The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

euronorris

Mice and rats will easily chew through netting. I always remember finding that  mice had chewed through 2 layers of a backpack, and through the wrapper of an unopened snickers bar in my husbands bag to get at the food. This was when we were living in Holland, and it was problematic trying to keep the mice out of that apartment (several small holes in the wall). Their sense of smell must be amazing, but so is their determination.

[Deleted User]

One way of keeping rodents out if you have to store goods in outhouses is an old fashioned galvanized dustbin with a metal lid, they still make them and they are found in hardware shops, some models have a 'twist' lid which locks it but the ordinary lids are heavy enough that even a good sized rat can't move them.  You still have the condensation problems because it's metal and will get cold but as storage for goods in plastic outers, or paper packed goods put into plastic outers they work very well.

Zentimes

silvasava said:

Zentimes - would it be possible to fit some mesh over the window? it would stop any critters or insects getting in perhaps?

Yes I will be putting mesh (to keep spiders and flies out) but as euronorris says, that won't deter rodents.

On the subject of rodents, our neighbour's cat left a small rat on our back doormat this morning (we feed her sometimes so I guess that's a present!).

cuddlymarm

One of our cats used to dump rodents or frogs at our feet (not necessarily dead) and look disdainfully at us as if to show us what to do 😱😱😱

littlemoney

DryTheRain said:

Very thoughtful suggestions TW - and littlemoney, it sounds like you’d be able to have a visitor under ‘exemptions from gatherings limits in all tiers’.  You’ve described yourself as older, and facing significant isolation due to the regulations, with mental and general health likely to suffer as a result. This 100% falls into the ‘providing care or assistance to someone vulnerable’ category.

Here’s the link for you, it’s second from last in the final section, really hope this helps xx
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#exemptions

@DryTheRain Thanks for giving me some hope of making a visit before christmas. I hadn't realised my situation could be classified as vunerable. I thought this was for people with certain physical health conditions or terminally ill.

thriftwizard

Just a quick note on vermin-free storage; we've been keeping sacks of oats & rice in my mother's little old chest freezer in the garage for the last 6-7 years, not plugged in (you'd have to be suicidal to plug it in, it's pretty rusty) and and they've been fine. I suspect no tempting odours can get out, because the insulation wouldn't be too hard for them to bite through, but they've never tried. Mind you, 3 cats is probably a deterrent too! "Dead" chest freezers get snapped up in seconds if they get Freegle'd down here in Equestriana;  horsey types love them for keeping the feed in.

DryTheRain

littlemoney said:

@DryTheRain Thanks for giving me some hope of making a visit before christmas. I hadn't realised my situation could be classified as vunerable. I thought this was for people with certain physical health conditions or terminally ill.

You’re very welcome littlemoney. After posting I was worried about sounding blunt, but more worried about you (and others in similar situations) missing out unnecessarily because of not knowing what’s in the regulations. 

Lots of people who’d be ok in normal times have become more vulnerable because of the pandemic, their wellbeing at risk not just physically but mentally too, and you can see that in several of the exemptions. Child access arrangements, visits to care homes, and yes single people who fall outside a bubble, particularly those in less robust health as they’ve grown older - and there’s no shame in admitting that, or in reaching out for help.

So how to approach communicating it.. obviously needs to be something you feel comfortable saying, maybe along the lines of “my health’s kind of dipped lately [being on my own etc ] but I’ve read that care or welfare type visits are allowed under the rules. Seeing you, having a natter, would do me the world of good, help get me through until we can all have the jab!”  

Think that gets the key points (rules and risk to health) across while keeping it positive, what do other posters here think?

Wishing you the very best of luck xx

baggins11

Really well put Drytherain you have got it spot on. No one should have to face months of isolation and there is discretion within the rules to allow wellbeing visits.  

We are going to have a mental heath crisis in this country. Many people like littlemoney don't realise they are entitled to seeing a friend or family member within the rules in order to protect their mental health. 

I have a family member who is middle aged and single living alone. Usually a social butterfly and never had any mental health problems until this pandemic but they are now really struggling. Forced isolation can cause mental health issues for even the most robust person.

DryTheRain

Thank you baggins11, that’s an excellent summary - just makes me furious that the govt has been so poor at communicating these matters, what price levelling up eh   

MingVase

The old saying is that a Prepper's number one enemy is their own govt. It's very true. We need to think things out for ourselves, and look after our own- don't depend on or trust a govt to do it for you.

signed:  MIng  the Anarchist Vase.