The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

euronorris

That is COLD! A low of -4 here overnight, but still no snow. Haha

On the plus side, my mother in law got called in for her jab suddenly this morning. So another one done. Just step mother in law to go out of the parents now. Releases some of the worry.

jk0

I was just called in to the surgery, but fortunately I only live across the road.

My problem was understanding the lady doctor. She speaks in a heavily accented Spanish accent, which I think I would normally just about cope with. But with her face mask, almost impossible. Fortunately I have been to the doctors many times over the years, so could spot a few familiar phrases. Still don't know the lady's name though. Got her to repeat it once, but any more than that, feels like taking the mick.

Serendipitious

No snow here, due tomorrow possibly, according to the weather warning, but it won't last long as temps will go up on Monday (hooray!) It is however, perishingly cold at present with a biting wind, but it's good to see the sun and blue skies. And although I hate the cold, I do have to admit that the air quality is exceptional today, the kitchen window is open just a teeny bit and the air coming in is pure and fresh and clear. I am layered up in thermals, sweater and scarf and just made myself a pair of wristwarmers out of an old pair of socks. Hoping to venture out later, lured by the promise of new library books with a mid afternoon appointment.

MingVase

Lovely sunshine here but still below freezing, snow still lying and not melting. I love this weather too.

MrsCD

Same here, minus 1 right now and forecast to go down to minus 5 overnight, feeling like minus 12! I hope any homeless people have somewhere to go. I always think of street sleepers when the temperature goes down. It must be horrendous.
It looks pretty outside though, blue skies and lots of snow. Thankful that I don't have to go out.

DryTheRain

That’s a very thoughtful comment MrsCD, there but for the grace of god and all that. Vividly remember giving some money to a very polite young man on a cold night outside the co-op a couple of years ago, and my carer told me he’d been found dead a few days later, tearing up just thinking about it :’-(((

Apparently the protocol, at least locally, is for the emergency shelters to open up after two or three days at zero degrees or less, so hopefully most rough sleepers will have shelter in the current cold weather. 

Personally I don’t think that criteria is adequate, esp with a local authority prone to throwing endless cash at cronies and vanity projects, what about those slightly warmer nights when it’s lashing with rain for instance? Doesn’t bear thinking about. 

Also the published homeless counts are nowhere near the real figure, as the officials only survey the main streets rather than the back alleys and service roads where displaced people are more likely to tuck themselves away, they’re less of a target for yobbish types there. (I know this as carer’s taken part in the past, trying in vain to argue for a proper survey).

If you’re concerned my advice would be to donate to shelters or local homeless charities if you can, or failing that give any spare change directly, provided you can socially distance of course. I know there’s the (convenient) old chestnut about ‘they’ll only spend it on drugs/booze etc’ but IMO it’s important to give people the dignity of choice, something the feather-bedded IDS’s and George Osbornes of this world wilfully chose to ignore :-/

Anyway sermon over, who’s got plans for Valentines weekend, money saving meal deal maybe? x

euronorris

No meal deal here, but my neighbour has organised a Valentine's Virtual Party for the kids on Sunday. So hopefully that will bring some joy to DD.

Another cold night last night here also, and predicted again tonight. Though it is sunny and 4 degrees at the moment! And yes, it must be awful to be homeless at any time, let alone in freezing temps and during a pandemic. I hope they get to shelter somewhere warmer tonight, but I know it's never enough

DryTheRain

Aww I hope they have fun euronorris  I was very ill in my teens and hardly saw a soul, took much longer to recover mentally than physically, sobering to think of a whole generation of kids going through that.

Serendipitious

I've never given cash direct, but if I saw anyone huddled up outside the supermarket, I'd say hello on the way in and get multipacks of biscuits and crisps with the shopping, to offer on the way back to the car. That was pre-pandemic as I haven't seen anyone since. (I think there was a scheme to get as many people as possible indoors during the first lockdown. Don't know what happened afterwards.)

Went for my books, haven't looked at them yet, the anticipation feels a bit like Christmas...

VJsmum

I remember having a conversation with my MiL about homeless "Don't give them anything", she said "they'll only spend it on drugs".  She was a bit shocked when i replied "I'd bl00dy spend it on drugs too if i was homeless" 

Here, the churches have a rota for the homeless to go to when it is consistently freezing

We had a click and collect yesterday - our fridge is heaving.  So obviously, we're having a takeaway curry tonight...