Prepping for Brexit thread

fuddle

With so much uncertainty in our futures I think being responsible for our food future is a good rolling up the sleeves tactic.

I couldn't possibly stockpile for choice so what I'm concentrating on is getting used to not opting for as much choice. For instance, DH is going back to taking porridge to work for breakfast and we will have more porridge breakfast at home as well. Instead of having a myriad of cereals, low sugar alternatives but still there's vast amount of choice, I'm concentrating on investing in jams and marmalades for toast. Our choice will be whether we have porridge or toast and what we'll put on or swirl in.

It's a starting point but it won't do any of us any harm to strip things back for a change.

mardatha

You're making total sense to me fudds!

chirpychick

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

What worries me most about the prospect of Brexit looming large on the horizon isn't shortages or disruptions those will be uncomfortable but should sort themselves out over time it is the 'real anger' from the people who don't accept the result of the referendum, I'm not mad about it myself but it seems to be taking some people out of 'reasonably miffed' into 'absolute fury' and it's becoming more pronounced the closer it gets. It doesn't look as though there will be another referendum, no hint from the government that they are considering one and my concern is wondering what the increasingly angry people might consider doing in protest as we get closer still to the end of March next year. I'm a pragmatic person and will take steps to make sure we're stocked food/water/medicines wise and I'm not militant but I forsee heated protests and disrupting events from those who are and the rest of us will possibly affected by their actions.

This is exactly how i feel too. I was really scared during the London riots which had spread to where we are to the point I’d packed an emergency bag, stayed up all night and was ready to grab the then baby and head to my dads in the countryside.
My flight senses kicked in that’s for sure! However i refuse to feel threatened now in my own home and so I’m trying to not discuss how i voted with anyone. Keep my head down and mouth shut as far as Brexit is concerned.

puttee wrote: »

I don't normally contribute to the political type discussions on the internet, but thought I'd share as it is a viewpoint you don't normally hear (not from a celebrity type opinion maker, but a person with knowledge and experience), from a friend who works in logistics management at one of the big supermarket chains. I don't think his views are really unexpected in any case.

Well, his take especially on the hard Brexit will cause a great disruption in the food chain/supply areas, and not just in the short term, but it will take much time to re-source new supplies and make new deals. Especially as there is little time left for alternative arrangements. We import about 30% of our food from the EU, I think 50% in total imports from EU, but also foodstuffs from outside of the EU would be affected as logistical problems will have a knock on effect to other imports, bottlenecks, lack of arrangements, for instance.

What prompted the disccusion was much mention in the press of supermarkets stockpiling for future disruption but he at least says that this is pretty well impossible except for small amounts. Finding suitable extra storage is difficult, he mentioned hygiene, security, safety as well as a scarcity of such buildings in the first place, temperature controlled would be almost impossible to find as these are very sophisticated set ups and competition would be fierce, location is also a major factor, this all adds to the cost (I would assume this would be passed to consumers as supermarkets are there to make profit, not social welfare).


Of course he could be wrong, who knows. And who knows what will happen in the next 8 months which seems a very short time away, but I thought I'd add the above as it is a bit of an insider view.


My personal view: as someone who is generally cautious, I will be gradually putting long shelf life stuff aside in a 'reserve pantry' just in case.



I hope I am not offending anyone, it is not intentional, but I know this is a difficult topic.


Best wishes to all.

This is really interesting, thank you for sharing. I’d be interested on his standpoint on which foods would be gone for longest and hardest to source.

fuddle wrote: »

With so much uncertainty in our futures I think being responsible for our food future is a good rolling up the sleeves tactic.

I couldn't possibly stockpile for choice so what I'm concentrating on is getting used to not opting for as much choice. For instance, DH is going back to taking porridge to work for breakfast and we will have more porridge breakfast at home as well. Instead of having a myriad of cereals, low sugar alternatives but still there's vast amount of choice, I'm concentrating on investing in jams and marmalades for toast. Our choice will be whether we have porridge or toast and what we'll put on or swirl in.

It's a starting point but it won't do any of us any harm to strip things back for a change.

I’m trying to do the same which is fine with hubby and i but 5yr old ASD little one wont eat toast or porridge or basically most normal breakfast items! I’m still trying though to think of things i can give him which are easy/ cheap/ storeable.

I love this thread. I’d love to see more of the prepping type posts.

