What Preps are you doing this week? Part 9

[Arzosah]

Hello all storm damage to my local internet transceiver (wotever it's called) repaired this evening, ye gods and little fishes, I'm glad of it! That's a week now. Compensation should be heading my way, 6 days, not the 4 days since my phone call because the outage was so widespread. Lots of money also heading my way from Sainsbury's Bank, compensation for the time and stress caused by the fraud against my credit card, and the appalling level of their staff training (they said it, not me!).

Money also going out *from* my account - to the double glazing firm to get two windows replaced (living room and bedroom, mid-March is quoted). And in desperation at having no internet, I started sawing the end off a big bookcase of mine, so that it will fit in the alcove, and my very conservatively-sized living room will then be able to take a 3 seat sofa. From Ikea, but still

Loving the chat on pallets and Harry Dodson wonderful man, and I've bookmarked the youtube videos.

I too ordered some extra LFTs - my brother was supposed to be helping me sort the bookcase I'm sawing up, but he got covid, and since he was staying in our sister's house, she was exposed to his lurgies, which was horrible for them both. He was down here so briefly, I didn't see them.

The other thing I did was back up my computer - since Russia's attacking Ukraine on the cyber level as well (poor Ukraine ) who knows how that spreads? Though I think it's a Denial of Service, not a virus, currently at least.

[diamond lil]

Put a picture in the power cut thread my new torch makes those batteries look small and I might have set fire to my trousers playing with it

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[diamond lil]

So if we hadn't moved we'd be struggling for propane for the cooker then, we used 47k cylinders. But on the other hand, I'd have a stove and could have instant heat burning anything available, instead of worrying about the cost of gas central heating... Adapt and survive for sure but sometimes it's hard to find things to adapt to. Can't exactly go out in my tiny wee back garden and have a bonfire every night

[British Red]

The cylinder problem is interesting. I've heard many theories as to reasons for the shortage. The number of people holidaying in caravans is one given - but I've never seen a caravan use 47kg cylinders - or even 19s? Forklifts do use propane but they have special cylinders (or at least a different fitting). I've heard gas barbecues mentioned - but again I would have thought they generally use smaller cylinders. Maybe just people staying at home in lockdown and stocking up. It's not a problem for us thankfully as we have a good number since we use them for many things but one to watch if bulk propane gets short. I confess that I'm keeping our bulk tank topped up.

[GillyBee]

Funny you should say backup. I have just had "the chat" about backups for laptops with Mr Gillybee.

The gas cylinder shortage has been ongoing for at least a year. Probably a pandemic supply chain effect. Our neighbour threw out her old gas BBQ and offered us the butane cylinder. We said yes very fast. She had no idea what she was throwing out. It is still half full too.

[grenfell]

Money also going out *from* my account - to the double glazing firm to get two windows replaced (living room and bedroom, mid-March is quoted).

Just a thought but if you are having new windows ask for a quote for triple glazing as opposed to double. We did when having some windows replaced and it wasn't much more .

[grenfell]

I have some bottles of wine from back in 1975. It would most probably not be drinkable now, but it is a memento of happier times, picking dandelions, blackberries and elderberries with my Mum. My very first wine was rosehip from a very small tin of rosehip juice. Back then everyone was making wine or beer and ingredients were on sale everywhere. Something to do with the removal of brewing duties or lifting of ban on brewing?

I don't see why it wouldn't be drinkable as long as it's been stored decently. I've drunk similarly aged homebrew. When we moved house I had a lot of bottles of wine but had skimped on labels and most had come off. Consequently I was left with a large number of unlabelled wine. I would take it along with me to re-enactments and in the evening we would play "wine roulette" sampling and trying to work out what it was. Sometimes the bottles did have labels and one was a blackberry from about 1980. One friend tried it and it was quite nice but she did say " I'm drinking wine that's older than I am" .
My very first wine was blackberry and I brewed it in a one gallon whiskey bottle as the airlock fitted it and I didn't have a demijohn easy to hand. Came out decent that one. Had some failures. Potato turned out the worst , ended up like pigswill. Flower wines just seemed too much faff for the results and sometimes wines just turned just drinkable if a little bland.

[jennyjj01]

[Mad Scientist]

Renewed daughter’s passport, topped up petrol, did loads of laundry so we have weeks of clean clothes and bedding. More cat food and meds. Charged batteries. More wine. Lots of first aid items. I’d recommend a first aid course to anybody, absolutely essential. I remember when a First Aider at the school I used to work for. The number of kids who would come to me on Monday with injuries sustained over the weekend because their parents didn’t know what to do. Aaaaargh!!! You can do almost anything with a couple of elastic bandages, a few dressings and a triangular bandage. They pack up small and can be carried anywhere.

[Arzosah]

Money also going out *from* my account - to the double glazing firm to get two windows replaced (living room and bedroom, mid-March is quoted).

Just a thought but if you are having new windows ask for a quote for triple glazing as opposed to double. We did when having some windows replaced and it wasn't much more .

Ack, my brother said that too, I meant to do it, I was so distracted I forgot. The money only went out yesterday, so I'm sure I could still sort it. Thanks for the reminder.