National Risk Register/National Resilience Update - Nothing new to us.

[Woody girl]

I've just undertaken a little exercise where I have done through the national risk register and tried to work out what impacts me on a personal level. Based on that, I've tried to work out what I can do about those risks, or if, basically, they are totally outside my control so not worth bothering about, much like discussed above.

Managed to get things down to a fairly manageable set:
Heat management - coping with extremes of heat / cold
Energy management
Having a deep reserve of essentials - covers staying in place during an emergency etc.

A lot of the other stuff, yes keep a watching brief, but in most cases its totally outside your control, so don't stress about it.

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference."

We can always change something. If you have the will. I was homeless at 17/18 in the 76 the summer I could get work on farms, the following winter almost broke me.
My determination changed my life and at 20 I bought my first house.
Not like today's kids who just give up and soak themselves in drugs and alcohol, moaning they can't do anything about their lives path.
I had no help from any homeless shelters, no charity shops to get stuff from.
It was pretty rough and miserable for a while, I was always cold and starving hungry, and I riskily hitch hiked 15 miles each way to work and back every season for two years. I owned nothing but a few clothes. I saved almost every penny I earned.
I never gave up.
Finaly got a nearer job, saved and saved, got a tiny room in a shared house, probably cried myself to sleep almost every night.
Eventualy had enough for a deposit on a tiny house, moved in with no cooker fridge chair table or bed.
It was so hard. But it made me a person who, though never made a lot of money, learned to appreciate what I did have, andgave me the courage to fight for what I believed in and try to make life better for others whenever I can. I'm not a head in the sand or me me me person, but I am getting tired now. I don't have the energy I once had, I have sorted myself out to the best of my ability, and constantly frustrated by others who make no effort to help themselves, and just stick their heads in the sand with an I don't want to know attitude. I know we are all different, and have different priorities and aims in life.
But basically preps are non negotiable for me. After that, I save and upgrade at any opportunity. It may eventualy be pointless, or I may die and it will all go to the tip, but at least im aware, and tried hard. I still don't have much of what most people consider normal for existence and have, car, washing machine TV etc. But i do know that I can cope with almost nothing too. Life taught me what is most important, and it's not a 54 inch widescreen or the latest whatever item that the Internet promotes. Spend wisely, don't buy crap, and keep plugging away at looking after your family without panic and you'll be fine.
Some sort of civil unrest is becoming definite, hacking of utilities also, and with this el ninio, which will last into next summer, food will definatly be a problem.
Take those things and do your best . If things are not possible where you are, perhaps a look at what is priority, your job and house in an inner city piling up the pennies to get ahead and buy a new car or moving elsewhere and starting from scratch, learning how to exist with less and the labour of your own hands. I know many will not agree, but that's my ethos.
We have a choice.

 

[HorseGuy]

@Woody girl

You sound like the sort of person who would be very useful to have around in a crisis. I bet your knowledge and spirit would be more useful in an emergency than a million pounds worth of material preps.

 

[Woody girl]

Just don't tell the neighbours!

 

[HorseGuy]

Just don't tell the neighbours!

Sounds like if there were a serious national emergency your neighbors would be busy waiting for someone from the government coming to help them out.
(I suspect they might be waiting for a long time though ).

 

[Pattree]

I wonder how many people here have seen the film The War Game.

I saw it in Ireland when it was banned in UK. It’s been broadcast several times since it’s 20 year ban.

Far from horrifying me it made me realise how little I can do (but I can do that little.) and how very important cooperation with community would be to survival.

As for petrol and cocoa - I’ll get by.

 

[Woody girl]

Yep, that's why I let them think iI CAN'T afford a TV or new washing machine.
Meanwhile...... slowly making sure im covered as best I can be..
I look at potential or real scenarios and find a solution. Such as with the aspirin shortage. Get the 300mg and a pill splitter. Under a tenner, problem solved, not relying on the nhs to provide me with a solution and do it for me.
It's so simple when your not drowning in Netflix or Disney to just sit and think about things and come up with solutions without our daily distractions, while perhaps knitting, weaving or carving a useful item. Two birds one stone.
I do like solving practical problems. It's a lot of other humans that get me fussed.
Mind you, the simple life isn't easy. You can't just say, oh I need this, pop over to your amazon account and a day or so later your sorted. Sometimes a bit of ingenuity is called for.
Want a garden bench? Old bunk bed pulled out of a skip, a few cuts with a saw, and a few screws, and hey presto not a penny spent. Garden bench sorted.
Left overs made a plant stand too.
My partner at the time couldn't believe I wanted to rescue rubbish! It is about vision.
Found a 2 ft of mains flex in the bin when my local veg shop recently had air con put in. Asked if I could have it. What for? I told him I wanted a little bit of copper wire to make a bracelet for a friend. It's actualy made several bunny traps.
Sorted! Rubbish turned into a useful item should it go belly up.
I had my eyes open , and had an instant idea, and "normal "excuse for wanting it.

 

[Falstaff]

"and if you told the youth of today that, they wouldn't believe you" Said in jest by Monty Python, but sadly it's true.
Unfortunately they have only negativity and folk in the same boat around them. It is very hard to change things if you have no idea of what else may exist, and no examples to see. Very few have the qualities to better or change their circumstances, despite the initial personal cost. Change is extremely stressful and hard for most people, so they would rather avoid it, until they have to by force of circumstance.
From an early age youth needs a wider view and examples of change, and real personalised advice and ideas and options, rather than platitudes. If they had specific focussed encouragement as well as real, accessible, role models, then they might be able to see things differently.
Unfortunately the unemployment offices are uniformly useless, with no real prospect of change. There is no interest or initiative for change there.
One of my local councils employed a firm by results, to individually meet with and get special needs youngsters into employment they could manage. Boy did that make a difference!.

 

[Falstaff]

I wonder how many people here have seen the film The War Game.

It's got a huge section and plaudits in Wikipedia!. Think it needs a more modern remake now, just by a realist not airbrushed Hollywood!

 

[Pattree]

nfortunately they have only negativity and folk in the same boat around them. It is very hard to change things if you have no idea of what else may exist,

Don’t you believe it.
No, they wouldn’t do it your way but they’d get by and get by well.

It’s easy to forget what the WW2 returning soldiers said about Teddy boys and later the 60’s “puffters”.
[That was an historical reference to a generalisation by more than one of my neighbours when I was in my early teens - not any form of disparagement to anyone today]

They were referring to us by the way.