Prepping: the new world...

fionaandphil

Wow @Cherryfudge that is a lot - I don't even take that much on holiday!

I usually have about £20 - £50 just in case but I also have full cupboards so could do without shopping if I had to.  The biggest thing would probably be fuel and I did leave it to get really low this week as it was going into the garage for some damage repair so that is maybe something to think about.  I also topped up cash yesterday which is just as well as the window cleaner came this morning 

Nelliegrace

Such a useful list @DigForVictory, I put cold water in my rubber water bottle, and have some damp flannels to help keep cool at night.

We used to use tepid spongeing on overheated patients, putting cool damp flannels at the neck, underarms, groin, and over the liver, changing them regularly. Too cold water would cause shivering which increases temperature. 

Extra fluids are essential, we are not used to hot weather in the UK, it is easy to get dehydrated and a bit confused without realising it, and there is an increase in heart attacks and strokes on the hot day and the next day.

If we have to go out we take cold water in insulated stainless steel bottles, and a cup to pour it into, so the water in the bottle stays clean, and we pause in the shade for a few minutes for a drink. 

DigForVictory

I had to look up where the liver is - right hand lower ribcage. The offspring may be appaled at my new flannel positioning but they are younger fitter & anway fun to bait. And should know where the liver is in case their mates overheat & need cooling. (Their current technique involves a bucket of cold water, rather hazily targeted...) Always good to update the software of the young.

DigForVictory

As it gets hotter, I bumped into an economist article which is robust: "Britain is already a hot country. It should act like it". From under a damp sheet. I'm doing what I can. Even my gardening technique has changed - weeds have their stems broken just above ground level & then are left to wither, as I lurch back to the house, the shade, the teacup & fan (winning combination but occupies both hands)

Nelliegrace

We had a car journey in the middle of the day. The aircon was much appreciated, but the sun was scorching on my hands and I was glad of a damp bandana to shade them, and cold water to drink. 

Thank goodness this heatwave is ending. I have soaked and splashed my feet in a bucket of cool water, and watched, “The Day After Tomorrow.” A good film to sit and chill.

DigForVictory

Cousin back online after a several day power outage. She'd coped. Her lads, without their games, had struggled. A book of puzzles, poker/liar dice & two decks of cards are now in her stash.

(I've no idea how liar dice is played - can anyone recommend a YouTube video?!, cousins now back in their online world...)

Son is trying to get me to ditch all my DVDs & trust in the internet to stream on demand. Given I bought my music several times over (LP, CD, streaming) I am unwilling to cooperate.

maryb

There's a big move on to go back to physical media, tell him he's behind the curve.  Youtube is full of people extolling the virtues of actual ownership

DigForVictory

I think he's got an eye on all the lifting when I downsize - simpler to get me to rule out an entire medium... Poor delicate blossom, I was stubborn before he was born. I won't be guided by "What's In" or I'd be broke & miserable - there's so much Fun in history! 
Although I need to find a museum or craft baker who appreciates a real pancheon. (Steep sided bowl for bread to rise in, can be up to 2' across) Himself sought one for Years, commissioned one in desperation (from a fellow research historian & potter) & then a couple of years after Found a Real One - I had to hit the cashpoint & hold the treasury note up before the charity shop staff would unlock the door - but he had a hand clamped on it & was locked in with them.

So, how Do you play poker with dice?

DigForVictory

Sometimes preparedness can go past its expiry date & so today I dropped a bag of out-of-date meds off. 

Whilst I was there I asked about a bottle of cough mixture by day, one by night, a painkilling throat spray & tablet decongestants. At Asda, insisting politely on the generics, that still added up to nearly £25.
Later this week I will inspect what Home Bargains can do - it'll all be over-the-counter stuff, without a pharmacist's wisdom to point out what's sugar free, what cooperates with heart & blood pressure meds, etc but it should cost a bit less.

Plus it'll spare me being fifth in a queue of the already ill, in November...  

Cherryfudge

Our smoke detector has started to make strange occasional buzzes. T'internet says this might be because the battery is about to run out of power and guess what? We have no more of that type of battery. It's on the list for the morning.

Having been woken by the raucous bleeping of a smoke detector with a dying battery in the past, I just thought I'd mention to add alarm batteries to your preparations. Also any other batteries you use, and a charged powerbank for your phone.