The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

vanoonoo

Hi everyone! Just thought I’d finally pop back to see you’ve all kept your feet warm and dry during this challenging time. My supplies have stood me in good stead thankfully. Keep safe (stay alert?!) vx 

[Deleted User]

Well that's a welcome name to see pop up on the page, long time no see Vanoonoo, all is well?

vanoonoo

As well as can be expected thank you!! I work in aviation now so .... urgh!! Thankfully we had our preps 👍. How are things for you and here?

Nargleblast

Talking of bags for life reminded me of the one Tesco brought out some years ago. They used to change the design every now and then. One design was a Rodolphe Salis poster advertising the re-opening of the Black Cat cabaret. I bought one and framed it. Years later, I saw a four foot by three foot version in poster form on a stall selling posters. That is now pasted on the wall in my hall and is always a talking point.

[Deleted User]

We're doing fine Vanoonoo although we're in lock down and have been since a week before the official advice came from the government.  I suspect we'll be socially distancing for the duration which may be for another year at least but we're lucky to have moved here where we can walk out into the country and there is a much smaller population in the village than there was in South Hants so it's a better place to be safe in.  We're not in the least bit bored or feeling constrained we've the allotments and books and the internet so we're OK.  

thriftwizard

Hello Vanoonoo! Good to "see" you again. I've been reminded of the various prepping challenges we've thought of over the years today; DD1 & I went for our usual riverbank walk today, breathing smoke all the way from the big forest fire to the south & west of us. Though they'd got it under control yesterday, today's wind has fanned the flames back into action & it was actually quite thick as we came back down over the river. I started to wonder uneasily whether it was getting a bit close for comfort & evacuation might be a possibility, which made me realise that I haven't checked my BOB lately. It's not even a week since I was happily announcing I'd be better off staying put in nearly all circumstances; I hadn't anticipated wildfire being a potential predicament. Just goes to show you never know what's round the corner...

When we got home I checked the local news; another fire has also broken out, closer still, and the county's filling up with clandestine tourists in "stealth" campers, (i.e. panel vans with thermal screens) with their "disposable" BBQs, and all the public loos are shut too... 

Thriftygifty

thriftwizard said:

Hello Vanoonoo! Good to "see" you again. I've been reminded of the various prepping challenges we've thought of over the years today; DD1 & I went for our usual riverbank walk today, breathing smoke all the way from the big forest fire to the south & west of us. Though they'd got it under control yesterday, today's wind has fanned the flames back into action & it was actually quite thick as we came back down over the river. I started to wonder uneasily whether it was getting a bit close for comfort & evacuation might be a possibility, which made me realise that I haven't checked my BOB lately. It's not even a week since I was happily announcing I'd be better off staying put in nearly all circumstances; I hadn't anticipated wildfire being a potential predicament. Just goes to show you never know what's round the corner...

When we got home I checked the local news; another fire has also broken out, closer still, and the county's filling up with clandestine tourists in "stealth" campers, (i.e. panel vans with thermal screens) with their "disposable" BBQs, and all the public loos are shut too... 

I need to actually get a BOB up and running rather than thinking about it for the past few months, I've just been reminded to do this as we were sat in bed watching TV this evening and this loud quick "Pop" noise followed by burning smell with smoke happened, my phone charger had gone up and was quite happily sat there smoking!  Fortunately we were next to it and not downstairs. Scary.  

elaine241

I must confess I haven't got a BOB for any of us! I have a Get Home bag in my car which would enable me to walk home in the event of a disaster, with the relevant clothing, food, water, stout walking boots, first aid, knife, candles, plastic sheet , space blankets, mask, goggles, nitrile gloves. I swap its contents around between winter and summer but that's about it. Also in my car and truck I have water supplies, food, first aid kits, blankets, wet wipes, good books, torches, batteries , hell even alcohol and chocolate!! At home I have all our important documents in a grab and go file should we have to rush out the door. Most scenarios would mean we would stay put somewhere on the farm but I must stop thinking that we may never have to leave in a hurry. I have a few small rucksacks I could pack with clothes and plenty of camping equipment/first aid etc which I think I will organise in one place so they are easy to find. We are lucky that we have an array of vehicles that we could use, tractor and trailer, landrover and flat bed/stock/horse trailer even a quad and trailer. If none of the vehicles worked I have three reluctant horses we could use! I think I have found a hole in my preps due to not thinking we would ever leave our house/farm buildings. Tbh it would have to be burning down before we did!! God forbid there was any civil unrest where we had to defend ourselves but I think we are better prepared there than most of the population. As the saying goes "Hell hath no fury compared to a mother protecting her young!" and I am a bloody good shot!

MingVase

I suppose prepping isn't a one size fits all and we just adapt what we need to how we live. I'm the same elaine, I thought I won't ever have to move out of these hills  - until Lockerbie. That would be the only thing I can think of that might force us out, but however far fetched, it did happen...

prepareathome

Oh gosh, that is scary - this I think will give me the kick I need to redo my Bobs again - only one these days that is on the go is the dogs one for when we take them out for the day so have everything possibly needed in case of emergencies when out with them and I just throw things in another bag for us on the day.  I used to always have BOBs ready to go but slowly over the years as children left home I let them slide then when granddaughter was brought to us and all the court battles that ensured my preps went to the bottom of the pile to worry about as finances were directed to legal battles and ensuring she received the help she needed for PTSD  but legal battles have been over for years and although she is of course still with us in normal times she is not at Uni and we are used to doing what is needed ( even if its a dash to uni )when her PTSD hits and that includes throwing stuff in a bag in case of overnight stays there yet have not sat down and actually worked out now what is needed for both those dashes and if we did need to leave our home.  

So think that will be my bank holiday weekend homework - work out what is needed in a modern bob as although things like kelly kettle will always be included in the years since I used to have them ready changes have happened in tech and so need to go through old lists and update them - plus being an old codger with chronic health problems I need to include meds and other things that keep me functioning not just food, clothes, etc.   

I still not have put away my non-freezer or fridge items from the three deliveries we had this week so my hall looks like a shop at moment as most are to go away for stocks but it does make me feel good knowing my stocks are growing again although still a long, long way from where they used to be before hubby's firm got taken over and new firm through them all out three years ago - those stocks made such a big difference to us and stopped us ending up in debt ( this was mainly why I started prepping back in the 1990s plus if anything happened to stop us going out we would have enough in to stay put but never thought of a global pandemic).  I got lazy just ensuring we had an extra week or so supplies in once we used those stocks, obviously finances played there part as he could not find another job as no one wanted to hire him as to near pension but it's amazing how with careful planning and no increase in income you can still stock up bit by bit but at; east we have not once been really short of anything since the start of lockdown because of my basic stores although a couple of times did have to use long-life milk and use dried eggs or dried egg whites.

We don't have same meal same day each week, to me that is boredom but I do meal plan what we will have over a month and ensure I buy all we need and that way I have enough to throw meal plan out the window and create totally different meals as I have all the ingredients. 

Way back in the very early days on here we did have big discussions on what should be included in both stocks and BOBS, not sure if those old threads are still available as would be useful for anyone just starting out or would anyone like me to write up a list of possible items to include in BOBS -  a kelly kettle is a very good investment as is a dutch oven ( although would not fancy hiking with that in a backpack) and a good water carrier ( not to self yours needs replacing as plastic is degrading and much better ones on the market nowadays than there was 20 odd years ago.

It's so lovely to see so many old names popping in.