Preparedness for when

mrs_lds

*Chattie* wrote: »

as a matter of interest which comments do you think are ignorant?

Those people who mock preppers, surely we should be respected that in these economic times instead of turning to the gov. To assist us ! we are being self sufficient and reponsible for our families in times of hardship. Not necessarily for the end of the world just times of hardship.

Popperwell

The Farming programme on Radio 4 has said that many Farmers are on the poverty line and during these difficult times they often drop paying their house insurance. And recently the authorities/charities that help out by often taking food with them and liase with food banks.

That shows how serious the situation is...

meme30

Sea Coal, when I was a teenager I visited someone who had a caravan on the Northumberland coast at Amble. All of the old caravans had small coal and wood burning stoves. It was the first time I had ever realised what the small black rocks on the beach was coal. We just went onto the beach with a bucket and filled it!

GreyQueen

meme30 wrote: »

Sea Coal, when I was a teenager I visited someone who had a caravan on the Northumberland coast at Amble. All of the old caravans had small coal and wood burning stoves. It was the first time I had ever realised what the small black rocks on the beach was coal. We just went onto the beach with a bucket and filled it!

I wonder if it still there to be found and if local people have fires and still harvest it? Nowhere near my neck of the woods so I won't be able to check myself.

I agree, you wouldn't look at little black beach rocks and think to yourself That's coal, that is.

Regarding prepping in general, to me it seems that it's just common sense, prudence, good housekeeping, all sound Old Style virtues. Rainy day savings and a good pantry were the basis of ordinary domestic economy in my grandparents' generation and earlier.

Think about it. The world of grocery shopping was very different pre the supermarket era and the widespread ownership of cars. I know a man who qualified as a Master Grocer in the last days of that trade. You had to know some stuff, it wasn't just a case of selling tins, tubs and packets. Blending coffees and teas, all sorts.

In the 1950s Mum worked as a shop girl in a small independant grocer who served the market town trade and also provided delivery service to village customers. Each customer had 2 little notebooks with a list of their wants and handed over the one for the following week as that week's box (and notebook) were delivered. Not much room for last minute planning when you're miles and miles from the shops with no transport and no phone.

I was ruminating on the changes my Nan has seen in her life, being born in the early 1920s and coming of age long before the NHS and social welfare provision. People were terrified of destitution and borrowing was deeply-shameful until fairly recent decades. Nan isn't at all sentimental about those times, having been a wartime bride and cowered with her tots under the kitchen table whilst her village was strafed by a fighter plane which had broken through the defences. She much prefers the modern era to the olden days in just about all respects.

It may well be that we are coming to the beginning of the end of the era when the wonders of the edible world are transported right to our neighbourhood s.m. at affordable prices. The future may look rather more like the 1950s than we expect and I'm not talking spindly-legged tables.

mardatha

My dad lived on the coast of Fife and he used to see other folk out gathering sea coal but they would probably be older. If I could get to it then I'd have tons of the stuff - it was far hotter than the Polish eggs we're using now.
I think we've got such a lot more than they did in the 20s and 30s and wartime. We should never, now, have to feed kids only on sugar pieces or bread & jam. We have all the knowledge of the internet - the recipes -the cheap books -the forums. Some people in here are awesome cooks amd managers.
The only downside that I can see is the lost knowledge that we can never get back again because all who had it are gone.

VJsmum

Just in case we run out of time tomorrow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY

:rotfl:

vanoonoo

I'm making up end of the world jokes like there's no tomorrow .....

The_Dragon

vanoonoo wrote: »

I'm making up end of the world jokes like there's no tomorrow .....

OUCH (winces and prods vanoonoo) :rotfl:

oldtractor

Greece and Spain are in a mess. Its frightening.

pineapple

I popped into the opticians for a thorough eye test after having some worrysome symptoms . All was fine and the check was free because there was a health reason. Anyway, I was suckered into getting some new glasses. But I was thinking about it anyway - who knows what is ahead of us and it's good to have spares.
I'm also eligible for a free (at the mo!) two yearly eye test and have been offered a general health MOT at the GP surgery.
It struck me how fortunate we are to have a health system which is largely free at the point of care.
Get all your bits checked out while you can! :T