Masterplug TM24 24 Hour Mechanical Timer

Advantages: Now available cheaply, good to help prevent burglars.

Disadvantages: None

I picked up one of these timer switches for free from the Police stand at my freshers fair 2 years ago and it has been very useful ever since.

It is made of a solid white plastic with black switches on the front to set the time for it to be on and off. There is a small red LED that lights up when the attached appliance is on. On the side there is a small flick switch that can turn the appliance always on or just on the timer mode. It measures 12cm x 7cm x 2cm, has space for one appliance to be plugged in and can be plugged into any standard British plug socket.

I didn't really use this much during my first year as I lived in halls and didn't have to pay for electricity so I could leave a light on without having to think of the bill. As I moved into a house I have used it a lot more as I have to think of the electricity bill now! If I am a away from the house for a few days, I will plug it into my lamp and have it turn on and off during the evening to help prevent burglaries. Whilst I am around, I set it to turn on in the morning when I have to get up so I can see what I'm doing. This is very helpful at the moment as it is still dark when I have to get up and so it saves me from waking into things! The timer can be set to 15 minute intervals of being on or off and it is very easy to set.

To set it, you first set the time by turning the whole dial to the correct time. To then set the appliance to turn on, you press down the small black switches at the times you want. You then flick the switch on the right to the bottom and it is done. It is that simple. At first I found it a bit confusing to use as I accidentally threw the instructions away, however after fiddling with it, it was sorted easily.

Time switches can be bought from most shops now quite cheaply and for the security and uses they can provide they are invaluable. If you are going away for a few days and don't want anyone to know you are gone, then buy a few of these and get them to turn lamps or radios on and off at intervals. An easy way to help prevent burglars.

I will give this 5/5 as it is an excellent gadget that has many uses around the home.
 

Summary: Great for many uses.

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Alberto VO5 Wet Look Styling Gel

Advantages: Holds it well, easily mouldable, "wet" look

Disadvantages: Loses hold in sweaty conditions, need to find right amount for your hair.

I only ever use gel occasionally now as I don't have that much time in the mornings and my hair gets messed up easily with swimming etc. I bought this when I started university a couple of years ago so when I went on nights out I was able to do something to my hair to look a bit decent. I opted to buy this gel as I had seen it used in my hairdressers and it seemed to work well.

The gel comes in a blue transparent tube made of soft plastic and a blue lid is on the bottom with a flip cap on it. On the front it has the name of the product in green and blue text which is quite hard to read. On the rear all the usual information can be found. The tube holds 200ml of the clear gel that is quite thick but has no discernible smell to it. The gel comes out the tube easily with just a slight squeeze of the tube.

It says on the rear that it can be applied directly to damp or dry hair and it should be worked from roots to tips before leaving to dry. I usually dry my hair before applying it, and when I follow the guidelines as that seems to work best. It is very easy to rub between your hands and hair and does not dry too quickly, which allows you to style/shape your hair. It took my quite a while to find the right amount to use as if you use too much then your hair feels like a rock, but too little and your hair looks floppy. I find that an amount about the size of 2 peas will be enough for my hair and keep it looking reasonably good all night. I find that the gel will hold my hair well until I get to a warm bar or club. As soon as I get a bit hot and sweaty then it starts to lose its hold and my hair turns into a bit of a mess.

As a gel, it works well once you have tried it a few times to find the right amount of it for you, however I don't find it the most practical if you enjoy going to hot bars and clubs as it doesn't last long at all. I've used it a few times during the day and it is okay and lasts a bit longer.

I think I paid about £2.50 for this from Tesco's a few years ago, and considering I have still have a third of a tube left it has lasted well. I would expect that it would last a lot less if you used it more than I do though. Overall I think it is only worth 3/5 as for my usual use of it, it doesn't last too long before losing the hold.
 

Summary: Reasonably good gel from a good brand.

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What Happens in Vegas... (DVD)

Advantages: Good supporting actor, some funny parts,

Disadvantages: Kind of predictable,

As we wanted a film to watch last night, we headed up to Sainsbury's to pick something from there cheap DVD's. We ended up with this film, What Happens in Vegas.

Based in New York it features Cameron Diaz (Joy) as a "boring" stock exchange trader who gets dumped by her boyfriend and Ashton Kutcher (Jack) as a "slacker" who can never seem to see anything to the finish. Separately they both decide to go to Las Vegas with their friends to get away from everything, but after a mix up in the hotel they end up going for a drink together. One drink turns into many, and Jack ends up winning $3 million on a slot machine which starts a huge row between Jack and Joy. The rest of the film shows the ensuing rows, quarrels between the two over money and other things.

