Somerset

[triffid]

Hi,
Just like to introduce myself as 'Triffid'. I'm 46 & I live in rural Somerset with my partner. I've read a number of these intros and a common theme, which applies to myself, is I'm a 'prepper' and have been for years....... but I didn't even know it!'
I had not even heard the word 'prepper' until a couple of months ago when some friends and I were chatting in a pub and the subject came up - the consensus being that preppers were 'nuts' (read the comments section on any newspaper article!). I kept my opinion to myself but at home, on the computer, I entered the word as a search and here I am!
Some how did my prepping come about?



I can remember in the early 70's my dad buying a camping stove (and gas), matches, candles etc. I was excited thinking we would be going camping but no........ the purchases were his 'prepping' (the word didn't actually exist then!) for what became the 3 day week (miners strikes/power cuts etc).
A few years later I enjoyed watching the tv series 'Survivors' - you know very 'middleclass', the one with the main character who always wore an immaculately clean aran jumper!
In 1978 I read the works of John Wyndham, two made a lasting impression: The Kraken Wakes and
(particularly) 'The Day of the Triffids' (so much so that I've used Triffid as my user name!). What these novels did was make me think how would society cope after some 'breakdown' and perhaps more importantly how would I ?
1980 saw an American Presidential election and (just like now) the British media paid it far too much attention. (Does anyone else agree with me on this score: I'm British so obviously don't have a vote in America - why does the BBC report as headline news on the campaign for who is going to stand against Obama? - it's utterly irrelevant). Anyway BOT: One of the tv articles was about different 'groups' in America and one of these groups were 'survivalists'. The creed of these survivalists was that you have to look out for yourself (and those you hold dear); you can't just sit back and wait for someone else to sort out your problems. Back in the early 80's the main 'danger', at least for an 'aware' and concerned teenager was of course nuclear war - so the 'survivalist' mindset interested me. Rather worrying though was the subtext which seemed to be well, right wing/gun-totting/fundamentalist/commie-hating etc etc!


I don't actually believe in an end of the world scenario. It won't happen. But something just might happen? And does it really 'cost' you anything to be prepared?
OK 'it' won't happen. But we have a habit of saying all sorts of 'it won't happen's. For example who would have said 2 years ago we would have a Liberal Democrat as deputy PM? - 'it will never happen' they said! How many football fans would have said in early 2008 that Man City would be a winning team again? - 'it won't happen' they said. Back in 2008, when Honda closed down 'his' team, how many motor racing fans would have predicted Jenson Button to be world champion in 2009? - it won't happen they said.



For me the big tipping point was the 2008 financial crisis. Talk of banks running out of cash, the end of the Euro, national defaults, increasing nationalism and isolationism etc worry me enough to make me 'prep'. As I mentioned earlier I didn't even know the term 'prep' and would hate to be thought of as a survivalist.......... but if the cap fits? So I suppose I am one.
We live in the country and have a reasonable garden enabling us to grow -for the last few years- a substantial contribution towards our food requirements. Most of our 'veg' needs in fact. We even grow a surplus we give to friends. So our basic food needs are a 'possible'.


So what are my 'prepps'. We live in a rural area on the edge of a village a couple of miles from a small town. We have land, facilities, equipment, storage space, experience etc to grow enough food with a small surplus to trade. We have access to spring water (I must get a suitable filter) and firewood.
Reading this site, many posters plan to BUG out but for us, depending on if/what (it will never happen!) emergency, I think it's better to stay. (although I do have an easily accessable trunk containing a selection of camping gear etc)
I can justify my 'prepps' financially. You get so little in bank interest that you are better off investing in food futures. We have a freezer full and access to a generator so our frozen food stock will 'last' a month or so. We consciously buy tins/pasta/rice etc to take advantage of bulk discounts/BOGOFs etc



I hope to learn from the experiences/thoughts of other posters.
Thanks for reading.

[itsybitsy]

Hi Triffid, welcome to UKP. It sounds like you're fairly well set up there, well done!

[preppingsu]

Wow, brilliant intro. Sounds like you have a good mind set and have done a lot already to allow you and your loved ones some peace in unsettling times.
Welcome to the forum.

[scoobie]

Hey Triffid.. welcome to the mad/sanehouse depending on your perspective!

It's always interesting to read how people come to get into prepping, and it sounds like you are well and truly on the right track with what you are already doing and your mindset..

Anyway, welcome!

[TeeDee]

Hello Triff , Welcome to the forum , I'm down the road in the Devon Area so were neighbours!

[pseudonym]

Hello and welcome to the Forum.

What an intro, glad to have you aboard.

[the-gnole]

A few years later I enjoyed watching the tv series 'Survivors' - you know very 'middleclass', the one with the main character always wore an immaculately clean arran jumper!

I think it got a lot of people thinking "what if" back then.

I live in the area where most of series one was filmed, My other half bought me the dvds when they were released in 2004 and it got me into the whole "prepping" scene.

The clean clothes were the best they could do back then for continuity and unfortunately in some ways the "Middleclass" feel to it was down to the available quality actors and actresses that were chosen for the cast.

A few years ago I met one of the minor cast members from series three, Julie trott, she now lives in Shropshire, not too far from Boycie (John Challis) and has been in a few other programmes since.

all64.jpg (8.85 KiB) Viewed 1468 times

Second from the right as you look at it. from "a little learning"

Some really useful lessons can be taken from all three original series

Oh, Welcome aboard, some very good members and information on here and a good search function to cut through to the good stuff

[Rosesandtea]

Welcome to the forum.

[triffid]

the-gnole

thanks for the link to survivors, brought back memories!
In the episode you linked to I loved the 'Mrs Overalls' relationship
And that Jenson Interceptor........ driving that down to the station, at 8 mpg, would have used 1 oil tankers worth of petrol.


I saw the repeats a couple of years back and despite it being dated it was a good show, so much better than the pc modern version.


To add to my op another inspiration for prepping was 'The Good Life'.
And reading John Seymour's "Self Suficiency"

[maxilaura]

hello