Preparedness for when

vanoonoo

guineapiglet wrote: »

I have a question though. If the power goes off what is the best thing to have to cook the food. I'm thinking about getting something that can live in the get out bag so its ready to go but could be used at home should we be staying there.

hello and welcome

there are several suggestions from bistro style camp stoves that have gas cannisters to hobo burners to hex solid fuel burners. I dont think there is one "best" approach as it will depend on what you are needing to cook and where and what your budget is, many of those types of stove are not recommended for indoor use.
hex stove
http://www.bing.com/search?q=hex+stove&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IE8SRC
The hobo type stove is very light weight for an outdoors on the go scenario - you can make one from a metal cutlery drainer and a couple of tent pegs or skewers http://www.bing.com/search?q=hobo+stove+ikea&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IE8SRC
or lightweight portable stoves
http://www.bing.com/search?q=lightweight+portable+stove+uk&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IE8SRC
or a good old fashioned bbq!

The very best thing you could do is have in your preps items that do not need cooking or heating at all but that are part of your everyday pantry items anyway - maybe peanut butter as it's high in nutrients and calories vs the volume to carry. not sure I'd want to eat pasta with dog or cat food tho! I'll stick to my tinned toms if that's ok

vanoonoo

craigywv wrote: »

thank-you i know you all will be!! oh just text me 2 mins ago it might be tomorrow now before they find out surely this is illegal they have him dangling now for 4 weeks and he is being upbeat well we will survive its not as if we like those poor people in usa/canada/haiti homeless and powerless and thank-you again xxx

it's awful that they're stringing this out it must run you ragged not knowing which route you're about to take, but you're doing great dealing with it :T and although it's not the same as some others, as you say, it's your own personal crisis so it's every bit as painful and important that you feel comfortable getting through it x

have a great party tonight, is it fancy dress?

[Deleted User]

Morning all, happy HALLOWEEN!!!

CRAIGYWV - Not a nice position to be in, waiting and not knowing when the axe will fall. You really have done all you can to ensure your familys future wellbeing, it's a bit like a dentists appointment, the anticipation is worse than the reality. You are a strong and prepared person and you will make the very best of the situation, we are here to share, care and listen whenever you need us, and on 'those' days, we don't mind a bit if you tell us how cross it is making you, that's what friends are for! Chin up pet, you'll do!!!

GUINEAPIGLET - Welcome to the thread, we're always delighted to have new friends to play with, come on in, the water's fine!!

Cheers Lyn xxx.

craigywv

vanoonoo wrote: »

it's awful that they're stringing this out it must run you ragged not knowing which route you're about to take, but you're doing great dealing with it :T and although it's not the same as some others, as you say, it's your own personal crisis so it's every bit as painful and important that you feel comfortable getting through it x

have a great party tonight, is it fancy dress?

yes its just the kids dressing up tonight we having party and fireworks and games dunking for apples etc then i will escort 2 werewolves a zombie and a transformer around the houses trick or treating i cant wait i love it lol been busy making apple cakes and toffee apples this week and saus rolls so we pig out tonight, oh just text me again he demanding i make raspberry ruffles for friday night , this is our night we cook something son wont eat and basically pig out with a movie as son stays in grans of a friday night, so as u can see oh not too worried about job lol. He has applied for a few jobs but where we live jobs are more word of mouth and more successful in getting rather than the ones applied for through job center etc... last one he was in for over 10 years one before that 12 yrs, he has a fallback job if he not get one in a month or so he going to be santa clause lol in local shoppimg center but thats only till 24th dec obviuosly lolol after that who knowsmaybe easter bunny lol, no seriously we will be fine he not a sit abouter will work at anything and if he not get one i will go back to my work , they bending over backwards with offers to get me back so we will see thanks again for your support xxx:)

craigywv

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Morning all, happy HALLOWEEN!!!

