The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

euronorris

I do need to stock up on oats!

We keep a good stock of rice (we have almost 20kg still ), pasta, noodles and flour (though I also need to top that up). I have kept the toilet roll stocked up the whole time, replacing a pack of 9 rolls everytime one gets low (with a pack of 16 and another of 24 in reserve). With plenty of stock cubes, herbs and spices in the cupboard to pep up what could otherwise become very bland. Also important to keep on top of soy sauce, honey, and worcestershire sauce for that reason. I use all of those things on the regular, for some of our favourite meals.

I think, really, I need to try and have a blitz of the house and get rid of stuff we don't need/use, so I can free up a bit more space for storing stuff that we may come to rely on much more heavily this winter.

I need cinnamon. Does anyone buy herbs/spices in bigger packs? If so, where from? I know chinese shops are usually good for this, but they don't do online orders and I don't really want to go into town just for that.

With regards to squash - if you're short on space, those little concentrate 'shoot' bottles (usually advertised for days out etc) are good. About 20 drinks from one of them, and they take up wayyyy less room. More expensive, but own brand versions can be sourced and I believe they are often in Home Bargains for a cheaper price.

Female sanitary items if you need them. I am going to invest in some reusables.

Make sure you have plenty of masks. I am making more for family and friends at the moment. Really pleased with the current pattern. Might invest in a couple visors. Didn't deem them necessary until now, as could avoid shops, but might be more difficult in winter, and if the cases spike then the risk increases.....

I am also considering some board games/family games that DD can do (4), simply because an ill timed power cut would make for a boring day. And it happened recently on one half of our estate. It wasn't our side, and we were out anyway, but some local builders hit a mainline and they were left without power for most of the day. Which isn't much of a problem if the weather is good, but not so great if it's cold, rainy and windy.

Also, need to fully defrost both freezers and make room for some of the freezer blocks. Reason being that if power failed for significant time, we could put some stuff into cooler box with freezer blocks and try and eek out time (once the freezer had started to show signs of defrosting, that is).

I think I need to start making a full on, proper list. Rather than just thinking on the fly all the time.

Oh, and I have been trying to sort our dentists and opticians before winter. I had been avoiding, but DH now has some tooth pain. He is booked in for mid august (earliest available), but general checkups are not being seen until October! And I can't get a response from Opticians....

GreyQueen

Thanks for your good wishes, muffin_man. It's one of those surgeries where they have to make you a lot worse before you can get better, projection is presently 2 months off work but full recovery takes about a year and there will be lots of physiotherapy. It's all good, badly needed.

Re prepping with bleach, I came across something recently about thin bleach vs thick bleach. I guess most preppers know that you can sterilise water with a few drops of bleach, and not to buy scented varieties in case it comes to that situation. Thick bleach has added thickeners which make it unsuitable for water sterilisation.

You can also get the kind of sterilisation tablets used for babies' bottles, I use Tosspot's own brand. These last longer and have the advantage of being very compact.

As well as laying in supplies, this would be a good time to do a deep clean and declutter at home, to make sure that everything is in good order, and also that we know what we've got and what we've not. If DIY repairs are needed, perhaps do them now, ditto any repairs which require hired-in labour, should funds be available and the household not shielding.

[Deleted User]

The Grape Tree does plastic tubs of herbs and spices, 200g/300g jobbies.  They come in at £2 per tub but always run a buy two and get another one free offer so you get 3 tubs for £4.  Good quality produce that lasts well and stored well too.

New to you books to read, puzzle books and word searches if you do them or crosswards and sudoko too as well as jigsaws and board games.  We had a feb book called The Ultimate Alphabet which kept us amused for years, each page is a letter and each page for each letter has more than 1,000 items in the picture that you have to find and identify.  It comes with a list book so you can tick off what you find as you go.  You need encyclopaedias and general knowledge books or access to the internet to find some of the more obscure items but it is really mind stretching and does wonders for your vocabulary and general knowledge.  Worth looking out for it.  Can't remember who the author is but I'll have a look and see if I can find out. The author is Mike Wilks, ISBN-10 0764972138, ISBN-13 978-0764972133.  They have them on Amazon but they are expensive although possibly worth the price in entertainment value. There are quite a few copies on E.bay for much cheaper prices.

A new hobby might be useful, we've just made me a flower press so I can make cards if the lockdown happens again and I'm going to also make christmas tree decs with pinecones and things I find on our walks and make wreaths too.

greenbee

Sanitary products - switch to washables (you can make your own, patterns available online) or mooncup/equivalent where one should last a lifetime.

With other things, bear shelf-life in mind, as you don't want to end up devoting valuable space to things that have to be thrown out. I know GQ is very good at knowing how long her regular items last, so how much she can stock up on without risking wastage. 

I don't think books will be a problem (mind you, I have loads, and I like re-reading - plus they make good insulation ). I've found the second-hand market to be very active, so have been buying in paperbacks by post. While they're more expensive than CS purchases, they're a lot cheaper than even supermarket prices. I don't need a hobby - between the garden, work and books I tend to be short of time!

MingVase

Euronorris Buywholefoodsonline  has cinnamon in bulk.

jamanda

Just had a tootle around that website.  Have ordered a few bits I haven't been able to get lately.  Thank you.

GreyQueen

I was pleased to have stocked up on charity shop books, as well as to have borrowed some from family, before lockdown. Have also got much satisfaction from the sewing material stash. Perhaps artists and crafters should check they're OK for all supplies, in case we go to another lockdown? *shudders at the thought*

MingVase

It has things you dont usually get in bulk and they have really fast delivery jamanda.

jamanda

Yes, I've ordered some baking powder which seems to have disappeared.  I've been managing to get plain flour ok, and this can go in with the store of doom.  Also got some italian herbs and couldn't resist some cashew nuts.  There was something else as well, but I've forgotten - I know I needed it 

MingVase

I got dried veg, dried onions, dried fruit, cranberries, flour, yeast, and lentils.