools down a bit and that I stop craving ice-lollies. Thank goodness my Nan told me years ago to never buy a combined fridge-freezer as if one part breaks, the other part is useless too... as I said in my previous post, my fridge is in working order!

Thanks again for the suggestions, you are :A

Alice
xx

mardatha

Sorry, forgot to say how much I enjoyed ALIBOBSY's post re potage. That's my kind of cooking lol - chuck another hedgehog in the stew, rinse and repeat lol

GreyQueen

Hi alice-mary, I have what many people think is a three-quarter height fridge-freezer, because most people aren't that observant about handle styling and brand names; they just see white goods. It's a Zanussi tabletop freezer on top of a Miele larder fridge, which was previously a Beko fridge, which died 2 years ago. I'm on-side with your Nan about having them separate, although it might seem a bit eccentric to some.

It's a shame when the swoopers are dominating your freecycle group, but it is as it is. I never discount the power of word-of-mouth when I want to give something away/ get something. Tell absolutely everyone in your circle that you're looking for X and don't be disappointed if you don't immediately hear back.

Sometimes, the listener might be thinking Oh, alice-mary needs a freezer? Auntie has mentioned she doesn't want hers any more, maybe I should ask Auntie if she'd give/ sell cheaply to her? She's a nice woman, would be good to do her a favour, better not say anything until I've sounded Auntie out, though.

Many people are a touch tribal about giving stuff away, in that they want to keep it in the family, as it were. Family in this sense can be as tenuous as a-friend-of-someone-my-daughter-works-with.

Never discount the power of word-of-mouth.

mardatha

I don't use Freecycle but I love Gumtree alice-mary

[Deleted User]

The sky is clouding over, and there's a nice breeze developing, but it's still 70f outside, and 75f in my LR.

Frugalsod

Yes the sky is overcast so no solar kettle coffee today and tomorrow looks stormy and cloudy as well. I have noticed that by heating my water for my coffee in the solar kettle I have worked out that I can almost eliminate the electric kettle on sunny days. So before I was using the kettle 4 or 5 times a day I can now get by without it on a sunny day. I have started to think about how I use my boiling water more so it means that I might actually be using the electricity less for boiling even when the sky is cloudy.

elaine241

Bob not sure either !!!!!!lugs or my cat Spitfire would appreciate a short sharp flight I in a switch trap!! Humans I'm not really worried about especially if they are ramblers! Lol
When setting a fox trap to catch the b#gger who killed 37 newborn lambs all I ever caught for months was one very elderly smelly JR terrier who had stuffed herself with the high as a kite stinky chicken bait and was laid out in the trap too stuffed to move. Patience is one virtue I possess ,I don't have many!, I got him in the end ...... Vengeance is mine!
Today I have been picking what is left of my fruit crop, going away for a week was fantastic but the birds had a great time even though the bushes were netted. There's plenty left from last year and enough for our needs so I'm not that worried. Huge pile of gooseberries, blackcurrants and raspberries waiting attention. As we are all on a diet/healthy eating phase Eton Mess with us double cream is out.:-( I was wondering about investigating whether there are any winberries on the mountain but I am waiting till it cools down.

I've got the Bee Inspector ( didn't even know one existed!!) Coming to give my rescued hive a check for diseases. Tbh the hive and bees have been happy for the last few years without any interference from me! I am told by those in the know that hives need regular maintenance and checks. As long as my lot are OK looks like I'm going to have to learn a new skill, not much choice really if I am going to look after them properly. I'll let you know how it goes! Elaine

[Deleted User]

elaine241 wrote: »

Bob not sure either !!!!!!lugs or my cat Spitfire would appreciate a short sharp flight in a switch trap!!

I am, of course, referring to a SHTF situation.

It goes without saying that, under normal circumstances, you should never leave a set trap/snare unattended.

If practising, always disarm the trap/snare (ideally it should be disassembled), before leaving it.

Switch stick traps/snares are inherently cruel, and can cause considerable suffering, hence why they are illegal in many areas.