What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12

[Frnc]

Yep - nights are drawing in!!
Bit of time off so going to spend a ‘preps’ day sorting food rotation, checking dates and making a list of anything that needs buying. Also planning to swap out stored water (5 litre bottles - lots - and some 25 litre ones) but will use old stuff on the garden so it’s not wasted. I know it’s recommended to put a few drops of bleach in the bottles when storing water - can anyone advise which kind - I used ‘Milton’ last time - is that ok?

I steralise the containers with Milton tabs, but I don't add any bleach to the new water. Some people do, but I've not researched it. I do it once a year. I have 2 x 10l that are overdue. On my list! But I have 40l done recently.

[Frnc]

Checked my gas and electricity bill. I reckon by the start of winter, I should be around £180 in credit. In the first 6 months of this year, I used exactly what my direct debit is. I'm paying £120 a month.

Checked some more cyber security stuff. Read about physical security keys for phones. Someone is trying to break into my main email account. Tries multiple times a day from around the world. But I don't log onto it using a password anymore, I use a passkey. Basically, this means I log on with my computer, using the computer pass code. Other types of passkeys use facial rec or fingerprint. It's classified as a passwordless account, with two step security. I think the 2 step only applies if someone tries to use the password.

[Adjee]

can anyone advise which kind - I used ‘Milton’ last time - is that ok?

Use regular, unscented household bleach with 5%/6% sodium hypochlorite but boiling water for the correct amount of time (depending on altitude) is always the easiest and best way to ensure you can drink it (but I stand to be corrected!).

[GillyBee]

can anyone advise which kind - I used ‘Milton’ last time - is that ok?

Use regular, unscented household bleach with 5%/6% sodium hypochlorite but boiling water for the correct amount of time (depending on altitude) is always the easiest and best way to ensure you can drink it (but I stand to be corrected!).

This is for the tablets but I am sure the liquid is used in the same way

https://www.babybrandsdirect.co.uk/sysi ... et-399.pdf

[Frnc]

Just had a thought. Not sure if I ran the tap before filling my water containers. Cold tap on the bath is rarely/never used (we have a shower over the bath) so it could have legionella in the pipe. I know I did for one, but not sure which, and not sure about others. So, I've made a reminder on my water rotation list, things to do list, and written it on the Milton boxes as well. What I need to do in future is note that I did, next to the date. Also, you can breathe it in from spary, eg a garden hose. I always forget about that as well.

Went through my food cupboard. Checked the date on every item. One pack of falaffel mix was past, so I binned that. Arranged everyting in date order. Found I have 3 packs of naan breads expiring in a week or so, so gonna have longlife curry soon. Removed a couple of plastic containers that aren't being used, so I have a bit more space.

I have just about a reasonable amount of food stored, but I'll stock up a bit at the start of August.

For some reason my bugout routes had become not saved in Komoot, so I saved them all. Good job I checked. Also checked my other map apps. Had to log into OS app. Osmand and Mapout seemed OK. Google Maps as usual had deleted my saved map. Of course in a real evac I'd most likely use paper, but Komoot and Osmand give voice nav, which is great on a bike. Also of course, I might be told where to go, so I'd have to navigate on the fly.

[GillyBee]

It isn't going to be that big an expense in time and money to refill your containers if you are worried and you will know you have done them properly.

I plan to filter any water I use for drinking form my containers anyway just to be on the safe side even if they should be fine.

[Frnc]

It isn't going to be that big an expense in time and money to refill your containers if you are worried and you will know you have done them properly.

I plan to filter any water I use for drinking form my containers anyway just to be on the safe side even if they should be fine.

Yeah, think you're right, good idea. I will re-do them, deffo. Did the last two correctly yesterday, and made a note of that. Got 2 x 5l in the bath now, and 2 more ready. Will do last two 10s later, or tomorrow. Then do them all every 6 months.

For some strange reason I couldn't fit the two I did yesterday back where they were in the prep room, but it gave me a reason to re-arrange things in there, and now I have a bit less space, but my exercise bike is useable again.

Still got a lot of rubbish in there, like old bedding. Had to put some stuff on the landing wardrobe. But my room is immaculate.

Somehow my plan to get rid of clutter got derailed a bit, by buying three new duvets, and keeping my old two for now!

[Frnc]

Contacted someone about pointing the gable wall at the top.

Looked at the mortar around the pulins in the loft. I didn't poke it to see how strong it is. Mostly looks ok. One has a gap on one side, but access is probably impossible, as the purlin is comes down almost to the suspended floor. I don't know if that one would be accessible from the outside. A row of houses was built next to mine, about 2 feet lower, and slates were stuck to some of the exposed bit.

I had a crack filled and papered over, that now appears as a ridge. GPT reckons the filler could have expanded in the heat, or that seasonal compression has taken place. That's what got me thinking about the purlins etc.

[Frnc]

Had a panic this morning. Thought I'd chucked an old wallet containing 2 backup drives while decorating. Panicking about identity theft etc. Finally found it in a rather obscure place. Careless.

Lessons:

1. Don't keep them both in the same place. Keep them somwhere a burglar hopefully won't look.
2. Remember where I put them.
3. GPT advised me to encrypt them. I had to re-format. It told me how to set up for Time Machine, remove the old version, check the size of the initial backup and so on. I've got one more to do, which I keep elsewhere. My main drive is already encrypted.

GPT then got me to browse TM and restore a non critical file to test it.

[pseudonym]

Checked a water filter in my car kit, flow rate less than optimal ( Sawyer Mini)

Backfushed, warm water, white vinegar and Milton no success with either so in the bin it goes.

Never had stomach problems with a working filter never want them so..............

Ordered a Katadyn Be free as it's replacement. Arriving Saturday hopefully.