Jennifer McM

Oh dear..... ?? Blimey.... that's something else to worry about ? the damn 'things' are everywhere! ?

Imagine discovering a new virus variant (eg the Kent variant), in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

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About two weeks ago I made a batch of sourdough, cut it into 4, and put each quarter into a freezer bag for 4 readymade pizza dough. Several days ago I put one of the frozen quarters in the fridge to make a pizza the next day... only I forgot! It got pushed to the back of the fridge out of sight. Finally discovered the bag yesterday, had a sniff at it.... it smelt ok, so I made a pizza.... was quite nice and quicker than a delivery. Loaf's just come out of the oven > boiled eggs for breakfast. Cost of 830g loaf: 500g of flour @ £2 for 1.5kg = about 66p plus 16g salt, and cost of gas for having the oven top whack for an hour.

It's possible to buy some really ancient off-the-shelf starter. Think the oldest I've seen is one in America that's said to be around 247 years old, think even I'm not that gullible. Did read that a pot of starter was usually kept in a sack of flour when the pioneers were forging their way West. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1311&_nkw=sourdough+starter&_sacat=0 Where's the edit button gone ? I lied about the age of the American one.

Shower, galley, and bathroom sink water goes into the canal. I use ecover washing up liquid, it's friendlier apparently. Any water with bleach and other harsh chemicals in it gets turfed out on the towpath. The water from the washing machine goes in the canal too, tho' I use non-bio detergent. Think on some rivers it's different.

Afraid I've taken the shiny surface off it by scrubbing with all sorts, making it not so easy to clean ? Bit like a white washing up bowl, once the 'shine' has gone it's difficult to keep white. Good tip though, thank you!

For me anyway

Perfect - thank you! Ordering now! Not really, think my scrubbing with different chemicals has taken the surface off. Where the sun has been shining on it has also discoloured the plastic. Think your suggestion of spraying might do the trick - thanks.

Like this one....? 'What a saving £££ if this works - thank you. https://cpc.farnell.com/hycote/xuk476/spray-paint-stoneguard-white/dp/SA03040?mckv=s0GYBR56V_dc|pcrid|224699236447|kword||match||plid||slid||product|SA03040|pgrid|43783626421|ptaid|pla-837256346836|&CMP=KNC-GUK-CPC-SHOPPING&s_kwcid=AL!5616!3!224699236447!!!network}!837256346836!&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv6yCBhCLARIsABqJTjYMeRAi0fo0_GzrJ8OXBExtJuogVRmklpvDvbOxmw3ilZTUBuDG3FEaAlL4EALw_wcB

Thank you, will investigate! Trust you can get the paint in white, don't think I fancy the black ?

The one I use is; 200g starter 283g water 430g extra strong flour 16g salt. The method I use is easy from

I'm fed up with the toilet we've got, the plastic appears to have lost it's smooth surface, and it's now giving me nightmares! The model we've got is C200, Thetford doesn't appear to sell this model anymore, though parts are available (I don't want to go down the replacing parts route). Thetford's new model is £550, plus a couple extra cassettes (£133 each) makes it a rather expensive job. There are new C200 models for sale on Ebay for £365. We've got relatively new cassettes so I don't think we need to pay for any extras. We looking for a yard to change the loo over, except our normal go to yard is busy at the mo - it's not an urgent job, the next couple or three months would be fine. Wondering if anyone has suggestions of a yard, or a mobile company that would be willing to do the work? We'd rather pay for a good job, rather than take the cheapest option. Wonder if anyone has any thoughts? Thanks for any help ? BTW we're on the Coventry canal.

It's fascinating - I started last Spring, and was doing reasonably well. Then I found I'd just tripped over into Type 2 diabetic (bother!) so I went on an almost zero carb diet, I ditched the starter. Then about November time, hearing that sourdough is classed as 'fermented' type of food (which generally is thought most are short of), it was a good excuse to start again from scratch, this 'new' starter appears to be so much livelier. I've now got into a baking routine. I keep 100g of the starter in the fridge. The night before I decide to bake, I liven up the 100g starter with 100g of water and 100g flour - overnight the starter gets 'feeding'. The next morning I get cracking (100g of the starter goes back into the fridge, and 200g of starter gets used in the recipe) and by tea time the bread gets popped into the oven, cooking the same way as Tree Monkey using a Dutch oven (aka heavy cast iron casserole pot). The recipe is a no kneed one, so hardly any effort. Just found a good recipe for hot cross buns using sourdough (https://www.bakingmad.com/recipes/sourdough-hot-cross-buns) - instead of caster sugar I used erythritol, and zero carb faux maple syrup brushed on the top of the buns to make them sticky - it cuts down the carb content somewhat (at least it makes me feel less guilty ?). Pleased with Wednesday's loaf - pic was taken as I'm competing with my brother. John doesn't appear to get the indigestion or bloating that normal bread gives him. It's an enjoyable hobby... love it!

Cheer up, garden centres will be allowed to open this time round, that's be great to pick up a Christmas tree ....... errr ?

Maybe so, but it doesn't stop people getting excited. ? Reading the twitter thread, it says Art 61 has been invoked 5 times, which sort of gives it credence. I guess some people who's life long business is about to go down the drain would clutch any straw.

Presently I'm reading a lot about Article 61 of the Magna Carta, there's a FB group on it https://www.facebook.com/groups/754338414949984/?ref=share It's above my head, but..... BIG BUT.... if I were told to close down my business of which I've funded it through mortgaging my home, and knowing the lockdown would kill it, think I'd be looking closely into Article 61.

Hi Sue, and welcome! Some people use a bike between locks, although there are (in the main) lock landings where 'mates' can hop off the boat, and back on again when the boat's gone through the lock. Though many lock landings are not really designed for 'older bones'. Lock beams/gates can be awkward and heavy, not all of the beams are perfectly balanced - this is one area where carrying a bit of weight could be useful! Some lock gates are a bit of a challenge, afterall, we're talking about 17th, 18th century 'technology' - and sweet it is too . If you're lucky, on some of the double locks, you could pal up with another boat going through the lock, sharing the work and enjoying a bit of a chat! There are long stretches where there are no locks, such as the Ashby Canal. https://canalplan.org.uk/cgi-bin/canal.cgi is brilliant and a 'must' for planning canal journeys, it allows you to set your personal criteria.

Thank you! Absolutely agree about concentrating on something, I've been storing and gathering material for things we've been wanting to do for probably years. Eg: got loads of different paint and a good instruction book for having a go at canal art. This lockdown is different, longer/darker nights, and maybe not so much good weather - just got to keep our minds occupied ?

Totally expected, it's just confirmation. My husband goes to ozzy to have a pacemaker fitted on Wednesday, and he's got to take it easy for 3 or 4 weeks, so the lockdown works just fine for us.

Just noticed this article... apologies if it's already been posted https://canalrivertrust.org. uk/enjoy-the-waterways/safety-on-our-waterways/coronavirus

Midland Chandlers stock them https://www.midlandchandlers.co.uk/products/star-mobil-basic-bed-kit-40310 The material doesn't mind a good spin in the washing machine either. A great product.

Why your 'Mrs' of course, absolutely NO contest!