Sure for Men Quantum Anti-Perspirant

Sure for Men Deodorant

Advantages: Actually works, nice subtle scent.

Disadvantages: Cost

Sure for Men Quantum is the choice of Deodorant & Anti-personnel that I have been using for the past few years now. I used to use Lynx and other brands, but I got fed up of some of there "scents" and the price of them going up. I switched to Sure as my Dad had used it and seemed to have no complaints.

The can is 21cm tall with a plastic spray nozzle on top. It is green, black and grey in colour, which looks quite "manly" and appealing. On the front it says Sure Men and if you spin the can round you can find all the usual details on the rear. One very useful feature of the can design is that the spray nozzle can be locked by a small flick switch. This stops it from being accidentally sprayed whilst in bags. On the rear, the following claims are made: "Proven to work at 58oC", "1 million molecules of protection" and "Unbeatable wetness protection".

To apply it, you are meant to hold it about 15cm away from your underarm, however I usually hold it a little closer so it is a bit more direct. The deodorant comes out of the can in a fine stream which does not disperse too much. Each can holds 250ml of deodorant, which usually lasts me around a month. If I apply it in the morning, it will usually last all day and stops any sweat patches occurring. On hot days I have found that it doesn't work as well as it states, but it makes sweat patches less visible compared to if I did not have any on at all. As it claims to be a deodorant, I would expect it to have a reasonably noticeable scent, however it has a very subtle scent that is actually quite nice and not overpowering. As an antiperspirant it works very well in most temperatures and it rarely leaves white marks on clothes, however if you want a strong smelling deodorant then it is not that.

Overall, this is a great product for men as it helps to keep you smelling and feeling fresh all day long. Generally one application is enough, however, if you perspire heavily then another spray during the day maybe needed. The only downside to Sure is the cost. Each can will cost about £2.50 from a supermarket, which compared to some of the other brands available is quite expensive. Despite this, I think it is well worth the money as it provides great cover through-out the day and it lasts for a reasonable amount of time. I'll give it a 4/5 as the cost is quite a lot but it does pretty much what it says on the can.

Summary: Great for men!

This review can also be found on Ciao and Dooyoo under the username Qroo.

LG KU990 Viewty

 

LG KU990 Viewty Unlocked Phone

Advantages: Exceptional camera for a mobile, easy to use, lots of different options.

Disadvantages: My screen broke very easily, hard to find any new apps.

I bought this phone a couple of years ago when I decided I wanted to upgrade my old cheap flip phone to something that was a bit more modern. After looking at phones around the £100 region I decided upon this phone from Virgin Mobile.

The LG KU990i, or LG Viewty as it is also known as, is a nice feature packed phone that is a good introduction to touch screen phones for those who have not used them before. It is a reasonably sized phone that doesn't weigh too much. It is 10cm x 5cm x 1.5cm. It can come in either all silver or all black. I decided to go for the black version as I felt it looked more modern and a bit more attractive as a phone. One feature of the outer casing that I do like a lot is the metal rear battery cover. This makes it feel secure, well protected and also looks very good. As I already had a sim card I had no problems starting the phone up on Virgin Mobile.

The phone has a 240 x 400 TFT touch-screen, 3G internet, 5.0 megapixel camera with manual focus, a powerful LED flash, Bluetooth support, a second camera for video calls, built in MP3 player and FM stereo, alongside many other functions.

To start with, I found using the phone very strange as I was used to tapping an actual keypad rather than a screen. My phone did not come with a stylus so I have had to use my finger or a pen for its use. The main features I wanted to work well was phone calls and text messaging. Making a phone call is very easy, just tap a button on the home screen then type in the number and press the green button to call. The clarity of the other persons voice is very clear and the volume can be adjusted to turning the dial that runs round the camera lens. Text messages were my next priority as I wanted a phone that was easy to text from and had T9 predictive messaging. This phone delivers both. The messaging screen can be accessed straight off the menu. Typing a message couldn't be easier, each "button" on the screen is larger and well spaced so that you rarely press the wrong button. Once you get used to it you can text just as quick as you would with proper buttons. I found the T9 prediction to be relatively accurate, however sometimes it would put the wrong word in without me noticing, such as neck instead of meal!

Next on my priorities was a reasonable camera so that I didn't have to carry my digital camera everywhere. I didn't expect much as it is a phone camera, however I think the photos it can take are nearly as good as my 8MP digital camera. You can get very clear pictures of all different scenes, such as sports, nightclubs, stills, portraits, landscapes and more. It has the option for auto smile recognition and a countdown timers so it can always get the right shot. It also has a manual focus option which is very rare for camera phones. This means that if you want to change the focus to exactly what you want, then you can. The only thing it lacks is an optical zoom. The camera can also be turned into a video camera and can record video at 120 fps, which means when you play it back, it is all in slow motion!

The next feature that I wanted was a big, easy to use phone book. This phone has loads of space for contacts and they are all easy to find as the phone sorts everyone out into 5 different groups depending on the first letter of there name. You can store lots of info for each person, such as home phone, mobile phone, email address and more.

As the phone supports flash and Java, this means you can download flash and Java applications off the internet to use on the phone. There are quite a few out there, but it's just finding the websites that tends to be the problem. One website I used was www.getjar.com, which has lots on there for all uses. One problem if you want to use applications and store lots of photos from the camera is the memory of the phone. It only has 100mb of internal memory, which for a touch screen/smart phone is not that great. It does have an expandable microSD slot though, however this is an added expense that I did not get.

Battery life can be a problem that plagues some phones, and can be a real problem if you are a heavy phone user. I am a reasonably light phone user and so I found the battery to last a couple of days before needing a full charge.

A couple of months after I bought this phone the internal screen cracked, which left a big black mark down the screen and the phone rendered useless. As the warranty was only 3 months long, I was stuck with a broken phone out of warranty. I decided to try and fix it myself and bought a new screen off eBay. Taking the phone apart and replacing the screen turned out to be relatively easy and quick to do, and since then it has not broken again.

