Prepping for Brexit thread

DigForVictory

I seem to recall, from a long time ago, the wry joke "nationalise crime make sure it doesn't pay".

Mind you, Leyland falling had some placards my infant eyes were averted from by a strong minded grandmother. She didn't disagree but was not going to start on words-young-ladies-may-know-but-do-not-use... Looking at the current bunch of Muppets & indeed the occupant of No10, I am awfully glad she's peacefully in her grave, & spared much of the decline in public discourse. What she'd make of an uncle hoping to be arrested protesting climate change I would be fascinated to hear.

GreyQueen

Andy, my Dad knew some ex-British Leyland employees. The company was appallingly run, it is true, but the strikes were not always what they seem.


If Da Management was confronted with too many unsold cars, they'd try something so ridiculous that they knew the Union's reaction would be Everybody Out! And, when the stock levels reduced, they'd recind whatever it was which had caused the upset and work would resume.


They also used to leave unpainted cars out in the rain to get rusty before spraying over the corrosion. I have owned several examples of their handiwork, back in the day, and spent many a 'happy' hour dealing with the consequences with filler and spray paint. Some of my old cars had rather more filler than metal in their wheel arches and sills..........

AndyCF

@GreyQueen & @DigForVictory

I was aware of some of the stories both what I've read and what I had been told by a few who "were there" at the time. The one that actually stuck in my mind was one of Management greed actually, I cannot remember the actual 'real' figures however the issue was the workforce was offered say 3% but Management were offered(given?) 15% ( ! ) , the 'greed factor' here is that might of equated to say an extra £5 for a worker but an extra £40 for Management, it should of really been the same 3% for them too, as they got (I won't say 'earned') as they were on a much higher rate of pay usually so they would of 'got more' anyway. I hope that makes sense. In that 'case' the fault was entirely Management Greed.

Endless tales of interesting build quality/lack of and some terrible decision making. Some terrible changes were made to designs too ruining things when accountants appeared to make decisions that were really not their area. The Allegro actually was not meant to look anything(kind of) like it did and it was meant to have a different (better) engine range, its too complex to put here and too far off topic! I can't apportion blame as its impossible to be in possession of all the facts but I think all parties did have some 'share' of the blame really.

You could actually possibly relate this to the recent demise of a certain airline... But aside from curious alleged bonus payments (I always thought they were for exceptional performance not normal or below par?) its too early to say

Back on topic. I mentioned cheap torches the other day, it may of been worth adding it might be worth having two, one near the fusebox or back/front door and one next to the bedroom cabinet etc. I'm not really keen on recommending candles these days in general bit too much of a fire hazard for lighting, they look nice but hmm. Good for decoration though!

unrecordings

On the candles front I have a big bag of tealights in the cupboard under the stairs. I found in the past they're good for those early evening power cuts where you can just sit at the kitchen table with a bottle of wine. It also turns out that behind those tealights are some gnarly old candles that date back to the three day week

AndyCF

unrecordings wrote: »

On the candles front I have a big bag of tealights in the cupboard under the stairs. I found in the past they're good for those early evening power cuts where you can just sit at the kitchen table with a bottle of wine. It also turns out that behind those tealights are some gnarly old candles that date back to the three day week

I can't really beat that, although I did 'recover' a couple of pages of Sun newspaper from April 1978 the other day ( ! ) sadly there is nothing of interest on them. Well not unless you want a hot water' heater/boiler thing for 30 odd pounds fitted! I bet the same item now is very much into three figures.

However quite a few years ago I was asked at the time to get some candles and a box of matches next time I was out, they are still there, I have slowly used the matches over time (the large cooking type box) , anyway I picked the empty box up and noted on it a competition, expiring 2009, so I guess I've taken a while to use the matches up! :rotfl: , I was impressed enough to just get another box and empty the new matches into the old box and keep it! Candles are still the 6pack from Sain's unopened. Best guess is I brought them about 2007/2008 going from the compo date.

Pics available if in doubt

Primrose

Yes I have candles from the three day week too! If Mr Corbyn is to believed they may come in useful when everybody is working a four day week!

DigForVictory

We have a fair collection of tallow rush dips (research historian meant family recruited & it got to be habit-forming) as well as beeswax candles let alone sundry stearin things since candle making kits keep cropping up in charity shops.
Oddly the only tea lights I have are the fake battery operated things for the seasonal decorative lanterns. I also have 3 bath ducks that illumine when floating... so rarely “used” still plenty of life in their batteries.

D&DD

I'm a bit of a wuss around naked flame due to an incident when I first moved here and a lady sadly lost her life in a fire.I switched out all our tealight stash for the battery ones I have a few smelly candles but rarely light them. I have firelighting stuff JIC.


I was only a young'un when we had the power cuts and 3 day week so only remember it fondly as a time of much excitement camping out in homemade tablecloth tents with my dads torch from work..He used to do his nut cos we kept running out the batteries and they were so expensive!!


I'm sure I'd be horrified to live it now.My dear old mum often talks about what a struggle it was as me and my bro were young.I think her and my Dad were preppers then and still are her cupboards are worse than mine lol so we were cushioned from a lot of the strife..
My worst memories though are of the IRA letterbombs with my Dad being a postie I cried when he went to work because I thought he was going to be blown up...:(

MingVase

I lived 7 floors up in a multi storey flat during the 3-day week. I had a newborn and a toddler and a big high pram.. had to drag them all up 7 floors in the pitch dark when the lights were off. Cannot imagine now how I managed!

[Deleted User]

I'm very cautious with naked flames even small ones like tea lights, they are always in safe places where no one can accidentally knock them or brush against them. I have lots of proper candles too and also solar lights of several kinds always charged up and ready to go. If you are nervous of using tealights and worried you'll knock them over or brush clothing against them then the safest way to burn them is inside a glass jam jar without the lid on. It's easy to light the tealight and then drop it in and it's safe to not only light your room but to pick up and move if you have to. We've used this method for years for barbecues and Halloween when I lined the drive with them so the small people could see their way to the door for trick or treat.