So exactly how many weeks do I have to soak dried peas etc before..

[IslaValargeone]

they are ready for consuming? I bought some country soup mix, soaked it all for 24 hours, then boiled and simmered and the peas were like sodding bullets.
Nobody would eat my soup, which was a complete waste of the leeks and other fresh veg I had put in. I am p**d off.
Is there an insider trick?

Dried peas and split lentils are only to be used in the stuffing of felt animals.

It is the law.

I never understand soup mix. They put together pulses that take completely different timings and you end up with some things totally raw and other things totally shagged. Sorry you found out the hard way.

Nope, there is no trick. It just means your peas are too old. At most, you soak it overnight and then cook on a simmer the next day. You can also boil the peas, and then let them sit in hot water for a couple of hours and then simmer.