Other features that are worth a mention are:
- The alarm clock - You can set up to 5 alarms on this phone and can set a different tone for each one!
- Calendar - I found this very useful as it stores all of your dates and allows you to look back through them (ideal for when I was working shifts and had to fill in time slips).
The Flash - Although already mentioned, it is worth another mention as it can be set to be constantly turned on, so as to act as a torch. It is very bright and therefore is good if your fumbling for your keys or dropped something on the floor in the dark.

I have since upgraded from this phone to a Nokia 5800 which I like a lot, however there are a few features that I miss from this phone that aren't present on my new one.

If your looking for an entry level phone into the touch screen world then I would highly recommend this one. It is very simple to use, not too big, looks good and does not cost too much. I don't think this actual model is still available, however there are newer versions of it which I have read are just as good.

Overall I will have to give this a 5/5 as it served me well as a phone, was easy to use, was packed with great features and has a truly brilliant camera.

Summary: The camera is one of the best features, it is as good as some digital cameras.

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

Sainsbury's Ibuprofen Tablets B.P 200mg

Advantages: Fast pain relief, cheap, does what it says on the pack.

Disadvantages: Sometimes not always effective.

I buy ibuprofen quite regularly as it has helped to take one if my muscles are aching after a hard race. I have started to buy these ones as Sainsbury's is my closed shop and sell the cheapest ibuprofen.

They comes in a red and white box that measures 7cm x 6cm x 2.5cm. On the front it says what it is with a Braille spots raised on it as well, so the blind can read it too. It says that there are 16 tablets in the pack. On the back, it contains the uses for it, dosage, warnings and other details. Opening up the pack, there are 2 plastic trays that contain 8 sugar coated tablets each and a patient information leaflet.

Ibuprofen belong to a class of medicines that can be used for pain relief, anti inflammatory and temperature reduction.

The recommended dose is 1-2 tablets three times a day, however I only ever take one at a time as I don't use them often. I find that 1 tablet can usually help to ease any muscle pain that I have quite quickly. The effects last for a few hours, after which you can start to feel it wearing off. For the price (~30p), these are very good ibuprofen tablets that I can highly recommend. They are quite fast acting, do what they are supposed to do and nice and cheap. I have found that for more serious pains and inflammation, I have had to buy more expensive ibuprofen that has a higher dose than the 200mg that these have.

Overall these are a great product that can be used to help relieve many problems that you may face. For the price you can't go wrong with them and they are worth the money. They are only available at Sainsburys so they could be hard for you to buy.
   

Summary: Great for the price and does what it says on the pack.

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

Glade Solid Air Freshener

 

"Glade" Solid Air Fresheners Clean

Advantages: Seems to mask bad odours well, lasts a long time.

Disadvantages: Doesn't look good, smell up close is horrible.

I own the Glade Lavender Air Fresher block and have had it since I moved into my current house 6 months ago. I bought it as I wanted my room to smell fresh through-out the day.

I bought this from my local Sainsbury's store for about £1, maybe more but it was a while ago that I bought it. It comes as a white plastic container with a sticker on the front that has the Glade logo and an explanation of the product. The air freshener is 15cm tall by 8cm wide and 5cm deep. To open it up for use you peel off the front sticker to expose and a series of holes on the front with a purple gel like substance behind it. All you have to do now is place it wherever you want.

Initially I placed mine by my window so that when my window was open the smell wafted through my room. This did work to an extent as at first I did notice the lavender smell which was very nice but after a while I think I got used to it and didn't notice it as much. As the winter drew in, I moved it to on top of my wardrobe, where it still resides. I don't notice the smell of it any more but I do find that there are rarely any bad odours in my room. On top of my wardrobe it is not noticeable and it stays up there easily as it has a flat base on the plastic casing. The gel inside it has now shrunk to be about a fifth of the size it originally was. This must mean that it is constantly releasing a fragrance into the air. To of lasted this long I am very happy. I would of expected it to only last a couple of months.

I would advise you not to sniff it up close though as the smell that close reminds me of public toilets! The plastic casing is not the most aesthetically friendly, however it can be tucked away into corners or behind objects to make it less noticeable.

For the price, it is good value for money as it lasts a long time and keeps the room smelling reasonably fresh, however as it does last so long, you become accustomed to the smell and so don't notice it any more. The lavender smell from a distance is nice and refreshing and does a good job of masking any bad odours but I think it needs something extra in it to make it stand out as a great product. For the job it does it is fine, but if you want something that looks good and is noticeable then this is probably not the product for you, however if you want something cheap that does an adequate job then this is worth trying.

When I bought it, it came in a couple of different fragrances. I assume there are others now but you would have to check your local shops to be certain.

Overall, this will get a 3/5 because the container isn't too nice, it isn't noticeable after a while and the smell up close isn't nice.

Summary: Alright if you tuck it behind something, could do with something extra to make it more noticeable.

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

Apple iPod Headphones

Apple iPod Earphones Headphones for iPod Nano, Touch & Classic

Advantages: Good sound quality, last for a long time.

Disadvantages: Cost, can be uncomfortable for some.

I don't think there has been a pair of headphones like these that at one point become a part of fashion. Wearing a pair of these white iPod headphones recently became the thing to be seen wearing as if you have a pair of these on, then you must have an iPod.

Being completely white in colour apart from a grey band on the ear piece, they have become a staple part of the Apple iPod brand image. On the adverts you see the white headphone cable against the blacked out bodies and instantly think iPod. Whoever decided to make it an integral part of the brand has done a brilliant job.

