THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

GreyQueen

You've got the makings of a bonfire, Karmakat!

I've had a wee bonfire today, the wind was in the correct quarter - heading out over the common, informal site rules (i.e. cultural information passed from existing plotholders to newbies) is that we don't have bonfires when the wind is blowing t'other way, which is actually the prevailing wind, as it blows towards the houses.

Burned up a dried-out pile of runner bean haulms and the last of the sunflower stalks. The big bonfire was in autumn but these things were still green, then.

Busily preparing for the coming growing season, have added a chytte-tonne * of spent coffee grounds and some ground-up eggshells into the soil, part of the ongoing project. Have also harvested some feral chard, which overwinters perfectly well but which looks a touch tatty at this time of year. And leeks, there's always leeks.

Me and my hipster toyboy ( a lovely chap half my age who is a pal, to the great amusement of my peers who insist he's my toyboy, he's in on the joke because I told him) have been hatching plans for charging around town in his car and bargaineering. He gives me (and the coffee grounds) lifts and I give him gardening tips, what could be more perfect? :rotfl:

* The chytte-tonne is one of the less-commonly used metric measurements, a bit like decilitres - it exists but you don't find it used much. This is attributable to the EU committee, which coined the term, not realising that it's likely to sound rather vulgar in English. Someone did try to warn them, and got a blank look and a gallic shrug for their troubles. You may want to save this factoid in case you need it for a pub quiz one day.**

** And if you believe that, I have an excellent investment opportunity for you, applications via the PM system, first come first served. :cool:

Karmacat

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: a perfect day, then, GQ

A bonfire! Yep, I could, actually - this was the first day without rain for a looong time, lovely sun (I got some washing out on the line!) and I hope the situation will be good for a bonfire in the next few days. That would help the garden situation - there's a *lot* of wood waiting around ...

elona

Fuddle

I once tucked a hankie sprinkled with essential oils down my nightie
neckline to help my stuffed up nose and woke up to find a red rash like a burn on my neck :eek: It took a few panicked minutes before I realised what had caused it.

A very old cure for a sore throat was to have a boiled or roasted onion put into a sock which was folded round the neck.

Personally I like hot lemonade or blackcurrant juice and essential oils burned in a special holder.

mardatha

I haven't poked my whiskers outside for weeks. I really need to get out a walk tomorrow, I'm looking very peelywally (peaky to you furriners). Was nice today, sunny and blue skies but a high of minus 2. Garden still under 2" of frozen snow.

Karmacat

2" of frozen snow is just ....

I started my initiative to increase my stamina today - as I added quite a bit to the official part, by popping off to the shops afterwards, I'm shattered! But I did also meet a couple of local ladies - that's part of my prepping, to make more links locally.

mardatha

Ventured down to the postvan and then round the village - 3 very short streets, 24 houses . Was so cold I had to cover my mouth with a scarf, as breathing hurt. Temp dropping like a stone now and the sky a lovely blend of blue and pink and violet.

mardatha

Some scary reading on FluTrackers re the flu outbreak in America..

[Deleted User]

frightening about the flu mar. I am avoiding people as much as possible and certainly not going shopping, would rather make do with what I have in the house and entertain myself at home

Trouble is trying to have some exercise, I much prefer cycling because pounding the lanes is bad on my knees and ankles and I mean determined walking not running. Cycling in cold air ( <9) is not good for me because of the deep breathing and ultimately the open mouth breathing. So I go up and down stairs.

I keep thinking that the queen doesn`t do active exercise and she is a ripe old age and so are a couple of people I know at 90+ who don`t exercise apart from ambling around. I always come out of winter without losing too much of my cycling ability so I think we are meant to hibernate quietly, to keep us safe through the cold months

thriftwizard

I keep thinking that the queen doesn`t do active exercise and she is a ripe old age and so are a couple of people I know at 90+ who don`t exercise apart from ambling around.

Kittie, my mother’s 91 and her idea of exercise has always been opening the car door. She’s forever telling me off for using the stairs rather than the lift, or “scurrying about” - “you’ll wear yourself out, you know!” No amount of government advice is going to make her think that going out in the cold or getting sweaty (NOT ladylike) can ever do you good! She could be fitter, it’s true, and would probably be happier if she was, but at the end of the day, genes & sheer luck play the major part and all we can do is improve our chances of staying independent & capable for our allotted span. So I’d agree - stay indoors!

moneyistooshorttomention

I must admit to looking at photos of the queen and thinking - "Just goes to show that even with loads of money to spend on yourself - one does need to exercise/watch posture/etc or else you land up plump and hunched-over. She was slim and attractive when young".