What Preps are you doing this week? Part 13

[Frnc]

Got to walk to the post office to send something back to Amazon. This is now ridiculously easy - I don't have to print a label, pay anything, don't even need a box. And it was my fault, not theirs - nothing wrong with what I'm sending back. Well, I didn't even open it.

Yes, meds are a good idea to have in BOBs. Also in a written evacuation plan. I use one of those plastic meds dispenser with seven little compartments so I know where I'm up to, plus I have some in my bedside drawer, both of which I would grab.

Keeping my room at a nice steady temperature now. Nearly had to dig out my summer duvet the other day. Which would be annoying, since I just got this one for the spring. It's only 1.5 tog, but was borderline warm a couple of nights when we had those very warm days.

[GeraldTheBonzai]

Think I need to get the battery replaced on the car. It's one of these eco stop/start jobbies. Even though it's warm and had some longish runs, the stop/start isn't kicking in.

Had it serviced a couple of months back and the diagnostics flagged it as getting old. Unfortunately Fords are a bit picky on the type of battery you use plus the BMS needs to be reset/recalibrated, so looking like a dealership job...

[Frnc]

Bar code vanished from email! But turning data on fixed it. Good job I thought of that. However post office was shut - didn't realise it is a bank holiday.

[Frnc]

Final payent on roof loan gone. Got a new loan for the decorating to pay off though. Was looking at it just now. The payments are not insignificant, but the interest, on average over the term, is only 1% of my post tax pensions. So I don't think I'll bother with overpayments. I'll concentrate on building my reserve funds for emergencies.

I halved the interest rate by increasing the amount, when I applied. This, plus my decorator retiring soon, is why I got it all done. I'm glad it's done though.

Looks like hedge trimmers are here. It's not grown much. They are doing across the road neighbours. Oh, they never came! What happened there, I wonder?

[GeraldTheBonzai]

Just went to get a prescription made up at my local pharmacy. They have the script but no stock. Was ordered last week but still not come in. Was talking to the pharmacist and he was saying they are having difficulty source a lot of meds at the moment. As well as co-codamol/codeine there is now a shortage of ibuprofen/paracetamol, as people are switching due to the codeine shortage. There are also shortages of blood pressure meds (amlodipine - which fortunately I no longer have to take), plus others.

Did say that if they couldn't fulfil the order by mid week, he would give me the script and suggested I try Boots or Tesco. Seems the big outlets are getting preference over small independent pharmacies.

[diamond lil]

Shortages are getting worrying eh? Both of us on BP meds and painkillers in this house.

[Frnc]

I get mine through Parmacy2U. They sort it with the GP and deliver. I pay nothing. Latest is with GP so I don't know if there are any supply issues. I have about 5 weeks supply anyway, so should be ok.

[jennyjj01]

Have ordered the cable, plugs and crimping tool needed to complete the solar project. I figured that the man on Youtube made making the plugs up look like a simple craft project, and it should save me £25 easily.
Also been busy on the allotment and on my garden planters. Not expecting much food from them. Once again, the very best spuds crop looks likely from my composter. At the allotment, I'm trying to get the hang of hoeing. You might laugh, but I actually find it a bit complex and I've no confidence I'm doing it right. Where I used grass mulch, some annual weeds have still sprouted and hoeing there seems to only spread them around and stir up the blank soil where the grass clippings were. I feel sure I'm making matters worse Chopping and dropping the weeds, even including bindweed The bits I leave on the surface better damned die!

[GeraldTheBonzai]

Have ordered the cable, plugs and crimping tool needed to complete the solar project. I figured that the man on Youtube made making the plugs up look like a simple craft project, and it should save me £25 easily.

Making the cables is easy - I make all my own. I use 4mm solar cable from ebay - normally buy several metres at a time.

[Peter]

Think I need to get the battery replaced on the car. It's one of these eco stop/start jobbies. Even though it's warm and had some longish runs, the stop/start isn't kicking in.

Had it serviced a couple of months back and the diagnostics flagged it as getting old. Unfortunately Fords are a bit picky on the type of battery you use plus the BMS needs to be reset/recalibrated, so looking like a dealership job...

A long motorway journey in hot weather can kill a battery if it’s on its last legs, you might have just got
it through winter when journeys are much shorter, I was told this by a mate, a RAC mechanic.