Preppers Paradise: Pickled Turnips and Sovereignty Spam

[RedToothBrush]

Despite all the accusations of hysteria for those saying they intend to prep, today Theresa May said households were going to be given guidelines in August and September on how to prepare in the event of No Deal.

Robert Peston@Peston
@theresa_may says 70 "technical notices" for businesses and households will be published in Aug and Sept setting out how we can all prepare for a no-deal Brexit (should that be what happens). Yikes

Arla are already warning that milk product may be scare and baby formula will be 'an occasional luxury' even if we do get a deal
Dairy products 'may become luxuries' after UK leaves EU

Whilst we wait for the government to advise us on what action we all need to consider taking, this is a thread dedicated for those people who wish to share tips, advice and what they plan to do rather than clogging up other threads.

Excellent @prettybird . Gin is often the answer! And with some fruit in? Even better.

Ooh I have a plum tree and just usually give the plums away. I’ve never preserved anything in my life. Is it hard pretty bird? I’d like to have a go this year. Plums in syrup sounds lush! Any pointers?

Preserving is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Americans do it differently so you might want to stick to UK resources. Delia and Nigella both do it.

Or - ask the people you give them to to do some for you. I bet they do.

Genius idea bellini

I think I’ll have a go myself too. Off to google.

Road testing is a good idea.

Yes, I'm doing that with everything which isn't a known quantity. I plan to see what Aldi have to offer on the tinned vegetable front.

Tesco had big tins of hoops reduced to 19p today.

I love hoops.
Picked up the remaining lot. Dated end of next year
Also picked up chickpeas.

Will frozen things be ok? We have a good 2huge freezers stock off food in them.
I suppose if it anything happens to electricity would have to use them up first

Ohh the stockton tea bags in tesco 80 for 50p are absolutely lovely. Been using them a while now and good to keep in!

I prefer tinned pears to fresh ones.

Assuming electricity is ok, freezer will be ok. Here's 3 rubbish freezer things that have happened to me unrelated to power cuts and drama:

1. Lovingly prepared meals lost just before dd was born when old freezer went bump;
2. Stuff in new freezer lost when workman at home switched off the wrong plug; and
3. Dh failed to shut door properly and everything was lost.

So even without Brexit myth/likelihood I'm a bit reluctant to vest all my hope in a freezer.

But tins can last for ages, and ages and although will provide a monotonous diet at least will keep you from starving.

We have two "under work top" freezers in the garage (one which doesn't work very efficiently after I tried to hurry up a defrosting with a hair dryer and we had to buy another one in a hurry as I had stores of frozen expressed breast milk ), plus an American-style fridge freezer in the kitchen.

However one of the garage freezers currently has our much-loved deceased Siamese in it, waiting until we decide on the best place to bury him . We really must make a decision - it's been nearly 2 years!

Gratuitous picture of said much-loved cat, taken about 3 days before he was knocked down. Don't ask why he'd suddenly taken to sitting there

As an aside - how about a lovely (and very large) outdoor pot plant to be the last resting place of your cat.
Cremation first might be the way forward, though.

Ah yes, I was going to suggest cremation too.

We had our much- loved cat cremated. Our vet helped with the arrangements. We chose that option so that if we move we can always take him with us, I’m glad we did this.

Before any of the habitual posters jump in and say that we're all talking about disposing of bodies, what a bunch of loons, .. we're talking about a beloved cat that died a couple of years ago.

We have a couple of spots in the garden where he loved to sit in the undergrowth where we're planning on putting him. Just need to get organised. Putting in the greenhouse took priority this year.

Already have one cat under the magnolia (Iirc, it took 3 years for us to find the right spot to bury her )

We have buried two cats and cremated the third, and we scattered her ashes in her favourite places. I was quite happy with that, in the same way that I don't live anywhere near places where deceased relatives are - it's the memories of them alive which are important to me.

....anyway that's enough of a diversion.

I will make sure he is buried before we start using the freezer for food!

@prettybird - beautiful cat btw . So sorry. Forgetting I'm not on The Litter Tray

He was indeed. He was a big tart softy who would go and talk to anyone. You're not supposed to have favourites but......

No cat could replace him - but the pair of lilac point brothers we got to keep the old cat company come close between them

When we lived in South America we had a 5 day power cut, following an earthquake. We met the freezer door shut other than taking stuff out, so no checking just in case, and used stuff as it defrosted, ifswim.

So, fish first followed by chicken portions and then beef because it was a big chunk.

If you organise the freezer and know alomosr exactly what is in there you have a better chance of using it before it goes off.

If you keep your freezer full it will stay frozen for a while. Even if you just fill it up with loaves of bread or bottles of milk. Alternatively a fleece blanket or duvet will retain the cold. The last time I defrosted my freezer i wrapped the food in a fleece blanket and it helped keep it frozen.

I’m going to rearrange my freezer so the stuff that will defrost first is at the front and top. Then I’m going to take a photo so I know what’s where without opening the door. I’ll try to keep this arrangement going when I replace food as it gets eaten.

I need more power banks for the kids’ mobiles. Does anyone have a good solar powered one they can recommend?

@Whatthefoxgoingon - I just did my usual trick if going for the second cheapest