Ditch Dairy

My husband and I watched a documentary called Cowspiracy about this time in 2015. The next day, was the food shop and we came up with the plan of just trying it. Buying things which would replace meat, eggs, dairy etc and see how we got on with it.

I never put any constraints on my self and if I fancied something I would have it....

Well I still from that day have not brought any meat, eggs, dairy or honey. I just haven't wanted it, in fact now the thought of having it makes me feel ill. 

So, dairy. You are not a baby cow! 

I was breastfeeding my baby, the bond together is huge. Then I thought, goodness, humans buy cows breastmilk without even a thought. 

You do not need cows breastmilk, you are not a cow. 

I asked on a vegan fourm for any information to add to this blog, I felt sick reading this:

'Something often overlooked is the industry practice of purposely sending ex-dairy cows to slaughter pregnant, because the unborn calf's blood is "pure" and can be used in medicine so the farmer gets a bit more money. The calf of course suffocates within its dead mother's womb.'

There are so many things I could quote which would make you bin that bottle of milk in your fridge but what am hoping is that you have found this blog for help in replacing that breastmilk, for something much better for your body and the planet and the cows. 

Milk

My first bit of advice is just try it, everyone likes different milks. 

My fav is Almond! 

HUGE tip, milk in first!! 

The closest to cows milk is soya, if am out and about I will have soya. As a lot of places now stock soya. At home though its almond. Its flipping yummy is smoothes too! (Almond milk, tp - protein, tp - peanut butter and a banana. YUM)

Our oldest is also intolerant to cows milk. We found this out by going plant based/vegan and all the problems we had spent years going to the doctor went! We later had it confirmed and now the school is on board too, so no more crazy early mornings and hours in the bathroom.

Most of us are intolerant to cows milk, my tummy and skin is sooooo much better since getting rid of dairy! At the very start of us changing our diet I had a coffee out with dairy, I was so ill after not having it, I now if really want one have a black one ;)

Our little mini people, LOVE this!! Has all the goodness of milk without the horrible stuff. 

A huge treat for the minis is the chocolate one, its very yummy! 

Buy a few and have a taste test. 

I must add that when am making a crazy amount of pancakes, I use 'smart price' tesco own soya, its not to different in goodness to the Soya +1 but cheaper. (Currently 59p.)

Cheese

AKA GARY

When we first changed our diet over, they was a lot less choice but now, the supermarkets are catching on and there is a lot of Gary out there! 

Here are my top too:

Yes I shop a lot in tesco.....

This one is flipping yummy! Now don't get me wrong, Gary is still not quite out stripped dairy but its getting better and better. Remember that all dairy products have hormones in them telling you "YOU NEED MORE" So after three weeks, you wont be needing cheese in crazy amounts and will find these replacements good. ;)

This one melts really well, perfect on pizza, or the top of pasta etc. 

Another one I filpping love! I mix these two together on the top of pizza or pasta. Yum! 

Most replacement cheese, aka Gary, is soya based, so keep that in mind.

Here you go, not only do these two melt well but they taste yummy too! 

Soya....a few of my friends can't have soya and the above (my fav's) contain soya. I have heard good things about Vegusto click here to see their collection of Garys. Another good one to try is Violife, they do a mild cheddar tasting one which is really easy to find in the shops. Click here to see their range of 100% vegan products. I love their mild cheddar one and its perfect with pineapple chunks on cocktail sticks ;)

Butter

Hands down my favorite spreadable butter is Vitalite! Its blinking yummy, tastes amazing with peanut butter and bananas on toast (if you haven't tried it, yummy!) I have been using this spread for more years than I can remember, way before changing our diet, just due to loving the taste. Yes I do miss their old packaging and which they would bring them back....

That's your sandwiches and toast sorted.....what about baking? Making some pastry what are you going to use which is dairy free? 

This is where am crossing over into a grey area, why a grey area I hear you ask? Well, if your thinking about your impact to the planet am sure you think about what companies you buy from. The next product is dairy free, but double check when you pick it up as the spreadable type I believe is not dairy free!

Stork for baking, is the one I pick up for pasty. (As noted above, double check when buying as I think the spreadable is not dairy free.)

