Just a few lines to express my appreciation for your ration reviews on You Tube. I find them informative and very entertaining. They often give me a darn good chuckle – apologies for laughing at your reaction to some of the nassssty stuff you see or eat! I really appreciate the effort you put into your vids and the quality definitely shows.
I do however have one complaint. You have prompted me to spend a lot of money on modern rations. Two cases (A+B) of 08 2020 US MRE’s from MRE Mountain and a Case B of 10 British ORP at £90 incl. post from Ebay. I have successfully resisted buying a Case A for £100….resist, resist.
I was really happy with MRE Mountain’s service. I got multi-case and New Year discount and free postage, making each case about £86 for me. The photo on their site had a 02 2020 date box, when I got them I see 08 2020 – nice!
I just got the ORPs yesterday and what a score! The photo showed PD 0217 but he had three cases available. I emailed him asking if they were all 0217 or later and he was encouraging but not specific (can’t blame him really). Anyway, got prompt delivery of mint case and PD 0717
I have also got from Ebay 2x24 hour ARPOL Polish exp. 11 2019 which someone in Kent has got loads of at £19 a pop incl. post. That is very cheap looking at commercial sites and the food looks amazing. However, I did see your only review of a Polish 24 hour ration and it was not very encouraging!! I will instead dwell on your single meal Polish MRE review.
There are loads of French RCIR around this part of the world and sure enough, I have gone and bought 6 of the ones I like the look of for £14 each incl. post. If you buy a lot of 30 mixed, they come down to £8.50 ea. incl. post. They come direct from France and expire in 2021 or 2022, incredible. Amazingly cheap compared to commercial sites – there is an advantage living close to the source I guess.
I am really intrigued where sellers are getting these rations from. I am guessing ripped off from QM stores as certainly the ORP seller was based in Colchester – a large garrison town in the UK. The ORP cases are covered with admonitions from the Ministry of Defence ‘unauthorised trading is prohibited and may constitute an offence’. Ebay has upwards of 30 sellers though, I guess it is just too much effort for the authorities to act. It does prick my conscience a bit but as a 30 year tax payer not too much
. I also hope that humanitarian missions are not being robbed. The French ones – well I reckon that may be a factory source with them being almost brand new. I have only eaten two of the US MREs so far (I am not going to collect I am going to eat). I have had a huge amount of pleasure in anticipating the opening; checking out the packets and tucking in. I even bought a meal tray! I am pretty sure I have picked up some of your phrases in describing them to family and friends as well.
Yours must be a really fun topic for video reviews with tastes and rations constantly changing. Plus the huge variety of menus which are produced. Where are those hidden caches of WW2 rations, eh?! There must be a hole in the forest with 10 crates stacked in waterproof cover, or an old locked outbuilding or something…
All the very best to you and yours, and keep up the excellent work!
Mack
