Are those of you who live in France looking forward to receiving your “survival manual”? Apparently, if any perceived threat to the population is deemed nuclear, you will be encouraged to close doors and windows. Now might be the time to replace your old windows with some that seal more closely. This has echoes of that government film of the 60s, about hiding under tables and suchlike.
2 Likes
Well, thank goodness we had our new ones installed a couple of years ago. The first thing I would think about, before I am vaporised, is to shut the doors and windows. Don’t want any of those nasty nuclear particles getting inside; the dust and red sand from Africa is bad enough!
2 Likes
It is but a rumour - which of course may well have been planted to gov’t get reaction before deciding whether to go ahead.
But seems to be quite straightforward things that many do already. Have some bottles water and cans of food, spare batteries and so on.
Given the rise in tension about security and attacks it might be worth sharing this. Anybody in the area concerned need not be concerned if the see a lot of unusual military action taking place in what is usually a very quiet rural area. Apparently some Scottish soldiers will be involved as well.
1 Like
Would rather not survive any sort of nuclear attack to be honest and go out in the first instance rather than linger in dying pain. Unless you have a deep concrete sealed bunker, nothing will save you! As for being invaded, just offer some andouille, they will soon retreat!
3 Likes
Don’t forget the loo rolls, need plenty of those and fill the bath with water.
1 Like
A friend bought a house next to Sellafield on that basis.
1 Like
A bit later than the 60’s
I remember it well - properly scary when you are a young teenager.
You will be perfectly safe as long as your house is equipped with traditional French floral patterned wallpaper, or brown stained pine panelling. 
Both are proof against any kind of nuclear explosion, barring a direct hit, when the volets may rattle a bit.
5 Likes
In the mid 1980s the headteacher of the school where I worked told us about an official letter he had received which allocated specific duties to every member of the teaching staff in the event of a nuclear attack. It all had a bit of the Dad’s Army about it. At the end he pointed out that he lived almost 40 miles away and at the first hint of anything like that he would be heading home to spend what time he had left with his wife and family.
A commune near here has an Titanobel factory where explosives are manufactured and stored. All houses in the commune have had special blast proof and hermetically sealed doors and windows in case of an accident. Paid for by Titanobel as a condition of having the factory within the commune.
@billybutcher in the US it was “Duck and Cover”. I still remember those drills - terrifying to a small child!
1 Like
A word of advice
2 Likes
Presumably he’ll be dancing with tears in his eyes.
https://youtu.be/2OcggbLVtfU?si=n23mSGst3v3olsyo
I remember it well in the US.
When I was training at Hendon we had lessons in Civil Defence from a trainer we christened Roentgen Ronnie. A pub cellar was suggested as a place to seek shelter. Of course, we all thought the public bar was a much more sensible idea.
1 Like
As even most French people don’t seem to know where the Aveyron is -
<< Ah, vous habitez à Avignon ? >>
I don’t think we’re a major strategic nuclear target.
OTOH bush fires or a dam burst are something else. We’ve been threatened once by the former and the house is alongside the Lot in a narrow valley with a a big reservoir upstream, so following the floods in Valencia, I planned super fast escape routes on foot and by car to get out as soon as the siren sounds.
Of course, if the disaster happens around noon on the first Weds in the month, things might not go as planned…
Yes, we discussed this amongst friends who were talking about supplies etc. IMO, a post nuclear war will be extremely unpleasant and being an early departure might be preferable.
3 Likes
There is an article about this french survival booklet in the daily wail today. Made me laugh out loud because in the list of items to put by is a mobile phone charger. How will that work if there is no electricity because everything else mentioned is batteries for radio and torches. Charging a phone would not be high on my list of survival priorities as the phones wouldn’t work. Maybe they should add large screen TV to the list to combat boredom and coupons for McDo.
2 Likes
I’m with you (further up the thread, I think it was you 
) and will just hope it is all over in one go.
If not, I’ve got enough wood to last me to the end of my natural life anyway and perhaps I could live on barbecued mice for a while. 