THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

thriftwizard

Yeehaaaa! Shed still standing, crops still cropping!

ivyleaf

Excellent news thriftwizard :T

Karmacat

I checked out the cone of the likely path and decided to go for it ... I went up to London to see the Scythian exhibition at the British Museum - got first hand, fantastic views of the stormy dark-grey plus orange from the sand and the fires. Amazing.

Ordinary prepstering of stocking up like a mad thing is continuing. Plus dental checks, and another new crown - not good, but better than a broken tooth in my mouth!

[Deleted User]

Given that we are going to meet 'Brian' this evening and through tomorrow I've made some preps 'just in case' we get power problems. I've changed all the stored water today, I've topped us up with bread and oatcakes, I've got enough dried milk that if the fresh runs out we can get by. We're going to move the car just a little way down the drive to get out of the way of possible tiles slipping off the roof. We'll bungee strap the big side gates which usually slip their bolts and bang against the side of the house in a big blow. The BOBs are ready to go and I've got some tins down along with the camping stove so I can make a stew tomorrow if we're off grid. I'm making soup today and stewed apple and tonight before we go to bed I'm going to fill the big flask with boiling water. We'll get enough logs in to last 24 hours. I have enough 'just add boiling water' instant meals to feed us for a while if we get longer than anticipated disruptions. Solar lights are charged, candles and tea lights accessible, hot water bottles and blankets in known places, meds all within reach, power pack all charged up as are phones and kindles, wind up radio on the windowsill in the sun so the solar panel works, all the outside things likely to 'fly' are away and in sheltered places as much as is possible. We'll all compare notes afterwards I suspect and what will be interesting reading is what we didn't think of but needed to do!

fuddle

Oh dear. I've completely missed the announcement of Brian's arrival. I will look at it ASAP.

I'm reading that food today is grown on over worked depleted ground that doesn't have time to replenish it's nutrients and that food bought and consumed solely from supermarkets could leave an individual lacking in nutrients without even knowing it. Of course it's just suggestion but it has made me think.

[Deleted User]

yes that is right fuddle eg the field close to me, year after year after year, winter wheat. They constantly used sprayers and put artificial fertilisers on. Never a rotation until suddenly in autumn last year when the younger son took over and this year I actually smelt manure. Fuddle read about the benefits of comfrey, bocking 14, obtainable from ebay. The roots go very deep and it harvests lots of minerals. My patch never spreads where it should not be and I cut it 3 times a year to feed my plants. That is all I use, plus compost and my produce is wonderful. I don`t dig either and use green manure and let the worms do it all

I cannot do any more prepping for Brian, everything is already tied down and my best bikes are safely indoors in case the row of garages lose their roofs. Mine is insured but there is a limit. My house is also properly insured ie for a non-standard build which includes my pv panels.

maryb

Fuddle, I'm sure that's right and possibly even organic is much more intensive than it used to be, even though the fertilisers they can use are regulated. Anything you can grow on your plot will probably have more goodness than anything equivalent you can buy if only because you'll cook it as soon as you get it home.

thriftwizard

I can't do any prepping for Brian, and may well have to travel tonight/tomorrow regardless; I think the hospital are trying to make us aware that my mother's chances of recovering are dwindling by the hour. (It's a bit sad when they have to tell you to Google the symptoms of end-stage heart failure, though.) Maybe I'm just really dense (trolls from other areas, please don't pick up on that!) but my brothers are still talking about getting private physios in to get her on her feet again. My gut feeling, and clearly the hospital's, is that things have gone too far for that and all we should do now is make her comfortable. At home if possible, even if that means getting all-night carers in when I can't be there, but at the moment the hospital are muttering "Unsafe discharge" which means they won't let her out until we can get a care package in place.

Doesn't help that we have family arriving for half-term, and that they're travelling down from Town tomorrow evening (including OH, who's up there at the moment) and are completely blase about the potential risks of Brian!

Karmacat

Thriftwizard, sorry to hear about your mum. Decoding what the medical people are really meaning is so important - I think you have the right of it, sadly I hope her time is peaceful, and that her "wants" can be met.

Thinking of you.

missusP

My prepping for Brian included stocking up on extra gas for the camp stove (halfords have 4 for £5) in case there are power cuts. I have a little plastic greenhouse which we discovered will break up if tied/pinned down so I've simply placed the pots on the floor and predict we will discover its blown up the communal yard. Its a small yard with high fences so it cannot get enough lift to leave.
I have also done up a box for the car in case we are ever stuck in it (like on the motorway) or cant get home so feeling more winter ready.
Thriftwizard, sorry to hear about your mum. I used to work in a hospital, you can never know for sure how things will go but everyone feels much better at home so i hope you can get a package the hospital are happy with to get your mum home.