The headphone cable itself it about 90 cm long and about 1mm in diameter. It is a single cable until you get 2/3rd's of the way up the cable where it splits in two, one for each earpiece. The headphones plug in through a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. The actual earphones are white and grey with a metal surface that covers where the sound comes out. On the rear of the piece are 5 small holes. There is a small R and L for each ear designation.

The first thing I noticed that unlike other headphones, there is no soft cover or padding on the earpiece, it is all solid plastic. Initially this feels quite uncomfortable in your ear and is not that pleasant. After using them a few times it starts to get more comfortable until you don't notice it at all. I listen to quite a wide range of musical genres on my iPod so I feel I have heard most things that could come out of the earphones. I have found that the sound quality is very good for everything that I have tried through them. Mine are starting to get quite old and damaged now and the quality is as good as I remember it when I bought them. Despite the plastic cable cover starting to break, the headphones still work very well indeed.

Every time I have bought other pairs, I have always come back to these as anything else I have tried always breaks with ease, these have withstood everything I can throw at them. The only downside to these headphones is the price. To buy a pair new you would have to pay around £15 from the Apple store, maybe more! You can get headphones for £5-10 which initially will match the sound quality, but they won't match the build quality. With these headphones you are paying for a quality, robust build manufactured by a brand that delivers quality with all of its products.

Overall, these have to be rated 4/5 as the price is the only factor that may put me off buying a replacement pair when these eventually break. 

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

Saucony Pro Grid Triumph 7

 

Saucony Men's Progrid Triumph 7 Running Shoe

Advantages: Great colour, reasonably light, good support, comfortable.

Disadvantages: Cost could be off putting for some.

As a runner and triathlete, having a well fitting pair of shoes that suit my running style is paramount to being able to run quickly and comfortably. Ever since I started running 5 years ago, I have used Saucony trainers so buying another pair seemed the natural progression.

Before parting with my cash, I wanted to make sure I had the best shoes that would suit my feet and keep me as injury free as possible. To do this I went down to my local running shop and told the assistant what I wanted. After I had told them what I do, what I want to do etc, they got me on there treadmill and watched how I ran to see if my feet rolled inwards or outwards when I ran. Luckily for me, mine do neither and so I am classed as a "Neutral" runner. The next step was to show me the shoes that would suit my style. As I knew what brand I wanted already this made the choice easier. After looking at the cheaper and more expensive choices I settled on this shoe, partly because the price was right and partly because of the excellent colour.

The shoe itself is primarily bright orange in colour, when new it is like day-glo orange that you see on hi-viz clothing. The orange fabric is mesh like, which helps the shoe to be airy and not get too sweaty. Over the top of parts of this is a silver fabric that is very reflective at night, a brilliant advantage for night runners. The inside of the shoe is all black and cushioned for support and comfort. Each shoe weighs about 340g, which is reasonably good for a shoe of this size and support.

According to there sales information, each shoe includes "ResponTek" which apparently helps to absorb the impact of the foot striking the ground. This is a useful feature if you run a lot as the constant pounding of running can cause damage and injuries if you are not careful. They also include an "arch lock" that secures the foot in position in the shoe to prevent it slipping and therefore helping to minimise blisters.

I've had these shoes for just under a year now and to start with I wasn't too keen on them. Initially I found them to be quite big and cumbersome as the heel and padding is quite a bit more noticeable compared to my previous shoes. After sticking with them I gradually got used to them and found the extra support to be very comforting. I have found these shoes to be very grippy when running across muddy fields and cross country. Despite being a standard running shoe, not designed for cross country primarily, they do provide a solid footing with little slippage occurring. To start with I did experience some blisters but to overcome this I rubbed some Vaseline over the area that caused the rubbing before each run and the blisters soon stopped.

Whilst running in these shoes I have become injured, but that was not due to the shoes. I found that when I started to run again the shoes offered great support and allowed for me to build up the miles on grass with low impact to my shins.

Luckily when I bought this price was not too much of an issue, now that I have a bit less money to spend it is more of an issue. The RRP on these shoes is £95 but luckily I get a 15% discount at my local shop which made the price a lot better. You can find these cheaper than the RRP online or in most running shops though. I'm going to need to replace these shoes soon as the grip is starting to wear out and I think I will get the newer version of this shoe, the Pro Grid Triumph 8. I find the support, comfort and functionality of the shoe makes it well worth the money it costs and if I had bought cheaper shoes I am sure that I would of become injured a lot more.

Now is the time of the year that everyone has there new years resolutions to get fitter or to run more. Personally I would recommend you avoid a gym and buy yourself some well fitting running shoes and get out and enjoy the fresh air. Compared to what you would spend on gym memberships, they are a bargain for the unlimited use you can potentially get from them. Get to your local running store, use there excellent knowledge and buy yourself some great shoes.

Out of 5 I am going to give these 4/5, the only reason it isn't 5/5 is that the price may be a bit off putting or too much for some people.

Summary: A well fitting shoe that is great on and off road.

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

 

Palmolive Naturals Anti-Dandruff Shampoo

Advantages: Great price, great results, low cost.

Disadvantages: None

I had bought Palmolive Shampoo in the past but I had never bought the Anti-Dandruff before. I bought this from the local 99p shop as liked the first bottle I had and wanted a replacement. I didn't actually want the anti-dandruff, but it was all they had so I got it anyway.

The bottle itself holds 400ml of shampoo which is less than I thought considering the size of the bottle. It is blue all over, has the Palmolive logo and a small image on the front then all the usual stuff on the rear. It says on the front that it can make your hair "up to 100% flake free". Luckily for me I do not have dandruff problems anyway but I have never noticed anything that may look like dandruff in my hair, so it must eradicate any if it occurs without my knowing. It also states that it is enriched with Wild Mint and Sea Minerals to gently purify the scalp. It does have a slight minty smell to it, but once it has been washed from your hair it is not noticeable.

