Preparedness for when

nuatha

GreyQueen wrote: »

Why am I telling you this? Because the road had big notices all over it, about how it had been built with EU money. Someone else who spent part of her schooling in that same area of Spain told me that her Spanish high school was built with EU money (big notices all over the place saying so, too).

When I pass my old secondary school, I can still see my 'temporary' portable classroom in use. It was a temporary classroom in the 1970s and was rubbish then. I see similar things at other schools. I see a lot of roads which badly need upgrading, in terms of undone maintenance and badly-needed but unfunded improvements.

Having gone to couple of schools that used portacabins for classrooms, I was surprised that they demolished and completely rebuilt one of them yet the portacabins are still in use.

I have never, in any part of this country, seen a sign saying a road or a school was funded with EU money. We're from all parts of Britain, so have any of you?

I have. Generally as Coalfield Regeneration Fund, though I've also seen developments signposted as European Social Fund. These have tended to be industrial estates or minor infrastructure rather than major roads and schools - I live in the North East, we don't get major infrastructure investment.

It seems to me that money raised in the UK, which is needed for infrastructure here, is being spent elsewhere. I think it unjust, and a good enough reason for getting out of Europe.

Not that I'm in favour of HS2 (I think its a pointless waste of money) but that is 50% funded by EU investment, among other current major infrastructure projects.

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Watching the Beeb news this morning I saw an interview with an English ex pat married I think to a Greek gentleman who was saying that the cash available from the hole in the wall machines is now ONLY 50 euro notes, the lower denomination are all used up and this is causing problems in commerce as the shopkeepers have no change to give so your 50 euro note becomes the price of the goods. I've always carried a stash of £1, £2, 50p and 20p coins and will build that now to a substantial sum, it's been standard advice about prepping for years now and only today do I really perceive the wisdom behind it.

Some things are obvious, some things only make sense when you see the problem. There's a lot of wisdom in the prepping community that appears oddball or offbeat, that suddenly makes sense when the SHTF - generally because the people advising are people who've been there.
I carry £20 of silver in the car, in the main its a result of trying to find change for parking meters when hospital visiting. We've always had coin jars, but now bank them less often to leave ourselves with a constant higher amount of coinage. (I used to sort the old bronze coins from the modern steel based as the bronze was an excellent casting metal, but they are now to scarce to bother with).

elona

1tonsil

I know you are prepped to the hilt but are you also very well stocked with any medications and first aid stuff you might need?
Have you seen ferfal's blog about the top 100 things to disappear in a SHTF as it migh give you a few ideas about things to barter even though you feel you won't need it.

Don't forget the odd few things that feel like a treat as it feeds the spirit.

Hugs

Karmacat

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Good luck 1T and all the rest of the Greek nation, tough times ahead but I think you have the collective respect and admiration of most of the rest of the world!

From me too.

And I'll be keeping back my coins too, more than I have been.

ivyleaf

Thoughts are with you 1Tonsil Glad you're well stocked-up.

1Tonsil

Strange you should say that about the change running short, its been like that for months. I have started a money box for my change now as its so short in the shops! The Greek accounts are restricted to sixty a day but they only added fifty notes to the ATM machines so a larger amount of money could be kept in them.

I went to a half price sale this morning, but then found I only had fifteen euros in notes in my purse as I had left the rest on the coffee table at home. So I got ten euros off my husband. When we got to the tool shop they could not change the note he had left so between us we went through pockets and my handbag and managed to copper up the amount they wanted in very small change.

I have been reading the updates on the Guardian online and they seem a good source of information, unlike many! Many of the countries now seem totally against Greece because of the no vote. I expected it from Germany....but from Latvia? Of all the 18 countries in the Euro...only two want us to stay in and to help us...these being France and Italy because they think they will be next as the scapegoats. I think the EU is no longer willing to listen to anything Greece has to say or suggest and I just hope the Greeks have the guts to walk out in disgust with their heads held high.

