Preparedness for when

bluebag

GreyQueen wrote: »

bluebag, I work for a local authority which owns its own housing stock. We have people clamouring to downsize. We simply don't have enough one-bedrooms for them to downsize into. I don't think any local authority or HA landlord does have many one bedroom places, tbh.

Our (insert expletive of choice) MP has gone on record as being pro-BT. So not gonna get a sympathetic hearing there, Mr or Mrs Constituent...........:( I'm remembering some the many desperate and vulnerable people I've spoken to about the BT in the past 6 months and am fearful that they may do something to themselves in desperation.

I'm expecting this to bring down the government. But not before it's ruined a good many lives.

It'a a dreadful mess we in are in without a doubt, the sad thing is I don't think there are any easy answers. The whole global finance system is a basket case, letting it all go would clean the damn thing up, but the mad max chaos is would cause would be apocalyptic.

We may think we live in a better age, we don't. Financial wizardry gave us an illusion of prosperity. Now we face stark reality plus the hangover for the party. It will be the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged that pay the most. It always is.

mardatha

I'm the same WCS - I can't understand how we got to this stage and we all let it happen. There's a hell of a lot more of us than there are of "them" - and yet we're standing in a corner waiting to be sheared like a flock of bloody sheep. If I had the energy to be angry then I'd be blazing .

bluebag

mardatha wrote: »

I'm the same WCS - I can't understand how we got to this stage and we all let it happen. There's a hell of a lot more of us than there are of "them" - and yet we're standing in a corner waiting to be sheared like a flock of bloody sheep. If I had the energy to be angry then I'd be blazing .

Mar, I think that the anger will explode eventually. Usually the wrong people get the blame and bad things happen.

All we can do is keep our own nest happy, healthy and comfortable.
Stay alert for bother and avoid it if possible.

At least on here we know we are not alone, we can help each other and prepare as best we are able.

There are many who haven't got a clue.

2tonsils

I went to check my stash of garlic in the fridge and its all sprouting...can I stick it in a plant pot and use it like chives?

Lot's of political discussions and **** flying around tonight...I think it might have missed the fan and be going straight for the target. The Russians are absolutely furious and I have heard the threats are flying. The banks are going to remain closed till Wednesday at the last count and the meeting of the Cypriot government has been postponed. Meanwhile thousands are demonstrating in Spain that they are supporting the ordinary people in Cyprus and the trade unions here are getting together to form new protests. I think they are all realising how easily it could have been them.

Meanwhile we have a carnival going on in most places in Greece and tomorrow we start Lent with picnics , kite flying and shellfish galore (if you can afford it , that is). I have some in the freezer so going to defrost it...forget the picnic the builder /plasterer is going to be here all day chipping at walls then filling them in again. We seem to have more than one place where the water is getting into the house, so going to take photos for the insurance man to peruse when they open on Tuesday. If we get any more rain or storms I swear I am going to have a major melt down of tsunami proportions.....

Of course, we have to find all the leaks before we get the dry weather for months on end or we won't be able to find them till next winter. Looks like you have some more snow/deep cold on the way. I also think there may be blizzards with a biting wind towards next weekend. The wind for tomorrow looks raw esp in the East of the country. I managed to warn my mother in law tonight and she actually listened to me!

Meanwhile we think there are going to be huge queues at the bank on Tuesday here so we will take some books to occupy us while we wait. Have to go to sort out the sterling cheque that will clear on Tues. Someone mentioned dollars being reasonably safe...maybe they are but if the banks go bust you are not going to get any currency you keep in there... The Greek government gave the tax men direct access to all bank accounts here last week....hmmmmm.

Margaret54

Hope you find all the leaks 2tonsils and manage to get sorted. Thank you for all your posts and letting us know what is happening there. Thank you also for the weather reports. I do feel for your Country. I think so many of us are really concerned now, so much more so than ever. Take good care . Margaretx

Shazaaym

Hello...been having the occasional lurk and reading through some old posts...love this thread!

I live in a caravan on the edge of a city. I was made homeless a few years ago due to my landlord selling the house. Deposits and rents had gone up massively since i had last moved, and i just couldn't afford it on my wages. I ended up moving 60 miles away, which meant i also lost my job.

Still, the one upside is that when the SHTF, i'm probably better prepared than a lot of people! I have a woodburner, a generator, paraffin lamps, a compost toilet and i'm a dab hand at cooking on an outdoor fire! Only have freezer facilities in winter tho.

I get my paraffin from either a garage or the local coal yard...the coal yard is much cheaper, and lasts for ages in those hurricane lamps. Make sure you have adequate ventilation tho, especially in a small space. When i first started using them, i felt myself going a bit woozy once or twice. I'm much more careful now. I've also got an old Tilley lamp, just needs a bit of TLC and then it's good to go!

I've always grown veg, well, until i moved into my caravan, then i just didn't have the space. But this year i've gotten myself some large pots and an old bath...can't wait to get started on that.

I read Last Light and Afterlight last year...they make you think, don't they! :eek: Some other books i read over and over is a trilogy by John Twelve Hawks...The Traveller, The Dark river and The Golden City. Not 'preppy' exactly, more about how the guvment and a shadowy private group use electronic communication and equipment (CCTV etc) to monitor and control the population, although there is a bit about an off grid mountain community and it advocates off gridness in general, whilst wrapping an interesting story around it. Probably not explained that very well, but it is quite late! I love foraging books, and stuff like The Moneyless Man really inspire me as well.

Right, well that's my hello done, i'm off to the beginning of the thread to see what other tips i can pick up. Knowledge is power and all that!

bluebag

2tonsils,

Thank u for your posts, happy leak hunting.

Popperwell

On the radio a few minutes ago, some expert(in an important post)has said that is a widely held view that what they are doing in Cyprus regarding savings is being tried out on a small country and if it works, the idea will be rolled in larger countries like Spain and Italy etc...That Cyprus is being used as...an experiment.

Miggie

http://www.forbes.com/sites/eamonnfingleton/2013/03/17/the-botching-of-the-cyprus-bailout-worse-than-lehman-brothers/

I agree, I think that if it happens in Cyprus it will happen anywhere in the EU.

mardatha

Hi shazayam - I'm sorry I forget how to spell it and we're on a new page and I'm too lazy to go back and look
Getting to the stage where you're scared to look at the news in case you see something else that makes you mad ..
I think the next stage in prepping is to start reading Dickens or AJ Cronin :eek: