OT - Winter Contingencies

Supposed to be getting a belting winter this year.

Just been eyeballing the central heating. I've figured that In
prolonged power outage I could use the Genny to power the central
heating boiler, need to er... get my electrician around to (yeah
right!) install a mains socket and mains plug into the lead Assumes
major power outage for long periods. Purely to stop the house water
system freezing over and to provide some heat.

Got my portable gas stove. And Mrs D's stocking up on the Lobby
ingredients.

Plastic shovel for the car (Note to self... dig it out of garage)
Ropes and shackles... Bag of grit for the 2wd and a Sack of spuds in
the boot for ballast.

Oh and a Pioneers tool set shovel etc in the 101.

Candles... you just can't get a packet of bog standard candles at
Tesco!

Suppose some matches may come in handy.

Dig out the parafin lamps from the caravn.

Changes of clothes, golves hats and sleeping bags handy for those long
trips to the super market. No joke, Having assisted in grinding the
City to a Halt two years ago. Getting stuck in traffic for a couple of
hours on my way to assist in ... er.... getting the traffic going
(ickle part of the job).

Bottled water (In case of mains pump failure due to long power outage)

Mobile phones charged up as often as possible but a selection of coins
for the eventuality that the mobile systems sink.

Who sells road salt for the drive way??? Now I've a 2wd to consider.
Can it be purchased at the local builders merchants? Not a jumbo bag ,
just a couple of easy carry sacks that can be bunged in the corner of
the garden just incase (highligh likely). We live on a bend..(note 2
to self ensure video is on to record cars bouncing off the wall across
the street.)

I remember when I lived at Ma and Pa's (read when I had hair!) being
snowed in with no electric. Cooking Beans in an old saucepan on the
coal fire and toasting er toast , could use our gas fire come to
think of it...

Suppose it's wise to agree courses of action incase peeps do get stuck
- i.e. collecting kids, looking after parents (Stuck in super deep
snow and having the annual powercut)

Get some more Antifreeze and De-icer & Super resistant screenwash.

Fingers crossed we won't need any of the above but pays to be prepared
and all that.

Hugh you dusted off the call out list?

What have I missed?

Lee D

--
"I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters."
- Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)

www.lrproject.com
'76 101 Camper
'64 88" IIa V8 Auto
'97 Disco ES Auto LPG'd
'01 Laguna

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:40:32 +0100, Lee_D
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Got my portable gas stove. And Mrs D's stocking up on the Lobby

For some bizarre reason I read that as:

Got my portable gas stove. And Mrs D's stockings up in the Lobby

erm...


--
"We have gone from a world of concentrated knowledge and wisdom to one
of distributed ignorance. And we know and understand less while being
increasingly capable." Prof. Peter Cochrane, formerly of BT Labs
In memory of Brian {Hamilton Kelly} who logged off 15th September 2005

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:40:32 +0100, Lee_D
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Supposed to be getting a belting winter this year.

Back at the start of the year they also said we were going to get a
decent summer..

>Ropes and shackles... Bag of grit for the 2wd and a Sack of spuds in
>the boot for ballast.

Paving slabs make good landy rear ballast.

>What have I missed?

Booze reserves stocked for when you are stuck at home with nothing
better to do?

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:40:32 +0100, Lee_D
<[email protected]> wrote:

>What have I missed?

The sign outside your house saying "I'm a mad survivalist nutter, ****
off or I'll kill you"?

I was chatting to Ray Mears a few months ago and he reckons every time
there's some kind of "warning" about a severe summer, winter, flood
or whatever, his book sales go through the roof.

I suggested he write a book on roofing...


--
"We have gone from a world of concentrated knowledge and wisdom to one
of distributed ignorance. And we know and understand less while being
increasingly capable." Prof. Peter Cochrane, formerly of BT Labs
In memory of Brian {Hamilton Kelly} who logged off 15th September 2005

During stardate Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:53:55 +0100, Mother <"@ {mother}
@"@101fc.net> uttered the imortal words:


>The sign outside your house saying "I'm a mad survivalist nutter, ****
>off or I'll kill you"?
>

Ah you've seen the Caravan then :0)

>I was chatting to Ray Mears a few months ago and he reckons every time
>there's some kind of "warning" about a severe summer, winter, flood
>or whatever, his book sales go through the roof.

I'm on commision..why do you think I posted this!

:0)

......right...wheres my Ice Drill and flints.


Lee D
--
"I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters."
- Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)

www.lrproject.com
'76 101 Camper
'64 88" IIa V8 Auto
'97 Disco ES Auto LPG'd
'01 Laguna

Lee_D wrote:
> Supposed to be getting a belting winter this year.
> SNIP
> Just
> Hugh you dusted off the call out list?
>
> What have I missed?
>
> Lee D

Ah, now I remember why I left England 25 years ago ....

