The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

Karmacat

That's a great reply from mothernerd ... needing to get out very quickly, hmm, water/gas/elec giving problems.  A lightning strike.  A house fire.  An unexploded military bomb.  A terrorist threat.  A train accident where there's potentially toxic chemicals that may spread.  Armed robbery locally (that happened to me in one place I lived).  A flood (that happened to me too, though I didn't need to evacuate).  A sinkhole!  Even a tsunami (it happened before, Daniel Defoe wrote about it, thousands of people died in the west of England).  All these things are unlikely to vanishingly unlikely, but they are real.  Though some of them won't apply in some areas, of course.

maryb

Put like that, there seem to be quite a few potential scenarios where you couldn't drive away because roads are closed to traffic and you'd have to leave the car behind and leave with just what you could carry.  It would probably not be for long, until the powers that be deal with whatever the issue is but that can't be guaranteed.  Sobering thought

Serendipitious

maryb said:

Put like that, there seem to be quite a few potential scenarios where you couldn't drive away because roads are closed to traffic and you'd have to leave the car behind and leave with just what you could carry.  It would probably not be for long, until the powers that be deal with whatever the issue is but that can't be guaranteed.  Sobering thought

Yes, I have often thought (as I reflected on prepping in general and wondering where best to direct limited resources) that there is an underlying tension between scenarios which include stocking up and preparing for all eventualities whilst assuming/expecting to stay put, and  scenarios which require you to evacuate at short notice taking the bare minimum.

Eg does the next £30 spare go towards topping up the stocks, or does it buy a set of warm PJs for the emergency bag?

MingVase

Sometimes the weirdest things happen. I was once stranded miles away from home on the way back from work when a US jet came down on the only road home. The American military flooded the whole area and all traffic was diverted for miles. I had to argue with them that I didn't have neough petrol in the bike to go round the diversion and I'd be stranded, they eventually gave in and let me through. My youngest son was home from school sitting on the doorstep when I got  back hours late.

Karmacat

That's very true, the weird stuff happens as well as the "it's predictable somewhere" stuff.    But blimey, that *is* weird, Ming/Mar.

pollyanna_26

3secondmemory said:

Grateful to my neighbour for offering to collect my prescription- I haven’t got an ounce of strength or energy to go and get it even though I’ve been planning to all day. 

I didn’t even make it to my beach walk on Tuesday. I was so tired after my Bloodtest, I got on the wrong bus and needed to get a taxi for the last bit of the journey. I knew I would need to conserve energy for my CAT scan at 7 o’clock in the evening. 

Yesterday I had an hour and 20 minutes on the phone with the Dwp about going back to work . I’m glad it’s been recorded because I had to say on a few  occasions that I was tired/confused and my memory problems don’t allow me to answer specific memory questions if you see what I mean. I refused to do the three word dementia test -  I Can actually remember the three words from last time (chair ball pen - it’s always chair ball pen!) remembering three words for a couple of minutes is not reflective of my memory problems at all and not relevant to the work place. 

I had the date through for my SPECT scan – two weeks away. I’ve got to try not to think about it and at the same time not forget! 

My anxiety about medical appointments and injections has never been worse 🙁

I miss Home Bargains for stocking up my medicine basket. I use their tea tree antiseptic cream and oil a lot. Also antihistamines, paracetamol, mouthwash, arnica cream, sodium peroxide and cold remedies. I’m well stocked for the time being so I will just concentrate on running down and consolidating what I’ve got before it runs out of date. 

@elaine241
I use liquid iodine because it is multipurpose - antiseptic, it can be used internally and externally. Many people aren’t getting their usual iodine because of the trend of using Himalayan rock salt rather the our usual iodised table salt. 

Sorry to hear about your DWP phone appt .Those calls aren't working for so many people in fact they're making things worse. My dds next PIP assessment has been deferred for the nxt two years.thankfully. With a degree of nerve deafness and severe anxiety she wouldn't cope on the phone.. She's fine with a form to fill in but fibro fog and strong medication leave her confused and anxious

Do you have any medication for anxiety? Superdoc tried a number over the years but the one he switched to a couple of years ago has been a real game changer.

We miss HB too. It must be about 2 years since we went there it's quite a distance away and always very busy. They sell so many things but neither of us have had enough spoons to make the journey when it was open.

pollyx.

3secondmemory

pollyanna_26 said:

3secondmemory said:

Grateful to my neighbour for offering to collect my prescription- I haven’t got an ounce of strength or energy to go and get it even though I’ve been planning to all day. 

