Tinkertytonk has read about this test in a survival book where you spend three days without modern conveniences such as electricity, water, heating, no car, no radio, no TV, no computer and see how you go. Safe, easy and simple enough. Its a safe environment to find out how much harder life is without such items.
Now several people in our street actually did a test like this a few years ago. We called it cable company cockup and involved the electricity link and water main being damaged by the cable company installing cables. As I was already prepping it worked out fine and the biggest issue we had was with the flushing of the toilet. I had everything covered but the portable loo was just that step too far for the kids. In a real emergency there would be no choice, in this case I was the only one to use it as they all went to neighbours and friends.
Tinkertytonk is going to do his challenge during July. Why don’t you have a go yourself. Go on. A real live test. You know you should but do you want to?
- No electricity. Switch it off if you have no freezers. If you can’t just don’t use anything electrical.
- No heating. Use blankets and clothes.
- No car. Use a pedal bike or walk.
- Eat what you have stored. Use stored gear to heat up.
- No flushing of the toilet.
- Use water you have stored in bottles, pots, etc.
- No lights besides torches, candles.
- No buying anything at the shops.
- No visitors bearing gifts.
Bear in mind that we could easily go through three days in the middle of summer with just drinks so doing this over a weekend from Friday afternoon till Sunday evening, two days, should not be a problem. Let us know in the comments how you get on. Any feedback will be appreciated.
Just gone 5 days without running water due to a plumbing problem, I cut my hair short to help save water. Done this test twice before and found lighting a problem for reading, knitting and things like that until I bought an aladdin lamp. They produce a lot of heat as well as 60w so are great in winter but a little warm in summer. Another good direct light is the camping UFO led lights.
Since i suggested this i have been having a good think about things and realised that all my preparations were for a bug out scenario and living six month off the grid with buried supplies. I can not believe what I had not got!! Don’t laugh 🙂
No camping gas cooker!!!!!!!!!!! How on earth was I going to cook the food I had stored? Cold porrage oats was all that I could have eaten with cold beans (which I loath) 🙂
I’m also going to assume the power is out because of a pandemic so living in a flat I would have to seal all doors/windows with tape to stop viruses entering the flat (I do have enough tape to seal the place at hand). So also as part of my test I’m going to seal the house up and see what problems arise from that. If you don’t hear from me afterwards assume I have suffocated 🙂
I will also do the same test in January during a cold snap to see how things go.
Tinkertytonk
No electricity. Switch it off if you have no freezers. If you can’t just don’t use anything electrical.
Much of that I’m close to but I’m locked into using the computer because of traffic etc. Should think many others would be too. Principle’s good though.
When I said no cooking gas equipment I meant for an in house no power scenario. For a bug out I’ve got:
Waterproof matches, gas lighter, magnifying glass, wire wool & cotton wool for kindling, spark striker & special survival lighter blocks.
I am going to have to pass on the test run. I think I have already been through one. Many many moons ago when I was a teenager my folks had a run of bad luck with their finances. The electric and the gas both were turned off. Mom asked the neighbor if she could run extension cords from our freezer over to their house till we could do something.
Mom would get stuff out to thaw (I am surpised as it was dead winter and that house was as cold as the freezer)for dinner. When dad got home from work we would pile in the car and go to the park and BBQ. It’s awfully hard to eat with a coat on and shivering while trying to cut meat. Plus from the BBQ to the plate the stuff cooled down awfully fast.
How hard this must have been on my mom. She was sick with her thyroid. And she had us brats to worry about. But she managed and Dad made roughing it fun. Now that I am an old women I know that mom was worried.
Yes, I think older people could teach us younger ones a thing or two, my parents speak of frost on the inside of the windows during winter & I remember our outside loo and getting bathed in a tin bath topped up with hot water from a kettle !!!!
We should be learning how to go without food for at least three days. – now that’s a challenge.
Half,
I’m OK on the hair front. Sounds like you have had some practical experience already. I don’t see a problem with the light at this time of year. I worked outside till I came in and went to bed and then it was light in the morning when I woke up. Read during the day.
