The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

Doveling

Keep reading snippets about possible rolling power cuts but no real information?
Anyone prepping for this?

Si_Clist

Doveling said:

Keep reading snippets about possible rolling power cuts but no real information?
Anyone prepping for this?

Yep.  Ever since we realised how little spare capacity the National Grid has, we've ensured that we can cope for long periods without electricity.  As we see it, all it will take is a combination of a sudden spell of very cold weather when one or more power stations is offline for routine maintenance, no wind to power the windmills, and then a couple of major issues such as a distribution problem and a power station going wonky.  If nothing else, they've spent next to nothing in the last 50 years on maintaining the Grid ...

OK, it might not happen this winter, but it's a nice feeling knowing that we can cope if it does

ETA - Here's just one example of how iffy the whole setup is.  Why it's going to take this long to mend, I have no idea ...
https://www.energylivenews.com/2021/10/15/fire-struck-ifa-interconnector-not-fully-operational-until-2023-national-grid-says/

[Deleted User]

We were without power for nine days back in November / December thanks to

Arwen. This also affected our water supply as we are pumped from the spring. 

Thankfully we have woodburners, so we kept warm and cooked on those. We still cook on them now; why use a gas hob when we have a fire roaring? 

My lessons learnt were, quite simply, you can never have enough candles or wood. 

It also taught me that when funds allow, I would like to invest in a small generator. Just enough to power a lamp and charge a phone / tablet. With two young children, doing everything by head torch and candlelight after 3.30pm when it went dark wasn’t fun. Also we have no landline so I felt quite stuck without my mobile phone, from a safety perspective. 

Si_Clist

Deleted_User said:

... we have no landline so I felt quite stuck without my mobile phone, from a safety perspective. 

Just checking that you've now got yourself a power bank ... 

elaine241

elaine241 said:

cbsexec said:

How did it start up Elaine241?   Would love to get that sort of initiative going in my village and area.

I think it is via an app that the stores sign up to and you then say you will collect. I can ask what the app is when I am there Tuesday. I have messaged our chairman as she coordinates all the accepting donations, volunteer drivers and collections. Once I have the info I will post it on here.

Just checked,  you have to establish as a community group or charity then register with Fareshare or Neighbourly and take it from there. We are still waiting for a bank account to be set up by the co-operative and I sent the forms off before Christmas! You can register with Olio or Too good to go as well.

You need plenty of volunteer drivers and  people to man the "shop". The only trouble we have had is co-ordinating the rotas for collecting donations which are often after 8pm and some people being greedy, filling huge bags and not even putting a small donation into the pot. We put up boxes of produce etc for families that are registered with us before we put out the donations for everyone to use. 

cbsexec

Thank you elaine241. Very helpful 

Toonie

I do wish January would get on and get out. Along with catching Covid, then the shower breaking and repair bill, I've just found out my new employment is not continuing. It was only going to temporary but I was told that it was going to be for at least three months. This one feels like quite the gut punch as I felt things were settling down and I could build up some emergency fund money again. Plus the kicker is as I've been in the job for just under a month my notice period is two weeks. Not much time to plan for anything. This sort of thing seems to be happening more often in my line of work so it may be a sign to look into a career change.

DigForVictory

Deleted_User said:

It also taught me that when funds allow, I would like to invest in a small generator. Just enough to power a lamp and charge a phone / tablet. … Also we have no landline so I felt quite stuck without my mobile phone, from a safety perspective. 

I’ve a hand cranked radio with a small solar panel that I can use to recharge a phone - and I might manage to rev up the lamp. I want an LED USB chargeable lamp - more oomph for less effort! The radio I got from amazon, number B002D9FKDS (back when it was cheaper) but other suppliers may cost less.

MrsCD

Toonie said:

I do wish January would get on and get out. Along with catching Covid, then the shower breaking and repair bill, I've just found out my new employment is not continuing. It was only going to temporary but I was told that it was going to be for at least three months. This one feels like quite the gut punch as I felt things were settling down and I could build up some emergency fund money again. Plus the kicker is as I've been in the job for just under a month my notice period is two weeks. Not much time to plan for anything. This sort of thing seems to be happening more often in my line of work so it may be a sign to look into a career change.

Sorry to hear that, @Toonie. What line of work are you in? It's horrible when you think you're on track then it all goes belly up. Hope you find something else soon and are feeling better from covid now.

LadOnTheHill

That's annoying, Toonie. As you're being made redundant, would you qualify for any support? I hope you find something soon.

I have a Thorfire solar lamp that doubles as a bug killer. It's not the brightest, but I can just leave it on a windowsill to charge, or hang it outside, and don't have to think about it until I need it. It can be charged via micro USB too, which I like. Having multiple ways to charge something can come in handy sometimes.