[Tullywood Farm]

That is exactly why we have our Rottweiler,No one ever comes in when he is out (He won't let them).
I totally agree that people are just so plugged into the system that they can not see a day when Asda's or Tesco's shelves will be empty.
But the main thing is that people like you and me will survive.
Kind regards
Joe

[lovespigs]

A few sound as though you will be mega depressed if this never happens! Scarey, scarey thoughts!!!!!!!!!!

[sheila]

Do you seriuosly think that a capitalist system such as ours would let the shops etc empty? In places, such as zimbabwe, where there are shortages
you can bet that the upper class is not hungry. If you have money you can always buy stuff. the system won't collapse there is too much vested interest.

[smiffy]

loves pigs
it would be great if the world carries on as it is!

however with the population growing as it is.... it is hard to see how the world can support us all. lets just hope it doesnt happen in our lifetime

[Tullywood Farm]

Just listen to the News.

They are always talking about food shotages, Crops failing etc all we are saying is try to be at least a little prepared.
I also would love to carry on just as I am now because I also love all my pigs.
But who knows!.
It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Kindest regards
Joe

[jameslindsay]

Surely then if lots of people are stock piling food, just in case, that may never be used then you are the ones emptying the shelves, unnecessarily from the shops? Panic buying is always a dangerous matter.

[rustyme]

Hello James,
               no matter what , there will only be a few that will store/stockpile food , most just won't bother for whatever reason. As for panic buying , well if I were to wait till the last minute and then go out and buy anything and everything I could get my hands on that would be panic buying. I just buy a tin extra here and there . If I normally buy 4 tins of soup per week , then I would buy an extra 1 or 2. That would apply to all that I buy for storage . Once the required amount has been reached then I go back to buying the usual amount each week . No panic buying anywhere, no shortages !!! and no empty shelves . Also a lot of the food in store will be home grown , so how would that cause shortages ? Speaking for myself , there is no panic , no fear of impending doom . I expect things to carry on more or less as normal  for some time  , but there is always , what if ?  The ones that will cause the panic buying  , will be the ones that don't have anything to fall back on , now there is the danger !!!!

cheers

Russ

[Tullywood Farm]

Here Here

Same as that Rusty - we love our lifestyle and do not want our child to grow up in war and worry, but we do want her to grow up, if at all possible

Julie

[sausagesandcash]

Yes indeed. what about family and friends....could I really afford to waste all that ammo? Lol. No one wants a crisis, but if worst came to worst and there was a huge mortality rate, would the electricity go down...probably. Our oil ran out last winter over the weekend. It's amazing how cold a big house gets really, really quickly. If the worst came to the worst then there would be absolute panic....no police, no ambulance, no fireservice. Then it would be down to the individual to protect his/her family. Best, I think to prepare for the worst and be pleasantly surprised, than do nothing and perish.

By the way joe, if you get some 6 inch plastic pipe (just slightly larger than waste pipe) tape off one end with wire mesh (chicken wire) and run a line of sweet corn into it, it's great for trapping pheasant. They can get in, but can't get out. The pipe should be about 2 1/2 feet long.

God it sounds like survivalists 101, but I don't want to to be looking back in August cursing my lack of preparedness. Like Rusty and joe, I hope it doesn't happen. However if the Caca hits the fan, I won't be found wanting.

Morgan

[Lizmar]

Its Friday afternoon, sun sort of shining and the end of another week.  I'm reading this thinking OMG it sounds like the world is going to end soon.  It won't.
Those of us who could be self sufficient will always do better than those who think they can buy their way out of any situation.  I think life is too short to worry so much.  We need to enjoy what we have. 
There are worse things around than swine flu and ebola - mainly cancer and heart disease.  Look at the number of people who die from these and compare to the 'new' diseases - why don't we sort these out before we go on to the new stuff.  I run a cancer centre and see the very young and old visit and can't understand why we get so emotional about new viruses when we have the old stuff on the doorstep just waiting.  Sorry that sounds too depressing
Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend
Liz   

[sausagesandcash]

Sure it won't end, but i'd like to be there next summer! Wife and kiddies in tow.

[Troubled Waters]

BBC are on it now too:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8143823.stm

And saw this as well:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8143566.stm

Not too sure what my feelings are on it all.