I didn’t even make it to my beach walk on Tuesday. I was so tired after my Bloodtest, I got on the wrong bus and needed to get a taxi for the last bit of the journey. I knew I would need to conserve energy for my CAT scan at 7 o’clock in the evening. 

Yesterday I had an hour and 20 minutes on the phone with the Dwp about going back to work . I’m glad it’s been recorded because I had to say on a few  occasions that I was tired/confused and my memory problems don’t allow me to answer specific memory questions if you see what I mean. I refused to do the three word dementia test -  I Can actually remember the three words from last time (chair ball pen - it’s always chair ball pen!) remembering three words for a couple of minutes is not reflective of my memory problems at all and not relevant to the work place. 

I had the date through for my SPECT scan – two weeks away. I’ve got to try not to think about it and at the same time not forget! 

My anxiety about medical appointments and injections has never been worse 🙁

I miss Home Bargains for stocking up my medicine basket. I use their tea tree antiseptic cream and oil a lot. Also antihistamines, paracetamol, mouthwash, arnica cream, sodium peroxide and cold remedies. I’m well stocked for the time being so I will just concentrate on running down and consolidating what I’ve got before it runs out of date. 

@elaine241
I use liquid iodine because it is multipurpose - antiseptic, it can be used internally and externally. Many people aren’t getting their usual iodine because of the trend of using Himalayan rock salt rather the our usual iodised table salt. 

Sorry to hear about your DWP phone appt .Those calls aren't working for so many people in fact they're making things worse. My dds next PIP assessment has been deferred for the nxt two years.thankfully. With a degree of nerve deafness and severe anxiety she wouldn't cope on the phone.. She's fine with a form to fill in but fibro fog and strong medication leave her confused and anxious

Do you have any medication for anxiety? Superdoc tried a number over the years but the one he switched to a couple of years ago has been a real game changer.

We miss HB too. It must be about 2 years since we went there it's quite a distance away and always very busy. They sell so many things but neither of us have had enough spoons to make the journey when it was open.

pollyx.

I think I had a dedicated assessor because yesterday I received a copy of a safeguarding referral she made immediately after our phone call to my GP. I had actually forgotten that she had asked me for consent. Or rather, not registered what it meant. It was very sympathetically worded. 

There were several things in the assessment that I told her I didn’t want to discuss because I’m having support for PTSD and medical trauma.   I take Escitalopram for my generalised anxiety. 

The New antibiotics have kicked in quickly – my friend came and took me out on Friday and I managed an hour or so on the beach. Seeing her and the sea air perked up my appetite 100% -I had a steak pie yesterday and it was so nice, I’m just cooking a chicken and smoked ham one for this evening 😃

I was just blown away at being able to people-watch. The beach shack was open and there were plenty of dog walkers out. Everyone was polite and socially distancing. I couldn’t say that anyone was abusing the rules - i’m not even sure what the rules are anymore.

I know we can meet one person outside but does it always have to be the same person as if you’re in a bubble? 

VJsmum

3second - no, as far as i know you can meet any one person.  But you can't travel with them.  I only meet, separately, two people and OH meets 4 (again separately - generally two on separate days one week and two the next).  Although we do socially distance, i'm actually not worried about catching anything outside.  I think you'd have to work quite hard to do so.  I do keep my distance from people when i pass but it's more to reassure them than because I am bothered.

pollyanna_26

3secondmemory said:

pollyanna_26 said:

3secondmemory said:

Grateful to my neighbour for offering to collect my prescription- I haven’t got an ounce of strength or energy to go and get it even though I’ve been planning to all day. 

I didn’t even make it to my beach walk on Tuesday. I was so tired after my Bloodtest, I got on the wrong bus and needed to get a taxi for the last bit of the journey. I knew I would need to conserve energy for my CAT scan at 7 o’clock in the evening. 

Yesterday I had an hour and 20 minutes on the phone with the Dwp about going back to work . I’m glad it’s been recorded because I had to say on a few  occasions that I was tired/confused and my memory problems don’t allow me to answer specific memory questions if you see what I mean. I refused to do the three word dementia test -  I Can actually remember the three words from last time (chair ball pen - it’s always chair ball pen!) remembering three words for a couple of minutes is not reflective of my memory problems at all and not relevant to the work place. 

I had the date through for my SPECT scan – two weeks away. I’ve got to try not to think about it and at the same time not forget! 

My anxiety about medical appointments and injections has never been worse 🙁

I miss Home Bargains for stocking up my medicine basket. I use their tea tree antiseptic cream and oil a lot. Also antihistamines, paracetamol, mouthwash, arnica cream, sodium peroxide and cold remedies. I’m well stocked for the time being so I will just concentrate on running down and consolidating what I’ve got before it runs out of date. 

