THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

ancientofdays

Bit nippy this morning!

I'm so wrapped up that I'd probably roll if I fell over, my current method of getting dressed is to put on layers until I reach the point where I can no longer move my arms.

Breadmaker is chugging away and I can feed us for quite a while. Slightly worried about the gas but the Grauniad did say yesterday that the threat was to industrial rather than domestic users. That's bad enough but perhaps a little less immediate.

I'm not working for a few days, so I can leave whatever public transport is running (not much) to those who are really going to need it.

Stay safe everyone

Cappella

Bitter wind this morning. The dog and I agreed it weather fit for neither man nor beast so that was e shortest walk on record. Agree with whoever said that wool us the answer. Had four wool layers, waterproof coat, wool hat, wool scarf and wool gloves and was glowing when I got back in.
The freezer and pantry are supplying all our needs, prepping is coming into its own this week, but I am very grateful that we still have a milkman and that he is delivering no matter what the weather. I have plenty of dried milk should delivery stop, but really admire his determination not to let people down. Glass bottles too and this morning the milk was frozen and had poked the tops up. Not seen that for many years. In fact I was wondering if bluetits still peck the tops to get at the cream as so few have milk delivered these days? Does anyone know?

[Deleted User]

As you say prepping comes into it's own at times like these and with the stores, wood for the stove to warm us and equipment we have we will be able to sit this out for as long as it stays. He Who Knows has just got kitted up with the correct items for this weather and has gone off for his paper wearing Yak Trax and with a point tipped walking pole, and I know if I have to brave this for anything I have the same kit along with the right type of windproof and waterproof outerwear and thermal/sheepskin hat gloves and scarf. Let people scoff at the idea of prepping if they feel the need but I know I'm OK and have enough stock to see us through!

singlestep

I haven't had to venture out of doors in three days and I'm good for the next few too. There are a few things I'm starting to want from the supermarket but I don't need them yet. No transport coming my way for now. I have been warm enough but I hardly have any wool clothing and it's a prep I will be investing in for the future.

I live towards the edges of a big city but my neighbour across the road was the last car that tried to come down the street and that was on Wednesday. He only got there with the help of his snow shovel.

fuddle

The lack of bread has caused ructions on my local Facebook page. There's jealousy when people can get hold of it, nastiness if they have bought 2 or more loaves and bragging about it by posting pictures of their finds. The 'I'm alright Jack' mentality that we sometimes get accused of is rife, from what I'm seeing, amongst those who don't have our mentality at all.

It may just be bread and I maybe smug because we no longer rely on it in our diet but it goes to show the side of humanity when 'we' can't get what we're used to, want, feel we need and expect.

I have also seen good people doing good things but I do also not like the side of our people that feel the need to advertise and tell everyone what they have done. Social media, for me, has taken away the feeling of self satisfaction as being enough and added that we need our egos boosted by other people telling us we're good.

Just a prep for the hospital bag as I'm on with mine now. Have a spare carrier bag for visitors to take home dirty washing.

GreyQueen

The great thing about wool is that it regularly turns up 2nd hand for pennies on the £ so those of us who know our textiles can make out like bandits. I have a gorgoeous mobius-strip scarf which was brought back from NZ by a neighbour and gifted to Mum as a thank-you for looking out for her house and feeding her cat.

I have the care label in front of me, 30% possum, 60 % merino, 10% silk. Absolutely lush, soft and snuggly, my favourite thing this season.

ETA; agree with you, fuddle, about the behaviours you often see on FB. Can't abide the darned thing and rarely (as in 1-2 times a year) visit it. Some kinds of social media seem to bring out the very worst aspects of human behaviour and bragging about what you've got, particularly when others are struggling, is just plain juvenile nastiness. Snow melts, unpleasant character traits persist, and folks have long memories for those who behave like barstewards.

Elona_2

DDs have got me into faceache much to my reluctance but it has been useful for things like arranging family reunions and a surprise visit to Scotland a couple of weeks ago for a relative's 70th birthday. I only check it if one of my dds sends me an e mail to alert me to something .

Usually if things are scarce people pull together and help each other out. My Dad used to drive a coach from Glasgow to Penrith years ago when several baker's strikes were happening. and the driver from England would have brought him a loaf as there were no strikes there. When England had bread shortages my Dad would do the same. People would automatically look out for each other and tell people if they had just seen a delivery etc. and there was a feeling that we were all in the same boat rather than boasting about grabbing lots of a scarce resource.

maryb

I was on Facebook so that I could contact my DD when she was at university since her mobile had virtually no signal where she was living. Haven't really used it since until this year when I signed up for a sewing class and we have a Facebook group. I was checking it this week to confirm that, as I suspected, the class was cancelled and I suddenly realised why people use it so much. You can actually read it on a mobile phone whereas most internet sites are hopeless on a phone. If I am going on a journey, I take my Ipad and use my phone to get an internet connection so that I can read interesting sites like this:D. But if you've only got a phone with you then Facebook must be a temptation

moneyistooshorttomention

Several ITRW groups etc I'm in have Facebook pages and it would be rather harder to keep in touch with what's happening if I didn't have a Facebook account.

I've not noticed b*tching basically on local area Facebook groups here. My own local one is pretty darn useless (virtually dead - think there's someone who wants to be "in charge" running it) - but there are other nearby local ones I go on and I do notice people being helpful on them and have duly used them as a way to get shot of things I no longer wanted (as other people did).

I also read the main Pembrokeshire one - and that includes quite a few offers of help if people need it recently (along with all the "beautiful nature" photos that are its staple fare). There are two "repeat arguments" that come up on that one - as someone starts up a thread about hunting/everyone takes sides/the thread gets deleted (as that topic is disallowed - but someone "tries it on" at intervals) and there is another contentious topic that comes up at intervals. But, by and large, it's beautiful nature and helpful offers/requests.

singlestep

Just after I posted earlier, a friend dropped round with a small loaf of bread - one of the things I wanted but could have done without! He'd been passing the nearest corner shop and spotted the delivery van outside and the four or five of them in the shop bought the lot although they never get a huge amount. None were hoarding but buying for neighbours and those who can't get out and about.

It will come in handy as I'm taking some hm soup to my 3 of my neighbours in the building later. Two are elderly and don't have their usual family support due to weather and one arrived home from foreign holiday just before the weather got bad.