Things like this never used to bother me but feeling a little concerned these days.  I remember sitting in a pub predicting a recession to some friends a couple of years ago and they just laughed.  Look at us now tho.

Conjours images of the series Survivors that they remade last year...

[rustyme]

Hello Liz,
          yes you are right , the world isn't going to end soon (unless it gets hit be an asteroid ) , but the way we live may ? thats MAY , not will or won't but may. As I have said before I don't walk round thinking the end is nigh , doom and gloom etc etc . , but I do think about the possibility of things going wrong. Some people may  , for whatever reason,  wish to walk around thinking that everything is fine and dandy, and that nothing can or will ever go wrong ! If thats what they want to think that is fine by me . On the whole I do the same , but I do consider the consequences of certain things that may happen . There are worse things around than swine flu and Ebola yes , but I can't catch heart disease or cancer. In fact I have already had a heart attack , relatively minor  (although it didn't feel minor at the time !!) but none the less I had one. My dad died of one 5 years ago !! my mum died of cancer in 1988 , and all my grand parents died of one or the other , so I am fully aware of the dangers that we face every day . As for sorting them out (cancer/heart disease)  ... well, I can't ...simple as that ! However I can try to avoid some of the dangers that come my way . I don't close my eyes, and hope I miss all the cars when I cross the road !!! I look left and right , and wait for a gap . Is that worrying ? or is it taking care of myself ? I eat as healthily as I can and I am pretty active and as fit as I can be , is that worrying ? or is it taking care of myself ? Again I only speak for myself , but I choose to do as much as I can , to keep fit , healthy , active and alive . I don't 'worry' about hardly anything really , and I do enjoy my life as much as I can ( my mum was 53 when she died , I am 52 in October !!!) so I know we have to make the best of the time we have , and I do !!!!  We all do our own thing , and mine is no more 'the right thing to do' than yours, or anybody else's  !! , it is just that 'my thing' !!!   Now ... those asteroids  ? I think I have some cream round here somewhere .... errr oh , wrong again ....

cheers

Russ

[Tullywood Farm]

Wow - not a bad way of looking at life Rusty - you have been through it though, and it does help.

I had a routine ladies op in Sligo 5 years ago, and was told it went well and to come back in six months.
Then I got a call to say they wanted to see me asap - two weeks after the op.
I went in and they said a load of technical waffle, and that I was being referred to Dublin.

I sat there for five hours, waiting, the a nurse came out when I was the only one left, and showed me to a room.

The Doctor in there shook my hand and said
"Sorry to hear you have Cancer Julie, sit down and I will tell you what we need to do"

Both Joe and I spent a few minutes where time seemed to stop, we just looked at each other, oblivious to what was going on in the room, or what was being said. 


They did not know how bad it was
They had no hospital beds
I could not have an MRI scan unless I was an inpatient on a ward because of waiting lists.
'I could only have six months to live if they do not perform surgery

I ( me wondering if I would live much longer, how to tell mt little girl, parents, sister, firends, wondering how bad it was, was it everywhere, why did they not find it before, will Joe manage without me)
had to ring in every day morning, afternoon and evening, to ask for a bed for the next five days, before they could get me in.


Here I am, after seriously major surgery at 45 years old with a young daughter.
I am older, 4 stone heavier and I hate that cause I was always thin,
I have lots of medical side effects - Hiatus Hernia awaiting major surgery for next year,
Bladder and Bowel problems and I am on lots of yuck medication.

But I am still here - Tara's Mum and Joes Wife

I am happier, busier and more able for a challenge than ever I was, and love life. Pain or no pain, tablets and extra weight - I keep going and am happy for every day

AND I WANT LOTS MORE DAYS - But I am not scared of dying, I have already lived through that with my close family in our hearts and minds - and that causes a change I wish everyone could find within themselves - I am sure the world would be happier and people would be kinder.

I must be meant to be here - I was saved from a yound death - the big C
Now enough of all that and get back to your work!!!

Julie

[jameslindsay]

Julie

Don't quite know how to answer that but I know the last thing you would want is pity so I will say - you go girl! You kick ass like you have done in the past and go from strength to strength.