Karen

--
"I'd far rather be happy than right any day."
- Slartibartfast

On Thursday, in article
<[email protected]>
[email protected] "Tom Woods" wrote:

> On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:40:32 +0100, Lee_D
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Supposed to be getting a belting winter this year.
>
> Back at the start of the year they also said we were going to get a
> decent summer..
>
> >Ropes and shackles... Bag of grit for the 2wd and a Sack of spuds in
> >the boot for ballast.
>
> Paving slabs make good landy rear ballast.
>
> >What have I missed?
>
> Booze reserves stocked for when you are stuck at home with nothing
> better to do?

If it's that bad, spare batteries for torches and portable radio.

De-icer for locks.

Possibly a good idea to have dry socks available when you're travelling.
British winters are not always cold and dry, and damp feet will do you
no good at all. And some sort of emergency food pack in the vehicle as
well.

--
David G. Bell -- SF Fan, Filker, and Punslinger.

"I am Number Two," said Penfold. "You are Number Six."

What central heating !? I still have a coal fire.

--
Larry
Series 3 rust and holes

"Lee_D" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Supposed to be getting a belting winter this year.
>
> Just been eyeballing the central heating. I've figured that In
> prolonged power outage I could use the Genny to power the central
> heating boiler, need to er... get my electrician around to (yeah
> right!) install a mains socket and mains plug into the lead Assumes
> major power outage for long periods. Purely to stop the house water
> system freezing over and to provide some heat.

"Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in news:djrmum$iio$2
@news8.svr.pol.co.uk:

> What central heating !? I still have a coal fire.
>

I'm thinking ahead. 17 acres of trees to go in next year...and a new wood
burner.

Derry

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:50:19 +0100, Tom Woods wrote:

> Booze reserves stocked for when you are stuck at home with nothing
> better to do?

Carlise has just had a mini baby boom, 9 months after the floods and
power outages back in January. If you use a consumable birth control
method, stocks of them...

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:40:32 +0100, Lee_D wrote:

> I've figured that In prolonged power outage I could use the Genny to
> power the central heating boiler,

Don't foget the fuel for the genny and a few multi-outlet extension
leads to reach freezers and table lamps.

> need to er... get my electrician around to (yeah right!) install a
> mains socket and mains plug into the lead Assumes major power outage
> for long periods.

I ought to do this as well. ATM I'd be messing about rewiring things.

> Candles... you just can't get a packet of bog standard candles at
> Tesco!

Better off getting a gas lantern. Basic ones are about £20 and a gas
cartridge less than a fiver, a lot more light than torches or candles
and much longer run times. I quite like the Camping Gaz clic fitting
lanterns with piezo ignition. No looking for matches, burning fingers
etc. The clic fitting means you can swap cylinders around as required.
Argos (Extra) have 4 large clic cylinders for £19.99, these will run a
lantern for 12hrs or more.

> Suppose some matches may come in handy.

Or a zippo (plus fuel) or gas powered hob lighter (refillable plus
gas).

> Dig out the parafin lamps from the caravn.

Oh bit smelly compared to gas are these pressure lamps or wick
burners? Pressure will rival a gas lantern but not a wick burner.

> Changes of clothes, golves hats and sleeping bags handy for those
> long trips to the super market.

Aye, it gets very cold very quickly in a stationary vehicle and you
don't have enough room to move about enough to keep warm. Though
avoiding "long trips to the supermarket" by stocking up on
non-perishable food stuffs now is probably a better idea. Batten down
the hatches and sit it out...

> Bottled water (In case of mains pump failure due to long power
> outage)

Most supplies are gravity from the reservior, pumping stations tend to
have backup generators. One reason I will resist fitting a combi
boiler, no 50 gallon storage tank in the loft...

> Mobile phones charged up as often as possible but a selection of
> coins for the eventuality that the mobile systems sink.

The mobile networks seem to be pretty fragile in times of "crisis".
Not all bases have backup power and those that do tend not to have
much more than about 6hrs. Back in January a couple of the networks
were dead here for several days, none of them came back with the
power.

> Who sells road salt for the drive way??? Now I've a 2wd to consider.
> Can it be purchased at the local builders merchants? Not a jumbo bag

The sheds will have it once it gets colder. Personally I just use a
very gentle sprinkling of the cheapest table salt I can get. The grit
doesn't serve any purpose other than making things mucky and aiding
the spreading from the back of a gritter.

> Fingers crossed we won't need any of the above but pays to be
> prepared and all that.

