What Preps are you doing this week

[Arzosah]

Made jam! Ate some too and just done a big household goods order from Sainsbo using vouchers worth a total of £16

[Bad Wombat]

Started a diet. My weight has crept up since I have been working from home. Decided that had to stop! I've also started running again. Actually running is rather over stating it as I can only manage a slow jog. Currently doing a 4 mile jog every 3 days. Put together a small medical kit for when me and Mrs Wombat go hill walking. Just the basics - plasters, dressings etc. Been clearing out some storage space as well. Selling a few unwanted items on ebay, throwing a lot of very old items out. That will give me a bit more room the the modest but growing collection of preps I have. Latest purchase was a mini victorinox knife for £10 for the medical kit, and an emergency storm shelter from mountain warehouse for £14.

[jansman]

The last couple of days I have been sorting out my car kit, hotel bag and clothing bag. The last two are kept in the workshop in case of fire mainly. Last week a street was evacuated near here because of a factory fire. Many folks interviewed on tv af teatime were still wearing pyjamas!
After that I cut kindling for the woodstoves. Lots of it. I have quite a few dustbins with lids that I fill, and will not touch until the depths of Winter-which is the point I cannot be bothered to cut sticks! I am also stashing paper and thin card, which we use for lighting the fires. We have always hsed newspaper, but we do not have papers anymore, and neither does my neighbour. However, there is enough waste packaging here at Chez Jansman to overcome that problem. I just make sure it is flat in bin bags and stashed on the shelves in the coal house.
Just like Bad Wombat, I am having a clearout. When I first started prepping all those years ago I did the bug out bag mullarkey. Well before anyone goes for my throat, living in the woods with refugee status ain't my bag. My knees are too piggin'old for a start.
So a lot of that camping-type gear is going-but not all. I have donated a couple of tents, mess gear etc. to the Scout group in the village.
Anyhow, now psyching myself up for my return to work after a fortnight off...

[Yorkshire Andy]

Those big free Argos catalogues make good kindling

[ShadowCompanyGhost]

Those big free Argos catalogues make good kindling

[junmist]

Ordered a new front door and the two doors it will be replacing with be going towards the new side return lean-to I will be attempting to make.
Lost the only key to the shed after looking on line one what to do (take the hinges off) being a prepper I had two types of screw drivers in the kitchen draw. Went out to do this to find that the hinges are so old it would take forever to get them undone so that was safe, but found that I could reach the screws that held part of the lock on and took them off( note to must make them harder to get too)
Found shed key so will be getting another key cut.
Still encouraging my sister to join her local bee keeping society but think this will take a bit of time. I am trying to take her out every time she comes up and show her some edible plants and talk about their uses. She is very keen to get her veg garden going but she is having trouble getting the bits together (she is going for pallet gardening but does not have a car to pick them up) so is looking for a friend to pick them up for her. Now just to work on my brother

[FEISTY]

Just ordered a large, oak, hall cupboard for coats, etc (it's a pre-loved , reproduction antique and is going to be stripped down and refinished to bring it up to date (that will cost more than the furniture itself ) - otherwise it would look dark and heavy) and there may be space for some preps as well. This, as was the plan, will get some coats out of wardrobes, so I should have space there as well. I have another cabinet being refinished as well and it'll come back at the same time. The leak we had fixed in the roof isn't fixed. Glad we hadn't gotten around to getting the ceiling fixed. It could just be the moss, but we need to get it sorted. Can't really prep with kids under my feet (one of them would figure out something was going on). Pottering about until they go back to school on Friday. I'm toying with the idea of buying one or two sturdy old wardrobes/cabinets to keep buckets of preps in in the garage. Maybe cheaper than Big Dug shelving, but if anyone asked, we could just say it was furniture we'd inherited, didn't have room for/weren't sure if we could use it, but didn't want to get rid of it - sentimental value ... - making sure it was locked and the key removed, just in case anyone just wanted to have a look inside (I would, if it was me ). It would keep the dust down too. The buckets take up a lot of space and I need to get them out of the house. Will be buying a few random things this week, like a large quantity of salt (I believe it lasts forever, especially in a mylar bag - I can pack it, store it and forget about it for the foreseeable future ), etc. Don't use it much, but if supplies were to dry up, we'd miss it.

[Wildfire]

Feisty what about using old filing cabinets in your shed or garage, wood does't last well when the Scottish weather gets into it, they are dirt cheap and hold loads, even better they have locks on them so no snooping by the weans

just to add; i got some free on Gumtree have a look see x

[FEISTY]

Feisty what about using old filing cabinets in your shed or garage, wood does't last well when the Scottish weather gets into it, they are dirt cheap and hold loads, even better they have locks on them so no snooping by the weans

just to add; i got some free on Gumtree have a look see x

Hey, that's a great idea! I have two (one sturdy old metal two-drawer and a cheapo, beech-effect one), due to be given away. I will use them in the garage instead. Unfortunately, they won't hold my 5-gallon buckets, which I want to disguise and keep the dust and cobwebs off, but they will work for other preps and, I've just realised, a great place to keep any remaining nasty chemicals, including heavy duty drain cleaner. I'm sure the metal one will rust as well, but it's given me many years of good service, so it doesn't matter . I may actually try to get old wardrobes (the solid ones) from Freecycle locally and I can have them delivered and man-handled into place for around £25. I just need to be patient until something suitable comes up. It would take years for them to deteriorate and then they can just be replaced. My garage is going to look like a sale room, but I will try to arrange it artistically, maybe with a nice Adirondack chair to make it look like my husband's escape from us all . I do envy those, mainly Americans, who have garages fitted out to the highest specification with very expensive shelving and units, but, it is, after all, storage (who actually keeps a car in a garage?).

[jansman]

Feisty,as long as the salt is kept dry, it will last for ever,as you rightly point out. I keep mine in screw-top 5 gallon drums that my favourite Indian restaurant keeps mango chutney in. I am using my salt at the moment for my runner beans, and for pickling. It is (in my opinion) a very good long-term prep.