The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

MingVase

Nice to have a wee list of things to look forward to.

Was reading out to the husband about the amount of flour some people have stashed, and he said
"Better watch they don't get weeblies in it"

mothernerd

I'm also a fan of part-baked rolls. Mum went off bread (made her ill) but was fine with part-baked rolls and wraps. At the festive season I stocked up with both and kept them (along with veg, toilet rolls/cleaning stuff and drinks - no alcohol) in mum's tiny 6' x 4' shed and they kept for ages (only started to keep less well when we had the sun for weeks on end). I had included (re-stock after festive stock ran out) them with my pre-COVID shop and picked up a few more between 16 - 20 March (forever known as 'the last day' - as in last time I went in a taxi, last time I went in a SM or shop).

I'm very conscious that it's mum's money I'm spending, not my own. I'm in charge of shopping and cooking (and the garden, cleaning, diy, admin and healthcare) so it's mostly up to me what I buy (as long as I can get someone to deliver and it fits in the current limits each shop imposes - Will co have annoyed me by putting the large planters I've been buying on the 'in store only' category, the lovely builder's buckets have always been in this category). I would buy more and faster (in fact toilet rolls and tinned soup are at less than 'ideal stock level') but trying to prepare has to be balanced by not worrying mum.

I'd like 12 - 18 months worth of non-perishable food and other supplies, she sighs every time I get a delivery and mutters about me 'spending all her money'. Then turns round and reels off a list of things 'we've run out of/ I've forgotten'. I actually had the lentils, soup mix, dried fruit, sultanas and tinned rice pudding in my stock but am still waiting for her to give up all the unused gadgetry in her cupboards (out to the shed as soon as she mentions them) so I can put more food in there. I have explained that if I didn't buy it, the SM didn't have it, there is no guarantee that they will deliver a particular item when requested so if I see it in stock, I put it on the list. I know where she wants her bank balance to be and when it goes above that, I buy more and try to do a SM order as soon as the last one is received.

I recently did a herb and spice stock up but want to order bulk packs of the ones I use most (thanks for the red rick link - big bag of cashews for mum I think) and have stock checked first aid stuff (went in a drawer for something else and left vix, dressing pads, support bandage and similar items out until I had put them on my list). We now have a second fridge-freezer. DS2 was moving in with his gf and had a number of duplicates to sell/ dispose of. I suggested that since grandma gave him the cash to buy it, the f-f should return here (he originally had my old one which lasted over 5 years) so I'm doing mini meat stock up. Incidentally he claims his preps are better than anyone else's - whilst everyone else was fighting over toilet rolls he went out and 'bagged himself a doctor whose speciality is respiratory medicine'.

Mum's accepted that she's in lockdown until at least mid to late August - consultant hopes she 'might be able' to go for blood tests, but I've already raised the possibility of someone (district nurse?) coming out to do both our bloods, check on my care of her leg ulcer (A*) and possibly give us both our flu jabs. Safer and a better use of resources than possible multiple trips to our local infirmary by taxi - I have 4 washable masks but haven't tried getting mum to wear one yet. I am now talking about the second wave (I initially told her 3 months in March which she heard as '3 weeks' then the general announcement was made, then extended) and she knows we're both vulnerable in winter - pick up everything, have more severe symptoms and takes ages for it to go (she couldn't visit her partner in hospital or his care home except in the last few weeks because the drugs that keep her alive kill her immune system).
Anyway I've wasted enough of your good folk's time. Thanks as always for your suggestions. I will keep on doing what I can.

euronorris

Elaine, I think the HRT supply issue might be to do with norethisterone manufacturing issues. I was prescribed that as a mini pill, and had awful trouble getting it for the last year due to manufacture issues. I remember looking it up and it was also used in HRT products. I asked the GP to switch me to an alternative, as I often ended up chasing all the local pharmacies with no luck, and then having to go back to the GP for an alternative anyway!

GreyQueen

MingVase said:

Nice to have a wee list of things to look forward to.

Was reading out to the husband about the amount of flour some people have stashed, and he said
"Better watch they don't get weeblies in it"

Ya gotta watch out for those weeblies! I have only one bag of flour and it is presently chilling out (double-bagged in plastic) in the freezer. Cos I like my weeblies well-chilled.

oceanspirit

First time I took OH to stay at my mother's, she served up porridge complete with weeblies.  Nearly a decade later and we're still together - I guess if you can survive that, you can survive anything!

All the best GQ for your operation and recovery.

greenbee, sorry to read about your post viral fatigue.  I do hope that you are able to shake it off very soon.

Prepping continuing here.  We have good stores now and although we don't normally use condiments such as redcurrant jelly, horseradish etc, I have added some as we've found tinned stews are pretty bland.  We've tried various sm brands (can't seem to find Princes stewed steak anywhere as although expensive compared with the others, I've found it to be the best for us).  We're sticking to T's Irish stew and beef stew for tinned meat.  We eat mainly plant based but OH has recently been diagnosed with anaemia so we're eating red meat a couple of times a week to get him topped up with iron.  We'll see if it's enough when he's re-tested in a couple of months.

We've also planned a Christmas dinner from tins if needs be and set aside a jar of cranberry sauce to go with.

MingVase

Oceanspirit, my hubby is the same and he finds Spatone very good. Also I've heard a lot saying that  M&S tinned stew is lovely.

greenbee

@oceanspirit - you probably already know this but if OH is a poor absorber, Vit C is more important than iron. Also for veggies/vegans, both chickpeas/gram flour (poppadums ) and dark chocolate are good for iron. Broccoli is good for everything... 

pineapple

Under Shared Care, I get the 'hospital' blood tests at the local surgery 2 miles away. So pleased I don't have to make a 2 hour return trip to hospital! But on the subject of hospital transport, they have really tightened up eligibility locally. I used to pay a volunteer car scheme to take me to consultants appointments and after my emergency admission at the start of the year and still rocky on my feet, I had to pay over £100 for a taxi to get me home.   Re face masks/coverings, I totally accept the need for them at present (and have an extensive collection) but I don't want them to become a cultural norm.  Imo it's dehumanising and unnatural - we might as well be living in an episode of The Handmaid's Tale.

MingVase

But moslem ladies wear them and always have... they don't look unnatural to me pineapple xx Maybe we just need to use more eye makeup

annieb64

It does feel strange going round the shops with a mask. You can't  tell if people are smiling and because my glasses tend to steam up I just want to get the whole experience  over as soon as possible.