If I recall my 1970's stove technology, that is exactly what you were supposed to do to pre-heat the Svea 123. The Optimus 8R - and I still use mine - has essentially the same burner as the Svea, and the cup is underneath it. You could use an eyedropper to fill it, or a few strokes on the optional mini-pump, or a squirt of the tube stuff made for this purpose.

Sweet TR! Glad you had so much fun. The truely great part of your trip is the pride you've developed in taking care of business. Very empowering when you get to the point that you can start a fire in any weather, at any time of year. It remains the highlight of most trips to have a proud fire.

It's great you got a chance to practice building a fire.

Yep, you learned the problem with lighters, they can fail. I thought I included it in my last post, guess I forgot. Matches aren't that great either, especially when it's wet and cold, it's very difficult to strike matches without breaking them when you're shivering and your fingers don't work properly. Flint and steel work better.

I expect that we all have stories from winter camping and the fact that we are here to tell them says something. My first big one, a New Years traverse of the Adirondack high peaks, neither myself nor my partner remembered a flashlight. Thankfully, I grabbed a book of paper matches from the bar on our way or there would not have been much cheer. -35F a couple nights and I used two summer rectangle bags shoved inside one another. Hiked the whole thing in brand new summer alpine climbing boots. No crampons, snowshoes, ice axe, poles or skiis. We lived and I learned a lot. Some of my favorite memories.

Upon packing it, I thought it was a stupid extra thing to drag around but a thermos ended up being worth the bulk. I had something hot to drink after getting up in the middle of the night to pee. And I hate having to get up at my house - but getting up and going out into the snow is a whole other banana. You really have to be desperate to leave your warm sleeping bag.

Though a teacher told me that your body wastes energy keeping urine
warm, so you should always get up and go. Who knew?

Of course, at one point I knocked it over so instead of drinking hot chocolate I just got my sleeping pad wet. Wonderful.

How long was that camping trip, chip?

Two items to learn how to use and to pack next time:

Pee Bottle (clearly marked, with tape, that you can tell by feel in the dark)
A Lady-J or a Freshette FUD
(As far as which is better, you'll have to get that advice from the women in the forum.)

This in false.

peeing will not change the surface area of you body enough to lessen your heat loss and the pee in your body is warm. You waste that heat energy if you pee and toss it out. Keep the warm bottle in your bag using that heat to your advantage and prevent it from freezing until you are ready to dump it in the morning.

ok thats just gross.

The warm bottle in your bag actually makes excellent sense. And its easier than getting up to boil water.

I had a friend who took a 5 day solo trip in the Adirondacks and his 0 degree bag wasn't warm enough in the 7 degree weather, so he said that he got up every few hour or so to make a hot water bottle to stay warm.

You will want to pour it out won't you?
If it freezes that ain't happnen.