CRAIGYWV - Not a nice position to be in, waiting and not knowing when the axe will fall. You really have done all you can to ensure your familys future wellbeing, it's a bit like a dentists appointment, the anticipation is worse than the reality. You are a strong and prepared person and you will make the very best of the situation, we are here to share, care and listen whenever you need us, and on 'those' days, we don't mind a bit if you tell us how cross it is making you, that's what friends are for! Chin up pet, you'll do!!!

GUINEAPIGLET - Welcome to the thread, we're always delighted to have new friends to play with, come on in, the water's fine!!

Cheers Lyn xxx.

Thanks Lyn xxx:)

hummingfridge

CraigyWv - I too hope your OH hears sooner than later.

I had a bit of a panic while following the Sandy US news on Monday, knowing it had already left a trail of destruction, at how unprepared I would have been if we had been given notice of floods and power cuts in the UK. But I had a clearer think last night and I realised that I had got some things in place:

Some tinned food, packets of soup and noodles, bottles of water
LEd torch in every room, wind up torch in front room, plenty of spare batteries
Plenty of tea lights and candles
A grab bag with stuff I might need if going into hospital suddenly -have persuaded OH that he needs one too
Essential docs in safe place ready to be snatched up
We have a gas stove and have boiled all water on the hob before but am finding the above posts about alternatives useful to think about today
Clear walkways around the home
A power cut bag with extra crocheting, chocolate, a pack of cards, an old Walkman radio with headphones and extra batteries, and a book
Did I say extra batteries?
Extra prescription meds, and paracetamol

So I do feel a but more prepared, along with feeling sad for all those affected by Sandy (any other extreme weather at the moment) and grateful, as always, for all the suggestions here.

Popperwell

Well done Humming Fridge,
I may invest in some more batteries and I should gather any documents and have them safe(but there isn't that much other than a birth certificate possibly some photo's and insurance documents)as there is only mysef now.

As for previous posts about stoves, I will eat and drink mainly cold items but if I need to heat water or do a hot meal it will be a very quick meal and I will make certain windows and doors are open for plenty of ventilation.

If I can stay put here there is a kind of passage along the side of the house with doors at either end so I cook use my camping stove there rather than in the actual house.

If the electric goes off I lose(probably)the food stored in the fridge/freezer and cannot cook as it is an electric cooker and all my gadgets are elelctric too...

I might still have hot water for washing and heating as that is gas but then again perhaps not as I think the CH has an electric pump for moving the water around the radiators...I am unsure about that...and in a big disaster perhaps both might fail...

But hopefully such a scenario is rare and only for hours rather than days but we'd have to see...I have my food store mainly for food supplies rising in price but income reducing or if bad weather meant it was difficult to get out to shop or deliveries are disrupted. Not for a major disaster but if I am ready for that too, it is a bonus.

Cheapskate

Morning all

Sorry to hear about your OH, craigyvw, so many on here in the same position, but you both sound very positive, and I think that's a big plus.

Welcome guineapiglet, nice to "see" another joining in!

I'm looking at various cooking implements (when DH isn't here, he thinks I'm crackers as it is!), to maybe invest in for camping, but would also be of use if a SHTF situation arose. We live in an area where there are plenty of woods within walking distance, so we could collect stuff for burning. Also have a couple of old biscuit tins that would in a dire emergency.

Taking DS (5) out tonight for the first time - think we may not last long, partly due to the weather and partly as he thinks he likes scary stuff but when it comes to the crunch he's not! DD is a loud, bossy little girl, but after DS finished carving pumpkin she was terrified and it wasn't even lit!

A xo

[Deleted User]

I was making a batch of nut milk just now and thinking what a great sub this is for milk and so easy to keep dried nuts in the house. I use almonds and just soak about 1/2 a cup all night, then rinse and liquidize on the highest speed. I add a little agave to sweeten but a few dates are good and also good adding some vanilla for a change of taste. Then filter through an ebay nut milk bag (korea and really good value). The milk is lovely on cereal and lovely in various drinks
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=20

Can be made from any nuts and I keep loads in the house in a cool place, together with my dehydrated foods

[Deleted User]

KITTIE - Thank you for a very useful idea, much appreciated, I love almond milk!! Cheers Lyn xxx.