Preparedness for when

Frugalsod

pumpkinlife wrote: »

Oh Dear Lordy I HATE that attidtude. 'THEY'?!

A few years ago this part of the world got a freak snow storm. The media outlets warned people not to drive out in it and if they HAD to, to take blankets, drinks, etc and prepare to be stranded. Cue standstill on the A3, snowed in passengers; and a whole lot of whining that the army wasn't sent out sooner. One of the drivers had her kids in the car and was picking her husband up from the airport - not an essential journey then, but a long one that you would certainly take supplies for under normal conditions.

I absolutely think the state should help those that are least able to prepare for themselves in an emergency. The rest of us need to saddle up.

Nicely done convincing her that a stove was in order :T

I think that the problem is that people are used to things running and so do not think about what to do if things stop working. If I was driving anywhere where there was likelihood that there was going to be a snow storm then I would take a 4 seasons sleeping bag, a flask and a stove, some shelter so you can pitch a tent, or hammock and cook within the tent/shelter. Though I would not be out in such weather if I could help it.

If there was a power cut I have plenty of thermals and additional bedding so could cope well with no heating for weeks. It will be the things in the fridge and freezer and cooking them that will be problematic.

fuddle

I also think it depends on your view of an essential journey. An essential journey for me would be to get my husband home. I don't think it matters that he's at an airport, at work, in a bus station etc If it feels like a priority then it is a priority and therefore an essential trip, in my opinion.

Also bear in mind that some people, myself included, don't have access to childcare of any sort so therefore the children would have to come with me.

That said I would be prepared as best I could be, so in that respect I do agree with you.

katep23

We recently had a 9 hour power cut - our neighbour popped over to find out if our power was off to find us enjoying a pot of tea made with the ghillie kettle which was on the go most of the morning


Breakfast and lunch were made on the camping gas stove. Dinner would have been too. OH hooked up an inverter to run the pump on the fish tank. Luckily the power was back on before dark and it wasn't cold but we have plenty of torches, candles and would have lit a fire if necessary. I called the power company on our old analogue phone. All thanks to the advice from you guys on here.


Our neighbours went out because the kids were bored with nothing to do!

GreyQueen

Evening all.

Few more weeks until the big Five-O, VJsMum, incoming next month. I had my mid-life crisis at 30, went to the pub to play pool for my 40th and will do something completely low-key for this next one. Can't abide fuss and being the centre of attention, very much against my nature.

Well done on getting the flat stove and canisters into the MIL's home, btw, one down how many millions left to convince?

Fuddle, up to a point I agree about bringing the Hubs home, but better one adult male travel on public transport or even stay overnight at an airport than a woman with children in tow risk getting snow-stranded or having a weather-caused crash, is my take on it. But each to their own.

I was astonished at the reports coming in from one snowstorm a few years back. One woman had decided to ignore the severe weather warnings and make an unnecessary 2 hour journey to walk her dogs in a particular place, and got stuck. Silly sausage hadn't even got a coat, never mind boots or supplies. She wasn't the only f e c k less idjeet who spent 12+ hours stranded on the highway.

I think the best thing to do in some circs is stay at or close to home. After all, if you get injured or stuck, other poor beggars have to go out to attend to you. When it's icy, SG sensibly grounds herself and I go out for supplies to ferry to her flat. Don't want my best girl breaking her bones.

My maternal shop-bot trollied up and went to her nearby Liddly and I now have a lot of sardines at 40p each. With those, spuds and wild greens, no danger of starving imminently. I like sardines; stackable, compact, just the right portion size for one.

Laughing about the leaves comment. It happens to me and mine every single year, without fail, several times. Folks ring in complaining about the leaves falling off the trees. Not that they're lying on the pavement and getting slippy, but that they have dared to fall off at all. We treasure these calls and wait eagerly for the first ones.

Sure sign of autumn in the parental household; The Queen of Sheba has turned into a lapseeking missile. Her littermate Wild Thing will come indoors if it snows - maybe. Talk about chalk and cheese in both appearance and temperaments.

I am also rockin' a sleek new short hairdo, so won't have to tie my hair up at archery tomorrow night. Can't let vanity get in the way of shooting straight, can I? The fact that I did it because I couldn't be arrised is nothing to do with it at all.:rotfl:

katep23, loving your resourcefulness in face of a powercut. Tell me, were you a teensy bit disappointed when it came back on before you'd cooked supper? Hope your neighbours had a LBM and were inspired to prep.

elaine241

Hello All

Just catching up as per usual!

Council Tax .......Hmmmmmm! I am notoriously bad at paying this and as a result "They" have sent me a summons even though I paid the same day as it was issued. Here we only get one "pay up or die" letter usually issued one day after I should have paid. If (as usual) I miss another payment by a day or two (not a week) we immediately get a summons, do not pass go etc I will pay it Im just bloody minded!

