Lots of input, i'll reply to what i can.
First. Fishing.
Yes, the NATO kit is for raft usage, however I also obtained it for pennies and it contains items that are useful none the less and would have cost more bought individually inc postage and packaging (no angling shops within walking distance of home alas) and is to be supplemented by items from the coarse kit. Also worth baring in mind that this is stuff not specifically for rivers, but more the idea being to have the equipment at hand that could cover any situation, whether i'm on the coast or on a river. No different than a first aid kit, if it doesn't atke up any space and it could be remotely useful, might as well have access to it (you could also say hey, i'm in a tight spot, i've a cut, and no first aid kit at hand because *give reason* but i have what can be fashioned into a needle, and i have fishing line. That's a jimmy rig emergency needle and thread right there.
As to permissions and all that lot, I am well aware of that (and is one of my main reasons for wanting off this pathetic excuse of an island) and would not be used for a case of oh, there is a river, i'll fish. Rather i'd plan where i'm going and what permissions and abilities I have. If i specifically want to fish then i'll do things accordingly, being going somewhere it is legal, obtaining permission, or going to one of my dads beats. No different to making a fire, we all have the tools, doesn't mean we will go and do it indiscriminatingly.
Second: First Aid. Perhaps i have not put my intentions across clearly. There are situations which call for comprehensive first aid kit, and those which do not. If i am to be out in the middle of nowehere with other people, or in a situation where i could very well go and kill myself, then of course i will take something suitible. However right now my outings will largely just be day walks in local woods. You may be the kind who does this with all the bells and whistles, but I am not. I never have and never plan to go on a day walk with first aid and this and that and a compass and whistle and emergency flair. It is paranoia gone mad in my personal opinion. We face risks every day, yet we don't take first aid out. My family have always been outdoors kinds (well not the siblings as much as the parents) and we have never taken first aid when going out for a walk in the woods because you would have to be monumentally stupid to sever an artery while picking up sticks and such. It may seem rude, but if i'm going to be ostracised for not feeling that a first aid kit is needed to take a walk in the countryside, then these are not really people i want to know. I am not going top be putting myself into survival situations quite yet, as stated, for now it will just be walks and learning tree types, collecting twigs to whittle, very simple stuff. I could also flip it and say if you can't go for a walk without a first aid kit then you sound too accident prone for my liking
First aid is just one of those things. you can go from hypochondriac to risk taker. That's everyones choice to make. As said, i've never disinfected a wound, the only time i have used plasters is when i cut myself working while working in the food industry. I do not even wash the cuts under water, use any burn salves etc. I do not take any medicines, and bin any antibiotics i'm given, it is around 18 years since i had any medical checkup. My house does not even have plasters in it, not a single first aid item. I have never had a use. I have always taken the stance that if i cannot survive without fancy modern things then i have no wish to survive. I should also add that i'm pretty safe with knives, other than unavoidable cuts in a commercial kitchen, i rarely if ever cut myself accidentally. Intentionally is a different story.
In short, i will be going on day walks in the countryside mostly, if i need a first aid kit to do this i do not believe i should have left the house to start with.
As to the knife I bought. well that is life. You continue to learn new things. I had originally seen the ray mears knife, thought it far overpriced which most reviews seemed to agree with, and this was suggested as a good alternative. The price didn't bother me to be honest. I could also probably have gotten a better quality folder at a cheaper price than the benchmade, but i like it. As with any hobby, you live and learn. There is also the psychology behind the price though. If i had bought a £10 knife, that's only £10, so if i never use it, oh well. If i spend £120 on a knife, it will be a far greater push to get outside and actually make use of it.
It may be controversial, but i KNOW i am not alone in this feeling, but risk makes me feel alive. Life can get pretty boring when you try and protect yourself every possible outcome. I'm sure people would say why take the risk of being out in the woods with a knife when you could be on a campsite. If you get hurt in the woods and need a med-evac, those guys have just had to go through all of that because you were "selfish" and refused to just put up a tent in a campsite. These kind of blame and shame arguments can be applied to absolutely anything. Why did you cut yourself? Because you couldn't have just taken a spoon in your pocket but no, decided to try making one instead. Why should people be put through an ordeal because you were too proud just to take a metal spoon? Is there an accepted cutoff point for risk taking behaviour? You could have the best equipped bag you could find, yet hurt yourself to the degree that you need to be taken to a hospital, surely there is guilt because you could have just gone to a campsite.
Seems people have made an image of me already though
Of course i sent a private message to the OP of the meet-up thread. I wouldn't be so rude as to just stick my name on given i'm a completely unknown member. Maybe i'll just go into the woods around london and keep to myself. Seems i've already ****** everyone off.
