Bread & Milk.

[Guzzler]

I see that in some parts of the country the supermarkets have run dry of the essentials such as bread, milk and fresh vegetables. I find this this embarrassing and irritating. This country is so slow when it comes to 'severe' weather. Scotland came first in line for bad weather but here in the Pennines it hasn't been anywhere near severe. In Scandinavia they have little trouble.

Bread is no problem for us as even my sons can bake it but I would struggle to grow my own cow for milk and cream. Pfft!

 

[Granny_grump_]

I see that in some parts of the country the supermarkets have run dry of the essentials such as bread, milk and fresh vegetables. I find this this embarrassing and irritating. This country is so slow when it comes to 'severe' weather. Scotland came first in line for bad weather but here in the Pennines it hasn't been anywhere near severe. In Scandinavia they have little trouble.

Bread is no problem for us as even my sons can bake it but I would struggle to grow my own cow for milk and cream. Pfft!

I previously said exactly this in this country evertime there is a sever weather spell the country grinds to a halt,they never prepare for anything here,my brother lives in Germany all cars have to have change there tyres over just before winter to their winter tyres and you face a hefty fine if you don't. The trains run and better than ours in every way,we are supposed to be the advanced county but I really doubt this, when you go on holiday abroad you should see there infrastructure trains don't have a huge gap between platforms and train. A moving step comes out so no one can fall between tracks and so modern there trains. It's an eye opener believe me very advanced! K

 

[Guzzler]

I previously said exactly this in this country evertime there is a sever weather spell the country grinds to a halt,they never prepare for anything here,my brother lives in Germany all cars have to have change there tyres over just before winter to their winter tyres and you face a hefty fine if you don't. The trains run and better than ours in every way,we are supposed to be the advanced county but I really doubt this, when you go on holiday abroad you should see there infrastructure trains don't have a huge gap between platforms and train. A moving step comes out so no one can fall between tracks and so modern there trains. It's an eye opener believe me very advanced! K

I have travelled extensively and you are right about the infrastructure being much better on the continent. UK
Governments think that plans to improve things here are unpopular but I think most people would agree that that better flood defences in the face of climate change, adequate planning and execution of severe weather protocols and just plain good old common sense is what is lacking hereabouts.

 

[Granny_grump_]

I see that in some parts of the country the supermarkets have run dry of the essentials such as bread, milk and fresh vegetables. I find this this embarrassing and irritating. This country is so slow when it comes to 'severe' weather. Scotland came first in line for bad weather but here in the Pennines it hasn't been anywhere near severe. In Scandinavia they have little trouble.

Bread is no problem for us as even my sons can bake it but I would struggle to grow my own cow for milk and cream. Pfft!

Well I am impressed with you all able to bake bread,I haven't done this since my school days but we have been lucky weather not so bad has some parts of uk
,K

 

[Granny_grump_]

I have travelled extensively and you are right about the infrastructure being much better on the continent. UK
Governments think that plans to improve things here are unpopular but I think most people would agree that that better flood defences in the face of climate change, adequate planning and execution of severe weather protocols and just plain good old common sense is what is lacking hereabouts.

Totally agree we could learn a few things from our European counterparts! K

 

[Guzzler]

Well I am impressed with you all able to bake bread,I haven't done this since my school days but we have been lucky weather not so bad has some parts of uk
,K

The thing I do not understand is that most of the larger supermarkets have in-store bakeries.
In my small town we have had max 4" of snow. Even in the fields nearby the drifts have got to about 2 feet yet everyone panic buys! If you are around the same age as me you may remember the 'Three Day Week', this was when my Mum taught us girls to bake bread.... until the shops ran out of yeast then it was back to queuing up and rationing. Ah, the good ol' days.

 

[Guzzler]

I know it's a bit of an exageration but it took a volcanic eruption to close Iceland's major airport, we get a one flurry of sleet and everyone takes a week off work!

 

[jay hay-char]

I previously said exactly this in this country evertime there is a sever weather spell the country grinds to a halt,they never prepare for anything here,my brother lives in Germany all cars have to have change there tyres over just before winter to their winter tyres and you face a hefty fine if you don't. The trains run and better than ours in every way,we are supposed to be the advanced county but I really doubt this, when you go on holiday abroad you should see there infrastructure trains don't have a huge gap between platforms and train. A moving step comes out so no one can fall between tracks and so modern there trains. It's an eye opener believe me very advanced! K

The thing is that severe weather is a regular occurrence in the winter, on the continent, whereas for us, particularly in the south, it's a once in ten years event. Councils over here can't justify tying up millions of pounds in snow-clearing equipment that might be used for a short spell of bad weather, once in a decade, but the authorities in Germany (to take your example) can buy the right equipment knowing that in some parts of the country, it will be required for several months a year, every year. It's just economics, really. A week of disruption caused by bad weather in the UK will still represent far less of an economic hit than the cost of buying and maintaining snow clearance equipment that never gets used.

