Burying your head in the sand???

[filsgreen]

Hi Katelia,

I would try not worry too much about the snow. If it happens again persist with Tesco's or Asda on-line home delivery; I'm able bodied and still use them. I'm sure that they would keep going in inclement weather. Also, consider using takeaway services, I'm sure they would deliver hot drinks and if you got friendly with them, they would fill a flask for you. I can only imagine your situation and it seem like I can feel your anxiety in your posts. Hopefully your brother will come through for you if things get bad again. Personally I'm going to use these for emergency cooking, along with extra cannisters of gas, I'm sure they will last a while and if used carefully, perfectly safe.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PORTABLE-COOKER ... as+cookers

Phil

[Arzosah]

Hi Katelia,

I would try not worry too much about the snow. If it happens again use Tesco's or Asda on-line home delivery; I'm able bodied and still use them. I'm sure that they would keep going in inclement weather. Also, consider using takeaway services, I'm sure they would deliver hot drinks and if you got friendly with them, they would fill a flask for you. I can only imagine your situation and it seem like I can feel your anxiety in your posts. Hopefully your brother will come through for you if things get bad again. Personally I'm going to use these for emergency cooking, along with extra cannisters of gas, I'm sure they will last a while.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/PORTABLE-COOKER ... as+cookers

Phil

Katilea was making the point that they don't, actually, in her area at least.

I've had experience of home deliveries being cancelled in bad snow too - where I used to live was very hilly, although it was on the outskirts of a city of a quarter of a million people, nothing happened - even taxis wouldn't come to my road.

Katilea, I've used a little camping gaz stove inside to heat hot water. You're possibly not supposed to do it, but this was years ago, when I didn't know any better And in the situation you describe, thats what I'd do. I'd do it by an open window, yes, but I'd do it - not to *cook* food, but to heat it - the first thing I heard, when I started prepping, was to get in a week of "no-cook" food. For me, that means tins of potatoes and veg, baked beans, packets of salted peanuts and cashews. I'd open the window well before I used it the next time too, just in case there was a slight leak or something.

As far as using the kelley kettle is concerned, smoke indoors is what the health and safety community refer to as "indoor pollution" - its a killer in the Third World still

[filsgreen]

I noticed her new post after I had made my comments Arzosah, consequently I edited mine to reflect that. I would persist with them because big businesses will try their upmost to get back to home deliveries as quickly as possible.

Phil

[Deeps]

Katilea, as others have said, you're maybe not 'supposed' to use these gas cookers indoors but its something to consider, ventilation being of primary concern. Another option is to get an old table/sideboard or whatever and have it sitting in your car shelter with a bit of slate or whatever to put your kelly on, that way you don't need to be faffing about on the ground. You will be doing your cooking outdoors so even if its benign situation without people trying to steal each others scran, it could well be cold, especially with arthritis, I suffer from it myself a bit so I know where you're coming from. Whatever peoples situation is, we have to deal with where we're at, you will need to weigh up your personal situation and decide what's going to work best for you. Good luck with it, have a look on youtube for inspiration, there's all sorts of stuff, would something like this be of use to you ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdR6WXggiKQ

Again, if you had more bricks (or something else) underneath it you could raise it to a level that works better for yourself. This could be pre assembled in your car port, ready if required. You're the best suited to know what would work for you.

[katilea]

for the little camping gaz stove I'm thinking (I have an old drop leaf table) if stick that in spare room where the window opens widely into the back garden I could use the bisto 300 to reheat stuff in there.. sorry when I said cook I meant reheat, to me 'cook' applies to the process of making any hot lunch or dinner in general whether thats a quick zap of soup in the microwave or making a homemade shepherds pie from scratch! I can also leave that window open slightly as the room is only used for storage so can shut door to keep cold out rest of house when not in there cooking and leave the back window open.

That one seemed to be the safest as can remove canisters when part used and no matches are needed. They're also only about £14 on ebay. I'm aware the canisters only last 1hr 10 mins so spotted a smaller kelly kettle (smallest stainless steel size) going cheap so decided to get one for 'extra back up' ... if the situation with snow or electric was ongoing (like main powerline down due to heavy snow/blizzards) I can make the gas last longer by only using that for reheating food and using the kettle for boiling water for flasks of tea and hot water bottles, using my free fuel (twigs I've collected and the cotton wool and vaseline I already have in the house).

I am wondering if it be easier to use kettle at back door because its glass I can put it just outside door (level access patio so completely flat no steps for it to fall off down) that way I can get fire started put kettle on and shut door to, until I see it boiling! fill up flasks etc, put fire out.

I'm imagining a worst case scenario here but at least we'd survive until family could get here if we really did have severely deep snow and electricity blackouts and not be one of the sad statistics that end up on the news of elderly or disabled person who died of hypothermia cos they had no food or heat for days in a blackout!

I'm also stocking up on things that don't need cooking for a quick lunch so only need to 'cook' once a day... got small jars of beef spreads, big bags of crisps, cup-a-soups and can whip a loaf out of freezer quick to be defrosting, both freezers will keep everything frozen for about 12 hours i think in event of power failure. I've got long life milk..I could stick a carton in a bucket of snow to keep it cool rather than having to keep open and close the fridge door when I want to make a cuppa. or get myself one of those cool boxes... stood on patio in minus degrees it should stop the milk going off! ..or leave it by the window in the spare room if I'm gonna be leaving that open for ventilation anyway.

I'm just wondering if there's an equivalent to a USB stick with internet on for a Samsung Galaxy tablet and a solar charger that would work with it? to access news and weather reports etc and let family know we're still alive if they're snowed in too and can't get to me. (without it being too risky for them to attempt)