The only thing which is worth noting is its made by Unilever, my grey area. There are many companies I will not buy from and I really think about where I buy from too, buying local where ever possible.  

Am a big believer that buying a vegan product from a company which is not all that vegan is a good thing. 

Its showing them there is a demand for the item and being a big company they are sales lead. All that money going behind a vegan product is a good thing! 

Just in the few years I have changed my diet I have noticed huge changes in what is available! Having said that, there are still companies I will avoid! So make up your own mind on that one ;)

What else can you buy?

This is Bear's fav, its yummy, the other two love the chocolate.

***BIG tip, look for the cheaper own brand version of your favorite item, often it will be dairy-free without saying so as its cheaper to leave out milk***

Make sure you check items, you will find milk in alsorts of things, from bread to soups!

Worried about how you will make a cake? Worry no longer, click here for my mega easy birthday cake!

Cheese sauce:

Click here to see how to make amazing dairy free 'cheese' sauce

I worried a little about cheese sauce, but I didn't need too. Not only is it yummy but soooo much better for you! 

You don't need dairy! 

I was going to link to lots of very scary facts about dairy but am going to just say - GO FOR IT, DITCH THAT DAIRY!! 

Any questions please ask, the above is just what I love. Please just go for it and try different things, remember that all the things I make are dairy, meat, eggs and honey free so check out my recipes.

I will be updating this blog and adding more items so keep a look out ;)

Daisy has sprung a leak!! :(

When I replaced Daisy's awning rail, I was pretty sure that I may get a leak. Due to a few screws being a little loose when replacing. I had used some sealant but after quite a few months and some crazy heavy rain she sprung a leak! 

Shes almost 50, she was rebuilt by me, so it wasn't a shock she got a little leak. 

Whats wonderful about old vans, is its all fixable. DON'T PANIC!

Poor girl had sat with a small leak for much longer than I would have liked, but at last I had some time to address it! 

When I replaced the awning rail, I used wood glue and matchsticks to fill the gap. So it was time to try something different on the few screws which where still loose. 

After a chat with my amazing Grandpa, I had a plan. 

The plan is to first unscrew the awning screws (once found which ones are loose) Then using the cooking injector squirt in the wet rot harder, leave for two hours to set. Then squirt in the PVA glue. Why my Grandpa said to use PVA not a harder more permanent glue, is the awning rail will need to come back off at some point in a few years to reseal. The last thing you would want to do is permanently set a few screws into the awning rail. 

It started out as a nice day, but when working outdoors in England it soon turned to wind and rain! 

We will see if this method fixes the leak! Fingers crossed and I will let you know if it works! 

Watch my funny windswept video of me trying to fix it! 

Products I used (Amazon affiliated links)

Captain Creeping Crack Cure - http://amzn.to/2B3tQKL

Ronseal Wood Harder - http://amzn.to/2hUrrhS

Kitchen Craft Injector - http://amzn.to/2je2cnc

PVA Bons - http://amzn.to/2B3gY7J

Click here to see more about Doing up Daisy.

If you want to read all about replacing her awning rail, click here.

Charlie

Cheltenham Sable

Found unloved in a field, the owner was getting fed up of watching him rot away and had even lost the keys. 

How she was found, unloved in a field.

After a price was agreed with the owner, lots of hard work was started to get her back on her wheels...

Wheel back on! 

Back on her wheel and heading out of the field! 

She was full!! 

They hadn't fixed anything in the caravan but painted the inside of the caravan. 

Lots of rot, leaks, and work to do! 

James and Natasha have a heck of a lot of work to do.......but it will be worth it! 

Here is my first video, a little tour and chat with James about what work he has to do.

New oven going in and doors fixed! 

Looking much better with *new* oven! 

I will be following along and back to film how they get on. Make sure you bookmark this page for an update.

My Dream Car

Volvo 240 GL

1985

Its not every day your dreams come true, but last weekend, they did!!

Since buying our 1960's caravan I have been searching for a matching tow car. 

I have wanted a classic car for years, its just a different sort of driving. Its hard to explain, but it feels realer. 

