Being Prepared!!!

Where I live, we leave front doors unlocked when we are in during the day, only locking the doors when we go out or at night. I do lock mine if I am the only one in the house and am in my office as it's at the top and at the back. I still find this a novelty although I have been here for two years now.

Deep intake of breath shysal at the thought that anyone would leave the key in the door, any time...day or night.
We receive emailed reminders from our local Community Safety Team that 'fishing' for a key through the letterbox can be done quickly and quietly by would-be burglars.

Can't read a book by its cover, as they say jeni
Otherwise - we are a vain lot aren't we....
Note to self. Check if still growing underarm hair. Never had much and occasionally do a pass with a razor while bathing. But i might not need to!
Not prepared apart from appointing a friend as backstop executor (if DH and I both died on the M1 - sons are out of the country)
I should give friend a key as well in case we both ended up in hospital.

Wills, insurance documents and so on are all filed neatly and easily accessible in the event of an emergency. I'm not on any medication and I reckon so much of my innards have already been removed that I'm not likely to have to worry about hospital admission.

I remember once in casualty seeing a very tough hirsute biker who had had a RTA, under his leathershe had very pretty pink frilly panties. Do you think he was prepared?

In my wardrobe I have an overnight case that has bra,pants and pj's and a hand towel with some small bars of soap and talc,DH has the same as we where caught out once when he had to be rushed into hospital at very short notice.In the fridge we have two plastic jars from our doctors surgery that has a list inside which state's which medication we need in an emergency it also tells the emergency services who is the key holder and telephone numbers and even where the food is if there is an animal in the house,these bottles are free from most surgeries.

I know that horrible feeling MDougall the last time I felt really ill and needed to go to the doctors I got up at 6am to prepare. I shaved my legs and washed my hair and found a novel I wanted to read. My instincts were correct, I was admitted to hospital from the doctor's surgery. I have a very caring family but on that day DD was abroad, sister was at a conference and DH worked a 3 hour drive away. Doctors and nurses kept asking who I had with me and I had to say I was alone. I was having heart investigations so I asked a nurse to ring DH, I did not want to die without speaking to him.
My DD knows where I keep the will and I keep birth and marriage certificates and NH cards with the will. I must review this as my DD now lives abroad.

I not only live alone, but in an isolated flat in a foreign country! I have listed all my pensions, bank account details, names and numbers of family, etc. plus a copy of my will, and given the file to my Swiss friend, who could deal with the French authorities for my daughters. She would also help if I had to go into hospital - she lives about 120 miles away from me, but I know she would come if I needed her. Things were much simpler before my daughter emigrated to New Zealand but she and Odile are Facebook friends and often chat to each other behind my back! My daughter in the UK would not be able to cope at all.
I don't really need a will if I die in France as inheritance is strictly governed by the 'Code Napoleon' and you cannot disinherit your children.
I have left explicit instructions for disposal of my body - donate everything useful, try to give remainder for research, no religious service, everything to be done as cheaply as possible, no expense of repatriation.
I don't have any underarm hair - it just stopped growing about ten years ago, and my doctor just shrugged and said 'hormones'. I don't wear make up of any kind, as I really don't care about my appearance as long as I am clean and tidy.
I used to be named as executor in both my daughters' wills and also as legal guardian of their infant children but we jointly decided when I turned 70 that it would be unrealistic not to have younger people, so now the adult GC are named as guardians for the minors, if both parents should die.

Included in the list of essentials for hospital stay are tweezers and magnifying mirror for chin hairs which need to plucked every day or two.

Living alone, I decided long ago that I had to be prepared for any emergency. I have a drawer containing nighties etc. with a list of any other items to be included. I also have a list, known to my daughters and always up to date, of pension, will and banking details, and options for cats.
Although always hot at night I never sleep naked in case there is a fire! Instead I wear Sloggi cropped top and pants set.
I also take out the front door key when I lock up at night should a family member need to get in with their key.
Armpits shaved daily, but sadly legs not so often in winter.

With regards to computer passwords etc. In my past life i was a Management Consultant in the public service and trained front line personnel in "Systems which withstand absence - - in its simplest form - if someone in a team was away - who else could find files, passwords, keys etc.etc. if they were essential for the team's work? It would blow your mind just how many teams (particularly in Social Services ) who thought I was outrageous for introducing processes that ensured that everyone in the team could access each other's files, computers, etc.etc. Lives were literally at stake but people were so "inward" thinking about their paperwork etc. and did not think how it would all work if they were away for a day or more.

I am suitably chastened (susiecb) - of course the Doctors/Nurses/Anyone else will not care about my legs etc.etc. It would be me!!! So that is a very selfish thought if ever I had one!! Goes back to my childhood, that no-one else should find you in less than a pleasant "state".

Also take the point that if I was in excruciating pain - would I be bothered? Well, when I went into labour three times, yes even then I was very bothered about how I looked when in pain!!!! Sounds very pathetic but you know, it seemed to give me something else to focus on. When I had my hysterectomy, I was the first lady in a group of 5 to be up and about, washing myself (complete with drip/morphine pump) and putting on my makeup and brushing my hair!.

So it gives me a lift I suppose - same with my best friend undergoing chemotherapy/radiotherapy recently - even at her worst times with no hair, she put on a very glamorous wig, full make-up and special nightwear as she said it made her feel a lot better!

Since DH has not infrequently been rushed into hospital with blue flashing lights I live with "Plan B" - a couple of friends with keys who could see to the dog, a list of his medications in my purse, always clean PJs for him and when DGS was due last November I even put dog into kennels one weekend in case I "got the call" wilel DH was in for an op. Once, as he was about to be wheeled off to theatre I asked him for the passwords for his computer - he hesitated, ...but before he could say any more the porter wheeled him away. Fortunately he came through that one, but in answer to the question (in a very roundabout way) I would say I am not in fact prepared.
But when the emergencies happen, the hairy armpits/legs or unwashed hair don't seem to matter!

I'm shocked!!! Hairy legs!!!!Underwear that doesn't match. In all my years of nursing my first thought at seeing my patient was just look at this when did she last have a manicure, shave her legs, buy some new underwear and where does she buy her nighties!!!LOL

I'm as prepared as I'll ever be , take me as you find me I'm afraid , hairy legs and chipped toe nails would be the last thing on my mind if I was in excruciating pain . OH knows where my holiday wash bag is and my PJ's, as for banking everything is done by DD and we each have our own acc for access to cash.

I keep pretending it will all go away! I am in the same position, live alone, and have a dog that would need to be looked after. I was sent to A and E a couple of years ago, and argued with the doctor that I needed to go home (didn't have the dog then) organise nighties etc. and let my family know. He agreed that I should go the following morning, and there was a nurse waiting for me in A and E who knew the story. I was only in for a few days, but it made me think - however, it's all gone on the back burner again - I have to take myself in hand.