Yep, makes the difference between being comfortable, warm and fed or
uncomfortable, cold and hungry.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

In news:[email protected],
Mother" <"@ {mother} @ <"@ {mother} @"@101fc.net> blithered:
> On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:40:32 +0100, Lee_D
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> What have I missed?
>
> The sign outside your house saying "I'm a mad survivalist nutter, ****
> off or I'll kill *AND EAT* you"?
>
> I was chatting to Ray Mears a few months ago and he reckons every time
> there's some kind of "warning" about a severe summer, winter, flood
> or whatever, his book sales go through the roof.
>
> I suggested he write a book on roofing...



--
"He who says it cannot be done should not interrupt her doing it."

If at first you don't succeed,
maybe skydiving's not for you!

Mother" <"@ {mother} @ muttered summat about:

> I was chatting to Ray Mears a few months ago and he reckons every time

Ok you have my attention! I'm a huge fan, you can't just drop that into
conversation, how did you meet him?

--
Graham

101 GS
101 Rad Bod

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 20:43:32 +0100, "Graham G" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>> I was chatting to Ray Mears a few months ago and he reckons every time
>
>Ok you have my attention! I'm a huge fan, you can't just drop that into
>conversation, how did you meet him?

Nothing at all interesting I'm afraid, although he is a very charming
and totally unassuming chap with a (thankfully) well developed sense
of humour.


--
"We have gone from a world of concentrated knowledge and wisdom to one
of distributed ignorance. And we know and understand less while being
increasingly capable." Prof. Peter Cochrane, formerly of BT Labs
In memory of Brian {Hamilton Kelly} who logged off 15th September 2005

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 23:34:53 +0100, Mother <"@ {mother} @"@101fc.net>
wrote:

>>Ok you have my attention! I'm a huge fan, you can't just drop that into
>>conversation, how did you meet him?
>
>Nothing at all interesting I'm afraid, although he is a very charming
>and totally unassuming chap with a (thankfully) well developed sense
>of humour.

Oh, Charlotte quite liked him to, then realised a while afterwards who
he was

During stardate Fri, 28 Oct 2005 11:12:29 +0100 (BST), "Dave
Liquorice" <[email protected]> uttered the imortal words:

>On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:40:32 +0100, Lee_D wrote:
>
>> I've figured that In prolonged power outage I could use the Genny to
>> power the central heating boiler,
>
>Don't foget the fuel for the genny and a few multi-outlet extension
>leads to reach freezers and table lamps.

I started to ponder the power drain of my freezer.... then figured I
could just bury the contents in some snow :0)

>Aye, it gets very cold very quickly in a stationary vehicle and you
>don't have enough room to move about enough to keep warm. Though
>avoiding "long trips to the supermarket" by stocking up on
>non-perishable food stuffs now is probably a better idea. Batten down
>the hatches and sit it out...

True enough, soups and the like where you just add water are simple
enough to store and simple enough to prepare so long as you can boil
water. And dare I say it those DIRTY DIRTY pot noodles :0)

>> Bottled water (In case of mains pump failure due to long power
>> outage)
>
>Most supplies are gravity from the reservior, pumping stations tend to
>have backup generators. One reason I will resist fitting a combi
>boiler, no 50 gallon storage tank in the loft...

Yeah guess this would be a bit OTT. Though our combi only has a tiny
tank in the garage loft.


>> Who sells road salt for the drive way??? Now I've a 2wd to consider.
>> Can it be purchased at the local builders merchants? Not a jumbo bag
>
>The sheds will have it once it gets colder. Personally I just use a
>very gentle sprinkling of the cheapest table salt I can get. The grit
>doesn't serve any purpose other than making things mucky and aiding
>the spreading from the back of a gritter.

Table salt it is.. I'll get Mrs D to bung a couple of bottles on the
shopping list.

--
"I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters."
- Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)

www.lrproject.com
'76 101 Camper
'64 88" IIa V8 Auto
'97 Disco ES Auto LPG'd
'01 Laguna

During stardate 28 Oct 2005 08:27:01 GMT, Derry Argue
<[email protected]> uttered the imortal words:

>"Larry" <[email protected]> wrote in news:djrmum$iio$2
>@news8.svr.pol.co.uk:
>
>> What central heating !? I still have a coal fire.
>>
>
>I'm thinking ahead. 17 acres of trees to go in next year...and a new wood
>burner.
>
>Derry

We found it best to fell and cut a year in advance. Gave the sap time
to dry out of the wood. Otherwise the chimney quickly gets tarred up
and you end up evacuating the budgie and contents of the lounge onto
the lawn... calling the firebrigage when the rafters start smouldering
due to the heat of the chimney.... then bol**ck**g them for taking so
long to find your cottage... I recall "We've been keeping it going for
you!" from me Dad.... ah childhood memories!