@elaine241
I use liquid iodine because it is multipurpose - antiseptic, it can be used internally and externally. Many people aren’t getting their usual iodine because of the trend of using Himalayan rock salt rather the our usual iodised table salt. 

Sorry to hear about your DWP phone appt .Those calls aren't working for so many people in fact they're making things worse. My dds next PIP assessment has been deferred for the nxt two years.thankfully. With a degree of nerve deafness and severe anxiety she wouldn't cope on the phone.. She's fine with a form to fill in but fibro fog and strong medication leave her confused and anxious

Do you have any medication for anxiety? Superdoc tried a number over the years but the one he switched to a couple of years ago has been a real game changer.

We miss HB too. It must be about 2 years since we went there it's quite a distance away and always very busy. They sell so many things but neither of us have had enough spoons to make the journey when it was open.

pollyx.

I think I had a dedicated assessor because yesterday I received a copy of a safeguarding referral she made immediately after our phone call to my GP. I had actually forgotten that she had asked me for consent. Or rather, not registered what it meant. It was very sympathetically worded. 

There were several things in the assessment that I told her I didn’t want to discuss because I’m having support for PTSD and medical trauma.   I take Escitalopram for my generalised anxiety. 

The New antibiotics have kicked in quickly – my friend came and took me out on Friday and I managed an hour or so on the beach. Seeing her and the sea air perked up my appetite 100% -I had a steak pie yesterday and it was so nice, I’m just cooking a chicken and smoked ham one for this evening 😃

I was just blown away at being able to people-watch. The beach shack was open and there were plenty of dog walkers out. Everyone was polite and socially distancing. I couldn’t say that anyone was abusing the rules - i’m not even sure what the rules are anymore.

I know we can meet one person outside but does it always have to be the same person as if you’re in a bubble? 

That's good news about the safeguarding referral. My dd was on escitalopram for a few years. When we finally won the battle to prove she never did have Asperger's she got the diagnosis we'd expected for nearly 20 years Borderline Personality Disorder. Superdoc who'd fought alongside us brought a wonderful young counseller into the surgery and she did very intensive counselling. It took quite a while but she helped dd challenge PTSD, Overwhelming anxiety, Eating disorders and self judgement etc. Together with the game changing med life is now a lot better. Her physical health has declined as her appts with her consultants keep getting pushed forward again but it's the way things are for many at the moment.

It's good to hear you got out to the beach. We live in a coastal area and the past year we've had a real hammering with people coming on very long car journeys even taxies in convoy. Breaking all the rules and trashing a protected coastal area.. We ended up in tier 4 at one point when most of us locals have stuck to the rules, Last weekend the hordes descended a few miles down from us and the police and coastguards were run ragged turning cars back. Police issued a lot of hefty fines but I doubt it will stop it when the sun's out. We had the police horses out here last summer which was very effective. No one takes on a very big horse.

I've no idea about the bubble. We're just dd ,her boyfriend and myself. TBH with all the sound bites , roadmaps etc I find it difficult to know where we're up to.

I was reading about the forthcoming local elections it seems you should wear a face mask but if you haven't got one you can still go to the polling station and vote. In a few days time canvassing can begin. I wont be opening my front door to any hopeful whatever party they're from. Everyone is looking forward to the easing of restrictions but I fear they're relaxing things too soon and we'll be back in lockdown. We had two cases unrelated of the SA variant here and there are more variants being identified in parts of the UK..Relaxing things for Christmas made things worse with a sharp rise in cases.It seems to me they should have listened to Prof Chris Whitty who has years of experience with Ebola and many other pandemics but whenever he said something they didn't like they would bring in someone else to do the daily briefings.

pollyx 

wondercollie

American preppers scare the beejuzus out of me.  Many are nutjobs, be it religious or political.
Where I live, it's winter six months of the year, so that really affects how we'd prep.  There's a huge military garrison within spitting distance, so, it could be a target and if it was, we'd be dead right away.
So, we never let the cars gas tanks go below three quarters full.  The guns all have the right caliber ammo.  There's a month's worth of canned goods and water for each family member (including the hounds, and yes, I have two now).  Each car has two warm blankets, a first aid box, and  a snack kit.
But like I said, if nuclear war is declared, it's all for naught.  Winter would take most of us out, the First Nations that lived here used to move south hunting in the winter, or hunkered down and waited to see who survived winter.
If anyone remembers the post nuclear war movies of the mid-80s, where I live, two months of the year, it looks like nuclear winter was portrayed.  Grey, dark, snow swirling, people walking around looking dazed.