First ever forum post.

[Tnarturnah]

Hi,

I have never been on a forum before, I have no idea how this works. I enjoy all senses of humour but the English sense is my favourite. I am 40 years old and I do not live with my mum (or Dad).

Until recently I was only vaguely aware of the term prepper but since learning this was an actual thing I have found myself to be one.

I am not a fan of the internet.

Here are some facts about me that have made me realise I am a prepper and make me feel I will probably fit in just peachy on this forum.

In my house I have food stores, these have been carefully selected to give enough calories to support four people and one dog for six months, all using the energy required to survive some kind of cataclysm. Along with these food stores I have estimated the amount of fuel needed to cook it all and included this. If these fuel stores fail I have backups.

I have rigged up the guttering system on my house to direct rain water into a filtered storage drum under my kitchen.

I was a bushcraft instructor for three and a half years and lived full time in a wood between January and May 2013, it was really cold that year and I would of perished if my best friend and bushcraft geek pal had not worked at Aldi. Because he did we flourished, I have never eaten so well.

Until injury prevented it I was a tree surgeon which helps with living in a wood, along with the skills needed to cut up wood and know which wood is good for any given purpose.

I have a 'bug out bag' (this is also a new phrase to me, I've had it for years but did not know it had a name) which I carry everywhere I go but just in case I also have a 'bug out van'. My bug out van has a one month supply of everything I could think I might need, as well as a load of stuff I will not need but can be carried in a van but not a bag. I have, from time to time, bugged out in my van to test it, it works.

My eleven and thirteen year old children find me equally ridiculous and interesting, I force none of this on them but through camping and having fun they are learning skills that are worth having. I have been into their school twice to give talks on mountaineering and bushcraft which was really good fun and I haven't heard of any other dads going in teaching software development or handy middle management quips to deal with unruly juniors.

My girlfriend is a kind and understanding woman. Her job title is 'Product design Manager'. I cannot even begin to understand what her working day involves but twice a year she has to go to China and shout at factories because they are rubbish at making quality products. It seems to me it is a good job that if it says 'Made in China' on the box it is a sure thing it will break fairly soon after buying it, at least it is cheap, Mr Rab, of Sheffield, made in England, until recently. Cough.

Anyway, this lovely woman puts up with a whole room filled with food, water, medical supplies, tools, books, games and candles because, like all sensible people she does realise, at some instinctual level, the human race has made some errors. It is her job to bring more Chinese rubbish into our fair land and we are just in love with the consumer driven market that provides a digital radio for £8 at a budget supermarket. She gets it but she knows I am right, she knows that deep down, her immense salary will buy nothing the day it all goes wrong. She knows that my food store, skills and knowledge gained over the last thirty years and ability to live without money will be what means something real, substantial, skills worth having that do not involve an LED lit screen with financial budgets and steam mop designs on. She knows that the collapse of all that stuff is imminent, maybe this year, possibly next, it could be ten years, who knows? What she does know is that when it happens I am the person to be around.

As are you lot it seems.

So, I don't care for the internet, I have never been on a forum before, as stated. It would appear I have found one that suits me well, I hope to make friends, meet up, if that is what happens? I'm in the North of England, I do not have a regular job which makes me free most days, at most times. Give me a shout if you are around, I love sharing and gaining skills, or just walking the dog.

Phil.

[hobo]

Welcome Phil and thanks for a great first post!

[pseudonym]

Now that is how you do an introductory post.

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

[Brambles]

Yep, great intro, thanks! Welcome to the forum.

[izzy_mack]

Best intro I've ever seen too! This is the only forum I've ever taken part in too and I've never regretted it. For a non-prepper you're awesome! You're STARTING where i'd be hopeful of finishing up!!

[grenfell]

Agreed great post and very easy to see parallels . Like yourself there are many on here ( myself included) who have sort of stumbled into prepperdom . Many of us see it as just a common sense attitude and approach to life and it seems you have a similar mindset , there are probably very few who wake up one morning and think "I've got to become a prepper!" Good to hear your partner is happy with your ideas too , there are a couple of threads that go along the lines of " my wife thinks I'm mad" . My other half is understanding and supportive too , and often actively thinking about what we now see as prepping . Working together is half the battle in my eyes . Welcome to the forum and I hope you overcome your dislike of tinterweb post some more.

[Stasher]

Fantastic intro! Welcome to the gang and I look forward to hearing more! Until about a year ago I too had not heard the word prepper, the people here are always willing to come forward with great hints and tips. I hope you'll enjoy the ride

[ForgeCorvus]

When "IT" happens..... I'm coming to your house*

Welcome home mate.

If theres anything you want to know, just ask. The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked.... I'm quite often amazed by the range of knowledge around here



Crow (who sometimes calls himself "a recycled boyscout" )

ETA Mods: Can this thread be moved to "Introductions" so it doesn't get lost?
(Maybe made Sticky?)



* Old joke in our community. Its supposed be one of the commonest replies to prep advice by non-preppers

[nickdutch]

welcome. We all learn from each other here and you have a lot to teach us

[iceprep]

Excellent intro.

Welcome. There are quite a few of us here in The North of England!
I'm on Tyneside.

Looking forward to learning from you.