The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

[Deleted User]

We're going to buy some growing bags for the greenhouse for us and DD1 this morning, we've tomato and cucumber plants growing on in the kitchen and want to be able to plant them out in the greenhouse when they're big enough so just in case we're advised to stay indoors later in this crisis we'll get them today and have them ready.  We're also going to get some more gas canisters for the picnic stove as a back up just on the very outside off chance that we get power outs because of lack of manpower in the generating plants.  I don't know if the gas supply would be affected? but if it's a possibility, even the remotest possibility then we'll still be able to have a cuppa, I can't function properly without tea!

I think Italy has done exactly the right thing in the shut down and hope all the people it's affecting are ready with enough to see them through the period of time it will be in place.  It will be educational to watch how Italy copes with this and how long it takes for the virus to be past it's peak in the population and to see what happens in the population afterwards as it slows down and life gets back to relative normal.  My heart is with them, and my hopes and prayers are with all of us.

Jazee

They can still go to cafes and shops though in Italy.  They just have to keep one metre apart.

[Deleted User]

I'd rather NOT if I could avoid it, it seems to me that staying in and not being in contact with other people might be a safer option.  I can make coffee here and feed us here so I'll be staying in the house and garden and we'll go for walks but only in the surrounding countryside not in the urban bits of the village.

pineapple

Well I have to get out to walk the dog but fortunately it's very rural. Will keep social encounters at a distance but it will be tricky at times - online food deliveries, necessary hospital appointments, some help needed at home etc.  I'm on a pension and hopefully my money will come in whatever but I feel for those who need to get out and earn money to live. Just heard that Italy is to pay mortgages for those affected. Doubtless there will be more restrictions here. Just hope there won't be social unrest. This will be the testing of the selfish element of our society and those who have never encountered any deprivation..

dandy-candy

MrsLurcherwalker said:

I don't know if the gas supply would be affected? but if it's a possibility, even the remotest possibility then we'll still be able to have a cuppa, I can't function properly without tea!

They didnt lose gas, electric or water in Wuhan so hopefully it wont be an issue, but its never bad to be prepared.

My dad and stepmum who are in there late 70s and normally very laid back, both went to Costco and had a big spend 10 days ago. My stepbrother is a surgeon in one of the big London hospitals and had phoned them to say the NHS is expecting it to be very bad. I thought it would have put the fear of God into them hearing that but they seem to be finding it a big adventure. The problem is they keep leaving their garage door open with all their stacks of baked beans etc on view from the street *facepalm* Luckily I live next door so can keep shutting it for them.

I saw Trump had earlier on Monday been tweeting about it all being not as bad as the flu, but then by the evening they had a press conference that seemed to be a complete U turn and they are tackling it seriously. The CDC website has lots of good info - coronavirus.gov

[Deleted User]

Hopefully we won't lose any of the essential utilities either but I don't like leaving things to 'hopefully' so I have some bottled water, a gravity water filter and the camping stove along with a Kelly kettle that runs on twigs as back up just in case.

welshbabe88

MrsLurcherwalker said:

Hopefully we won't lose any of the essential utilities either but I don't like leaving things to 'hopefully' so I have some bottled water, a gravity water filter and the camping stove along with a Kelly kettle that runs on twigs as back up just in case.

Yep me too - bottled water and also some purification tablets - hopefully not needed.  Plus lots of candles and a camping stove.

mummygems

Nargleblast said:

I think, when this Covid19 business has died down and things are back to some kind of normal (whenever that will be) it would be a good idea for every household in the land to examine their circumstances closely. Are they prepared (food, medicines, household supplies etc) for an emergency situation? Do they have an emergency fund set aside to support them in the event of job losses and household disasters? Can they maximise their income and reduce their bills and expenditure so they can save regularly? There will be some households that will struggle with the concept of saving money because of low income and debts, but they too should look at how they can improve their financial security. Whilst there are state benefits available, I would not want to be totally dependant on them because who knows what the future will hold? It would be really good if children were taught financial responsibility in school, and they came out of school determined to make sure they could always support themselves and their families so they would be able to survive if the government of the day and society as a whole collapsed. Bit of a Doomsday scenario, I know, but the more independent and self sufficient you are the better your chances of survival.

I am already examining my circumstances!  I live in Essex (near a major town).  Since last Thursday all the major supermarkets have been out of pasta then paracetamol and ibruprofen then toilet paper!  Hand sanitizer and liquid soap ran out a week before all that!  Strangely cat litter is now also in short supply but I dont know why!   There is no online shopping delivery slot for over a week either!
Still no pasta anywhere (I refuse to spend £3+ on pasta which has been the only stuff left).  I have three children (one who would still require liquid meds as hes 9).  Going to take a look through all my cupboards and see what I can get to have an emergency stock (nothing too long as finances sadly dont allow - another thing to look into).  Myself and my middle daughter are both currently waiting for surgery (mouth surgery and stomach surgery between us) so pain meds will be a must to have a stock of.  Not sure if I am bothered about hand sanitizer (if I could even get it).  I have seen further up the thread about making my own so will look into that.  Just normal stocks that would be needed I guess.  I have to admit I am super shocked at the way everyone has behaved and I guess that has left me on the back foot.

As you can see totally new to prepping lol

Si_Clist

As I said a while back on here, the single biggest improvement we've ever made to our housekeeping/prepping was to establish exactly how long everything we buy actually lasts us.  The result of all the dating and note-taking was that roughly half of it lasts us longer than we thought, and we get through the other half faster than we thought.  Nett result now = sensible stock levels (at last!), zero waste with stuff going out of date, and less money spent overall

dandy-candy

Mummygems the tesco at Colchester had loo roll on Sunday. Not sure if that one is too far from you?