The further north you go, the more equipment you'll find. Scottish councils, particularly in the Highlands, have some fairly serious kit tucked away for when winter comes calling.

In my view, winter tyres are a wise precaution in the UK and probably far more justifiable on cost grounds than for instance, buying a four wheel drive car, but as you say, they're not compulsory over here. Maybe they should be.

 

[JTL]

It's almost over and done with for most of us so normality will resume.
There have been some sad losses of life so short of bread and milk is manageable.
We haven't had that kind of weather for quite a few years.
Anglesey London the Midlands and other places wityhout water!
Now that is serious and I don't remember that happening in my lifetime before.
A few burst pipes here and there buit whole areas without water is a new one on me.
Water should be a nationalised essential commodity.
The money constantly being ploughed back in and not give out to shareholders.

 

[Jaylee]

The thing I do not understand is that most of the larger supermarkets have in-store bakeries..

Hi Guzzler,

I realy hate to shatter the illusion of the in store fresh bakery.
But most, if not all shop bakeries (fresh baked baguette or baton. Maybe a croissant. Even that "farmhouse loaf.") is "CDF"..
Basicaly fast frozen dough.
Which means the logistics of all this initially frozen produce may have been scuppered for the supplier to the stores by the adverse weather...

I once had a job working for a large food retail chain... (Oddly I've also worked briefly in transport.)

 

[Guzzler]

Hi Guzzler,

I realy hate to shatter the illusion of the in store fresh bakery.
But most, if not all shop bakeries (fresh baked baguette or baton. Maybe a croissant. Even that "farmhouse loaf.") is "CDF"..
Basicaly fast frozen dough.
Which means the logistics of all this initially frozen produce may have been scuppered for the supplier to the stores by the adverse weather...

I once had a job working for a large food retail chain... (Oddly I've also worked briefly in transport.)

Well, as I live and breathe! Another way that the big four scam us. Thanks for the info.

 

[Jaylee]

Well, as I live and breathe! Another way that the big four scam us. Thanks for the info.

Yeah, sorry to do this to you.. (Sincerely.)

But I once had to stand in for a "baker" & was given the "brief" the day before.. It's literally cooked from frozen from boxes in a walk in freezer.

Though I stayed at a French campsite once years ago & the technique of laying the frozen croissants on a tray at ambient temp with a cloth covering the evening before, the rise is better than the advised Bish bash bosh freezer to oven rack for 20?

 

[Guzzler]

Yeah, sorry to do this to you.. (Sincerely.)

But I once had to stand in for a "baker" & was given the "brief" the day before.. It's literally cooked from frozen from boxes in a walk in freezer.

Though I stayed at a French campsite once years ago & the technique of laying the frozen croissants on a tray at ambient temp with a cloth covering the evening before, the rise is better than the advised Bish bash bosh freezer to oven rack for 20?

The first time I tasted 'fresh' brioche from a supermarket I spat it out. Now I know why. There's no comparison to home made.

Oh Gawd! Why did I say that? Now I want brioche...

 

[Jaylee]

The first time I tasted 'fresh' brioche from a supermarket I spat it out. Now I know why. There's no comparison to home made.

Oh Gawd! Why did I say that? Now I want brioche...

True! My father in law made proper bread.

What we see smelling "fresh" & feeling warm out the oven in the morning at our local on the baked shelf (or in those baskets for show.) is in essence "fast food."

 

[Guzzler]

Coincidentally, my youngest was complaining yesterday about the fact that I have baked just one loaf since I was diagnosed and havn't made any scotch eggs or sausage rolls either. I had to tell him that I can easily ignore shop bought stuff but I couldn't resist temptation when it comes to home baked. The smell alone would see me sitting on the kitchen floor staring through the glass into the oven. He said I am a bad Mother and he would dock my board!

 

[Jaylee]

Coincidentally, my youngest was complaining yesterday about the fact that I have baked just one loaf since I was diagnosed and havn't made any scotch eggs or sausage rolls either. I had to tell him that I can easily ignore shop bought stuff but I couldn't resist temptation when it comes to home baked. The smell alone would see me sitting on the kitchen floor staring through the glass into the oven. He said I am a bad Mother and he would dock my board!

My father in law also made great sausage rolls... (He's no longer with us.)
Again, the shop "fresh" bagged deals lose their flavour and go bland and stodgy when gone cold...

Regardless of our own diabetic status. Supermarkets are killing the home cooked art..

 

[Guzzler]

My father in law also made great sausage rolls... (He's no longer with us.)
Again, the shop "fresh" bagged deals lose their flavour and go bland and stodgy when gone cold...

Regardless of our own diabetic status. Supermarkets are killing the home cooked art..

I have taught all three of my sons to bake bread but they draw the line at cakes etc. Apparently, that is a girly job. This was my answer to my son's complaint ' find the kitchen and shut yer gob'.
I sometimes smile when I see adverts for Artisan bread, it is not rocket surgery but costs as much.