I’ve just started home bread making but having trouble getting a decent crust on a standard white loaf to stay. When it comes out of the oven the crust is OK but it softens as the loaf cools.
Ingredients are 500g white flour, 1 sachet yeast, 2 tsp salt, 3 tbsp olive oil and 300ml water mixed using a stand mixer.
I’m baking in a tin for 30 mins at 220 on a baking stone with a tray of water at the start and misting the top of the dough with water just before it goes in. I’m happy with the taste and texture of the loaf otherwise but any suggestions appreciated please

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I’m quite taken with the Paramo Halkon Traveller jacket and it’s predecessor the Halcon Traveller but just wondering if I could tap into the collective knowledge here on any less expensive alternatives please.

It seems to be similar to an army field jacket but I’m guessing they’re much heavier and warmer reading a previous thread here from a few years back ?

I don’t need it to be waterproof but windproof, lightweight with decent pockets but I do want it to be rustle free and in muted colour …but no camo !!

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Thinking about getting some metal garden furniture refurbished by sand blasting and then powder coating. Can anyone advise please on whether powder coat colours are available in designer paint shades e.g. Farrow and Ball, Little Greene etc that can be mixed like emulsion paint

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I had a quick search but I could only find a post from 2019 but that’s probably due to my lack of search skills

I’ve got visitors for Easter and as I’m a bitter drinker I’d appreciate thoughts on people’s favourite low alcohol lager

TIA

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I’ve naively chosen the bedding option from a wedding gift list. I’ve asked if there are any preferred brands but got told "you’re good at choosing gifts"

I genuinely have no idea about the subject – do I just pick the expensive range at John Lewis or is there better vfm out there. Not unnaturally my FB feed is now showing lots of you need Egyptian cotton and you don’t need Egyptian cotton ads currently

Any advice appreciated

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Cleaning out a cupboard I came across the following bottles of wine. What is the likelihood they will still be drinkable please ? The obvious answer is to open and try them but I don’t like sweet wine so was going to offer them to a friend. However whilst I’ll still caveat the "gift" I’d rather not offer a couple of bottles of drain cleaner.
The label on the smaller bottle has faded and is a Stellenzicht 1994 Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest

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I’ve got a fridge freezer in the utility room, where the fridge element acts as an overflow – small under the counter fridge with daily essentials in the kitchen.

This week I went to get some veg out of the salad drawer and it had frozen ! The fridge is on its lowest setting and isn’t running continuously so I’m presuming there’s an issue with the thermostat? If so is there a simple test I can do to identify this before I splash the cash on a replacement.
TIA

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I know there are some hi fi buffs here and I’m looking for some help in deciphering the terminology/jargon used in reviews.

I’m looking to get a Hi Fi system based on streaming only – no turntable or CD player required and I think I’ve settled on a Wiim Ultra. I have been given an option on a very lightly used Mission 778X amp at a really good price. This leaves the speakers; I’ve started to read reviews and see terms like bright, forward, big sound stage etc and wondered if anyone could translate into plain English what these mean please.

To place a bit of context I went into my local Sevenoaks store and listened to some Wharfedale 12.1, which I didn’t like – the higher frequency sounds to me were "crispy" especially with drum cymbals – reducing the treble just seemed to reduce the overall clarity. However looking online I can’t seem to see any mention of this – perhaps it’s just my own sensitivity or perhaps I’m not reading the reviews correctly ?

I did also test the Ruark Sabre whilst I was there and those were much more to my taste…at an increased price

I know I will have to listen in person but was hoping the reviews might help me create a short list of suitable candidates…or perhaps not?

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