:0)

Lee D
--
"I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with typewriters."
- Frank Lloyd Wright (1868-1959)

www.lrproject.com
'76 101 Camper
'64 88" IIa V8 Auto
'97 Disco ES Auto LPG'd
'01 Laguna

On Sat, 29 Oct 2005 02:28:30 +0100, Lee_D wrote:

> I started to ponder the power drain of my freezer....

Once started probably no more than a couple of hundred watts. Starting
how ever will need 2 to 3 times that. Those small cheap 700-800W ish
two stroke generators can struggle to start a fridge/freezer,
especially if there is other load at the same time.

> then figured I could just bury the contents in some snow :0)

Provided you don't get a quick thaw before the power comes back... If
you don't have a generator it's probably simpler to check the freezer
section of your contents insurance. B-)

> True enough, soups and the like where you just add water are simple
> enough to store and simple enough to prepare so long as you can boil
> water. And dare I say it those DIRTY DIRTY pot noodles :0)

Dried pasta, tins of tomatoes, few herbs, pot noodles if you must. The
abilty to boil water is the most important, you can then at least have
a hot drink and make up packet soups as you say.

--
Cheers [email protected]
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

In message <[email protected]>, Lee_D
<[email protected]> writes
>Supposed to be getting a belting winter this year.
>
>Just been eyeballing the central heating. I've figured that In
>prolonged power outage I could use the Genny to power the central
>heating boiler, need to er... get my electrician around to (yeah
>right!) install a mains socket and mains plug into the lead Assumes
>major power outage for long periods. Purely to stop the house water
>system freezing over and to provide some heat.
>
>Got my portable gas stove. And Mrs D's stocking up on the Lobby
>ingredients.
>
>Plastic shovel for the car (Note to self... dig it out of garage)
>Ropes and shackles... Bag of grit for the 2wd and a Sack of spuds in
>the boot for ballast.
>
>Oh and a Pioneers tool set shovel etc in the 101.
>
>Candles... you just can't get a packet of bog standard candles at
>Tesco!
>
>Suppose some matches may come in handy.
>
>Dig out the parafin lamps from the caravn.
>
>Changes of clothes, golves hats and sleeping bags handy for those long
>trips to the super market. No joke, Having assisted in grinding the
>City to a Halt two years ago. Getting stuck in traffic for a couple of
>hours on my way to assist in ... er.... getting the traffic going
>(ickle part of the job).
>
>Bottled water (In case of mains pump failure due to long power outage)
>
>Mobile phones charged up as often as possible but a selection of coins
>for the eventuality that the mobile systems sink.
>
>Who sells road salt for the drive way??? Now I've a 2wd to consider.
>Can it be purchased at the local builders merchants? Not a jumbo bag ,
>just a couple of easy carry sacks that can be bunged in the corner of
>the garden just incase (highligh likely). We live on a bend..(note 2
>to self ensure video is on to record cars bouncing off the wall across
>the street.)
>
>I remember when I lived at Ma and Pa's (read when I had hair!) being
>snowed in with no electric. Cooking Beans in an old saucepan on the
>coal fire and toasting er toast , could use our gas fire come to
>think of it...
>
>Suppose it's wise to agree courses of action incase peeps do get stuck
>- i.e. collecting kids, looking after parents (Stuck in super deep
>snow and having the annual powercut)
>
>Get some more Antifreeze and De-icer & Super resistant screenwash.
>
>Fingers crossed we won't need any of the above but pays to be prepared
>and all that.
>
>Hugh you dusted off the call out list?
>
>What have I missed?
>
>Lee D
>
>--
Out last night on a MISPER shout from Cheshire police.

But yes, we're all ready to go again, roll on the ice and snow.

We've changed our meeting venue now. Moved up market a bit courtesy of
the generosity of Swallow Hotels, who've given us free use of one of
their conference rooms at the Old Stone House Hotel just off the A34 at
the southern end of Stone.
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

Mother" <"@ {mother} @ muttered summat about:

> On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 20:43:32 +0100, "Graham G" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>> I was chatting to Ray Mears a few months ago and he reckons every
>>> time
>>
>> Ok you have my attention! I'm a huge fan, you can't just drop that
>> into conversation, how did you meet him?
>
> Nothing at all interesting I'm afraid, although he is a very charming
> and totally unassuming chap with a (thankfully) well developed sense
> of humour.

You really do give bugger all away! ) Will have to send Emma over to
interrogate you ;o)

Glad he's a nice bloke, you see these folk on tv etc, and the seem ok, but
when you finally meet them they often turn out to be complete idiots.

--
Graham

101 GS
101 Rad Bod