Preparedness for when

moneyistooshorttomention

AnimalTribe wrote: »

Just popped in to say that I had need of my prepping supplies yesterday. A missing screw on a pair of glasses - solved by using a spectacle repair kit. I know I could have gone into town and they would have repaired them for free - but it's a fair journey for just one thing and I couldn't be bothered. In 2010 we were snowed in for 6 weeks, and it got me thinking about health matters. I reckon that if we were taken really ill they would send a rescue helicopter for us, but I try to cover for times we might just be uncomfortable. Other than standard stuff people have in their first aid kits - I also have a spectacle repair kit, temporary dental cement, gel toe caps (and I make sure my mum has sufficient batteries for her hearing aid). I was wondering what other people kept?

I'll admit to a very cynical answer to that question popping up in my mind - ie not of physical goods to keep in stock (of which I have a lot of natural health books anyway) BUT, more to the point (particularly since I moved elsewhere in Britain) is my "best thing I keep" is the memory of my previous experiences with the NHS "back before" and then I recall what standard of care we are supposed to receive (and I've had on some occasion or other before) and it is very helpful to remember that "No - I am not being unreasonable when I ask for what I need" (which is what medical personnel sometimes try and make you feel) and have the confidence to pursue things more.

That level of confidence from those memories helps when confronted with somebody "medical" trying to make MY decisions for me. "Trying" being the operative word:rotfl:- as I've already made my decisions myself, so there is no room for them to be trying to make them too:).

On another level - I keep a bit of private health insurance I have and am in process of having to use it again for something I've had from the NHS before/elsewhere - but they are refusing it now/here:mad:. So - thank goodness I have this and can proceed (if with rather more hassle than I had expected it to be:cool:).

Part of my preps. today was taking a look at another nearby NHS hospital than the one I've been sent to here a couple of times - to see if it looks more like I'm used to. It does....right...that's another decision made then and I wont be going to the other NHS one here again if I need one (ie its a good bit more old-fashioned/grotty) and will be getting referred to the better one of them instead.

thriftwizard

Quick plug here for Sanchi instant Miso soup; I'm back at Mum's and really fancied "simmered vegetables" for lunch, and thought it might do her good too. Our little county town doesn't run to an oriental grocers (anyone looking for a gap in the market?) so the closest I could find to miso paste was a pack of this in the health food shop. As a flavouring for veggies simmered for 5 mins in stock, it was excellent, but it can also be made up on its own, just by adding hot water. The use-by date is well over a year away, so I'll be hunting up a whole box of packs of this for emergencies and for CBA days too!

Frugalsod

thriftwizard wrote: »

The use-by date is well over a year away, so I'll be hunting up a whole box of packs of this for emergencies and for CBA days too!

I have so many CBA days as well. :beer:

[Deleted User]

Frugalsod wrote: »

and it can be used with a Trangia stove so would allow me to use an ordinary pot without it coating the pan with soot.

If using a trangia (or similar) spirit stove, I'd recommend Bio-ethanol, in preference to Meths.

It's cheaper, doesn't smell as bad, and doesn't leave a residue on the stove, or cooking pots.

Softstuff

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

The silly thing about the insurance policy was that the estate agents offices had been insured by that particular insurer for quite a few years previous to the refused renewal and we'd never had any problems from the river in all that time, nothing had changed, no floods, no problems at all and not likely to be problems because of the height of the slope above river level, so my friend was totally mystified at the change of circumstances. It may be that the insurers were being ultra cautious but without any reason to do so.

My guess would be that the insurer had new flood mapping done. When we had that done at my previous work, we were having to send off people on top of hills in houses on stilts for rerating! Being so cautious isn't always down to the insurer either, it can be down to the reinsurer. Insurers themselves buy insurance, so that in a large event where there are claims over a certain amount, they are able to pay them. Much like with your household insurance, they pay premiums and there are conditions attached to payouts. One such condition would be for example, getting 10 year flood forecasting done at least at a postcode level. The insurer could choose to go more precise beyond that, which would be more accurate for the householder, but may just do the bare minimum for reinsurance, which would result in declining renewals.

Sorry to ramble on, just thought someone might find the inner workings of insurance companies interesting.

jk0

Softstuff wrote: »

Insurers themselves buy insurance, so that in a large event where there are claims over a certain amount, they are able to pay them.

Sounds like bookies laying off bets.

Frugalsod

jk0 wrote: »

Sounds like bookies laying off bets.

Its called re-insurance and happens all the time. It is quite profitable during good years. Organisations might have an unlimited public liability insurance coverage. The first insurer will take on the whole debt but will then insure tranches of the risk for a premium. So what normally happens is that the first insurer might cover all risks up to £6 million, then the re-insurers will take the risks over that. Even re-insurers will sell on some of the risk themselves. So unless it is a major disaster that is covered then those taking the higher tranches may not even have a claim at all.

boultdj

Ramble away please Softstuff, it's intresting knowing how thing's are figured out.

southantrim3

Mardatha - how's the storm kicking in? Sounds as if it could be a bit of a SHTF situ up there...

happydays89

The winds picking up here(North East Scotland)and we had a bit if snow this morning.Its cold.We are going to light a couple of candles in case the lights go out,multi fuel stove is lit so we're ready for any power cuts.