I have quite short hair so I do not have to use much to generate a lather. I find that with only a small amount, less than I would normally use, it lathers up very well. Once lathered up, it washes off very easily and leaves no greasy residues in your hair. It can be used along with the conditioner as well, but I rarely use this as once your hair has dried it is very manageable and feels very soft and clean.

I use this about 2-3 times a week and this current bottle has lasted for nearly 5 months now. For the price I paid I am very pleased with the results that it produces. I tend to try not to spend more than £1 on shampoo as with short hair the difference between good and average shampoo is not as noticeable. I will definitely be buying another bottle of this when my current one runs out.

Finally, if you need some new shampoo, dandruff sufferer or not, I would highly recommend trying out the Palmolive range of shampoos and conditioners as they are very good for the price you pay.

Summary: Great for dandruff sufferers and non sufferers alike.

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

Sainsbury's Basics Custard Creams

Advantages: Taste like the expensive brands, only 30p, delicious.

Disadvantages: None whatsoever.

If you're looking for a quick way to get fat then you will want to buy a pack of these. For 30p a pack from your local Sainsburys, not only are they a great price, they also taste delicious too.

The pack comes in the standard white and red that all of the Sainsburys basics range comes in. On the front it has the name and the slogan "no fancy packaging". The rear has all of the nutritional content, ingredients and other information that you usually find on food products.

On opening the pack there are two rows of the biscuits, in total there are about 20-30 biscuits per pack (I forgot to count before eating them). I have tried more expensive versions before and they look exactly the same as them. Each biscuit is 4cm x 3cm x 1cm in size which make it an easy biscuit to hold and easy to eat in one bite!

When it comes to the taste, they can not be faulted at all. The biscuit is sweet and not too crumbly and the cream tastes slightly custard like, however it is not over powering which I like. Once I start a pack, I find these very addictive and can easily finish off a pack in one sitting. Due to this reason I rarely buy them as otherwise I would be very fat!

If you have not tried these ones before then they are well worth trying. They taste and look like the more expensive brands, the only difference is that they come in a plain white pack and they are about a third of the price. They will be yummy with a hot cup of tea whilst watching TV or reading reviews on here.

These have to have a 5/5 rating as they are simply delicious and for the price you cannot go wrong with them at all.

Summary: Why buy the expensive brands when these are just as good!

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

Germolene

Advantages: Actually does what it claims, works on many uses, relatively fast acting.

Disadvantages: Smell isn't the greatest.

Germolene is something that I have grown up with since a child and as sooth many cuts and grazes over the last few years. It is described to help prevent infection, numb pain and to help healing of cuts and grazes.

The Germolene I own is the cream and it is produced by Bayer, not Beechams as this product listing states. A quick look on wikipedia shows that Bayer bought the brand from Beechams in 1999. The 55g metal tube comes in the blue and white colours that make it so well known. On the front is the name and a very short list of what it can do. The rear states directions for use, uses and the active ingredients.

I often use Germolene on little cuts and grazes that you pick up from day to day life and it clears them up within a day or two. If a plaster is required then I usually place a little spot in the centre of the plaster before applying it to the wound. It can sting a bit when I do this, but it always seems to keep it infection free, numbs any pain and helps the healing.

The cream itself is white in colour as has a smell to it that I associate with hospitals. It is not a nasty smell, but when you smell it you know straight away it must be Germolene. The tube I have has lasted for about 18 months now and has about a third left in it. This is great longevity for a product that should be in everyone's cupboard. It can be used on cuts, grazes, minor burns, scalds, blisters,stings spots and chapped skin. In the last few days I have started trying it out on spots to see how effective it is fore this use. I apply it after a shower and rub a tiny amount into the spot and the local area. It leaves no marks or noticeable smells and I have noticed that the spots have gone down considerably in only a couple of days.

I do find that it is good to reapply it every few hours as it can be rubbed off it it is under clothes, plus it won't do you any harm to reapply it. It should only be used externally as it will probably cause problems if you eat it.

Overall it I have found it to be a brilliant product that is well worth the cost of it (~£2). If you have never tried it before then I would highly recommend you adding it to your bathroom/bedroom cupboard as it comes in handy so often.

For it's many uses and because it actually does what it says on the tube, I shall give it 5/5.

Summary: Should be in everyones cupboard.

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

Tesco Magnolia Handwash

Advantages: Cheap, leaves hands soft.

Disadvantages: No discerbable scent.

I bought this about 4 months ago when the handwash ran out in our bathroom and it was my turn to buy it. As I couldn't be bothered to go far, I popped to the Tesco Express at the bottom of my road and got the cheapest I could find. That happened to be this wash.

As I live in a house with two other students, I didn't want to spend much as I expected it would run out very quickly and would need replacing. I was completely wrong, 4 months later and we are still using the same bottle. For the 60p that I paid for it, it has lasted exceptionally well.

It comes in a 500ml plastic bottle with a plastic pump on top for easy dispense. On the front is a very inconspicuous label with all the basics and a nice picture of a flower. On the rear all the usual details can be found. For the price I paid, I would expect it to be a cheap looking bottle but it definitely is not that, it looks a lot more expensive than it actually is and would fit in any bathroom quite easily.

It claims on the front that is a "Magnolia & Silk" handwash, so I would of expected some scent to it. I have never actually noticed a scent to it, however its pearl colour suggests to me that this is more what they are referring to. As a handwash it works very well. You only need to dispense a small amount of the runny handwash onto you hand for it to work up a good lather and clean your hands. A lot of cheaper handwashes can have a tendency to leave your hands feeling dry but this does not at all. Coincidentally, it leaves them feeling silky soft!

As a handwash, it does exactly what it says on the bottle for what is an exceptional price. I expected a cheap and nasty handwash that would only last a few weeks, instead I got a great handwash that is just as good as some of the leading brands, for a fraction of the price.

When you are shopping in Tesco's next and are on the lookout for a new handwash, give this one a try, it's worth it!

