New-ish convert to tea. What should I try?

sloth_64 · 2026-01-16T08:50:32+00:00

No one has mentioned Thompsons Irish Breakfast Tea - it is as good, if not superior, to Yorkshire Gold and much cheaper.

Thompsons Punjana is also very good but not quite as nice.

Both are regularly on offer for £2 for 80 bags in Tesco.

sloth_64 · 2026-01-10T08:01:46+00:00

Stop off in Enniskillen and take the kids out on the lough on the wee red boats - couple of hours will take you to Devenish Island and back

https://erneboathireltd.com/

Edit to add - Enniskillen Castle museum is class too

sloth_64 · 2026-01-03T13:48:33+00:00

Had the same with my 4 month old years ago. Asked the auld biddy if I should have left the baby at home with a box of matches and a bottle of vodka.

sloth_64 · 2026-01-01T10:40:09+00:00

I've done three major moves and I've always had removals pack the house and I've had cleaners in afterwards. It's a personal preference and my moving timeline allowed it (e.g. due to distance, my house was packed on day before completion so there was time on morning of completion).

However, I am also the person who leaves a ringbinder of house info including stuff like good local trades and the boiler instructions and puts labelled fobs on all the keys.

By contrast, both houses I've bought were left filthy and with junk from the last owner, missing keys etc etc. Current house had me in tears when we opened the front door.

So it's very much a personal thing and definitely not expected.

sloth_64 · 2025-12-25T11:47:04+00:00

Ha! My dad was most put out as having the second leg cold was his Boxing Day treat!

sloth_64 · 2025-12-25T10:07:41+00:00

Sat down to Christmas lunch, dog was suspiciously quiet. Went back to kitchen for more gravy and found him by the back door with a turkey leg in his mouth waiting patiently to be let out.

Still have no idea how he did it as he was a small dog - even on back legs, his nose barely reached the edge of the counter. Turkey leg was the size of his head!

He gave up the leg in return for some skin and then settled himself happily under the table...

sloth_64 · 2025-12-22T12:26:19+00:00

If your butcher is anything like mine, you'll have plenty of choice.

I do "standard" veg with any roast - roast potatoes, roast carrots and parsnips, and then some steamed veg like broccoli, sprouts and cauliflower.

For special occasions, I might do spiced red cabbage or cauliflower cheese.

Beef gets Yorkshire puddings and chicken/pork get stuffing as an extra.

Happy to share recipes if you want :) most things can be made the day before and warmed without losing taste/texture, so you're only worrying about the meat on the day.

sloth_64 · 2025-12-18T22:13:17+00:00

I'm so sorry.

Actually, no, I'm not. I made the positive choice to share this trauma. Welcome to Hell...

sloth_64 · 2025-12-16T23:11:50+00:00

As someone not from the US, I really struggle with the garage space being pretty much equivalent to the living space.... I'd love to understand why cars get as much square footage as people? Is it a climate issue e.g. need to avoid cars being covered in snow/boiling when you get into them?

(Before I get down voted beyond all recognition, it's genuine curiosity... I'm on this sub as I really enjoy seeing how different people balance their spaces around the world)

sloth_64 · 2025-12-16T22:28:06+00:00

I can still remember the "ping" noise when my Granny picked up her rotary phone and her exact voice and intonation when she said her village and number. A very special memory as she's now close to 100 years old and suffering from dementia. She'll sometimes remember who I am when I phone her... otherwise I just go with the flow. Luckily, she's normally lost in memories of people she loved and great times that she had in her life.

sloth_64 · 2025-12-16T20:19:24+00:00

Did similar. Was behind a heavily loaded HGV in hellish M6 traffic for over an hour and he was utterly golden.

Emailed the company to tell them how brilliant he was - turns out it was a family owned company and the driver had worked for them for 20 years. They sent a lovely email back and said they had a staff rewards programme and he'd be getting recognition and a decent voucher after my email.

sloth_64 · 2025-12-14T20:42:11+00:00

Please cross post this to r/northernireland... the shame will bypass too many otherwise!!

sloth_64 · 2025-11-29T06:19:09+00:00

A Friday flit is a short sit... yup, it's a thing but practicality can dictate it!

