Although Brexit is a hot political topic right now, this isn't meant to be a political post. But I do think we need to start a conversation about the practical realities while the politicians posture. I've stated before I am member of the Scottish Green Party and I voted to Remain in the EU. This post isn't a dig at anyone who votes differently but a few things have happened recently that have made me sit up and think maybe we need to do something.
Jack Monroe a long time campaigner on mental health issues, benefits and food banks, wrote this week about stockpiling food for a post Brexit situation. This is a complete change of opinion for Jack. Read it HERE, it's an interesting piece.
Also this week, the Brexit Minister resigned alongside five other Cabinet ministers so we're now on our THIRD Brexit Minister. What do they know that we don't????? The new Minister comes from the Department of Health so I guess he's going to have to be a quick learner. We're leaving the EU on the 29th March 2019 and we still haven't agreed a withdrawal deal. This is getting very serious!
Did you know we actually have a minister responsible for the food chain? His name is David Rutley and he used to work for Asda. So at least he knows something about the food supply. But there are genuine fears that we may be facing food shortages and the government is stockpiling food in case we leave without a deal. Are we going to need a rationing policy to deal with these shortages?
So, I'm thinking about this seriously now. In the past I've prepped for living rurally and been prepared for bad weather situations where we were cut off AND lost power. Since moving back into town I've not been prepping seriously. Remember I got a wee reminder HERE?
Jack has a list of foods for stockpiling on a budget. And if you search Pinterest or Google for stockpiling you'll get lots of ideas. It needn't cost a lot but better to be prepared and not need it than be faced with not having enough.
Are you thinking about stockpiling?
No. I won't join in with the panic buying. I will eat whatever there is, except meat and fish, I like a challenge.
ReplyDeleteYou are very good at challenges! :-)
DeleteI don't support panic buying but I will start adding more tins to my shopping to tuck away. If there's no shortage I can use them up in the future
I'm in a different situation as I am a Brit living in France. Don't suppose we'll need to be stockpiling but like many other expat Brits I'm waiting to find out exactly how "we" will be dealt with - you know, those of us who had no bloody say in the matter despite being acutely affected by the outcome. My oldest is married to a Swiss girl and living in Switzerland so will probably opt to become Swiss at some point, but my youngest has only ever lived in France so we are waiting to find out "what sauce they will eat us with". My gynae happened to be based in Switzerland so I gave birth to him in Switzerland (although he has no right to become Swiss) so we sit here and wait. Thank God for the BIE (Brits in Europe) who are campaigning hard for us seemingly forgotten ones. I think ultimately we will be ok but I wish they would just bloody well get on with it. NOBODY will get 100% of what they want. Nobody, so the only way forward is compromise. Like most of us, I feel, we all just want a signed deal and (hopefully) can work forward from there! Piss up and brewery springs to mind!
ReplyDeleteYep I think ultimately it'll all work out as these things tend to do despite this bunch of eejits!
DeleteI try to avoid the news as they sensationalise every little thing. But all these ministers resigning this week made me stop and realise nobody seems to know how to do this.
And as much as I think our PM is as much use as a chocolate teapot, getting rid of her now is not the right thing to do. Especially when you look at the wannabe candidates!! *rolls eyes and gets off political soapbox*
She chose the worst time of year to trigger Article 50 as far as food grown here is concerned. When we leave in March the Winter stocks will be low, and there will be nothing growing/ ready to harvest here. It's not known as 'the hungry gap' for nothing. If imports of fruit and veg stop/ are held up, there will be very little available to buy. I'll be stocking up on frozen, as fruit and veg form the majority of my meals.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm concerned, being prepared is not panic buying, it's being sensible, particularly as I'm supporting someone who regularly has to choose between heating and eating, despite having a job. My SHTF stocks are coming along nicely, just by buying a couple of extra tins/ packets every week, and so is the latest food parcel for her. I'm not willing to play Russian Roulette with my, or her, health and well being by adopting a 'wait and see' attitude.
I agree March is the wrong time of year. Who advised her to do that???