A quick look on Tesco's website today shows that it now costs 61p, which is still very cheap!

Summary: Great handwash for the price!

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

Spider Spud - Mr Potato Head

Mr. Potato Head Spider Man Spider Spud

Advantages: Classic childs toy made even more fun, made of very durable plastic, looks great!

Disadvantages: Quite expensive now.

Mr Potato Head is back, to fight the evil villains and to save the world! With his spider costume on it is hard to recognise the lovable character that everyone has grown up to love. He has now become..... "Spider Spud".

I bought this a couple of years ago not long after it came out from Amazon for the great price of £6.99. I have always wanted a Mr Potato Head and this one caught my eye. It is currently sat on my shelf in the Spiderman disguise.

From "head" to toe, he measures 18cm tall and is about 9 cm wide and 9cm deep. He comes with the following accessories:
1 x Body
1 x Feet
2 x Arms
1 x Mouth
1 x Nose
2 x Eyes
1 x Glasses
2 x Ears
1 x Spiderman Costume
1 x Spider Web

As he won't be wearing all of this at once, there is an hatch on his back that opens so you can store any spare parts inside him. This has to be one of the most ingenious features of these toys as if the parts are stored in there, you can never lose them. He can be made up as either Peter Parker, Spider Spud or any combination you want. Through his costume there are only holes where the ears, arms and eyes are so that limits you a bit there, but without the costume you can use all of the holes.

One of his arms is posed like he is slinging a web and the Spider web part clips onto it to make it look like there is a web coming from his hand. When he doesn't have the web or costume on, this hand does look a bit weirdly posed but it's not too noticeable.

Like all the other Mr Potato Head products available, it is made of a solid, durable plastic that will take wear and tear very well. Mine has been dropped, trod on and had things spilt on it but it still looks as good as new.

For children or adults, these are great toys to have. You can spend hours playing around with them, changing poses, making them look weird or do whatever you want with it. I was quite bored one night (1st year of Uni) so I made a basic stop motion film with it, which despite only taking 15 minutes actually looked quite good!

Looking on Amazon today, the prices of these have now shot up greatly. For the one I have, you are looking at paying around £20 for it now. If you want just the original Mr Potato Head, then these sell for about £10 and come with a couple more parts. I'm very happy with this overall, especially with the bargain price I got it for. Whenever someone comes over they always comment on it and it looks good on my bedroom shelf.

I'll definitely recommend it if you want something fun to play with but don't want it to be too childish.

Summary: Great for children and adults alike.

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

Baseketball (DVD)

BASEketball

Advantages: Very funny comedy, great acting.

Disadvantages: Some jokes not suitable for family viewing.

Starring the creators of South Park, Baseketball is a story about two hopeless guys who invent a sport which completely changes there lives forever. Coop (Trey Parker) and Remer (Matt Stone) play the two unemployed Americans who, to impress there former college friends at a party make up a game that is both basketball and baseball in one.

We see the two play the game on there front drive. It involves one team making shots at the hoop from different parts of the court and someone from the other team has to try and "Psyche-out" them to make them miss the shot. A psyche-out can be anything you want as long as it makes them miss the shot. As word spreads of there game, they set up a local league and the third member of there team, Squeak (Dian Bacher), joins. As the game grows and grows on there front drive they eventually get spotted by a rich businessman who helps them turn the game into a national sport with teams, stadiums, fans and the Denslow Cup.

The businessman dies during a game and this eventually leads to Remer siding with an "evil" businessman to commercialise the sport which Coop is thoroughly against. This leads to a bitter fight between the two which nearly destroys there team. I won't divulge the rest of the film as that will ruin the film for you.

The DVD case has the title in large red and white letters on the front with Coop, Yvette and Remer posing in there kit. There is a picture at the bottom of the stadium and then underneath it says...
"Two guys invented a game... and turned the sports world upside down!"

On the rear there is a short blurb about the director, the film and who stars in it. It is rated 15 due to some of the language, jokes and scenes in it. It runs for 1 hour and 39 minutes and it can be viewed in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

This is a great comedy that shows how two men can change America just from there front driveway. It shows how they see modern sport as being too commercial and they go about changing it for the better. It shows how money can sometimes sidetrack people from the good of the game, but most of the time the game wins over money.

If your after a funny film that you can watch with friends then this is one for you. It can be bought from most shops for around £5 and it will bring you a good 99 minutes of laughter. Some jokes aren't really suitable for children so it's best not watched as a family.

As it can be watched over and over again and still be funny and has some great acting I will give it 5/5 for a not very well known film.

Extra information (from IMDB):
Released: 1998
Rating: 6.4/10 (by 24,238 votes)
Director: David Zucker

Summary: A great comedy that isn't too well known.

Ibuleve Max Strength Ibuprofen Gel

Advantages: Fast acting pain relief, tube lasts a while, doesn't smell.

Disadvantages: Cost.

If you are struggling with aches and pains that won't go away then this has to be the product for you. It can be described as being a bit like the deep heat gels that you can get, except I find it provides a lot more help.

I was prescribed this by my doctor last year when I was having problems with my shins caused by running. I was told to apply it three times daily until it was no longer needed. I ended up using it for about three weeks along side some pills I was given. In the end it helped sort out my shin problems and I was able to run again pain free.

It comes in a white tube made of metal and has a bright yellow screw cap on it. Written on the front of the tube in blue is the name of the product and in red is says "MAXIMUM STRENGTH". It states that it is 10% ibuprofen and that it should be applied directly to the point of pain. It also lists some common ailments that it can be used to help ease the pain of. If you turn it over you can find the directions for use and a warning that you should read before using it. Due to the high ibuprofen content it may not be suitable for those with asthma, peptic ulcers, history of kidney problems or you are already taking pain killers. It states that it is for external use only, so don't swallow it!

