Prepping for Brexit thread

maryb

I have always thought it very wrong that we don't train our own young people but bring in key workers from poorer countries which can't afford to lose them. It's absurd that there are a lot of young people who would make excellent nurses but can't get training places. Cutting bursaries was partly to stop the loss of newly qualified staff overseas for more money but they could have achieved a similar effect with staged write-off of loans for a given number of years' service in the NHS. But funding training places means an investment upfront.



This may not seem to have much to do with prepping for Brexit but it has, in a way. Whether we leave or no, there needs to be a good look at things like this. If we end up leaving, then it's down to us alone as a country to address these issues for the long term and not rely on an easy source of labour. If we don't end up leaving, it's not good enough for the government to spread its hands and say it's because of the EU. There are things that can be done and I don't think people will be fobbed off

ben501

GreyQueen wrote: »

can I ask the opinion of OS-ers as to whether they think that loose tea or teabag tea has greater keeping powers?

Just to add a little balance, I always go for tea bags. Tetley tea, so maybe not much quality to lose, but I get an acceptable pot of tea from a single teabag, so I'm happy.

I usually keep about 9 or 10 packs of 240 in the cupboard as I reckon that's what I'll use before it reaches the best before date, and even on the odd occasion when stock rotation has gone awry, I've had no noticeable quality issues.

DigForVictory

ben501 wrote: »

even on the odd occasion when stock rotation has gone awry, I've had no noticeable quality issues.

Now that is a serious relief to me, as I was wondering of my beloved brew might not taste quite the ticket when it is finally excavated from stash #1 currently under a stepladder.

My prepping did not include planning for a young man in a hurry...
Mind you, said prepping has kept said young man in all the noodles he can devour (ye gods the growing male metabolism) so he may be open to negotiation about relocating a certain bag to where I in my infinite decrepitude & shortness can get at it. (His opinion!)

Vegastare

Back to teabags I have been getting Sains English Breakfast Tea Bags and wow do other folks tea taste wishy washy. Not the cheapest at £2.00 for 80 but a real good cup, in two foil packs inside so keep fresh. Been buying an odd few packs just in case !!

DigForVictory

For all who find their teabags no longer provide the taste & satisfaction they sought, there is another use.

First find your reenactor community. This fraternity can source real wool blankets (often in the 70s prosthetic limb pink) but wish to be both fireproof & rather more 'period authentic'. Suggest they stain their blankets a nice shade of dun (can be dappled if they don't get it right first time, but as you'll see that is by no means fatal) & offer to supply them with an ecofriendly stain. Then, once you have the treasury notes (or whatever you are using as a means of exchange) gripped firmly to your person, hand them the teabags. Use at least 80, make a really thick strong brew & dump the (already wet from equally hot water) blanket in (lest it try to shrink). Sloosh it to ensure all is covered & let it cool placidly overnight. (We found the builders trug was ideal for the job.) Peg out on a line to dry & inspect the tint - is still too pink, or blotchy, sling it back in the brew! Repeat as needed. Do not try to drink the stuff. Naturally on washing some of the stain may fade, and the remedy is simple - make another vat of the brew & dunk the thing again!

This works reliably on wool, much less so on artificial fibres, but can add an additional layer of innocuous dun to almost anything you'd rather not be too noticeable in. Carefully deployed you can try for a temporary effect to discourage folk from certain garments for specific events but we've always preferred it to be planned as a one way trip.

DigForVictory

I am assured, by those who have done this, that the cheaper the teabag the more effective the stain.

Supermarket budget own label ultracheap was tried and found more potent than named brand teabags, but noone in their right mind would use a decent teabag for anything other than tea, surely?!

Mind those who would immerse a wool blanket in a trug of tea are likely to get some odd-ish looks from the neighbours as everyone knows Wool shrinks. Hence needing to start with a hot wet blanket (if that is not an intriguing contradiction in terms).

-taff

And apropos of previous posts, you can get teapots with built in strainers, thus avoiding calling round a neighbour with a third eye....

DigForVictory

-taff wrote: »

avoiding calling round a neighbour with a third eye....

Forgive me -taff, but I have no idea what you're on about. Clearly I need to drink more tea!

Eyeing the news (unwillingly) I note the 'new' "brexit day" is in fact 31 October or All Hallows Eve or Hallow'een to taste. Splendid. If anyone asks why I have Yet Another brick of looroll (Costco sells the packages in bigger packages), I can smile & say "Halloween, of course!" (Although I get away with all sorts just with "Scouts...")

Frankly, no matter what your views on the rights, wrongs & ridiculouses of the current politics, you could do a lot worse than volunteer with Scouts. They don't always understand, or remember, or do, what you ask but they are somehow very reassuring. Plus you can't help but learn things, as it's a very two way situation. Above all, you can do near-Oh-For-Pity's-Sake-Now-What things "for scouts" and while eyes roll, you are the one making off with the chopped firewood, the knowledge of how to operate a pressure lantern & an air rifle, certain of where local butchers & bakers and others generous with provisions are to be found. To say nothing of 'developing their resilience', which largely consists of not being caught gibbering yourself - which quickly becomes habit-forming. <I do BP's splendid vision a monstrous disservice, but come and try it?>

-taff

DigForVictory wrote: »

Forgive me -taff, but I have no idea what you're on about. Clearly I need to drink more tea!

Oh you know, a lady in swirling fabrics with too much eye make up and dangly silver coins all over telling you your tea leaf fortune....

DryTheRain

DigForVictory wrote: »

Eyeing the news (unwillingly) I note the 'new' "brexit day" is in fact 31 October or All Hallows Eve or Hallow'een to taste. Splendid. If anyone asks why I have Yet Another brick of looroll (Costco sells the packages in bigger packages), I can smile & say "Halloween, of course!" (Although I get away with all sorts just with "Scouts...")

Politics aside, I must admit I'm mighty relieved about the brextension, it's been quite anxious prepping from scratch in a short time and on a tight budget.

On the other hand I feel much more secure now knowing I have back up supplies, whether it's food, a first aid kit, or torches candles and loo rolls, insulation against life's hiccups.

It's also been something positive to focus on during a difficult time, respite, a sense of achievement.. and this might sound cheesy but I couldn't have done it without all the super suggestions and support from the lovely people on these threads - HUGE thanks to you all :T x