Emergency Preparedness Phase One - The Foundation

Thanks Rosie, yes I did what I could with what (little) I knew, think I've learnt a bit more now to help anything survive, hopefully, in the future.

Uuum, that's given me a bit of food for thought Starryeyed; interesting to me that you used the word horrendous as that is exactly how it feels. I felt I'd be seen as exaggerating saying that but it really is/feels horrendous. I don't think I usually 'bury my head in the sand' but perhaps I do when I cannot see any practical solutions - I can see how having the solutions provide an antidote though.

My car is (I think 🤔) 20 years old and thanks, @Chris75 , is correct - my garage who just failed my MOT, which is due on 30th, think it's the ABS that has gone. (Thought I was doing really well planning it early!!). It is the 'anti brake locking system' whatever that is 🙄. They said when I brake the pedal is going to the floor, can't say I noticed tbh but they don't have the computer to be able to 'code'/properly diagnose it so I drove it back home, collecting dogs chicken on the way (🤭) and another garage is picking it up on the 12th to diagnose it. It isn't legal to drive it now, except to a garage for repair The problem is they will charge for that c 1-3 hours work to be able to then say what the cost to fix it will be. There's also a great big crack in the windscreen.

I rarely drive it (c 38 miles in the last year) only ever a mile at a time, so common sense tells me I should let it go. But common sense has gone out of the window as I have no means of escape without it. I don't mind at all if anybody tells me what they would do. I've got a small line of credit for repairs (via 'Bumper') but might be incurring debt/throwing good money after bad.

Sorry I've gone off topic on your thread. I've got a small dog's trolley but don't think all of my dogs would fit in it at once to escape but can't walk far to push them anyway!

The only good thing is I'm sure I'm not on a flood plain; I'd struggle/very unlikely I could get in my loft (I'm in a bungalow) but that's irrelevant too as no amount of needing to survive would make me leave my dogs. So I've just sort of accepted for now that there's no answer. It is what it is (ha ha, sorry I hate that phrase 🫠😅).

I was interested reading your thoughts Steve. Have been mulling it over for weeks. I have two 'emergency' dog sitters, both of whom have recently agreed to come in the night if I needed to get the dogs anywhere. One has a licence to board 4 dogs. I also have the number for dog boarding kennels who I know well/used to use regularly. They'd said they'd help in an emergency. Not sure they'd answer the 'phone in the night but I'd keep ringing if needed. Also waiting for two others to come back to me too.

It all feels more vulnerable with pets, I feel I need more 'back up' plans in place.