It comes out of the tube as a thick clear gel that has a slight scent. It doesn't smell too bad and once applied it isn't noticeable. To apply it you simply rub some of it onto the area where the pain is arising from. You then leave it to do its work and soak into your skin. You should always wash your hands after use to avoid it going into your eyes, ears, nose or mouth.

It works by targeting the ibuprofen directly to the site of pain. Unlike other pain killers which take time to act, you can feel this working straight away. Since using it on my shins, I have used it for other pains where the results have been just as successful.

To buy this from the shops it costs around £7 from any good chemist. It may be quite expensive compared to deep heat or ibuprofen tablets but it is well worth the money for the pain relief it offers. Tablets or deep heat do not work as well as this does at all!

If your in pain and want quick relief then this is worth a try. It comes in a 50g bottle which will last for quite a while. Due to the high price of it, I will give it a 4/5.

Summary: Fast acting pain relief that works.

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

Nivea Pure Fine Talc

Advantages: Plain and simple, you get exactly what it says on the bottle.

Disadvantages: None!

Talc is one of the most under-rated items that you will find in someone's bathroom. This particular talcum powder is one of the simplest and nicest I've tried.

Nivea Pure Fine Talc comes in a 300g plastic bottle that is 19cm tall, 7cm wide and 4cm deep. It is plain white all over except for the twist lid which is blue. On the front the blue Nivea logo/text can be found, and below it is the product name and a short description. On the back another label has all the boring information on, such as directions for use, ingredients, barcode etc.

On the back it is described as being "Lightly fragrenced, Nivea Pure Fine Talc will absorb moisture, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth". It then tells you that the directed way to use it is to smooth over your body after a wash.

The bottle itself contains a lot of talcum powder and it can be felt by the weight. To open it up you simply twist the blue cap anti-clockwise to open six small holes in the cap. Then to use it just shake some out and spread it in the desired areas. You have to be careful when it is full though as it comes out really quickly for the first few uses. To close it you just twist it in a clockwise direction and it is secure from spillage. Travelling with it in a bag is no problem at all. I have taken it away with me quite a few times and it has never spilled or exploded.

I don't use talcum powder to often after baths or showers but when I do I find it works best after having a quick dry off with a towel first. A light sprinkle of powder rubbed in after this works a treat and keeps your skin dry and feeling smooth. Despite it being slightly fragrenced, I haven't really noticed any smell, apart from the normal talcum powder "smell".

I also use it a lot in my running and cycling shoes to dry off my feet during races. I put a big "squirt" of it into the shoe and then dust it around to cover all of the inside. I find that this works really well to dry my feet if they are wet during and running or cycling race. Even if I have socks on that are soaked, I still find that it makes a noticeable difference to make my feet a bit more comfortable.

I've had this bottle for a couple of years now and there is still about half left in the bottle. If you use it sparingly like me then it will last you forever. To buy it the shops it will cost you no more than £2 from any good chemist. As it's made by Nivea you can expect it to be good and it definitely is. I like that it is a simple, plain bottle as it means all you pay for is the talc and not fancy packaging. Despite being so plain and simple, I don't think it would look out of place alongside other bathroom products.

If you want to feel dry and you skin to feel smooth when you get out of the bath or shower then this is definitely what you want. There is no need spending more on other brands that have fancy packaging. Nivea gives you a great product at a great price.

Summary: Great value Talc from a leading brand.

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

Garnier Pure Active Blackhead Cleaning Scrub

Advantages: Does actually work, not harsh on skin, leaves skin feeling clean.

Disadvantages: You have to perservere with it to see results.

I have, and still do a bit, suffered from spots/acne in the past and have tried many different skin care products to try do get rid of it. The one that pretty much eradicated them was a Benzoyl cream from the doctors. Whilst it worked well, I wanted something a bit less harsh on my skin that I could use on a daily basis. I eventually came to this wash, the Garnier Pure Active Blackhead Clearing Scrub.

I started using it about a year ago when I ran out of a different product and this was the one I bought to replace it. I was meant to get the one I normally use, but my local supermarket only had this one. On the front it says "Results from Day 1" and it "Helps to fight spots...". Initially I didn't see any results for the first couple of days but I kept using it. After the first couple of weeks I started to see improvements, my skin started to become clearer and it kept it clean.

I usually apply it in the morning in the shower, but if I go swimming or to the gym I also apply it then. It is a simple face wash that comes out of the bottle as a cream with some small blue beads in. As you rub it into your face, the cream lathers up slightly and these beads are broken down to clean your skin. According to the back of the bottle, the bead and a "well known anti bacterial agent" help to clear the blackhead and fight the appearance of spots. It is also said to include an extract from Blueberries that is meant to reduce the appearance of marks.

Salicyclic acid, usually found in aspirin, is also present in the formulation, which is the anti bacterial agent in this case. "Herbasoothe" is also in the formulation which is extract taken from Blueberries.

As a daily wash, I have found it to be very useful is calming spots and keeping my face clean. Used on a daily basis keeps my skin in order and spots away. I do find that if I don't use it for a couple of days then spots do start to appear again, which means that the product must be working.

It comes in a 150ml plastic squeezable bottle and costs about £3.50. This is about the same as similar products on the market but I personally think it is far superior. One bottle will last me about 4-6 weeks, however I usually use 2 bottles at a time, one for at home and another in my gym bag. I usually buy it from my local Sainsbury's when I go shopping, however I know it can be bought from most good chemists. I would definitely recommend it to anyone with spot prone skin who is willing to persevere a couple of weeks to see noticeable improvements. I am going to give this 5/5 because it has worked really well for me and I think it will work as well for other people too.

It is manufactured by Garnier Skincare.

Summary: Great for those with spot prone skin.

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

Saedtler Triplus Fineliners - Brilliant for Students

Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens - Easel Case Set of 10

Advantages: Last for ages, good range of colours, good transfer of ink.

