I wrote this post for the BBC Radio Manchester in Oct 2017 when I was doing regular stints on Thought for the Day. It was never broadcast as it was way too bleak. I wrote it with a backdrop of Increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsular, anyway here it is....
When I was a child, I used to visit my grand-parents regularly.
My dad’s parent’s lived in a council house, even though they weren’t very wealthy, there was an assortment of tins, of every type, in the broom cupboard.
In my much richer mum’s mum’s house, there was a pantry with perplexing piles of provisions, reaching to the ceiling, which was three or four times my height. This long dark narrow room was filled with tins, dried packets of food, bottles of sugary syrups of various colours and alcoholic drinks.
Rich or poor my grandparents didn't waste a scrap of food. They had lived through wars. Their men had served in them.
They weren't just ready for food shortages. They were also ready for blackouts, with torches, candles and matches in safe places that could be found easily in the dark.
ALL my grandparents are now long gone, but, looking back from a modern perspective, they were ready for anything. They were ‘preppers’ long before the term had been invented. The state encouraged them to be ready.
I can hear it now. A public information film saying:
Do you have a surplus of food?
If you can afford it, consider building up a small supply of essentials, in line with what you can afford.
Keep the food that you have safe from pests.
Taking small steps now, could be invaluable in an emergency. You might not get much warning.
And in an increasingly volatile world, there are plenty of things that can rush up on us. It doesn’t need to be a global conflict, a localised civil war within Europe, a general strike, a financial collapse or tsunami could all result in severe disruption and civil unrest. Britain heavily relies on imports.
Last winter low income families had savings of typically £95. It’s vital therefore that the food they have doesn’t go off. But having some long lasting food for unforeseen events can be wise. I think of having a bit of extra food, as saving for a rainy day. There have been times when having lost my job, I have found a few extra tins of soup in the cupboard very welcome.
Before you buy more food though a word of caution... I have seen many crazy ‘preppers’ on the telly, who spend a month’s wages on food only to store packets, cartons or paper bags near the ground, which is an invitation to damp, mice, and insects. Keeping packets and boxes in a dry place, in a waterproof, pest proof container keeps it safer for longer. Having lived in London for many years, where mice are seemingly everywhere. Personally, I use old biscuit tins and coffee jars for storing sugar, rice and pasta, even when I don’t have a lot of it. It also prevents waste if you store stuff in a way that you can see it and put the newest at the back.
I think sometimes when storing stuff away about what Jesus said about storing stuff up only for it to be destroyed. I know he was talking about what you treasure in your heart. But it still makes me more determined to keep what I have safe and dry.
I can understand why this was never used but I just wanted to share it. I don't believe in stockpiling in times of national emergency, I believe in preparing for them. Maybe now its too late?
Here is an excerpt from the Protect and Survive, released in the 1980s
Keep enough food to last for 14 days.
Choose foods which can be eaten cold, which keep fresh and which are tinned or well wrapped.
Keep stocks in a closed cupboard of cabinet.
Children will need tinned or powdered milk and babies their normal food as possible.
Eat perishable items first. Use supplies sparingly.
Copyright AndyMallinson.com 2020
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