THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

thriftwizard

Thank you, kittie; interesting that they don't follow through on the idea of the gas-powered electricity supply stations not having enough gas... off to check the candle stash!

Elona_2

kittie

It sounds as if it might be a good idea to fill up the new flask with boiling water just in case. I have a wind up torch by my bed and some matches and big candle on the living room window sill which I can get to quickly if there is a power cut.

I realised the last time there was a power cut that having lots of tea lights, candles etc was not much use unless I had something I could find and reach easily

THIRZAH

I've filled all the flasks with boiling water. Also I've pinned fleeces to the curtains over all the windows on the east side of the house. It makes it a bit dark but the wind is really strong on that side of the house. Bitterly cold here and the snow is blowing around.

Just wish I could persuade DH to come home from work early.

fuddle

Very interesting. I won't have a smart meter and being decidedly stubborn about it because the installers say that there's something wrong with the old box and things become messy. My sister had a leak of fluid when they tried, and failed, to install one in her house. She had to have an emergency safe inspection after that. They will have to force one on my house and hopefully with that comes responsibility for adding whatever it needs to be safe at their cost and not mine.

Kittie you asked on t'other thread did I have a plug in phone. No I don't but I realise now that I really should. It's top of the need list.

I've realised that abandoned cars can cause problems for the best of preppers. I've also realised that Facebook isn't a reliable source of safety information as important new things get chopped and changed in the list with things from 8 hours ago. I get notifications from the schools, emergency services, council and local page but really I would like a timeline of what is happening with family, friends and locals. Useful but no longer relied upon.

Anyone else learned anything about their preps in these times?

DigForVictory

That no matter how well (or not) you prep, an idiot can make a havers of it.

I awoke, looked out, formed a view, took a photo, emailed my boss & went back to bed.

Husband declaiming he has he cabin fever (my left foot - sounds Nothing Like Gertie, Martin, Douglas, Arthur et alia but then they're Cabin Pressure & absolutely worth being snowed in for) wrapped up & legged it taking the entire official cash stash with him & a son, leaving me with the two others who (fortunately) are currently resembling cats. They have fed, they have returned to their warm comfortable corners & will go about their business in peace, but are no blimming use. Should the power go, there will be some pathetic meeps and big eyed pouting at being required to crank the radio.

He then has son call in to say would I call the hospital & cancel his appointment for him - the weather after all...

There's nothing in my prepping for dealing with a soon to be dead body & orderly disposal thereof. An oversight, I feel. Cruise liners manage it, after all.

jk0

Morning all,

Don't you just despair of the f***witted powers that be?

It never occurred to them when they were knocking down coal fired power stations, and building gas ones, that on cold days people might have their central heating on?

I wondered why the coal generation has been in the red zone all week:

http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

I guess reality trumps green principles.

fuddle

Reminds me of the plee for help I saw on local FB page this morning DforV... for 4x4 to use as a private ambulance. Freaked me out that one did.

grandma247

kittie wrote: »

I was up in kendal and it was bad there but it was on the news, the helicopter drops of food to villages in the south. In s wales, someone I later worked with said his wife was stuck at work for days, hospital nurse, he and the children survived by eating oats. Snow was higher than the door and it happened very suddenly. You only need to have lived through it once to realise the full horror and threat to life. I don`t remember the exact year, sometime in the 70s

I think it was the winter of 77/78 because my husband worked 22 hours one night/day on the gritter. They broke through to a little village in Yorkshire and there was a big cheer went up on the other side and there was hot tea and biscuits on offer.

DigForVictory

It's in this weather that you find out fast who the real community folk are, the ones who say "taking the landy down to the pharmacy in another hour, anything I can get for folks?" and the lady who's stove conked out just as extended family were coming - she had three blokes and their gas barbeques "nip over", so she got to spend time seeing the family as the three got out of family chores to be neighbourly & enjoy a barbeque!

I've seen "private ambulance" requests - sometimes it's just the individual needs to be seen before X o'clock so consultant can get home/off to another clinic & the ambulance service isn't a taxi system. Pal of mine took a chap with suspected pneumonia in, in his sidecar. Mostly as he rides like a nutter & wasn't having trouble in the snow (shrewd tyres) and the family wanted grandpa in the hospital more than they were terrified of the bike. The hospital unloaded grandpa & grandson (clinging on as a passenger), and a paramedic wandered over with a pint of hot chocolate & approval...

Porridge is splendid emergency food. (Others swear by weetabix, but porridge works for me.)

fuddle

A private ambulance here means a car to take the deceased to the mortuary or funeral parlour.