Now, having three young minis and a vintage caravan to tow, it cut down my list.....we needed something which could pull well and be safe for our three mini people to be in. One of which is under 4 (I believe for pre-seat belt cars, the child needs to be over 4 years old.) 

This cut down my dream list, mostly full of cars of my childhood. I knew just what I wanted, whats safe and pulls like a train? A Volvo 240!! So many of my family members had them when I was growing up, it was top of my list! 

After almost 2 years of owning Daisy, spending every spare penny we had on her. I had started to think we could never afford a tow car. 

Let alone my dream 240!!

So enter the most stressful week or so - It started with a packed car, 3 kids, my husband and I. A big box of tools, on the motorway heading north.......The car broke down!! (Am hoping we will get to go on this adventurer soon, so wont say what we were up too....) 

We headed home, well we limped home, poor girl was sounding like a bag of nails....

A very stressful week of no car, no money to fix car and trying to think how we could afford a replacement....

There where three possible problems, making our beloved Touran run so bad. Two of which where crazy money to fix. Now, we love our Touran, 7 seats and amazing on fuel. We didn't want to have to sell her at a loss with a fault. Our options where limited. My husband bikes 22 miles a day, so we only have one car in the family. The push bike, in the winds we have had of late has been no fun at all for him! So I said, ages ago. Lets get a classic car to tow with and then if its terrible out you can take that. (Think what ever we brought in our sort of budget may not be all that reliable.) That was our plan, save up for a second car, so if something when wrong with the Touran (she is a very high mileage car and getting to the age where she needs a bit of money spent,) we would have options.... 

Like the cart before the horse, the Touran broke down before we had saved up, let alone brought a second car. 

I was depressed. If you know me, am always so positive and upbeat, as getting down about things wont help......I was down. Then a lovely friend, sent me a screen shot of a car for sale. The car I wanted, a Volvo 240. For only....wait for it.....650! Mmmmmm I thought, how much are kidneys going for? It wasn't crazy money...So I got on the case, got selling a few things and saved up all my pennies (beans for the next few weeks) The day before I was due to pick up, they told me, someone who had said they would think about it, had come back to buy her. 
:( I was gutted. 

But I had got it in my head and searched and searched...

I hated seeing how people had been ripped off by dealers. I had a low budget, but this was going to be our forever car. I wasn't looking for a car to make money on, but to use and love. 

Volvo's are safe, go on forever (heard about one, still amazing with a million miles, let that sink in a million miles!!) Parts are easy to find in the UK and we can work on it our self's. I wanted an early 80's one, still a classic but a few mod cons. 

While I was searching for a Volvo, some how my husband managed to get our Touran fixed!! I went from so down in the dumps, to just wanting to hug the Touran when he drove her home.

In just a week, I had gone from feeling so down and desperate to feeling like my dream classic was within my reach!!

Here she is, we drove miles and miles.....

She was worth every mile. 

Her old owner was lovely, he had owned her since she was 11 months old!

So selling her was a huge thing, an end of a era for the whole family. I have made a big promise that I will look after her and I mean it. This is my dream car!! Did I ever see my self with a red one? No but now I couldn't imagination her being any other colour. 

I have not stopped smiling, I was giddy when I got the call she was mine. I almost cried when we turned into the road and she was parked up waiting for us. She was gleaming. I know right, but wow, I have wanted this car for so long. At the same time, getting in her, was like stepping back into my childhood. It felt like, I've always owned her. She has been so well looked after with only a few little bits and bobs needing attention or the odd clip getting weak with old age to fix. She is amazing, and still un-named.

Lots of my followers have been giving me name ideas. I think I will have to do a twitter pole! 

So here is our Volvo 240 GL 1985, am over the moon, so happy!! 

Just a tow bar and a few little jobs to do! 

This is a very little sneak peek:

More videos and extra info coming soon! 

I just wanted to say, dreams can come true. Many years ago, an old boss said 'I changed my wallpaper on my computer to my dream car. Then every day at work, I worked towards my dream. Till that car was parked on my drive way.'

Today, I changed my wallpaper over from the Pinterest photo I found of a Volvo 240, to a photo of our Volvo 240! 

