The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

rufydoofyM2

missychrissy said:

 I use 5 L of M n S cherry juice, 3 L red grape and 5 kg of sugar to make 5 galls.Haven’t got a M n S nearby but once I start babysitting in Harrogate again I’ll get some. 

Ocado will be delivering for M n S as from 1st September if you don't make it to a store.

short_bird

daz378 said:

Was going to LA  in august....so I  will need to send a present to  my sister instead.... can anyone recommend a  reliable US  gift website    that you can order and pay here but posted from US ?     Or buy something here and just post it     thanks

Probably more reliable to buy something from a US site as stuff is taking a while to get processed once it gets over there. If she's more the artisan and hand made gift, I'd suggest Etsy and obviously you can buy direct from Amaz0n.c0m. 

jamanda

gran3 said:

Apparently we now have a DIY NHS, My 86 year old mother is due for her annual BP check. She has to buy her own blood pressure monitor, take it herself, get her height and weight done, write it all down and take the paper to the GPs. She then has to announce her arrival on the intercom and stand there till they let her in. Did I mention she's 86 lol. Really, I realise things are a bit different but for goodness sake. I'm not even sure why she needs to go as they have also said they will have a telephone consult to discuss. Good luck with that, she's as deaf as a post, even with the hearing aids in.

That is appalling.  My mother is 89 and I can see them trying to do similar.  No way on this earth.  She also is very deaf, can't hear on the phone at all and can't stand.  Ridiculous.

boultdj

Yes, I've got to take my blood pressure for the week and take the results with me when I go for my blood test, good job I've already got a monitor or it would be more expense.

DigForVictory

We have a sphyg-meter (sorry, had to Google sphygmomanometer) just it came off a car boot, and is (I think) cast iron in places, so I think if any medic says we need this info I shall remind them for the fun token-in-the-slot machine they have in the waiting room & do my height & weight as well. If they say no mustn't, then I'll ask them how do they propose I get this blinking reading then? (Mine's on record as being the low end of normal but not all my household are that lucky)
Meanwhile I carry on muttering at my plants - which is soothing and hilarious (of all the things to go for, the slugs wiped out the black kale!) so maybe Highgrove is onto an alternative therapy?
Colleague is revealed as an enthusiast of home brewed wine, but he manages to keep bottles for over two years! If I can get the goosegog cuttings to cooperate, I may try posting one to him on the understanding that in another 5 years I get a bottle to try!

And the jennyjelly post in full is here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/11740867#Comment_11740867

Chieveley

My 88 year old mother went for her BP check and bloods in Thursday. She was also asked if she had a home BP monitor. She said what's the point I can't read it. They were concerned BP high so she is down for a 2nd phone consult. She was also due to a 2nd call about physio before she can get a replacement hip. they wanted her to watch videos on a smart phone, she doesn't have a smart phone and her macular is quite bad so uses a magnifying glass. She manages home alone.

basketcase

missychrissy said:

jennyjelly was the poster who put the carton wine recipe on ‘if things get tougher’ thread. I don’t know if she still posts on MSE.

Ah.  That explains that then.  I thought it might be the local name for some fruit or another! rofl 

DigForVictory

She does, vigorously, on knitting amongst other topics.
I do like the idea of "Jennyjelly" as some unspecified sort of jam & may try that on my Scouts when we are finally allowed to meet.. (January currently the best guess. I Miss them.)

annieb64

My MIL is 89. She still drives and plays golf. I would feel sorry for any GP who tried to tell her to check her own BP or wait outside the surgery. 

greenbee

Everyone has to wait outside our surgery, regardless of age, as the doors are locked. And wear masks and use hand sanitiser. You knock, give your name and reason for being there and are let in. If you say you're there to drop off a prescription request they politely point you at the box outside the door that has been there for years... Appointments are by phone where possible (all mine have been phone appointments since early March except for blood tests), as internet round here is rubbish so video is pretty impossible. Photos can be emailed for rashes etc, although apparently there are issues with people being able to take decent photos (in focus is apparently helpful...). Test results are emailed/texted as are requests to book follow-up appointments. Anyone who has the ability to do their own readings is being asked to - not only does it save time/trips to the surgery/lower infection risk, it also avoids the need to keep disinfecting equipment. New infection control protocols are really impacting on throughput for F2F consultations. There are only 3 seats available in the waiting area for nurses where there used to be 15, which is another constraint. 

I'm happy to do whatever the surgery think is necessary. I'm just grateful I'm not having to wear multiple masks, visors, goggles and nitrile gloves all day. My brother is a medic doing home visits all day every day. Changes into scrubs when he gets to work, and is then driven round in black cab (used because they have screens between driver and passenger) which is apparently very uncomfortable. Puts PPE on before each visit, takes it off before getting in the car and then bags it up in the boot for disposal. Roughly 20-30 changes of PPE a day, with help from the driver. Back to work, scrubs into washing machine at work, shower and change, home, clothes into washing machine and shower. Cabs are disinfected between shifts. And I know people working in hospitals have even more uncomfortable working conditions in an attempt to keep things safe.