The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

euronorris

Good point regarding glass jars and protection from mice. A lot of the videos I have seen though, they weren't just unpacking the likes of pasta or rice into glass containers, but washing machine capsules, fabric softener, scent boosters etc. Which, for me, would be more about the aesthetic than practicality or need. But, if we will be buying things from dispensers in future, rather than in individual packaging, then having storage containers for them at home isn't such a bad idea.

My garlic (planted last autumn) has grown tremendously well in the trug. The ones in their own containers haven't grown quite so prolifically, but they are also different varieties. One is hardneck and one is softneck. Tomatoes and mange tout coming along OK outside, so is the cut and come again lettuce. Potatoes have gone NUTS! As has the lawn. We have had a lot of rain, followed by very warm sunny spells, then rain, then sun and so on, so they have had everything they need. Strawberries happy, and raspberries, blueberries and blackcurrants are fruiting, but not sure there is a lot there. Rhubarb has been neglected. Just got some new herbs (basil, thyme, tarragon, can't remember the other two now). Peppers growing well on indoors windowsill, still not warm enough outside for them. And parents bought us a clematis this weekend.

In other news, I got my first Pfizer jab on Tuesday morning. Only had a sore arm and then fine. Then daughter got sent home from school on Thursday as she was not herself, headache, wouldn't eat lunch and was warm. By evening she had a fever. So had to get her tested again, thankfully negative and got results in less than 24h. Parents came to visit (starting yesterday), so with daughter being ill it was all up in the air what was happening. We ended up cancelling our day out plans for Saturday, not expecting daughter to be well enough (and still awaiting results at that point), and then she was negative and woke up on Sat morning with fever broken and feeling fine! Oh to be able to bounce back as quickly and easily as a 4 year old! Anyway, we recently signed up for a family national trust membership, and my parents are members anyway, so we booked a time slot to visit a local house and gardens today and managed to enjoy that before the rain came in! Hope you're all well!

[Deleted User]

The sense in prepping is having things to hand rather than having to wait for the shops to open to get what you need.  Poor old OH had the sniffles and a sore throat yesterday afternoon and it developed into a full blown head cold by the evening.  As part of my general  preps I have half a dozen packs of day and night cold capsules in the medical cupboard so I could get him a couple of doses in and help him to a reasonable nights sleep rather than having to wait until this morning to get to the chemist.  I also have cough sweets and cough syrup along with a decent supply of boxed tissues so although he'll have to run the course of his cold at least he won't be feeling quite as poorly as he might have been.

VJsmum

euronorris - we've had our membership for years.  A family membership like yours saved us loads when the kids were small.  Regrettably they no longer appreciate a "big smelly old house" but we still do so just have one for the two of us now. WE've already used it loads this year.  Sometimes its good just for free parking in some places.

euronorris

VJsmum - funny you should say about the free parking, it's what spurred us to look into it. There is a local, quieter, area of beach near hills and the car park has been council run for years. DH went there with DD after school last week and it's been adopted by National Trust and the parking is now a flat fee of £5 for non members, regardless of how long you are there for. So I had a look and thought, for £10.50 a month we'd get our moneys worth from savings in parking alone! And I am glad I got it, as its half term next week, the weather is finally set to improve and DH will have lots of options to get out and about with DD cheaply. 

Also, I found out yesterday that entry into Stone Henge is covered by National Trust membership! I had no idea! A colleague mentioned doing it a few years back, and I checked (in case it had changed) and yep, free entry and parking with National trust. Something to keep in the back pocket.

Living_proof

@boazu I too have either a head cold or aggravated hay fever, the first for a couple of years. It's a bit worrying if it's a cold because it means that we are all dropping our guard a little now we are mixing a little more. It's a shame the weather is so abysmal and we could all be spending more time outdoors in the fresh air, but then of course the pollen count would shoot up anyway! 

[Deleted User]

I went out for a walk this morning and came home via the charity shop and the Co Op and the local council had sent a supply of lateral flow tests that were being given away to anyone who wanted them so I got two to go into the general prepping meds just in case we ever have to test because of being in the vicinity of someone who subsequently tests positive.  Really glad to have them in and very grateful to the council for bringing them to our little village and giving them out for free.

Floss

Boazu, you can obtain free packs from any pharmacy, or order them online via 
https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
Please be mindful of the expiry dates of those tests.
Everyone should ideally get into a routine of testing, as anyone can be asymptomatic and anyone can carry & transmit the virus even if vaccinated.

Toonie

I found out some disappointing news today, the family I nanny for has decided to emigrate and so I'll be losing my job in September. It's frustrating as they had recently indicated they wanted to keep me on as they were having another child. So, I've already rewritten my CV and applied for two jobs this evening. I'm also going to use my day off this week to pull apart budgets and stores and see where I can make savings and what we've got lurking and so I can then try to get in some extra longer term preps to help out if the job market is tricky.

[Deleted User]

The whole area for some miles around woke to a complete power out this morning and it's only just come back on now but is flickering.  I've never been more pleased to know that as a prepared household we have the means to cook, stored food without having to touch the fridge/freezers, stored water, solar lighting and candles/tea lights and a trusty old wind up radio to keep us abreast of the situation it seems to have been most of the area between the Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire borders and into the bit of Wales close by so a huge chunk of the grid.  It blipped in and out a few times before restoring the house supply.  

MrsCD

Glad you have your power back, boazu, and yes, it's comforting to know we have the wherewithal to cope when such crises arise!