Thanks for the update, Big Al.

I was worried that it might have been one of my suggested stews which didn't work out well.

You could put the spuds in later next time - e.g. an hour before the end - so that they don't fall apart. The onions are ok for the whole cooking time because they fall apart anyway.

After the disaster struck, I would have probably added some extra liquid and turned it into a soup. You already had beef stock and some oxo veg cubes, so just some hot water would do it and let it simmer for a while.

Also, even with slow cookers I prefer to get out the fry pan and fry the beef and remove it from the pan, then the onions for a few minutes, then add the carrots and fry them for about 10 minutes. It gives them all a better flavour and texture. Then I would put them in the slow cooker with the stock and oxo cube, put a bit of boiling water in the frypan and stir it around to get all the flavours and add that to the rest, and add the potatoes about an hour before the end of the cooking time.

Yes, it takes a bit more time but I think it makes it all taste better.