The Food Recession

As the recession continues to keep a tight hold on consumers, the food industry has its winners and losers as much as anyone else. Staying in is the new going out which means that restaurants are suffering, particularly the top end of the market, whilst manufacturers of at-home dining products are seeing their sales rise.

Sandwich spreads such as jams and peanut butter are selling well - an increase of 26% is expected by 2013 as well as convenience and comfort foods. Coffee has also seen a sales boost of 6% in the last year.

The main losers, as expected, have been things which cost more money. Organic food, restaurants, bakeries and coffee houses are among those experiencing a slow-down in sales.

Food hampers are traditionally associated with Christmastime as Christmas hampers are stuffed full of delicious treats. However, hampers can really be used as a present for any occasion and tailored to fit any pocket, especially useful for those with a culinary flair. Even the kids can get involved - how about a parcel of chocolate Rice Crispie cakes as an inexpensive yet tasty homemade gift.

Mobile Broadband - The Next Step

With laptops gradually taking over from desktop PCs and people working more and more out of the office - on trains, planes etc, mobile broadband is becoming more and more necessary in our everyday lives.

What is mobile broadband?

Mobile broadband is a way of connecting to the internet without the use of a landline. Especially useful these days as some people don't have a landline at all, instead relying totally on their mobile phones. You simply plug in a USB Dongle or Stick and it automatically connects, no matter where you are.

There are 4 types of mobile broadband deal:-

• PAYG mobile broadband - Top up your dongle online or in store when you want to use it. Prices start at roughly £10 for a 1Gb topup.
• Contract mobile broadband - Sign up for a 12 months (or however long) contract. You will receive a free dongle and a data usage allowance. If you go over the limit, you pay for the extra. Prices are between £10 and £40 depending on your data allowance and length of contract.
• Mobile broadband starter kits - Similar to PAYG, but with an extended time limit and some data included. Costs about £69.99.
• Mobile broadband with a free laptop - Includes everything needed to get online immediately one you take out a contract. Costs between about £30 and £55 per month depending on the laptop and data usage allowance.

Van Rental or Van Hire

When we talk about hiring a van, in this country we talk about van hire, but across the water, van rental is the most popular phrase.

Its quite frustrating in the Yellow pages for example, its possible to go round and round the index for quite a time with some phrases. There must be a simpler way. For example, instead of putting Van Rental - see Van Hire, surely it would be just as easy to put the page number in both queries.

When out driving around, I noticed that 'abc hire' was more frequently displayed on buildings than 'abc rental' but there overall it was a pretty close thing. In other situations, rental is the more popular choice. For instance I always say lets rent a dvd or a PS3 game, you don't hire things like that. There are lots of other situations where both would suffice, but one is more frequently used than the other, I just find language oddities like this thought provoking sometimes.

Oxfam - Climate Change Time Limited

Oxfam has welcomed the remarks made at the UN Summit on Climate Change, but were concerned that it was still not enough to bind countries into the fair, ambitious and binding global treaty they feel is needed in Copenhagen this December.

“We heard a lot of urgency in the words of world leaders who spoke today, but we must not let poetic words cover up inadequate action,” said Vicky Rateau, Oxfam International spokesperson. "While the Summit generated some momentum at an important crossroads, we needed a bigger boost this close to Copenhagen.”

Oxfam is calling for wealthy nations, who are the most responsible for climate change, to cut carbon emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2020, as well as deliver an extra $150 billion a year on top of existing aid to help poor countries adapt and fight climate change themselves.

“It’s time for heads of state to step up as world leaders and start putting adequate figures on the table. We do not have the luxury of time with climate change. Too long have these negotiations been treated like trade talks, with countries watching out for their own individual interests.”
“Climate change is the most pressing issue facing humanity today and is affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide. What is needed is political will on a global scale if we are really going to deliver in Copenhagen,” said Barbara Stocking, CEO, Oxfam Great Britain.

Talking about how to fight climate change is all well and good, but the people suffering from famine, drought and flooding need a bit more than just assurances. Constance Okollet, a farmer from Uganda, whose village has suffered hunger, death and sidease travelled to New York with Oxfam for the UN Climate Summit, said: “I ask world leaders to help my community fight the climate change that destroys our houses, increases diseases and stops our children from attending schools. They must cut their emissions so that we can look forward to planting our crops without having to face floods that wash them away, or droughts that stop them growing at all.”

Devon BikeSafe 2009

Yesterday I attended the Devon BikeSafe event in Exeter. Wow, it was brilliant!

The aim of BikeSafe is to demonstrate to motorcyclists the the Police 'System' and educate us into becoming better, safer riders, as well as encouraging us to take on further advanced training and improving the relationship between the police and the public. The morning consisted of videos and discussion ranging from the Highway Code, explanation of 'The System' and hazard awareness.

Then after lunch came the fun bit. We were paired off with the police motorcyclists and went for an observed ride. I ended up on a 1-2-1 but most times it is 2 persons to 1 police motorcyclist. Its slightly odd to start with being followed by a police bike, but its amazing how easily gaps open up in solid traffic when a police bike is around.

I got a lot out of the rideout, the police rider was excellent in his tuition and boy can he ride! I'm really glad I went and I've got a few things I can practise when out and about on rideouts. I think its fantastic that all the police motorcyclists in the force give up their time to attend, even swapping their shifts around. They are awesome riders and it was a real privilege to be able to benefit from their knowledge and experience.

Food Hampers and Gift Baskets

Its coming up to the season of presents again and Christmas hampers are becoming more prominent around the shops. I'm warming to them as presents this year as I'm at the stage where I don't need my house cluttered up with any more stuff. Things I can eat or drink are ideal, especially at Christmas, when the diet goes out the window.