On a better note I bought a Prestige pressure cooker from the boot sale for the grand sum of £1. Just looking for the manual and found an identical one sold for £29.95 on fleabay! I found an American site that did free downloads of the instructions so I will be practising tomorrow. Anyone living in South Wales that hears an explosion, sorry its me not getting to grips with the pressure cooker!
I bought it primarily to try canning and preserving although cooking stews etc in quick time also appeals to me.

I havent done a lot of prepping this week although I have resolved to go and buy the wool blanket if it is still there in the CS. I added a couple of quick cook rice pouches and some posh instant soups that feed 6-8 as they were reduced to 50p.

Whilst talking to my neighbour I noticed a huge patch of blackberries so I will be picking them tomorrow, probably making jelly as I cant stand pips! I have scrounged, begged and aquired quite a lot of apples and pears so a mammoth chutney, jam etc session is due.

Anyone got any ideas for courgettes/marrows? I have tonnes, literally! and my lot dont particularly like them. Anyone tried marrow wine? is it gut rot?:eek:

Elaine

[Deleted User]

fuddle wrote: »

but heating is a concern for me.

Get yourself a good thick (say 15 TOG) duvet.

That way, you can always take to your bed, or even rap it around yourself, to stay warm.

That, and plenty of warm drinks (courtesy of the camping stove), should keep you comfortably warm.

If it gets really bad, you can always fill a HWB, again courtesy of the camping stove.

moneyistooshorttomention

pumpkinlife wrote: »

Oh Dear Lordy I HATE that attidtude. 'THEY'?!

Errrrm....I do understand why "They will sort it out" is a theme tune to some, because for many years it was a theme tune of mine personally:o

The reason for that being, I guess, that "they" MUST surely be more intelligent than me/more able than me/etc/etc....and then daylight dawned.

The "daylight" being that the difference between me and "them" personally boiled down to the fact that "they" had been to University (back in the days when only University people went to University...and not "Uncle Tom Cobley and all and his dog") and I hadn't. They had come from upper middle class (or higher) background and I hadn't. They were telling me/us they knew "what was what".

...and then I grew up and realised that actually "They" aren't any more intelligent than me and its just "fate" that they were born into "better" backgrounds than me and the only difference personally between me and "them" was "they" had more confidence than me and possibly weren't quite as straight/honest as me. Also there is a lot of "bluff and bluster" going on and that many many people (from all backgrounds and levels of intelligence) make out that they know "what is what" and go round quite confidently asserting it and that tends to win out (in the short term) over people who say "On the one hand this and on the other hand that...and, on balance, I think and have realised that such-and-such is how things are" and that's why I believed (for the longest time) that there honestly was a "They" with my best interests at heart and who were more capable than I am myself of looking out for my interests....and then I grew up....and realised that actually the only difference between me and "them" is they have more confidence than I do personally and a background that tells them they are "in charge", whereas mine just told me "You aren't in the dirt...so don't accept dirt..life isn't due to be harsh for you.....but you aint in charge either and don't expect luxury". The other version of "they" of course is those who have come from a very different background indeed and think threats of physical aggression (coupled with assertions as to how things are) is the way to be "in charge".

That's why many people think "they" will deal with things, ie because they've been told "You get told whats what" on the one hand or "You don't get told whats what...but you aint gonna tell anyone else whats what either" on the other hand.

fuddle

Would I travel with kids in tow to the nearest airport to pick DH up when there is a hap up on the way. Absolutely not. He can bed down in said airport or, if we have the money, book a room but ask me that question 2 years ago when I was suffering from anxiety and panic surrounding my family's safety then who knows what decision I would have made in order to get us altogether again.

What I am saying is that we can't judge negatively what others feel are essential trips because so many factors make something a huge issue compared to a small issue in someone else's shoes.

What is an essential trip in dire circumstances? Getting from house to house to help someone get to the toilet is high up on my priority if I'm rota'd to be there. Others may feel I am clogging up the county's roads in doing something so trivial.

kezlou

Have to admit people were pretty stupid going out in the snow in the middle of a show storm.

Everyone has they priorities regarding when and where to go out. Oh has already told me NOT to go out for him as he would either make his own way back or stay overnight. He says main priority is keeping me and the children safe. He knows I writing be panicking like mad waiting for him and if it was miles away he would come for me.

But that's him being protective and piece of mind not having to worry about us.

We have lots of blankets to cover us, especially on the beds. Hot water bottles, books , Lego, animals, toys, art box and board games to keep us entertained. Sounds silly, but if anything happened It would be purely which would get to everyone especially children.

It was that bad here, we all ran out of fresh food and bread.
That reminds me need to buy more candles and tea lights.

fuddle

I see it more of a 'they' will sort it out because I have been looked after all my life, have come to expect a fall guy, have learned that my demands will be listened to and that I don't need to look after myself because 'they' should as there's a fund for that, a rule for this and a litigation or compensation for failure to do.

Smells of the saying 'Heads will roll!'

Some of us are lucky to have smelled the coffee through life experience.