UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on May 28, 2023 7:49:11 GMT
The doomsday prepper and the disaster that never was
This is taking things a little too far: “A CALL centre worker has splashed thousands on doomsday preparations and stockpiling as he believes the UK will fall into "riots and public disorder" over Brexit. Mark McLean has already spent more than £2,000 hoarding food, medical supplies, army rations and camping gear ahead of the March crunch date in Britain's EU exit process. The 33-year-old customer services manager thinks riots and public panic 'is a guarantee' but plans to flee his Glasgow home to live off the land in the the remote Scottish Highlands. Having trained himself to hunt deer and squirrels and collect rainwater to drink, Mark even plans to build a giant underground bunker and tunnel system as he sees a Russian invasion post-Brexit as likely.” There are some military ration packs here: www.thesun.co.uk/news/8090914/doomsday-prep-stockpile-food-brexit/
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on May 29, 2023 18:11:57 GMT
Sprouting spring onion roots: something anyone can do
I bought a cheap bunch of spring onions to eat. I cut off the bottom bits with the roots, and instead of throwing them away I planted them in pots to see what would happen. They grew rapidly, and I now have a supply of long green shoots that can be used to flavour many dishes. I hope to grow some more on a regular basis. From now on, where possible I will choose bunches with roots like this:
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on May 30, 2023 6:57:33 GMT
Army surplus stores
There are one or two stores in London that I can get to quite easily. They look to have better gadgets and equipment than camping stores – survival versus pleasure I suppose. I am not sure that they sell food though, and this is what I am mainly interested in. There is one in Canterbury called Golding. Think of it this way: you don't want items failing on your soldiers in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of a campaign. So what is provided has to work properly every single time. If it is the same shop, I have been in it before now. But I need to work out what shops have survived in Canterbury, the ones I used to shop in. As a tangent, Eleto Chocolate Cafe is very nice to go in.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on May 30, 2023 18:16:26 GMT
“I need to work out what shops have survived in Canterbury” It is many years since I have been in Canterbury. I would expect the worst when it comes to the shops there. I have seen vacant shops with bare windows or shutters down all over London, including many good ones that I used to go to. Chain stores still have other branches in the area, but the disappearance of some good independent shops is a big loss. I remember that there was an army surplus shop quite close to me, but it closed down years ago. There is still one near Waterloo. Unfortunately they sell mostly clothes and kit, and I am interested in the special rations.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on May 30, 2023 18:17:30 GMT
Sprouted seeds update
Many of the sample packets I tried didn't sprout, the tiny seeds in particular. So far, only the mung beans have been much of a success. I will get a stock in: they sprout quickly, they are said to be highly nutritious and I like the taste.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jun 4, 2023 18:51:39 GMT
Another prepping possibility
So far, my stockpile of food has mostly come from places such as ALDI and LIDL. Military rations are a new possibility to explore, and so are these tins of freeze-dried food: they have a 2047 sell-by date!
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on Jun 6, 2023 6:50:02 GMT
“I need to work out what shops have survived in Canterbury” It is many years since I have been in Canterbury. I would expect the worst when it comes to the shops there. I have seen vacant shops with bare windows or shutters down all over London, including many good ones that I used to go to. Chain stores still have other branches in the area, but the disappearance of some good independent shops is a big loss. I remember that there was an army surplus shop quite close to me, but it closed down years ago. There is still one near Waterloo. Unfortunately they sell mostly clothes and kit, and I am interested in the special rations. You should try my town. It is quite a mess. Of course, it is all destruction by design. To the Deep State, equality means everything is third world, except for themselves.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jun 6, 2023 8:25:27 GMT
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on Jun 7, 2023 6:34:49 GMT
That looks like a lot of food for someone to eat... buying that in one go, then having it for regular meals would likely save you money in the long run. Still, you would need a lot of space for that lot to he successfully stored.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jun 7, 2023 19:09:59 GMT
Massive tins of freeze-dried food on sale
The above offer is just an example of what is available to the serious doomsday prepper. There is no doubt that buying big saves money, but cost and space requirements, not to mention not having many people in the household, make these monster, catering-sized tins unsuitable for many of us even when there are great price reductions. One thing I have noticed is that there are many other big reductions around. Could it be that prepping was thought to be the next big thing, but people are not buying because of the rise in the cost of living? Maybe all the billionaires have stopped buying in bulk for their bunkers because they now have enough food for at least fifty years!
