What Preps are you doing this week? Part 9

[Kiwififer]

Fair points and thanks.

As I said, I do have distant relations up north and a mate who would let me into his shed, I suppose I am basing my needs on a short term get out of Edinburgh and quickly scenario if the relatives and shed was not an option. As I’ve said, it wouldn’t be a long term option, if I had to do that I am not sure what my options would actually be.
Probably sit tight in the house.

[jansman]

If we had to leave here in a hurry - think gas leak/ flooding/ house fire- then it will be with our pre packed hotel bag ( as mentioned by grenfell) .As for where we will go; we have a list of dog- friendly hotels locally in the aforementioned bag.

[Arzosah]

Hello kiwififer (just realised about NZ/Fife, thats a good name!) there's something about bugging out using a tent that we haven't really talked about on here. This is the UK, and you're in/on the edges of a big city ... you won't be on your own in getting out, even if the weather's kind to you (and that really, really can't be counted on). And then have a think about crime stats - the solidity of a house will deter some crime, or enable you to discourage some criminals, even though windows and doors are comparatively vulnerable. Now think about those same criminals happening to pass by your tent, or see it in the distance and make their way to it. They'll slash it with a knife and you're done, cooked.

The tent is still valuable - you might find you enjoy camping in it's own right, you might need it to be able to afford a holiday at all the way things are going economically, if it's a police/government evacuation you might put up the internal bit in the shelter (Japanese people evacuated because of Fukushima did that, in school gyms). Even in your mate's shed it might be better to have an actual tent to stay warm.

As has been said, you need to leave your house for flooding, a house fire, a local terrorist etc attack where the police are evacuating everyone, but that's more or less it. And if you're having to do it during a flood event under your own steam, check out a topography map so that your route isn't under water. Practice it, and review it every so often - I have a route to walk to my sister's, about 10 miles away, and because of new housing that's been built, a new footpath has been laid out, that cuts off a mile-long detour, very valuable to me, but its only been built in the last 6 months.

Finally, if you *are* in Fife, check out this https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/article ... rangements it gives a link to Fife's Community Risk Register, as well as Ready Scotland, which I don't know anything about but sounds good.

HTH

[Kiwififer]

Hello kiwififer (just realised about NZ/Fife, thats a good name!) there's something about bugging out using a tent that we haven't really talked about on here. This is the UK, and you're in/on the edges of a big city ... you won't be on your own in getting out, even if the weather's kind to you (and that really, really can't be counted on). And then have a think about crime stats - the solidity of a house will deter some crime, or enable you to discourage some criminals, even though windows and doors are comparatively vulnerable. Now think about those same criminals happening to pass by your tent, or see it in the distance and make their way to it. They'll slash it with a knife and you're done, cooked.

The tent is still valuable - you might find you enjoy camping in it's own right, you might need it to be able to afford a holiday at all the way things are going economically, if it's a police/government evacuation you might put up the internal bit in the shelter (Japanese people evacuated because of Fukushima did that, in school gyms). Even in your mate's shed it might be better to have an actual tent to stay warm.

As has been said, you need to leave your house for flooding, a house fire, a local terrorist etc attack where the police are evacuating everyone, but that's more or less it. And if you're having to do it during a flood event under your own steam, check out a topography map so that your route isn't under water. Practice it, and review it every so often - I have a route to walk to my sister's, about 10 miles away, and because of new housing that's been built, a new footpath has been laid out, that cuts off a mile-long detour, very valuable to me, but its only been built in the last 6 months.

Finally, if you *are* in Fife, check out this https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/article ... rangements it gives a link to Fife's Community Risk Register, as well as Ready Scotland, which I don't know anything about but sounds good.

HTH

Thank you for that, I suppose I hadn’t really thought about the crime aspect. Staying put would probably be a better solution in that case but at least I now have a pretty good tent for going away!

I’m going to start thinking of what I now need to do to get through in the house. How to cook and stuff like that if the gas and electricity were cut off.

Btw, I’m in Edinburgh now. Went all the way to New Zealand and ended up marrying a girl from Portobello! I did grow up in Fife and still go over the bridge a lot to visit mates.

[PreppingPingu]

Hullo Kiwififer The fact that you're thinking about what to do if things get a bit iffy, is a good place to be. As others have said, cover the basics so you can hunker down for a few weeks with little worry if supplies and power become an issue for what ever reason. Yeah, lockdown showed what the population will do in times of strife We don't have the rural vastness of America or Canada to flee to.

As far as my preps this week, just as the previous week really, Long term stuff like getting my allotment in shape so I can be productive when it comes to planting my seeds: prepping raised beds, bunging the hole in one of my rainwater bins etc. I have also ordered a couple of things that I had been putting off spending money on as if things do kick off with Ukraine, we all have been shown during the pandemic/brexit and some climate issues that our supply chain is fragile and I may not be able to get/order things for a while. Outbreak of conflict will cause supply issues so prep wise I have ordered a new shed for the allotment as my current one is at the point of no return as far as fixing up goes. From a prep point of view, my allotment shed acts as a small scale prep stash where I have a small, but well stocked first aid kit, an unopened 5l water bottle, camping lamp, some tea/coffee, fire kindling stuff and wood and some snack food sealed in a tin. Not a huge amount in case of theft, but a little stash should I need it. It's all stuff that I can use down at my plot so nothing that will be wasted.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Be battening down the hatches high winds forecast Wednesday into Thursday....

[diamond lil]

Kiwififer my hubby is from Edinburgh and we lived there for years. The main prob getting out would be the bypass. That blocks at the drop of a hat as you will know. And then you've got to get over the bridge.. We're in a wee village in the Borders now.

[Kiwififer]

Kiwififer my hubby is from Edinburgh and we lived there for years. The main prob getting out would be the bypass. That blocks at the drop of a hat as you will know. And then you've got to get over the bridge.. We're in a wee village in the Borders now.

Bypass is a nightmare at the best of times. I’ve always said that if I had to get out of town, I would be okay if I got over the bridge, if I didn’t, I would be screwed.

[diamond lil]

Buy a wee boat, keep it at S Queensferry. Then you could go north without any hassle

[Kiwififer]

Buy a wee boat, keep it at S Queensferry. Then you could go north without any hassle

It’s funny you should say that, Fisherrow is my closest yacht club in Musselburgh and I was thinking of joining to do their dinghy course in the summer.

Well unless the wife decides to do something else to the house….