As a rom-com, I didn't have the highest expectations of this film as from the many I have seen, they can tend to be quite predictable. This film was predictable, however the scenario was different to others I've seen and how the romance "builds" was quite funny. From start to finish, I don't think I drifted away from the film or found any part dull enough to turn it off. This for me makes it a good film as usually if the first 20 minutes are boring then I won't watch the rest. The acting in this film was what I would of expected by the two actors. There wasn't anything spectacular but it was overall pretty average. Jack was supported by Rob Corddry (Hater) who provided many jokes and a good comedic backup to the main star. You see how the goes from hating Joy to liking her at the end of the film.

Overall, this is a good film and as it only cost me £4 on DVD I'm glad with the cost to film quality that we got. I wouldn't pay any more for the film as it isn't exceptional, however if you are looking for a good rom-com with good jokes and average acting then it is worth a watch. I would recommend it to friends and would probably watch it again. Overall, I would give it 3/5 as it is a good film if you want something easy to watch but it is nothing exceptional.

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Summary: Good film if you want something easy to watch.

This review may also appear on Ciao and Dooyoo under the username Qroo.

Speedo Speed Socket Swimming Goggles

Advantages: Last ages, good fit, adjustable nose clip.

Disadvantages: Price.

As a triathlete and swimmer, buying goggles has become a regular occurrence for me as they can break or get lost very easily. I have always bought a couple of pairs in the past, one for training and a couple for racing in. I initially decided to buy these as they are designed for racing and look great, however I use them all of the time now.

I got these from JJB last year to replace an identical pair that broke as they were brilliant to race in. After I bought these my training goggles broke, so I decided to swim in these. At first I found the fit round the eyes slightly tight, but after a while they became more comfortable. The most ingenious feature of these goggles in the adjustable nose clip. They come with 3 different sized nose clips which can be changed around depending on the size of your nose and how the goggles sit round your eyes. I decided to use the middle size and I have fitted it upside down as it suits my nose shape more.

The goggles are sealed round your eyes by a piece of thin black rubber that follows the contours of your face well and provides a great seal. There are 2 straps that are highly adjustable and are very comfortable. My goggles have a black rim and strap and then have dark blue eye pieces. These look very good and they are made out of a strong plastic material that is very durable and doesn't seem to of been eroded by the chlorine in the pool. As the lenses are built into the main frame of the eye piece, there is no problem of the lens being pushed out when putting them on.

My goggles came with a small mesh pouch that the goggles can be stored in along with the spare nose pieces. This is a great addition as when you have wet goggles, they can be put in here and then in your bag and they will be dry when you next get them out. The mesh bag is black with a small tag on the side that has the Speedo logo on it.

I have always found the swimming products from Speedo to be of excellent quality in the past and these goggles have shown that there products are still well made. I paid about £18 for these goggles a year ago and for the price I am very pleased. I now have another spare pair of goggles that cost me £3.50 (highly discounted) which do not match the quality at all of these. If you are a club swimmer or just like to swim every now and then then these goggles will be perfect for you. They may be expensive, but they will last you for a long time. 5/5 as they are the best I have used.

Summary: Great goggles for anyone

Radox Refresh Shower Gel & Shampoo

Advantages: Cleans well and the smell does not linger

Disadvantages: Smell is not nice compared to other brands used.

I go through quite a lot of shower gel, what with using it at the gym and at home, so a bottle won't normally last too long for me. Therefore when buying it, I always look out for the best offer possible to save me the most money. When I bought this, I got it on an exceptional offer, buy 1 get 2 free!

The bottle itself it 19cm x 8cm x 3cm and holds 250ml of the 2 in 1 shower gel. The bottle is clear so that you can see the green gel on the inside. The front label is also clear but has the Radox logo, some text and my bottle has a plant image on it as well. The rear contains all the usual information that can be found. The cap for the bottle is green and is located on the bottom, which it also stands upon, whereas on the top there is a hook that can be used to hang in your shower. This a very handy feature as it can save space on the floor of your shower.

