THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

thriftwizard

When was the last time you needed Prepping, honestly now?

For pretty much the whole of the last month, food-wise! I must have done about a thousand extra miles, up & down to the hospital/care home etc., and opportunities to do food shopping have been unpredictable & few & far between. So we've coasted through on the contents of the freezer, the allotment and the store-cupboards. The only thing we ran out of was instant coffee, so OH had to drink some of my cafetiere stuff one morning, although he could have gone & got some instant out of my van.

I've managed to do some everyday pre-winter preps like getting the boiler serviced, the chimney swept, and organising a delivery of logs. I still need to buy in a sack of spuds (the ones from my friend's kitchen garden being pretty awful, but then we didn't plant those - we've eaten all the ones from the 'lottie) and some more chicken feed, but the farm shop is on the way down to Mum's. Flour & oats are well stocked up, and we're working our way steadily through the pumpkin mountain. We have salt & shovels for the driveway and boots/YakTrax/woolly hats & gloves stashed against the remote possibility of some actual cold weather.

Next thing on my list is to audit & update the medicine cupboard/first aid kits. Never mind zombie invasions, I'm much more likely to have to deal with an invasion of hungover Offspring & partners... provided I can tell the difference!

DigForVictory

mardatha wrote: »

We should all try a dry run. ... See what a mess you get into trying to find medicines/money/documents/bank cards/clothes/shoes etc in the dark!

with bonus fire drill? Genius!
Says she planning to make this weekend distinctly "different".

Um, it's just the menfolk might lynch me if I didn't (a) warn them, (b) failed to extract the really essential stuff that only they can identify (& that after the event) & anyway, unless they really believed it was a fire, I'd not get them out of the house in an emergency without tying them to a wheelbarrow & pulling...

I think I'll just settle for the easier win of double checking the car stash of meds, scanned docs on memory sticks & try to build up a cash stash.

Mojisola

mardatha wrote: »

We should all try a dry run.

Switch off the mains after dark. Pretend you have to get out fast. See what a mess you get into trying to find medicines/money/documents/bank cards/clothes/shoes etc in the dark!

We used to do practice runs with the children in case of a fire because people who practice escape routes (or even just listen seriously to the evac talk on an aircraft) are more likely to get out safely.

That was just to get us out quickly. Trying to collect all the essential stuff along the way is another matter!

mardatha

We're really calm and organised and have a bungalow so is easy to get out - but we did it and it was total chaos, was an eye opener

[Deleted User]

I thank my lucky stars that I DO prepare for eventualities every time (fairly frequently nowadays) I get a last minute call from my daughter to say one of the grandchildren is ill and can't go to nursery can you come and sit Ma? it means I have my meds to hand and can know that when I go there is food and wood and everything He Who Knows will need to get through the time I'm away without having to shop. There are ready made home made meals in the freezer, we have an ample store cupboard with most everyday things like tea, baked beans, flour, oats, dried milk, tins of meat, fruit and veg and adequate dry stores etc. to last for months and home made preserves to hand in there too. Prepping isn't JUST about emergencies and doomsday it's about being in charge your life enough so that when the unexpected happens out of the blue your needs are met and so are those of the other folk in the house. I last needed prepping on Tuesday morning when I got that phone call and got back last evening knowing He Who Knows has been dry, warm, fed, medicated and OK! not just for the end of the world eh?

maryb

That's when it's beyond priceless to have family who can step into the breach. Hope you find somewhere you like nearer your DDs soon Mrs L so it's not such a trek for you

Perplexed_Pineapple

Evening all. A question for the gardeners here if that's ok.
The weather changed quickly from a warm autumn and we have had some pretty cold days including at least one frosty morning. Is it too late to lift and divide the rhubarb? It looked a bit sad this year and has been in the same spot for about 5 years. I know it wouldn't be difficult to replace but I don't want to kill it....

tori.k

It will be fine just split between the crown buds, mulch with some manure and compost the worms will do the rest

tori.k

If it ok I'd love some tips from your collective knowledge.
DH and I are downsizing to our last home and have decided to make it as sustainable as possible while we are still working as our pension provision is kind of shameful:o
So not worrying about adding value but reducing living cost long term.
It's an 2 bed 87 sq.m old solid stone (1840) east/ west facing property running off oil central heating system.

Current ideas
Top up with wool loft insulation
Reinstall fire in lounge 4kw woodstove
Remove oil central heating and replace with PV and Thermal solar system running electric water heater and electric underfloor heating in kitchen diner and bathroom
Replace double glazing when required for better energy efficient glass
Take the garage/ workshop off grid and fit rainwater harvest system
Convert current bathroom into shower room with water saving shower/ toilet.

Any other ideas truly welcome please
I already grow a bit of fruit and veg this will be stepped up when I lose my current garden and will take an allotment near the new house that's quite strict on regular attendance.

jk0

I wouldn't be chucking out the oil system IIWY. There can be very little sun in the winter to run solar heating. Personally, I would not bother with the solar stuff. It makes roof repair inconvenient, and will never pay for itself without subsidies. You might just as well pay for the oil every year until you pop your clogs in my view.