Back to Basics Challenge

I am going to take rebecca77's lead and post a post of intent. I have had this post ready since the 31st, but hadn't actually jumped in the deep end. I need to be like a writer and figure out how what I do fits in. You know, instead of being lazy. Sorry Belinda, now I have gone public hopefully those posts will be forthcoming.

The Back To Basics Challenge is in its third week. This is how Belinda introduced her challenge:

"Although the things that are happening in the world right now are not really unexpected.... I am not ready. Both in regard to both my mental and physical preparations I look around me and send a plea to anything that can hear me "Please, just give me a bit more time.. you know till the end of the year... 5 years would be great so we don't have the loan".

Unfortunately these things don't come on our schedule and that is why I have been working toward knowing what I need to know... even though I really thought that I would get more time.. more warning... more well, uh... I don't know, but more.

Of course there is a part of me kicking and screaming at the injustices of it all but when I breath and really look at things I am lucky. I still have most of my "illusion of control", at the moment, and I still have so many choices that I can make to ensure that I will be an active and productive part of any community."

As you know during last week we had some news that brought the global situation more into focus for our family. The only reason until then it was doing my head in is that I was upset that others were upset, I suppose. To be honest, if I avoided it, I wasn't too worried. I was pulled up regularly of course. Both on the net and inside my house. Yes, I am possibly going to a difficult stage, like a teenager!

Anyway, our news. It wasn't brought upon by the recession but freedom of choice. Some people chose to chose another place and therefore, my husband's work need to reduce their staff by two people. Competition has opened up here.

So what does this mean? Nothing until we hear who is going (maybe next week). We moved here for the permanent work because restructuring in manufacturing, tariffs etc. had made our life uncomfortable for possibly five years. That was five years ago. So, if it happens all of our self-sufficiency skills will be needed once again as we cope.

"The Back to Basics Challenge for those who choose to accept is to report weekly or fortnightly on either their blog or in comments here on the topics of

• Sowing seed or Planting

• Planning for The Future - meal planning, the next seasons garden plan, working out storage plans or more long term goals and projects like plans for digging root cellars
  
• Working for the Future - storing food, managing stores, preserving, building that home made cob or solar oven, adding house insulation, saving for manual grain mills etc
• Building Community - volunteering, donations, joining an existing community group, forming your own community group, taking a cake to a friend having a hard time, calling someone you just let drift out of your life, etc
  
• Learn a new Skill"

Back to Basics Challenge Week 3