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on Jun 9, 2023 6:43:22 GMT
Massive tins of freeze-dried food on sale
The above offer is just an example of what is available to the serious doomsday prepper. There is no doubt that buying big saves money, but cost and space requirements, not to mention not having many people in the household, make these monster, catering-sized tins unsuitable for many of us even when there are great price reductions. One thing I have noticed is that there are many other big reductions around. Could it be that prepping was thought to be the next big thing, but people are not buying because of the rise in the cost of living? Maybe all the billionaires have stopped buying in bulk for their bunkers because they now have enough food for at least fifty years! I think there is some truth in that. If everyone is purchasing food to store, there is a limit to how much people will store. Also, the nature of the preparation can change over time. In 2020, I was getting stores of food together to brace for food shortages and supply chain disruption. Now, it is sitting there, as a backup option with no specific focus. Was I foolish to stock up on food? No. But there needs to be a balance, and a reasoned approach to what you do, and how you do it. It also needs to be stated that there is a certain peace of mind in having that emergency food supply. You know if things go crazy, you can limit outdoor journeys for a bit, and wait for things to calm down. As an aside, I am creating my own soil, to try and grow ginger. You can eat the leaves, so am working on cultivation of it.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jun 17, 2023 19:10:17 GMT
Water shortage in Kent
I hope that you are not too badly affected by this. This is exactly why it is worth having some supplies on standby. I see that bottled water stations are being laid on by the water company:
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jun 18, 2023 18:34:46 GMT
“It also needs to be stated that there is a certain peace of mind in having that emergency food supply.” This is very true. Having supplies gives good feelings. It is like knowing that you have money in the bank. It also frees your mind for other things.
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on Jun 21, 2023 6:48:32 GMT
Water shortage in Kent
I hope that you are not too badly affected by this. This is exactly why it is worth having some supplies on standby. I see that bottled water stations are being laid on by the water company: This was the first I have heard of it! I just checked, and yes, it is happening. At the moment it is a hosepipe ban, coming in on 26th June. There are too many people for the infrastructure to handle - and has been this way for over a decade. It keeps getting worse, and at some point there will be a resource failure. That is when the interesting times truly begin. Resource scarcity is a massive driver for war and conflict, and water is a mightily invaluable resource...
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jun 21, 2023 18:33:58 GMT
Water shortages
Widespread and long-term water shortages are indeed worrying. We can do something to prepare for the burst pipes, leaks and droughts that can affect water supplies in the shorter term. A few days' interruption of service is not so bad, especially if there is some advance warning. Filling the bath and kettles etc. will help, as will having some bottled water in stock. Face and hand wipes are worth getting too. Bottled water stations and tankers from which people can fill containers may also be available. I wonder how safe water in plastic bottles is, especially when it has been stored for a long time. It would be fine for washing in, but I am not so happy to drink it. Maybe glass bottles would be better. Scorched earth at Maiden Castle in Dorset in last summer's heatwave:
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on Jun 27, 2023 6:48:11 GMT
Water shortages
Widespread and long-term water shortages are indeed worrying. We can do something to prepare for the burst pipes, leaks and droughts that can affect water supplies in the shorter term. A few days' interruption of service is not so bad, especially if there is some advance warning. Filling the bath and kettles etc. will help, as will having some bottled water in stock. Face and hand wipes are worth getting too. Bottled water stations and tankers from which people can fill containers may also be available. I wonder how safe water in plastic bottles is, especially when it has been stored for a long time. It would be fine for washing in, but I am not so happy to drink it. Maybe glass bottles would be better. Scorched earth at Maiden Castle in Dorset in last summer's heatwave: Get water purification tablets, and know where the local rivers are. If push comes to shove you can get the water you need, and purify it at home. I also suggest putting the opening to the bottle away from the flow of the water, to help prevent sediment flowing into the bottle.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jun 27, 2023 19:05:02 GMT
River water!
“...know where the local rivers are.” For me that would be the Thames – and its mostly underground tributaries. Thames water is brackish i.e. somewhat salty as it is a tidal river. It is certainly cleaner that it was at the time of the Great Stink, which is covered in the London thread, but I don't think that Eau de Thames is drinkable without major treatment. This cartoon from 1828 shows that people of the Georgian era were well aware of the horrors that the water companies were providing for them to drink:
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jun 28, 2023 8:06:23 GMT
Emergency water pouches
There are several alternatives to plastic bottles of water out there. This 125ml pouch has a shelf life of 5 years and costs £1.95; the recommended intake is 2 per day:
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on Jul 5, 2023 8:04:48 GMT
River water!
“...know where the local rivers are.” For me that would be the Thames – and its mostly underground tributaries. Thames water is brackish i.e. somewhat salty as it is a tidal river. It is certainly cleaner that it was at the time of the Great Stink, which is covered in the London thread, but I don't think that Eau de Thames is drinkable without major treatment. This cartoon from 1828 shows that people of the Georgian era were well aware of the horrors that the water companies were providing for them to drink: For you, yes it is going to be much more of a challenge. I doubt desalination is a remotely viable option! But what about lakes and ponds? Could they be an option? All of this is extreme circumstances talk here. Certainly now something to be done under normal times.