Meanwhile, foreigners here can still take unlimited amounts out of the ATM machines, which are full. We can also buy at the shops with foreign cards and Greek bank debit cards without limit. The shops are still full to overflowing and the tourists are still having a great time. The weather is amazing, a bit too hot for me...but still glorious for the tourists.At the moment I am in the house with the fan full on in front of me.......great joy!

Thanks for all your support.... I think today is the end game....all or nothing....

1Tonsil

elona wrote: »

1tonsil

I know you are prepped to the hilt but are you also very well stocked with any medications and first aid stuff you might need?
Have you seen ferfal's blog about the top 100 things to disappear in a SHTF as it migh give you a few ideas about things to barter even though you feel you won't need it.

Don't forget the odd few things that feel like a treat as it feeds the spirit.

Hugs

Thanks for asking...yes , we have loads of medications and first aid stuff, as well as preps for if the electric goes off. I am lucky in that I have a gas cooker, unlike most Greek homes. We also have an open fireplace and bbq I could cook on, though its so hot at the moment that most food features salad and cold fruit! We also have treats in, although they are hidden away as my other half is supposed to be on a diet recommended by the doctor! We are very well provided for, and luckily have been working on getting the house as comfortable and easy to run as we can. It is also easy to defend as it has walls a meter thick! The Greeks are good at surviving and working together to help each other. Although things are going to be hard, we have got used to that over the five years of austerity we have just gone through. Ironically, I feel more optimistic about Greece and her future than I have done for a long, long time. But I do think if they force her out today, the dominoes are going to fall very quickly for other countries.

Cheapskate

elona wrote: »

1tonsil

I know you are prepped to the hilt but are you also very well stocked with any medications and first aid stuff you might need?
Have you seen ferfal's blog about the top 100 things to disappear in a SHTF as it migh give you a few ideas about things to barter even though you feel you won't need it.

Don't forget the odd few things that feel like a treat as it feeds the spirit.

Hugs

I've spent an hour reading through his blog, really interesting stuff, but can't find the one you mention, elona - can you point me in the right direction?

1T - glad to hear things aren't too wobbly yet, my friend on Corfu says similar things to you, no real sign of panic, but is aware it could happen if things go on a long time. She reiterated previous comments about tourists still visiting, and being needed, as their cash is keeping these little places solvent.

GQ, there are still portakabins at my old junior school as well, over 30 years since I left! I'm sure it's only the layers of wallpaper and posters holding them up.

A xo

southantrim3

Here in this part of the UK (Northern Ireland,) we have had a number of road upgrades (single carriage way roads upgraded to dual carriage way and the like...) and the majortiy of them have been part funded by the EU.

:cool:

LoveLifeAgain

1Tonsil wrote: »

Well, things are moving quickly. Our finance minister resigned his post and was replaced by a mild mannered man educated at Oxford. This morning we wake up to find they are going to get a hostile reception when they go to negotiate...with an amazing ultimatum that they are out of the euro if they dont agree today, whether they like it or not. This is against their own rules....but it does not seem to matter.

It seems there is no way for us to move forwards. I honestly think this is the end games and we need to come out now. Having looked at the financial trouble Germany and others are in, it is clear we are going to be a scapegoat for all their issues.

It might be hard, but the Greeks will work together to help each other in the hardships that are to come. But it will be worthwhile. Thanks for all your support, I really do appreciate it. It seems I may be posting soon from a real big SHTF situation. I have decided to keep up our stocks rather than have cash.....it may not be a good idea to have many euros in the next few days! We are prepped up to the eyeballs to be honest and have seen NO sign of shortages at all, despite the articles of the British press and media. Thanks, off to enjoy the sunshine!

Iceland was in the same situation, it gets worse and then improves greatly. Wishing you lots of good luck for the future whichever way it goes and remember you can't beat your own money. We would be in a dreadful state if we had to ask Germany for money as the Euro countries are not allowed to print their own. I've been doing a lot of reading about world economies lately, will have to stop and start reading murder mysteries instead.

moneyistooshorttomention

We haven't heard news of Iceland for some time now.

So - does anyone have links to info. re whats happening there now?