Watcher from the shadows

[VonNoelio]

Hi all,

been a member for a few years but never posted up to now. Have always considered myself caught between two rationales, one is the countryside ranger who was taught to be prepared when outdoors "better to have it and not need it than...."and preps for many things but not SHTF type scenarios. The other is that sometimes it feels silly to think about all this prepping stuff outside of a bit of wild camping.

However the thinking person in me at the same time understands there are waaaay too many people on this planet consuming a dwindling supply of resources eventually something will have to give, so maybe prepping is the right thing to do. And then you have the levels of shit to prep for; SHTF through to national power outage to flooding to house fire.

In my job I understand that being prepared makes potentially dangerous situations easy and comfortable when it comes to being outdoors in all weathers. I kinda enjoy, as many others here do, that I can exist quite comfortably outside, with the right but minimal kit, when most people are tucked up in the comfort of their own home.

Anyhoo they're my problems, good to meet you all and thanks for your voices and thoughts over the last three years, hope I may be able to help and contribute.

All the best

[sethorly]

Hi VonNoelio. Sounds like you have a fulfilling job. Perhaps you'll agree that prepping for the probable events is sensible, and prepping for the improbable is fun

Care to share your pack contents for when you're out?

Also, you don't know about fungi do you? If you do I'll badger you to death asking questions [/joking]

[diamond lil]

My background and upbringing was all pure country, my dad was a countryman born and bred and totally at home outdoors. I don't expect to ever live outdoors at my age and state of health lol - but I like to think I know how to do it if I had to. Plus, the way the world is going things are set to change drastically quite soon. Hope you enjoy the forum

[PreppingPingu]

Hello and welcome. Good to have an introduction. Definitely better to have and not need - that is what being prepared is about. As you have seen no doubt, this forum is full of people from all walks of life and many a different opinion and life experience but we all share the desire to be a little bit more prepared than the average person.

[pseudonym]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

[izzy_mack]

Welcome to the forum, as you'll have gathered from your reading of various threads, many of us don't prep for big events but more personal stuff like ill health, job loss or just a power cut. It doesn't matter why you prep or how much but just the act of thinking "what if" takes you a step closer to being able to cope with those little hiccups that life throws.

Look forward to reading your posts, I suspect you've a fir bit of useful knowledge to share.

[VonNoelio]

Hi all,

many thanks for the greetings.

Sethorly:
Unfortunately I know a few but mainly the obvious ones and I don't venture down that road too often as I tend to question what I know! So end up carrying at least 2 or 3 books and then refer to another when I get back home. I think with fungi event though there are only a small amount that will kill you I stick to the ones you can absolutely guarantee and then forage from members of the plant kingdom where the risks are less. Plus we live by the coast so foraging is relatively easy. I remember a story about a couple of knowledgeable enthusiasts with a lifetime of experience who went picking in Scotland and picked the wrong thing, one of the died and the other is on dialysis for the rest of their life! Also friends of ours did the same and they partially poisoned themselves, ended up with the worst trip ever and a visit to RDE in Exeter where they spent a couple of days. Again they thought they knew what they were doing!

As to backpack
Kombat UK 40L 1000D molle Assault Pack (Green) with the following pouches added;
OneTigris drinks pouch for Kleen Kanteen,
single P90 pouch for Silva pruning saw,
OneTigris smart phone holder,
Leatherman Wave black molle(incl 40bit set and extender),
Tactical EDC molle pouch(various sml tools, pen/pencil, batteries, torch, firesteel, homemade propolis/witch hazel lipbalm, Norwegian Formula handcream, superglue etc),
Wallet
Petzl head torch,
small horizontal molle pouch for waist belt,
2 x multi-purpose tactical pouches for internal storage
Snugpack response pak.
Have also made some paracord extras, new zip pulls & paracord covered grab handle.
Items carried daily are;
work FAK (with my own additions, asthma meds, pain meds, antihistemine, steristrips, ibuprofen gel, large military wound dressing, contact lenses, Tigerbalm, Newskin, Rehydration sachets),
Jetboil Flash & windshield;fuel iso-butane/propane mix,
Bushnell 10x42's,
Kleen Kanteen pot with soup/stew,
skivvy roll,
waterproofs,
OS Map.
Occasional carries(depending on work or play);
Refurbished Elwell 4lb axe with hickory handle,
Dunsford Yorkshire style billhook,
Refurbished Brades 4lb side axe
Fallkniven NL4,
Mora Companion.
Thats most of it I think.......Will take some photos at some point.

Thanks for the greetings DiamondLil, PreppingPingu, Psuedonym.

Izzy Mack: Agreed, was only just reading post about house fires and services response times(didn't even know they were available??). Smoke hood seems like a good idea. Its making me think I should apply the same H&S protocols to home as I do at work, crazy that I haven't before have all the usual stuff like smoke & carbon monoxide alarms, couple of small fire extinguishers. And that I should have a memory stick with all photos and important docs and contacts in my work/edc bag.