Tinkertytonk.
Not laughing, just smiling. That is what the tests are for. You will be surprised what is forgotten and needed. Best finding out now.
Consider that you cannot make a good seal on your windows so you will be unable to test that I wonder if you may be going overboard on this test. You don’t want to spend all day in a hot house in the summer. Save that for the winter test. Then you will want the place to be sealed and you can trace leaks by the chilly air coming through. I wouldn’t wait for a cold snap either as a first winter test. Remember we had -10 earlier this year. Colder than the ex-wife’s heart.
Fred,
I’m sure that two days over the weekend won’t kill you.
Ellen,
Many people lived like that not that long ago and it was more common than we make out. In saying that if you feel confident enought it is all covered then don’t do it.
Peace,
We could easily do this test with no food and little water as I said but I think we will find what we suggest enough of a culture shock without that. Maybe challange No 2. 🙂
Frost? Tinkertytonk, your parents had it good. When I were a lass, we had ICE on the inside of the windows – and we thought ourselves lucky to get that! 🙂
In all seriousness, we really did have ice inside. Me and my brother would spend ages tracing the leafy patterns then breathing on it and watching it reform. I used to put my clothes for the morning inside my nightie case and leave them in bed with me so they weren’t so cold – and I developed a method of getting dressed before I got out of bed and left the warmth of the blankets.
The first one downstairs would un-bank the fire and put fresh coal on. I’d sit on the hearth until my feet and hands thawed out, then wrap up in many layers to get to school. I always wore trousers under my school skirt, even though I had to take them off in the cloakroom as girls were not allowed to wear trousers then.
OK, I’m done reminiscing.
I actually went through this kind of test several times when I was homeschooling my daughter. To learn history, we’d actually re-enact the various periods, tackling Tudor, Roman and the Georgian. For a week at a time, we’d completely live the lifestyle, including toilet habits, cooking methods, dress etc.
Loved your home schooling philosophy; I ‘taught’ for 16 years but got fed up of not actually teaching the children anything. If people asked me what I did, if they did not know who I was, I used to answer, ‘bureaucrat’ that tended to kill the conversation; especially in the staff room. Anyhow, I’m not going to talk about indoctrination, ‘sorry education’ as it bloody depresses me. But you have my full respect for educating from home although anyone who does that is now demonized as, ‘potential child molesters’ see government policy on that. Anyhow, I’m going off on one 🙁 Liked your week at a time in a different period of time
i think i will give this a try starting tonight and will let you know how it works out
Good, give us all a breifinf of how it all goes I’m doing my one end of next week is’h; all the best.
Luddite,
That brings back memories. I remember the coal bunker and how we hated going out in the rain when it was our turn. On the plus side it toasted bread great. That must be why even now the cold does not bother me much. Not like the modern kids.
That does sound a good idea to teach history. It must reinforce the lessons well. How did you handle the lesson on the Plague of London? Visit the local hospital?
Madog,
Have fun and let us know how it works out.
Tinkertytonk,
Looks like your idea has taken off. If you don’t hear from me after tonight then it went badly wrong. Posts already queued.
By the time we did the plague, she was a teenager so there was less of the re-enactment. We did a lot of genetics work for this, too as we both have a Delta-32 mutation, which means we are possibly immune to plague (and HIV, smallpox, flu).
You’re right about the toasted bread – and it seemed to taste better, too.
Sounds like you had it all sorted out. I doubt I would have the breadth of knowledge needed to do this.
People like doing, I think we have all theorized for years, now people want to act. It also helps having a forum run by someone who is organized and passionate about what they do and not afraid to let people have their heads; which is an indirect way to say I think you do a good job running this SK 🙂
I won’t be posting for a couple of days as going up to parents to visit. I look forward to reading about everyone’s weekends of pain 🙂 when I get back!!!!!!!
Oh, don’t worry got my bug out bag with me in case it all goes wrong on the 300mile journey.
Thank You. I’ve always said it is the readers who will make or break this site.
Call in on the way past, turn left on the M6, and bring some sandwiches. 🙂