Disadvantages: Price, tips round off eventually

As a student, having a pen is a vital part of being able to take notes, but having different coloured pens can help you actually remember what you write. I bought a pack of 10 Staedtler Fibre Tip coloured pens from the Rymans stationary shop on campus in my first year of university (2008) and got to using them straight away.

In the pack are ten different colours, which are: Yellow, Orange, Pink, Green, Lime Green, Red, Blue, Light Blue, Brown and Black. Each pen has a tip with a 0.3mm fibre point on the end which allows you to write thin but very legible lines and words very easily. You can apply a reasonable amount of pressure when writing without the tip breaking or splitting. The pens are not your standard round barrel type, they have a triangular barrel, which according to the manufacturers is much more ergonomically comfortable. I have found this to be the case as they are very comfortable to use and when I have been using them for a while I don't feel any pains or cramps in my hand.

Each pen is 16cm long and comes in a plastic pack to store them in. When you open the pack, the lid folds back to make a stand to hold the pens up. This is quite useful as the pens then slot in and out of the pack very easily.

One important point to make with these pens is the transfer onto the paper. Unlike cheaper fine line pens that I have tried before, all of the colours provide an excellent transfer of ink onto the paper in colours that actually match the lids. This is very important for me as I like to use a lot of different colours in my revision notes (makes it slightly more interesting!). When you buy the pens new, the tips on each pen are all very precise and "sharp", however after a couple of years use, I have found that some of the more used pens have started to have there tips rounded off, which when writing makes the line a bit thicker than the 0.3mm stated on the pack.

When I bought these, I paid around £6 for them, which at the time I felt was quite a lot of money. Looking back now, I see it as a well worthwhile investment two years on they are still working well and none of them have ran out of ink. Looking on Amazon today, I have found that the RRP is apparently £10.46 which I find quite hard to believe.

If you are a student or just need some good quality fine liners then I would highly recommend these to you. The reason I have given them only 4 stars is because the tips do eventually round off and the price is relatively high.

Summary: Makes student note taking more interesting

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

Vaseline Aloe Vera Lip Therapy Tin

Vaseline Lip Therapy with Aloe Vera, Petroleum Jelly, Pocket Size, .7 oz (Pack of 2)

Advantages: Inconspicuous size, lasts forever.

Disadvantages: Unsure what the added Aloe Vera does.

This has to be one of my most useful products that I buy over the autumn and winter months. On the coldest of days, this little tin can prove to be an essential!

The 20g of Vaseline comes in a small metal tin approximately 4cm in diameter an 1cm deep. It is green and white on the outside, which is different to the standard Vaseline colours of blue and white as this has added Aloe Vera. It's small size and colour scheme make it easy to carry round in a bag or coat pocket and quite inconspicuous when using it in public.

It says on the top that it is "Lip Therapy" and on the side that it "Sooths Dry Skin and Lips". I use this only on my lips as in the cold I find that they can become dry and cracked very easily. A quick application before I go out stops all dryness and protects them very well. When applied, you know that you have it on as you can feel that slightly greasy feeling of Vaseline on your lips. However, this greasy feeling does not stick on your finger after applying as it easily comes off.

The most useful application for this is to apply it before I go out for a run. Normally running in cold weather drys and cracks my lips very quickly, but with this on they stay protected through-out (unless I accidentally lick it off!).

I have never actually noticed any difference with the added Aloe Vera however there must be some difference as they would not add it in for no reason.

The tin cost me around £1 from my local chemist in November and I still have about half of it left. This shows good longevity and value for money. I'll definitely buy another tin next autumn. I may not get the Aloe Vera again though as I would like to try one of the other "Lip Therapy" tins that they have.

For those interested, it is manufactured by UniLever in Norway and the ingredients are:
Petrolatum, Aroma, Isopropyl Myristate, Aloe Barbadensis, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool.

Summary: A winter essential!

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

Busbi 8Gb USB Drive - Portable Storage

Advantages: Very hard wearing, large memory.

Disadvantages: Clip has snapped off.

This has been one of many USB memory sticks that I have had in the last few years as I have quite a habit of losing them. After looking through the Argos catalogue for one, I stumbled across this one for about £10, which was very good value for it a couple of years ago.

As stated, its capacity is 8Gb, which for me is more than sufficient. This is roughly equivalent to nearly 2000 songs, so very big! It is made of what feels like a black rubber material which has so far made it very hardy to being bashed about. To plug it into your computer, you simply remove the black cap that protects the USB from damage. There is no clip to hold it on, it simply slides on and off. Initially I was worried it would fall off and I would lose it but it actually stays on really well. Once the cap is removed, it simply plugs into the USB port on your computer or laptop.

On the first use, the computer will install any drivers it needs to automatically, which only takes a few seconds. Once this is done you are free to use it however needed. Adding files is simply done by dragging them from one folder and dropping them into the memory sticks folder. It couldn't be easier. I have only ever used this on Windows computers to great success, however I have never used it on a Mac so I can not vouch for its performance there.

On the end there is a chrome keyring clip, which is great for attaching it to your keyring or lanyard to keep it safe. For the past two years I have had it attached to a lanyard so I don't lose it, however just before the end of December it finally broke off. This has not affected the use of the memory stick in anyway, it just means that I have to be more careful in looking after it. There is also a red LED light on it by the keyring clip which flashes when the USB is in use.

It is about 5mm deep, 1cm wide and about 5cm long. For a memory stick this is reasonably small, but not too small that it will be lost easily. If you are in need of a memory stick and want one that will look professional, is good value for money and will last you a long time, then it is well worth looking out for this one. Everything about it has proved to be excellent. Others I have used in the past have been plasticy and have broken or been lost easily whereas this has a solid, durable construction that will take anything (probably not water) that you throw at it.

Definitely needs to be rated 5/5 for providing me with quality portable data storage for the last few years.