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on Jul 5, 2023 8:05:54 GMT
Emergency water pouches
There are several alternatives to plastic bottles of water out there. This 125ml pouch has a shelf life of 5 years and costs £1.95; the recommended intake is 2 per day: Might be an option, if you can store it. This is one issue with preparing: where do you put it all?
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Post by Avacyn on Jul 8, 2023 12:53:27 GMT
Saw this short video, and thought it be am idea to put up here, as it could be useful.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jul 12, 2023 17:55:49 GMT
Where do we go from here?
“Was I foolish to stock up on food? No. But there needs to be a balance, and a reasoned approach to what you do, and how you do it.“ This is spot on. Considered, informed decisions are needed here. I need to get back to all this and review the situation – again. I need to decide how far I want to go. Decision making would be a lot easier if we only knew what was ahead of us though. A family in the US stocked up for the apocalypse – in 2013! I wonder how much money they invested in this little lot:
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on Jul 13, 2023 6:57:25 GMT
Where do we go from here?
“Was I foolish to stock up on food? No. But there needs to be a balance, and a reasoned approach to what you do, and how you do it.“ This is spot on. Considered, informed decisions are needed here. I need to get back to all this and review the situation – again. I need to decide how far I want to go. Decision making would be a lot easier if we only knew what was ahead of us though. A family in the US stocked up for the apocalypse – in 2013! I wonder how much money they invested in this little lot: I agree, the situation has changed a fair bit. The supply chains are currently more robust, and I notice some food prices going down a little in Tesco. This is telling me that we are entering a lull. The danger is, people think the worst times are over, and start buying things like crazy again. This is going to then make inflation surge upwards again. So this could be an economic trap, if you will. We need to be wary, and not step down from being ready for disaster - for now. In all likelihood, we will see an economic pattern like that from the 1970s. We had inflation repeatedly return, and go higher, until Volker at the Fed did shock and awe tactics with interest rates to crush inflation. We can't have that today, because the level of debt is far too high. It is a rock and a hard place economically, so we need to be ready for that. I again say people need to get debts cleared. Interest rates are only going to go up, making it harder to pay things off. Sadly, there will be many people who are now trapped into using credit cards to survive, and this is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off now. I'll be quiet now, and stop sounding like Doctor Doom over here.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jul 13, 2023 18:16:11 GMT
How far should we go?
“We need to be wary, and not step down from being ready for disaster - for now.“ Mental preparation is a very good idea; the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Covid may be behind us, but who knows what might happen next! The big question is, what more should we actually do to be ready? I think that bunkering down with guns and 20 years' worth of food is going a bit too far! A Doomsday Prepper with his hoard:
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Jul 15, 2023 18:28:07 GMT
Prepping can be pricey
I looked at a few useful gadgets for emergencies such as wind-up radios with emergency light sources a while back, but so far have not bought anything. I got an idea of available devices and their prices from Amazon and eBay; I know now that there are many other places where they sell for eye-watering prices items that make the ones on Amazon look like cheap toys. Some examples of devices with 2013 prices: The iridium extreme satphone that cost £910 10 years ago is now over £1,289 ex VAT and the water filter now costs £349. I think that I will have to give this lot a miss.
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Avacyn
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Post by Avacyn on Aug 2, 2023 7:00:13 GMT
How far should we go?
“We need to be wary, and not step down from being ready for disaster - for now.“ Mental preparation is a very good idea; the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Covid may be behind us, but who knows what might happen next! The big question is, what more should we actually do to be ready? I think that bunkering down with guns and 20 years' worth of food is going a bit too far! A Doomsday Prepper with his hoard: At At this point, it should be a careful monitoring. Keep an eye open for emerging problems. Also, start to try and connect with others. The past few years have shown the necessity of community.
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Aug 3, 2023 18:27:06 GMT
I really must get back to this. How are your ginger growing activities doing?
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UnseenI
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Post by UnseenI on Aug 4, 2023 18:44:35 GMT
Financial aspects
“I again say people need to get debts cleared.” Being debt free, thrifty and frugal is indeed the ideal to aim for. It is also good to have savings in the bank and cash on hand. However, preppers may get into debt just to pay for all the extra stuff they have bought; some of them are spending huge amounts of money. But then, they may not need to spend nearly so much in future so will be able to pay off some debts.
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Post by UnseenI on Aug 4, 2023 18:46:44 GMT
Growing small amounts of food
I grew some rocket leaves from seed. There was enough for two side salads. “As an aside, I am creating my own soil...” Small-scale hydroponics might be worth investigating.
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Post by UnseenI on Aug 6, 2023 18:18:07 GMT
Hydroponics!
There is no harm in doing some online investigations. As with seed sprouting, you can start very small and you can either buy expensive kits or improvise your own.
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