My absolute best friend is leaving to go half way around the world and we shall be taking on 2 of her chickens - prep in a way :rotfl::rotfl: as they are laying hens :T

silver-oldie

I'm wondering if I should buy oats in packed in paper packaging as in L*dl or plastic as in T*sco value. ?
Prefer to but paper but wondered about storage

Thank you

[Deleted User]

Feelings are running very high already and it's 8 months to go until March ends next year. I can't think of anything to add to the discussion that will make it seem any better or do anything to alter the course that this country will be taking. I'll suffer the consequences along with everyone else and I'll be as fed up as each one of you but I'll make the best job of life that I'm able to during the waiting and after Brexit because that's just who I am. Life when I was growing up was pretty hard, lacked any kind of luxury and too often lacked food, warm housing, shoes without holes in and I survived that and have become used to this good life and appreciated the nice times where I've been fed, warm and dry footed. I will cope, whatever happens I will cope because I've done it before and because there is no alternative. The more we rail and rant between ourselves the bigger the problem seems so that's really all I can add and hope you all find a path through this minefield.

maryb

Lol, I realise that must have looked odd when I said I was going to buy cane sugar. But I dislike Tosspots food so much I would struggle to spend £40 otherwise. And as I have said before I normally stock up in autumn anyway, I just want to do it a bit earlier.

Basically I want to be able to stay out of supermarkets come March if I have to. And from that point of view it doesn't really matter where my supplies come from, I don't want to be out there if it's mayhem

Nargleblast

I and some of my family and friends voted Leave in the referendum for a variety of reasons. Some of my family and friends voted Remain, again for a variety of reasons. The result I think took everyone by surprise, but there is no way any of my family and friends would fall out over this issue. Yes, at work there have been some lively debates, particularly in the early days after the vote, but no insults or name callings or sending people to Coventry or anything like that. I find it sad when I hear of grown adults falling out over this like kids in a playground.

Obviously the closer we get to the end of March 2019 the more hype there will be in the media. I think a lot of negotiating is going on without it being reported in the news, and I have a feeling that things will eventually work themselves out, even if the transition period is unsettled at first. This government, however, seems to be handling things very awkwardly (although I doubt if the Opposition could do any better) and that is contributing to the uncertainty in the country.

Solution? Magic wand, anybody? Seriously, though, as has been said before, the Powers That Be like it when the population is divided because a divided population is easier to control (plus it takes attention away from other more important stuff that might be going on). Therefore, my wish is that everyone stop arguing now about the rights and wrongs of the decision to leave the EU and make whatever preparations they feel necessary for their own welfare and that of their family. If we all take on this mindset and become more united then as a country we will be able to navigate the years to come with confidence. There will still be trade, co-operation and a cordial relationship with the other European countries, it is just a question of sorting out the finer details.

lessonlearned

Ah what. a lovey lot you are......positive, resourceful and determined to make the best of a bad job. With that kind of can do attitude we can and will prevail.

All together now. "We shall overcome". :rotfl:

All joking apart it really is how we approach our uncertain future which will determine whether we sink or swim.

I too grew up in a (relatively) poor household. It wasn't as poor as my fathers parents and not as comfortable as the life I managed to provide for my own children.

I think that scenario is pretty much the same for most of us older ones. Over the last three or four generations we have seen our standard of living improve with each passing decade.

The things we now take for granted were once the preserve of the rich. Yesterday's luxuries are now today's must haves.....central heating, double glazing, fridge freezers, washers, dryers, and on and on and Ariston (remember that advert).

I wonder Has it made us soft......I guess we might find out.

Chirpy chick Re the simple eating and breakfast ideas for your little one.

Because of stomach problems I do actually eat a very simple and clean diet. So no breakfast cereals or even toast for me. I have had to learn to think outside the box when it comes to breakfast. This morning for example I was in a hurry so I just had some left over cold chicken.

I think it helps to remember that breakfast cereals are in fact a 20th century invention..... perhaps it might be helpful to think about what people ate before cornflakes. Of course that will depend on how much money they had. The rich would have feasted on game meats (yes for breakfast), eggs, kippers etc whilst the poor would have had some kind of "pottage". A mix of grains and vegetables cooked up into a stew. Maybe if they were lucky they might have had some bread to dunk into it.

In any case there wasn't such a clear division between meals in the "olden days" - so no special breakfast foods as we know them, they just ate what was in season and what they could afford.

Across the continent, the continental breakfast as we call it was common for both rich and poor. I can remember as a child visiting family in Belguim, we had the same breakfast every single day, bread, cold meat, cheese, coffee. Very occasionally there might be a bit of jam.

The hot meal was at lunch time and then tea was the same foods as breakfast. Everyone we knew ate like that, not just my family. It was simple and nutritious. Many countries still eat like this. Nothing fancy but good healthy food nonetheless.

When you think about it there is little nutritional value in breakfast cereals. Oatmeal is the best but the sugary ones do nothing except produce an insulin spike.....so much sugar on an empty stomach is lethal, so it's no wonder even young children are showing elevated blood sugar levels. Add fruit juice into the mix and you have a recipe for early onset diabetes.

So perhaps a return to simple eating might be a blessing in disguise.......

And don't get me started on Pop Tarts. :rotfl:

Nargleblast

"They're in the toaster!"

Vile, evil things, the stuff of Satan (if he existed)

Witless

fuddle wrote: »

Our choice will be whether we have porridge or toast and what we'll put on or swirl in.

Simples.

In - salt. On - salted butter.