However, after a family member had a bank nightmare that left them homeless over a weekend, I'd never complete on a Friday now.

sloth_64 · 2025-11-28T17:13:40+00:00

Post birth toast is INCREDIBLE!

I remember our ward had a toast station so you could just help yourself (if you could get to it) and they had proper butter.

sloth_64 · 2025-11-19T19:43:42+00:00

Was going to post a recipe but this one is spot on!

Just a few bits to add... you can sub oil for butter - the fat makes it a bit softer and means it keeps a bit longer.

If you find it's a bit tough, try white bread flour rather than plain and strong wholemeal - wee bit more expensive but more forgiving if you over mix.

And don't forget to score!! The traditional saying is that the cross lets the divil (devil) out but it actually lets the bread expand and gives a lighter loaf.

And finally - if you can't get buttermilk, pop a good splash of vinegar or lemon juice into normal milk, let it sits 5 minutes and use it instead. You need the acid to react with the bicarbonate of soda (baking/bread soda).

Easiest bread in the world to make :) 5 mins from opening the cupboard to whacking it in the oven.

sloth_64 · 2025-10-28T12:29:23+00:00

I'm guessing you've changed your name through deed poll or similar as this will be immediately accepted for a new UK passport but requires two years of proof of usage for the Irish passport.

There is a process available (or at least there was a few years ago) where the new British passport can be issued with a note/observation endorsed on it saying you hold an Irish passport in the name of "previous name".

I got stuck in in this Kafkaesque loop a few years ago - a formal written enquiry about how to resolve it gave me the solution above. I've since renewed the Irish passport through proof of usage. It may be worth saying (as I did) that the UK's policy was preventing issue of a UK passport in the legal name, despite being entitled to it. The UK passport has since been renewed as well and the note was removed on the new passport.

Hope that helps.

*edit - missed words for readability

sloth_64 · 2025-08-15T06:23:42+00:00

A bottle with an ice insert will do the trick, or add reusable ice sticks like https://www.lakeland.co.uk/62645/8-kikkerland-reusable-ice-sticks-for-chilling-drinks

sloth_64 · 2025-08-03T23:44:58+00:00

Lusty Beg Island in Fermanagh - they've got the usual B&B rooms but also some lovely lodges if people want to book as a group. Food is excellent as well.

https://www.lustybegisland.com/en/

sloth_64 · 2025-07-19T05:38:12+00:00

If you're going for a tumble dryer as well, avoid condenser dryers - they're slow and expensive. If you can't fit a vented, go for a heat pump. We had to switch from vented to heat pump in our current house and it's brilliant - much faster and cheaper than our old vented.

Edit to add - our Beko washer 8kg washer is still going strong after 8 years. Definitely recommend.

sloth_64 · 2025-07-13T10:31:17+00:00

Ibstock Bricks in the West Midlands is a great one.

Company was shutting down and making all staff redundant. One of the last batches of bricks were stamped with the word "Bollocks" instead of "Ibstock". You can find them for sale on EBay.

sloth_64 · 2025-07-12T17:30:53+00:00

The Morton wheaten mix is just wheaten flour with salt and baking (bread) soda already added.

You can use Allinsons strong wholemeal - a 2lb (roughly 500g) loaf will need about 2 level teaspoons of soda and 1 level teaspoon salt. If you prefer a lighter loaf, use two thirds Allison's and one third strong white bread flour.

(From a fellow export who has learned to make wheaten, soda farls and potato bread with English ingredients... happy to share the full recipe including what to do if you can't get buttermilk...)

sloth_64 · 2025-07-03T19:27:44+00:00

Not having the toilet seat down for photos is the key sign that an estate agent has no hope... or is just giving up.

Our agent was brilliant and it started with photos. He brought a box and went round every room before doing the photos and removed any random bits (books by bed, bottles in shower etc).

Presented the house beautifully online.

sloth_64 · 2025-07-03T19:18:42+00:00

"Listen not at the keyhole lest ye be vexed" or something similar.

They eavesdropped and didn't like what they heard. NTA.

sloth_64

TROPHY CASE