How did you find out about PO?

Eternal Sunshine · Post by **Eternal Sunshine** » 10 Aug 2007, 15:12

Andy Hunt wrote:Yippee another Northerner!! It's lonely up here . . .

There was one PO meeting in Manchester ages ago, not been one since. Maybe we should try to get one going again. Anyone else up for it

Welcome to the forum Jackie!

Hello Mr Hunt

Yes a Northern (or dare I venture North Western???) PO meet up would be great. Will there just be 3 of us sipping real ale in the corner of a dark pub somewhere?

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 10 Aug 2007, 16:33

Eternal Sunshine wrote:Yes a Northern (or dare I venture North Western???) PO meet up would be great. Will there just be 3 of us sipping real ale in the corner of a dark pub somewhere?

Suits me!!

We should do something . . . dunno what though. Maybe camp in a field for a weekend or something, drinking pure sheep dip from the local stream, knitting our own solar panels by the log fire and singing depressing songs by R.E.M.

On second thoughts - maybe the real ale pub is a better idea.

Tangata · Post by **Tangata** » 11 Aug 2007, 11:09

I watched 'the End of Suburbia' in the Straw Bale theatre at CAT in May 2005...

Mean Mr Mustard · Post by **Mean Mr Mustard** » 11 Aug 2007, 12:26

Hi Tangata

Welcome to PowerSwitch. No doomer survivalists or complete nutters here.

Eternal Sunshine · Post by **Eternal Sunshine** » 12 Aug 2007, 22:08

Andy Hunt wrote: On second thoughts - maybe the real ale pub is a better idea.

Thank god you wrote that bit. I was starting to worry about you....

Kentucky Fried Panda · Post by **Kentucky Fried Panda** » 13 Aug 2007, 10:05

Mean Mr Mustard wrote: No doomer survivalists or complete nutters here.

That's right

cake · Post by **cake** » 13 Aug 2007, 16:12

Hi all....

while recently browsing DODGY TAX AVOIDERS I came across the book: The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom Hartmann. This book summed up everything I've always felt or suspected that was wrong with the way we live.

Since reading that I've done some poking around on the web which inevitably led me here.

Have since been reading many of the messages on here and going through various emotions; depression, panick, anger, acceptance....repeat etc.

Feeling a bit peeved with myself for not switching onto this a lot sooner and feeling rather unprepared (have a reasonable mortgage to pay off) for what appears to now be progressing at pace.

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 13 Aug 2007, 17:13

Tangata wrote:I watched 'the End of Suburbia' in the Straw Bale theatre at CAT in May 2005...

Hi! Simon

I must have missed that. I was probably finishing off my first essay. You coming at the weekend?

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 13 Aug 2007, 20:43

Hi Cake... welcome to the forum!

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 13 Aug 2007, 22:26

Hi Cake.

Don't be too hard on yourself, you're way ahead of most of the population.

It's a horrible process of descovery isn't it? I went through it quite badly. I think what I value most though is that with peak oil in mind I can suddenly understand far more about world events. e.g. Iraq war, the reasons for continual financial growth (just more use per day of energy), and lots of other incidental stuff.

I have only been turned on to it it all for a year or so, and its amazing what you can do in such a short time. The main changes to make are all in your head.

I bought a solid fuel rayburn this weekend on ebay for under ?150. Thats hot water, cooking and heating sorted for as long as I can get wood then!

Jamie.

Eternal Sunshine · Post by **Eternal Sunshine** » 13 Aug 2007, 23:01

Hi Cake

Welcome. I'm a new comer aswell, but I'm sure Sunny Jim's right - the most important change you can make is the one in your head. All the rest will follow.

I think we're way ahead of the crowd anyway.

And despite what they may say, there's more hope on here than doom & gloom.

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 14 Aug 2007, 00:11

Welcome Cake and Eternal sunshine.

Glad you have both woken up and can see reality clearly now. Yes, it is a bit scary, but better to know what is really going on in the world than be sleep-walking like the rest of the population......

When you reach the cliff, you will know not to keep walking. You may even be able to stop a few of the vast number of sleep -walkers from going over the edge.

I have known about PO for over 3 years now and am still coming to terms with it and what it means for us all over the rest of our lives...... so I agree whole heartedly it is substantially a mental issue that you have to come to terms with. Once you have done that then it is all about re-learning what is going to become important, survival techniques, growing your own, etc.

But be careful reading what I post, I have become a bit of a doomer the more I have learnt.

On the positive side, I am sure many of us here now will still be here in 10 years time. (If we are lucky!)

cake · Post by **cake** » 14 Aug 2007, 09:31

Thanks everyone....I wholeheartedly agree with whats been said.

Am now the owner of several books on the subjects of growing your own fruits and vegetables. I have to say I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty.

Up until recently the most important stuff I had to think about was going self employed soon and moving down to Devon/Cornwall next year......now trying to figure out if our plans will have to be changed.

I know you should be prepared to encounter the odd setback but as potential setbacks go.....this is the daddy!

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 14 Aug 2007, 09:52

cake wrote:Am now the owner of several books on the subjects of growing your own fruits and vegetables. I have to say I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty.

Absolutely, you will love it.

I started my permaculture garden (only very small, a terraced house back garden) about 2 or 3 years ago now, and it is just starting to really give some decent yields. I just ate an apple for breakfast which I picked before setting off for work off my small apple tree - it was so sweet and crunchy, rosy red, without the bitter taste of the wax and preservatives you get on the skin of supermarket apples. It was quite the best apple I've ever had in my life.

Preparing for PO can bring pleasures you wouldn't necessarily have expected or thought of at all.

Pippa · Post by **Pippa** » 14 Aug 2007, 10:00

Ditto Sally and Co with the Hello!