The Hangout: Ready to face the zombie apocalypse - IOL

My overseas adventures continue, and one of the things I’m loving most about my trip is getting to experience everyday life through the eyes of the wonderful people I’m spending time with. From the hustle and bustle of big cities to the slower pace of charming little towns, I’ve been lucky enough to stay in completely different homes, share delicious meals, enjoy long conversations and get a proper glimpse into different family dynamics and ways of life.

There’s something so special about being welcomed into someone’s home and becoming part of their everyday world, even if it’s only for a little while. I genuinely count my lucky stars that I’m able to have these experiences, and even more so for the kind, caring and incredibly generous people in my life who make them possible. It’s these little moments and connections that make travelling so meaningful to me.

And while the scenery, lifestyles and chats may change from place to place, there’s one unexpected topic that seems to be on everyone’s lips at the moment. Stockpiling! Yes, apparently we’re all supposed to be preparing for the unexpected, and goodness, everyone has something to say about it and what they think they’ll need most.

Do you have enough food and water in your home to last three days? And no, I’m not talking about a packet of biscuits, three tins of baked beans and a bottle of champers hiding in the cupboard. The British government’s Be Ready campaign has been encouraging households to stock up on a few essentials in case of an emergency. Apparently, severe weather, power cuts, cyber attacks and other unexpected disruptions could leave us (I’m hoping I’m back in sunny South Africa and not part of that ‘us’ though ha ha) without some of the things we rely on every day.

Before you start building a bunker in the back garden I don’t think it’s coming our way so there’s no need to panic just yet. The idea is just to be a little more prepared should things go slightly pear shaped over here in the UK. And let’s face it, those of us living in South Africa have had a fair amount of practice when it comes to surviving without electricity!

So, what exactly should we have tucked away? The government recommends enough bottled water and food to last three days, with around three litres of drinking water per person per day and extra for cooking and washing. Think tinned goods, dried fruit, nuts and anything that doesn’t need refrigeration or cooking.

You’ll also want a torch, spare batteries, wet wipes, hand sanitiser, blankets, a first aid kit, essential medication, a charged power bank and a little cash (the guy delivering vodka in water bottles doesn’t have a card machine remember). Don’t forget supplies for babies and pets either.

Disaster planning expert Professor Lucy Easthope says the idea is to help households look after themselves for a short period so emergency services can concentrate on those who need urgent assistance. Interestingly, Britain is a little behind some of its European neighbours when it comes to emergency planning. France recommends preparing for at least 72 hours, while Germany advises households to have enough supplies for ten days. That’s a whole lot of baked beans! And I’m definitely siding with the Germans on this one.

The conversations I’ve been having with friends have been quite entertaining. My friends in the city reckon a few five litre bottles of water, some beer and whatever canned goods they’ve already got will do the trick. The others, living in this gorgeous little British town, say they’ve never really stocked up on anything because they tend to shop for fresh produce and buy what they need when they need it. So this is all sorta new to them other than doing life during 2020 of course. Some people are taking the advice very seriously while others think it’s all a little dramatic. The good news is that nobody needs to rush out and buy an entire supermarket. You can gradually pick up a few extra essentials during your regular shopping trips, check expiry dates every six months and maybe have a chat with your neighbours about helping one another if things do go wrong. A little preparation and kindness can go a long way.

Now, if I’m preparing for a three day stint without electricity, which most of us in South Africa are already pretty good at, I think I’ll be absolutely fine. But if the sirens start going off and we’re suddenly facing some sort of apocalyptic situation, I’m definitely going out in style. You best believe I’ll be stocking up on tinned salmon and those fancy Italian sardines. I’m also buying enough good olive oil to take with me into the next life.

And perhaps this will finally be my chance to master the art of sourdough bread. I know making your own has been all the rage for ages, but I’ve never quite got around to it. Although, if there’s no electricity and we’re all sitting around waiting for the world to sort itself out, I might as well give it a go. Fresh sourdough with sardines and olive oil sounds considerably better than another handful of dried fruit.

Of course, we’re probably going to have a few down days, so choccies, good coffee and cookies are absolutely essential. The kind with a decent shelf life, preferably, because nobody needs the added disappointment of discovering their emergency biscuits have gone stale. I’m also making sure I’ve got a solar camping stove, enough fuel to use it safely outdoors in case it works both ways, some art supplies so I can channel my inner Picasso and a selection of board games to keep everyone entertained.

Although I do wonder how long it’ll take before somebody flips the Monopoly board and we have our very own little domestic disaster. And nobody wants to spend day after day playing charades while eating dry crackers, waiting for the sourdough starter to do its thing and wondering when our zombie friends might pop round for a visit. Plus tequila is basically a vegetable, a disinfectant and a preservative so it’s just good to have some of that around just for safety sake.

All jokes aside, I do think there’s something sensible about being a little prepared for the unexpected. It doesn’t mean we need to live in fear, buy 150 toilet rolls or spend a fortune filling every cupboard in the house. Just having a few essentials, looking out for the people around us and knowing we can manage for a couple of days could make a difficult situation a whole lot easier. And if nothing ever happens, well, we’ve got a lovely supply of food, a few new hobbies and maybe even a freshly baked loaf of sourdough to show for it.

Whatever happens, I hope we never need any of it for a real emergency. But if the zombies do arrive, you’re more than welcome to pop over. Just bring some champers and don’t touch my Italian sardines! I’ll also just be here watching The Road, A Quiet Place, Greenland, The Last House and I Am Legend so I can superhero that apocalypse hard if it ever comes. Okay bye!