THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

[Deleted User]

In the war the ration books had printed pages with coupons on that the shopkeeper either crossed out or tore out as got your ration for that week. You were registered with that shop so no other shop would serve you and you wouldn't get rationed goods without your coupon/ration book. A simple system that would work without electricity and the amount of each rationed item would only be sent for the number of people registered with the particular shop. People wouldn't like it but we would all be in the same position and not everything was rationed in the war, there were many things that were available if you could afford them and I believe a thriving black market too. I believe there was a fair amount of swapping rationed things that weren't liked for things other people didn't like too and there was always bread but you couldn't waste it or feed it to the birds even if it went stale, people were prosecuted and fined for doing just that. Bread pudding was the easiest way to use up the stale stuff.

mardatha

Good post Ivy. I think politicians now are so far removed from life experience (and sanity) that none of them could organise a raffle, nevermind rationing. It would be chaos for a while, that's for sure.

Karmacat

meanmarie wrote: »

You lot are convincing me that I need to do more to provide food for my family than I do now........Brexit will almost cut Ireland from the rest of Europe......look at a map, we will be forced to pass over UK to get to the "mainland" from most parts of the country, plus the easy border withl Northern Ireland will be gone and with it lots of industries which currently straddle the border.

Marie, I know that Eire and the UK went into the then-EEC at the same time as one another, but what happened beforehand, do you know? Will the ferry routes from the south of Ireland to France get busier, do you think?


As for providing more of my own food, I've got several edible perennials in the garden, but I'm terrible at harvesting them, still catching up on crisis management of the hedges but its nearly done. My ambition for next year is to harvest *all* my rhubarb, *all* my blackcurrants and other fruit, and average a jar of pesto a week from the assorted perennial greenery in the borders

[Deleted User]

Just read an interesting article in todays Telegraph saying that the chance is that flu viruses in dogs might be the cause of the next pandemic. Apparently flu viruses in dogs (canine H1N1 in particular) has the potential to mutate and interact with other canine flu strains and there are signs that changes are beginning to happen. Dogs have been taken to vets because they're poorly and blood tests are showing changes in flu viruses already in circulation. Because Swine Flu originated with an H1N1 strain of swine flu and then became zoonotic and could pass to people from pigs the concern is that it might happen with the canine H1N1 virus. Nothing to worry about now but something to be aware of for the future.

DigForVictory

DigForVictory wrote: »

As always, keep an ear out for the puttering noise of mopeds. The current tool of choice for high velocity bag & phone snatchers, this week with bonus hammers...

A copper has come up with a few pithy observations that may be of use/a timely warning.

And mindful of the future fruit & veg issues, I have realised my edible hedge cuttings had been left unwatered for possibly a little too long - oops - still signs of green so soaked the lot & fingers crossed.

Glad my observations on Great Minds raised a grin, ivyleaf. The only reason I currently have for standing on the shoulders of giants is to get at the not sufficiently low hanging fruit, but my young giants complain something fearsome & are passable at spotting & picking fruit, being motivated not by mother-and-jam-pan but hunger. Which does not make for rows of colourful jars to warm the heart & other parts as snow falls, but lads can be persuaded.

GreyQueen

:j Oooh, when can I find out when/ where re-enactors will be up on Hardrian's Wall (or, indeed, anywhere else)? I will be back up there and definately want to see Arbeia next trip.

The guide to Corbridge Roman Site showed us the flat-pack water tanks - pre-cut stone panels which slot together with grooves which were filled with molten lead to create a watertight seal. I'm sure I saw the same kind of thing at Housesteads, too. Nothing new under the sun, hey?

Was amused to read about the badly-stitched hems on decently-woven tunics not being a reflection of the weaver's skill but the hamfistedness of the owner. You can just imagine some young squaddie wielding a needle when more accustomed to sword and shield....... :rotfl:

Jazee

GreyQueen, the English Heritage website normally lists special events.

mardatha

Oh GQ I love the Wall! and the Romans onnit lol

Karmacat

DfV, I like that linkie, a lot, thanks for that.

DigForVictory

GQ, we're big fans of The Wall as a family, not least as we just by chance (hah!) arrange to visit bits when the Ermine Street Guard are in residence.
Vindolanda 14-15 July is therefore strongly commended. Not cheap to get into (dashit) as Not Eng Heritage but absolutely fascinating & chunks deliberately left to give technology a chance to advance.

Remember that joining the Roman Army was an immediate divorce - so you put away the women who might have done your sewing for you. That irregular marriages occurred, children were sired & acknowledged & maintained just wasn't heavily documented. You had to do your hitch to get the citizenship. Also, squaddies used to trade around talents - so someone who could really strap a tall horse might trade with someone who could repair sandals, or leather fixings, or cook! When you bunk & mess with 7 other blokes, someone has to be reasonable at breadmaking & the best will tend to find he keeps drawing that straw somehow, whilst getting his gear cleaned & patched by his mates.

As a loving mother & keen on children learning both Latin (for their future spelling) & obedience (for their future, full stop), the ESG childrens' induction is superb. Ofsted couldn't fault them on uniform (provided), diligence, languages (the army worked in Latin, so if you came from Gaul or Britain or Syria - you all marched at the same command) although there might have been some eyebrows raised at the kit (yes, even a two year old marching clutching onto her fathers hand for balance carried a weapon in the other). It only lasts half an hour but the photo opportunities & the absolutely factually spot on correctness alongside the gleeful incorrectness of encouraging the class to attach a fellow Roman crouched carefully behind his shield (the young can be utterly ferocious! Their target did have a couple of colleagues watching in case anyone tried any flanking manoeuvres but the general approach was benevolently "Gettim!"), followed by a resounding dismissal still in Latin & the orderly queues for de-tackling as tunics & weapons are counted back - ah bliss. Many parents frantically burning through battery power & then watching nostalgically as their little dears Do As They Are Told. By a properly uniformed, take no nonsense, beautifully armoured Ermine Street Guardsman.

I held a gate open for them as they marched back after a display & was thanked by many, all in immaculate Latin but with their local accents.

If you can live without them, other re-enactors are available albeit not quite to the rigorous academic standard (the Guards routinely have academic briefings & updates, so if you ask one a question, your answer will be rooted in the latest archaeological research, or referred to a colleague who's actually read the journal in question).
My lads have a special affection for the Housesteads latrines, Haltwistle (several chippies, most of whom do haggis!), the Chesters bathhouse & Corbridge which had the space to have a display of Roman weaponry, In Use! We do occasionally park up by the Mithraic altar - the lads like their history seasoned with dodging livestock - too many museums & they feel educated, which is never wise.