So I can honestly say that my preparation for the ultimate ending is about there. Sorry to sound grim perhaps,buts *thats life*
Since illness has been confirmed,treated,being treated etc. I’ve had time to alter things for my wife.
We’d only been wed for two months and we had an ice storm/ snow that took the county out of power and water for five days back then. Of course being newlyweds wasn’t a problem to keep warm
but we did start to realise that things happen without warning after that. There was no title for it though. It became obvious when we got a computer when eldest was ten,so it’s a good 20 years. Prepping became apparent.
I had a redundancy. That’s when food storage started. Right up until my illness we had a huge amount of tinned ,dried,and freezers too. The daughters had constant boyfriends and friends and we rattled through it! However,as we get older we need less. Therefore I’ve reduced us to the original pantry in our cottage which is more than suitable for two people,and certainly one. It maintains rotation too. On top of tinned and dried we freeze meals too. So yesterday was a favourite pasta dish. I cooked double. Therefore we have two frozen meals - properly labelled- ready to go. This helps my wife greatly when I am in hospital,or frankly it’s easier for when we can’t be bothered. It saves fuel too.
We’ve lived in the same house all along,so we’ve seen a change or two,that’s for sure. Well maintained now,and one prep has been to set up building contacts for after I’m gone. Along with a specific fund just for that purpose. Most important.
Our garden is huge,and I’ve kept rabbits,fowls ,goats and always grown food. Not now. We have sold one section and the rest is weed controlled,slabbed,false lawned etc. Looks good. My veg garden still has some perennials in there but along with lots of my wife’s flowers now. It’s all pre weeded and bark chipped,and she knows how to use a weed killer pump spray!
Sorted.
We have our Summerhouse at the top,all sorted,powered and lit. In an emergency ,family could use it,or even Mrs J if need be. There’s heating and fan in there,along with a mini bar too!
So as a place that is basically for leisure,it’s a well kitted place
Fuel. Now there is a topic ! Up until last November there has always been at least one open fire or stove. At one point our space heating was all solid fuel. Our wood came in for absolute zero cost and we’ve saved some money down the decades, although ever expensive coal was there too. However,whilst I was in hospital,Mrs J didn’t need the hassle of cleaning,fuelling etc. So I took the remaining stove out upon return,and replaced with a rather effective electric version of a woodstove. Talking to the coal merchant I’ve known for ever in our village,even he says that regulations are gradually creeping in. Indeed he is now retiring because of this creeping up. Selling it whilst he can!
Up until about 12 years ago we had gas central heating like many ( although only really used it for hot water)We’ve had 3 boilers in that time. When the last went wrong,we simply asked for a new one. Oh no! New regulations. The pipeline had been buried originally ( before regulations now) and was the wrong bore. We’d just been rewired,and we didn’t want more mess.
So we went electric. What a change! I installed the latest wall version heating,German infra red panels, all LED lighting and in fact,much of it is automated. One soon gets used to approach lighting that’s for sure. It’s all remote control on top of manual too,so it’s easier than chainsawing logs
The main thing is that it’s simple for my wife. In fact my old friend with whom I’ve known years is looking at this now,as his aged back is slowing his wood cutting down.
As people born in the early 1960s and before,we are feeling our age.
Fortunately we are in a cottage which has doors,carpets,curtains etc. This helps heating very well.,so we warm each room as needed. As country kids we’ve always dressed in a layered way,so we are not *pretend Italians* who want to wear hot weather clothing all year round! Take a look ,you’ll see them
. Therefore we can heat each room as necessary. There is a lot of moaning about cost of electricity,and yes it is dearer than when we went electric. However,as Preppers we should adapt accordingly. We find it swift and efficient,and we don’t earn a fortune either.
Discussing this with my friends,we are of the age we can see the slow down of domestic supply of fuel. We ain’t got the North Sea no more! So electricity will be the way forward. Of course,that WILL mean power cuts from time to time I am sure. Therefore I’ve prepped alternatives for my wife.
Most importantly ( because nightime Winter it will happen) is light. That is emergency light. All LED ,mainly battery ( rechargeable is no good in a power supply problem) . Zero problems there with lots of battery ready to last at least a whole Winter. We have rechargeable lighting throughout the house we use daily anyway as our stair lights particularly are harsh. Therefore there is always gentle light,and automatic. Alongside that is charging for phone too,which will be good if phones operate
Cooking. No problem. We have a methylated spirit camping stove ,pan and kettle job,along with plenty of meths too. Then two of the aerosols gas trendy picnic stoves. So all good there. A kettle can boil,which is most important.
Heating is there too. Whilst I am sitting here with my body covered with my thin layered clothes and *settee electric blanket* - get one ,they run at only 3p per hour!
we have a back up portable gas heater. In our large fireplace it can heat easily on one section and a 15 kg bottle last 5 weeks non stop! That’ll do as back up,as I seriously believe that we will have power cuts on occasions,nationwide. Things are changing.
The last is money,and frankly ,to me, the most important. We can believe in zombies,asteroids,and the rest of it, but paying money is the real deal. So since marriage upon a very moderate income,my wife has cover for when I am gone in order to cover her expenses and maintenance expenses too. That’s relief for me to be frank.
So basically that’s how our prepping has changed over the years. Now I’ve funnelled it down to ,ultimately, my wife when I pass on,which won’t be long now.
Thanks for reading. Take care.
In three words I can sum up everything I have learned about life: It goes on.
Robert Frost.
Covid 19: After that level of weirdness ,any situation is certainly possible.
Me.