I know its just a car, some will be able to afford a million and some non. But to me, this was a big goal and getting there has filled me with joy......now.....if I could get my husband to give up the keys to let me drive her......Tee hee, I think he understands now why I wanted to buy her!

Retro Caravan Tour - Erica 1978 Europa 390

Meet Erica, a 1978 Europa 390. 

She is every bit a 70's lady, ready to head out on adventurers! 

We headed out to a hidden horse field where Erica is stored, to have a little look around. She is about to go on sale, so being emptied out after a summer of trips. Light, yet cozy inside and really roomy! I still can't get over how big the wardrobe was! The mini's had lots of fun feeding the horses carrots while I filmed this beauitful caravan in great ready to go condition. 

She really does stand out with her (original) orange paint! If you have been following my blog for a while you will know our Daisy, is a 1969 Europe. This Europa is what ours became a few years down the line! 

Still with loads of her original features, and funky carpet! 

Click below for the tour! 

For more tours make sure you subscribe to my youtube! 

Review - Mellerud Cleaning Products

Centurion Europe have very kindly sent me out some Mellerud UK products to try in Daisy our 1969  caravan. If you have been following my blog for a while you will know that environment friendly products are really important to me! So I was happy to see that this company are doing something to help their environment impact. Click here for more information from Mellerud. The products I have been sent are not part of their bio range but heavy duty cleaners. All their products come in recyclable packaging. Please keep in mind that these are specialist cleaners and should be use very carefully. (Full ingredients lists are available on their website.)

I have been sent the following products to try:

Black Streak Remover

Heavy-Duty Intensive Cleaner

Motorhome & Caravan Heavy-Duty Cleaner

Kitchen Degreader

So first up is the Black-Streak Remover

Am so excited about trying the Black-Streak remover! Am sure all caravan owners hate the black streaks left by the rubber around the windows. (My top tip is to oil the rubber, I use baby oil, its fab on all window rubbers. Make sure that you remove any excess from the paint work straightaway. This will feed the rubber and help to stop cracks.) I almost cried, the first rain after painting Daisy as the back marks where out in force!! 


Here is my YouTube full review of this easy to use product! 

Next is the Heavy-Duty Intensive Cleaner! 

Another simple to use product, which I got all over me through lack of coffee! 

I tried it on our Daisy's wheels. At almost 50 years old, a bad/quick paint job and lots and lots of grease, they where perfect to try this product out on!  

I was really impressed with it, easy to use and worked! They went from grimy and dirty, back to white!!

Here is my YouTube video all about the Heavy-Duty Intensive Cleaner - 

Up Next is the Motorhome & Caravan Heavy-Duty Cleaner!

We pulled it off! Click here to see what we drove through, snow, hail and rain for. It was my first time using this product, Motorhome & Caravan Heavy-Duty Cleaner and goodness me I was impressed! 

Thick 20 year old dirt and moss covered our *new* 1965 Sprite Alpine. This product, without to much bother took the whole lot off. From dirty green covered caravan to blue and cream! 

Check out my video review below! Very impressed! 

Make sure you bookmark this page as next review of the Kitchen Degreaser is coming next! We have an exciting project *if we pull it off* to try this product on!

So like I have said, I only review items I use and would recommend. I have been sent this product to try. Please keep in mind that these are specialist cleaners and should be use carefully.

If you would like more information regarding these products, please click here.

Want to know more about Daisy? From holes, damp and rot, to family caravan! Click here.

Daisy

Our Retro/Vintage Caravan Daisy

1969

Bluebird Europe Three


Click here for my blog, all about wanting a retro caravan!

Meet Daisy, our 1969 Bluebird. Our oldest son named her, she is fast heading on for 50 years old. When we brought her she was full of rot, holes and damp. Now with a little help from my amazing Grandpa and Husband, she is back off on adventures! 

The above photo was taken when Daisy was on show at Retro Festival, click here to see the blog post. 

Click the link below to see what she would have looked like, back almost 50 years ago! 



Daisy, back in the day!

Doing up Daisy

The first round of works:

When we brought her home she was full of rot, damp and holes. Missing trim, no working road lights just to name a few things! 

Click here to see how we got her usable in just 8 weeks!

Second round of works:

Click here to see how Daisy got to the next stage, painted and beauitful!