The gel is a green and despite it saying it has added citrus and eucalyptus oils, it smells nothing like them. Sadly it smells a bit like cheap toilet cleaner. For a good brand such as Radox, I am highly disappointed in this, however when you wash with it, the smell doesn't linger. The gel is translucent and quite runny which makes it really easy to wash with and to produce a lot of lather. It really cleans well, especially with a good flannel to remove even the toughest of stains! For me it has quite easily removed oil and permanent marker from my skin. As it lathers up well, you don't have to use much of it each time, which has meant it has lasted quite a while for me. I have only used it as a shampoo once and I found it to be okay, but not as good as proper shampoo.

For the price I paid I was quite pleased as I got 3 bottles for the price of 1, however I don't think I will be buying this particular bottle again as it the smell is not nice at all. I have tried other Radox shower gels and they do smell a lot nicer. One of my favourite was a lemon/citrus scent which was quite strong and really woke me up in the morning. I am only going to give this 3/5 as despite the great deal I got it in, the smell is just too off putting.

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Summary: Okay but wouldn't buy again.

Technika Wired Optical Mouse

Advantages: Cheap, works well, lasts forever

Disadvantages: Grippers get dirty and need cleaning

Some of the Technika range can be a bit dodgy, whereas some of it is really good value for money. This optical mouse is one of the better products from the Tesco electronics range.

This mouse is an optical mouse, rather than the old style "ball" mouse. This means that there is a small light on the bottom of the mouse which tracks your movement, rather than the traditional ones where the ball revolves when you move it. This means that you no longer have to clean the ball when it gets dirty!

The mouse itself cost about £5 from my local Tesco's store, which is much cheaper than other branded models. It came in quite a large box for the size of the mouse, but inside was the mouse, some literature and a driver CD. As I knew the CD wouldn't be needed as it is only a mouse, I plugged the mouse into my computer via the USB cable. The computer quickly installed its own driver and then the mouse was operational. Really quick and really easy. If your having troubles with you mouse not working, have a look at the light on the bottom, if it is not on then there will be a problem with your connection or setup and you may have to use the CD.

I have had the mouse for about 2 years now and I have not had any problems with it since purchase. All the buttons still work fine and the scroll wheel still does its job. I do find that the small plastic gripper pads on the bottom collect dirt and dust quite quickly and so need to be cleaned off. Apart from that the mouse is still perfect.

It has beaten my expectations greatly and I can highly recommend it. It may be a cheap brand but it acts and works like a more expensive brand and is just as good as other brands I have used. If you are in need of a new mouse then I would recommend this one. I would give it 5/5 as it brilliant value for money.

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Summary: Great value mouse for computers and laptops.

Zoggs Swimming Pull Buoy

Advantages: Great for improving technique, very long lasting, durable.

Disadvantages: Colour fades over time.

For those that do not know, a pull buoy is a swimming training aid that is placed between your legs when you are swimming front crawl so that you can concentrate on just your arms technique only. It is an invaluable tool for swimmers of all abilities and I have seen it used by all ranges, from complete novices to GB athletes.

This pull buoy is produced by Zoggs, a company that initially started in Australia in 1992 selling and producing goggles. Since then, they have grown into a worldwide brand well known by swimmers and triathletes. This pull buoy is blue and yellow in colour and measures 23cm x 13cm x 7cm. It is made of a hard foam material that is designed to be very buoyant in water. On one end it says "Zoggs" and some safety information and on the other end it has the same repeated. I also have my name written on the end in permanent marker so it does not get lost at training sessions.

For a pull buoy to be good, it needs to fit comfortably between your legs and lift them to the surface. This does both of those really well. It fits well between your legs and is comfortable for long durations and it also is very buoyant, keeping my legs on the surface of the water all the time. By having your legs floating, it allows you to work on your front crawl arm technique and build strength in your arms and shoulders. It can also be used to do kicking drills with, if you don't have a kick board to hand. It is just buoyant enough yo support your arms, however I would recommend buying a proper kick board as it is much more comfortable.

I bought this a couple of years ago for about £10 from my local sports shop. I believe they are about the same price now and can be bought from and good sports shop, the internet or from your local swimming pool. They are very durable and will last you a very long time. The colours slightly discolour over time but the pull buoy itself stays structurally intact and still performs its intended function.

If you are a keen swimmer and want to improve your stroke and times then this is a worthwhile investment for you. By doing it, you can improve your arm action through the water, which will lead to you getting quicker through the water.

I am going to give this 5/5 as it has been exceptionally helpful to me over the years and has helped me become quicker and stronger.

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Summary: If your looking to improve your swimming, buy one.