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The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)
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Further to above, I read an excellent Kindle book, How to Survive, by John Hudson. He taught survival techniques to the armed forces. The principles he taught apply almost anywhere - those who get through tough times are those who focus on the things they can control. He talked about those principles in a short work he brought out in 2020 about Covid 19. Interesting reading, focussing on the practical.
One life - your life - live it!15 -
Thriftygifty said:Is now the time for us to be getting a log burner installed?
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Life is of course full of risk, I just think the effect of wood burning stoves on air quality inside the home is greater than some are aware of, and I would want to know this to properly weigh up the decision. It's certainly not all going up the chimney and even if it is, you are breathing the air outside too.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/01/avoid-using-wood-burning-stoves-if-possible-warn-health-experts
I shall leave the thread now, I suspect I may be in the minority on this one.
Guineapigsqueaks x
Keep Smiling11 -
Being of a certain generation, I survived being brought up in a home where the only form of heating was an open coal fire. Ditto my neighbours - a lot of whom are in their 80s. As for stoves, I keep hearing about wood/log burners but most local people have multifuel stoves as we find them cheaper to run. In this area, it's either that or oil (no gas). We tend to use smokeless ovoids - which give out less emissions than wood or coal. The flue pipe is at the rear of the stove, so I have space on top to boil a kettle or cook. It helps even out winter/summer energy costs.14
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Nargleblast said:Happy_Sloth said:morning ladies and gents... felling a little lost this morning. I sort of feel like we are the kids in the playground watching the bully's beat up the little guys. Sure we asked nicely for them to not do it and we've told them we won't be friends anymore but sometimes bully's need to be made to back the $^%£ up.
I know the situation is complex and its isn't as simple as all that... i get it, but my heart is breaking, i'm desperately wracking my brain to work out what a mid 40's woman can do to help
Not to mention my anxiety is though the roof! what do i have, what don't i have... do i have enough ... kinda having a meltdown this morning
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One thing we can do is try to find the balance. We should keep ourselves informed of what is going on out there, but at the same time we should resist the temptation to trawl through all the stuff in the newspapers, on the Internet, on social media and in endless news programmes.
From a practical perspective, I think looking at how we and our households use gas and electricity, how we use petrol or diesel, and how we buy, store and eat food, is a good starting point. I am getting my cavity wall insulation renewed and loft insulation topped up next week, free of charge under the government scheme. It will hopefully help me cut fuel use.
One life - your life - live it!15 -
I agree with you Guineapigs, I know they are popular with preppers but I personally would not use a log burner or fire in my home unless I had no other choice, due to the particles. I read a really interesting article a couple of years ago about how most people vastly underestimate the risk from the particles from fires/stoves in the home because we have such an ancient association with fire meaning comfort and safety - but they are doing serious damage to our health now. I’ll see if I can find it again.Original mortgage free date: November 2044Current mortgage free date: November 2038Chipping away...9
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Here’s the article: https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-fireplace-delusion
The other thing to factor in when considering getting a wood burner is whether you live in an urban or rural area - quite a lot of urban areas already have clean air zones where they aren’t allowed. I can see them being fully banned in urban and suburban areas in the future so might not be a good investment unless you live rurally.Original mortgage free date: November 2044Current mortgage free date: November 2038Chipping away...9 -
and tomatos, red wine, meat, mobile phones etc etc etc cause cancer. but life would be horrible and gray without some things that are bad for us sometimes.
i like my stove. i like that if theres a power cut or my boiler breaks and i can't afford the plumber to fix it until payday I've still got heat and can cook and make tea. i like making my sprogs hot chocolate on it at christmas and having lit when were opening our gifts. i also like a bbq in the summer and sometimes we even have the neighbours over!
yes they're not great for the environment (but neither is gas central heating) but i dont go on holidays so save my environmental credentials there. you don't want one then don't get one. simples.
Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott
It's amazing how those with a can-do attitude and willingness to 'pitch in and work' get all the luck, isn't it?
Please consider buying some pet food and giving it to your local food bank collection or animal charity. Animals aren't to blame for the cost of living crisis.14 -
Greenglockenspiel said:Here’s the article: https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-fireplace-delusion
Hmmm. I can't think of any reason why I might take any notice of what Sam Harris thinksWe're all doomed7
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