ReplyDeleteI'm currently supporting my son who had his benefits stopped on the 3rd of September. I'm lucky to be able to it but I fear there are many who will really struggle as they can't plan ahead like we can :-(
I started buying a few extra cans a week just after you Scarlet, the exact opposite of panic buying imo, a planned increase to the food I keep at home in case of emergencies. I have one anyway after the fuel blockades of 2000 when I operated a just in time food cupboard and that bit me on the behind very hard. Your post gave me food for thought too (I think it was a comment on someone's blog but may have been a blog post). As far as I'm concerned, planning now means there's more for the unprepared if it does get that bad. If it doesn't get that bad, well I have a few months of food in stock to run down, no biggie.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree! If all goes well we'll just have a frugal few months using up our stores
DeleteMy fear is the threatened supply of medicines. I rely on a lot to keep alive. I cant stock pile medicines.....
ReplyDeleteIt is a huge worry Jill. I know there are people at the allotment worrying about the same thing as some are diabetic and those meds are on the list as likely to be affected. I checked mine and they are manufactured here, but I have no idea where the raw ingredients come from, which could affect their production. My husband works in the pharmacy production unit in an NHS hospital, and has said that a lot of their raw materials come from the EU
Delete:(
I think this must be the biggest concern. I do hope that measures are in place to ensure a continuous supply of drugs/medicines. You can't hold health to ransom in this political mess!!
DeleteI have a 3 monthly injection of dep-pro for medical reasons. I asked at my last one if supplies would be interrupted next year...what's happening next year? said the puzzled Nurse. So I explained about Brexit medical supplies. How do you know all that? Well I read the news and the NHS has issued warnings publicly about supplies involving the EU. Unfortunately she still couldn't answer my question. I'm hoping the staff are more clued up at my next appt. Of course this isn't life threatening so I really feel for everyone who does rely on EU medicines to stay alive. I really hope it will all be sorted and go smoothly.
DeleteNow THAT'S worrying if NHS staff don't know about it!! Seriously, how can anyone not know about Brexit? It's flipping everywhere!!!
DeleteIt's partly lack of training from the NHS and partly brexit apathy where it's just tuned out. And who can blame them, if you tune in then there are some quite hairy possibilities out there. Hence brexit campaigners getting citzenship in France (Lawson), moving their companies to Southern Ireland or telling us it'll take up to 50 years to see a Brexit benefit (Rees Mogg) or telling people not to invest in the UK due to the uncertainties of Brexit (Redwood). Unfortunately I don't have those options, so a little pile of cans is my Brexit strategy.
DeleteI started collecting a few bits and pieces extra a few months ago however, my problem is keeping them! I keep dipping into the 'extras' when the purse strings tighten near the end of the month so my pile sort of comes and goes! Also my eldest son has just come to stay with us for who knows how long and the difference in costs is unbelievable. He's going to contribute to the budget once he gets on his feet again but I now wonder how we afforded to live when we had all 3 children at home!
ReplyDeleteHope your son gets back on feet soon. I notice the difference when my youngest son comes back for a weekend. But I guess it's because they're men not wee boys any more and men eat a lot!!
DeleteHi Ali
ReplyDeleteSorry for being so late to comment but Google once again locked me out!! I am not intending to buy anything extra as I don’t really know what I could store. Probably some soup, various beans and fruit but all our edibles are usually fresh.i’m concerend about medication for my DH who is diabetic and also has eye related problems which require 2 different kinds of drops. I just keep thinking that I didn’t vote for this and it’s such a mess with the old boys and girls club playing games with our future. I have huge concerns about the future for our children but find myself unable to think about it too much or it raises my BP to a dangerous level. We cannot possibly afford a General Election again and shudder to think who could possibly take over as PM from any party. I am trying to keep calm by using up everything in my stash for a charity fair to help others who need it and to clear a space in my home and my head.
Medications will be an issue unless there's some sort of deal we don't yet know about.
DeleteI couldn't believe Nadine Dorries comment about the UK not having a voice or MEPs in Europe under May's deal. Duh! That's what voting leave meant!!! Those who voted to leave clearly did not think it through *sighs*