The other great thing about hampers is that you can easily personalise them. For instance, my cousin is into all things country fayre - marmalade, jams, wine and the like, so a hamper can be easily put together incorporating all the tastes of the country.

Food isn't the only option for gift baskets of course. My grandparents have a restricted diet these days, but they do enjoy flowers. It is simplicity itself to get a couple of nice bouquets together.

The point is, why spend hours traipsing around the shops trying to find something exciting for everyone when a selection of favourites will do the job just as well, and also wont be down the charity shop in January.

How To Connect Samsung b650 To The Internet

Following the recent purchase of our Samsung le37b650 LCD TV, I decided to take a bit of a peek into what was needed to make use of all its functions, especially how to connect it wirelessly to the internet.

After a bit of digging, it turns out you have to have a Samsung WIS09ABGNX dongle. It has to be a Samsung because you can't upload other drivers into the TV, so they've got you by the short and curlys. The cheapest I have found it is around £45 at Novatech including delivery. You can save a couple of quid by opting for their economy option at £1.99, but the delivery time seems to be 10 days.

Reading reviews, it seems to be fairly easy to set up and use and whilst not the quickest, as you would expect, it would be handy to be able to connect it to a home wireless network.

We have also just bought a PS3, primarily because of its dual function as a Blu Ray player to compliment the TV, but also because its a pretty cool piece of kit. We got Little Big Planet free with it and are currently working our way through the levels. Of course, the PS3 also has online functionality and i will be connecting everything up as soon as my new wireless PCI card arrives.

Queen Victoria Lingerie Auction

An item of Queen Victoria's lingerie has been put under the hammer. It is a pair of her knickers, presumably worn later in her life.

The knickers themselves are made of fine linen chemise and are discreetly embroidered with a crown, the initial VR and a number so they could be kept track of when sent to the laundry. They measure 52 inches around the waist and have a split seam as was common for ease of use with the cumbersome outer clothes which was the style of the day. Not exactly sexy lingerie by today's standards, but they were designed more for practicality.

Queen Victoria's lingerie attracted quite a lot of interest from around the world, including some American collectors. In the end though, they went to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection for £600.

Queen Victoria regalia is in fact quite popular among royal collectors and items are sold fairly regularly. One such item was a pair of black and white stockings which went for £8,000.

Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The climax of the Formula 1 Grand Prix season is going to take place in Abu Dhabi. The circuit is currently under construction on Yas Island and is the brainchild of Herman Tilke, a renowned Formula 1 track designer.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the 1st November is sponsored by Etihad Airways and will be the first ever day/night Formula 1 event staged. Due to an arrangement with European sports channels, the time slot has been moved back to a 5pm start in Abu Dhabi, with sunset due at 545pm. Abu Dhabi is 3hrs ahead of Europe, making it a most convenient 2pm start for us.

A 3 day VIP pass for this historic event will set you back $4,520, but for this you get food and drink served throughout the day, access to a state of the art hospitality building, access to the pit lane at specified times and much more.

If that is slightly beyond your means, a normal 3 day pass will set you back up to $681, but cheaper tickets are also available.

Flights to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are widely available as well as some Grand Prix packages. As this is the first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, tickets are likely to be taken up extremely quickly, so book well in advance.

Making Room in The House

I recently had some time off work and managed to get rid of a load of stuff. I put some stuff on freecycle, unloaded a boot full of stuff down the dump and even sold a couple of things on ebay including my clarinet. I was a bit sad to see this go, but as I've only played it a handful of times over the past 15 years I like to think its gone to someone who will get some enjoyment from it.

There's still more that can be donated to charity but that's enough for a while and it's made a space. I don't think it's worth trying to sell my clarinet books on ebay - the postage would cost a fortune as it would for my other half's bowling ball so when I'm all keen again I'll pop them into the charity shop.

I've also finally got around to changing my broadband provider. I was with Orange, but the internet phone line developed a fault - no dial tone but when ringing in the livebox flashes but you can't hear anything down the phone. The technical help in India wasn't much help, they just told me to try another phone in the socket and put the internet phone on the main line, both of which I'd already tried before anyway. After a bit of research on the internet, I found out that this problem with Orange's second line and the Livebox appears to be unfixable by Orange and those that tried to find a resolution through them ended up going around in circles. A couple of people solved it by themselves, but I decided to bypass the hassle and switch provider.

Someone also managed to help themselves to $486 apparently from my debit card to pay for treatment from Solares Chiropracti. For that amount I would hope they are totally cured and doing gymnastics! Anyhoo, the bank refunded the money and I have heard no more about it. It was a pain not having a debit card for a week whilst a new one was sent out though.

Last but not least, we have purchased a little sister for the GSX. Its a 2001 ER5 in burple (black with a purple sheen). It's a lot of fun, totally different from the gsx to ride, but it goes well for a little bike.

Oxfam Presents Oxjam 2009

Oxjam was first launched in 2006. It is Oxfam's way of fighting poverty with music. Each year, hundreds of events take place around the country in pubs, clubs and other arenas from folk to funk and classical to rock.

This year, the events will contribute towards Oxfam's climate change campaign "Here and Now". So far over £75,000 in donations has been raised. There are 24 regional teams working to make the best possible events across the country from Scotland to the South West. If you want to get involved you can find your nearest regional team and get in touch. Otherwise, if you want to organise your own event for 2010 you can also apply to do that on the same page.

The festival is taking place throughout October, there's something for everyone so why not pop down and support Oxfam in the fight against poverty.