Summary: Best I've had in years

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

Ultraloc Super Glue - It's Rather Sticky!

 

Advantages: Very strong bonding, nice and cheap.

Disadvantages: Hard to control amount of glue dispensed.

I've bought this glue in the past from my local Home Bargains store as they sell it for the bargain price of 49p a tube, which cannot be beaten. According to there website, this is the strongest superglue around.

I have used this mainly to stick metal miniature figures together, which as you would expect requires precision and careful drip rate control as too much glue in the wrong place can ruin a figure instantly. The glue comes in a simple metal tube with a plastic nozzle and plastic cap. The cap is meant to have a unique anti clogging system that should keep it fresh time after time. I have found that for the first few uses the glue and cap stay in great condition however when a bit of glue gets spilt on the nozzle then this will glue the cap and nozzle together very quickly if not cleaned up.

The nozzle has a small opening at the top, roughly three quarters of a millimetre in diameter. This makes application in the desired area relatively accurate. The problem I found was controlling how much glue goes where you want it as squeezing the metal tube can sometimes produce a lot or a tiny amount of glue. Generally it is okay, but there has been the occasion where a lot of glue has spurted out in one go and covered me in the glue. Trying to un-stick your fingers from each other isn't the most pleasant thing to be doing!

The "anti clogging" system that is apparently in the cap does seem to work well as it rarely clogs up, unless some dust is in the hole. This can be easily cleaned out with a toothpick though.

Overall, the sticking ability of the glue seems very good. When used with metal on metal, the hold of the glue is very good and it takes some force to separate the two parts. I can assume that this binding power would be transferred to other applications.

To conclude, for the low price of 49p a tube, this glue is exceptional value to for money. A tube, depending on the regularity of use can last ages and doesn't seem to go "off" or dry out. Therefore due to the price and its great sticking power, I am going to give this glue a 4/5. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who needs it!

Summary: Great value for money.

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

Wilkinson Sword Blades - As Sharp as a Fox!

 

Quattro Titaniium Refill, 8-Count

Advantages: Very sharp blades, rear single blade an excellent feature.

Disadvantages: The blue strip doesn't always turn white by the time the blades are blunt.

I normally buy these blades along with the actual razor itself as they are usually on offer at local supermarkets which makes it cheaper to buy it new rather than just the blades itself. However in this review I will look at the blades only.

As you can tell from the picture and the name, there are four blades on the front and then on the rear there is an extra single blade that can be used for trimming or neatening areas. On first use of a new blade, you can feel the quality and sharpness of the blades. The cut that these blades give is very good and you feel very smooth afterwards.

The rear single blade I rarely use myself, however when I have used it for neatening little bits round nose and ears it has been very useful and very precise. On the front there is the blue strip along the top which acts as a guide as yo how worn the blade is. When new, it is blue but as you use it this blue fades and eventually goes white. When it turns white it is time to replace the blade.

Personally I like to replace blades every few weeks, however I have had them last for a few months quite easily before and they still gave a brilliant cut each time. With some blades I have found them to roughen up my skin a little, however with these there is no such problem. I use Nivea Sensitive Shaving Cream with these blades and this combination works a treat and leaves my skin silky smooth.

They attach to the razor via a simple clip mechanism. Just push the razor head into the rear of the blade and it clips in by itself. The blade is on a pivot with the razor handle which means that it will move up and downwards by a few degrees which makes going around the contours on your face very easy. I've used razors without this feature and I wouldn't be able to do without it now.

If your in need of a new razor sometime soon then I would highly recommend you choosing this one. I paid around ~£4 for the razor and 4 blades a few months ago and I will definitely continue to use Wilkinson Sword in the future. I'm not too sure on the price of the blades individually but when I bought my last razor they were slightly more expensive than the pack I bought.

Summary: Overall very good for the price and give a great shave.

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

Nivea for Men Sensitive Shaving Foam

 

Nivea for Men Shaving Gel, Sensitive

Advantages: Irritation free, smooth finish.

Disadvantages: Initial cost could be off putting.

I've suffered from rough skin after shaving before and after eliminating the blunt razor as a possible cause I needed to find a shaving foam that would suit my skin a lot better. After hunting through Boots I found that Nivea produce a foam just for sensitive skin. This was just what I was looking for, and at a reasonable price too!

I pay around £3 for a 200ml can of this each time from Boots, which in comparison with other brands isn't too bad. I've bought cheaper brands in the past, but as stated above I've had problems. With this foam though, it contains there "UltraGlide" technology which in there words helps with razor glide, gives a close shave and helps protect against irritation. When using, I've not noticed any real differences in the glide but there are definite differences in the in the shave and skin protection.

After a shave my skin feels incredibly smooth to the touch and irritation free. There is no roughness to the skin which I have experienced before and rarely any cuts. It feels like there is some moisturising effects in it as my skin feels like it has been moisturised.

It contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin F in the formulation that apparently helps to heal and moisturise the skin, which in my experience it does. The foam is dispensed from a nozzle on the top, which has a clear cap to cover it. It is overall quite an aesthetically pleasing can which won't make your bathroom look "cheap".

I've been using this now for about 18 months and as of yet have had no problems whatsoever with it. My current can has lasted for about 4 months and still has a fair bit left in it, so in value for money sense it is very good. I use it with a Wilkinson Sword Quattro Razor which works very well with it to give a neat and clean cut.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has sensitive skin and finds other brands to be irritable and drying to the skin. For its price, long lasting life and the excellent moisturising effects then it is well worth its price. 5/5

Summary: Great for delicate skin types.

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

Bye Bye Dry Skin - E45 Cream

Advantages: Low cost, only a small application needed, non-scented.

Disadvantages: None that I could find.

I have bought the tube of E45 cream for the last couple of years now as it comes in handy occasionally. I first bought it after trying some of my sisters when my hands had become quite rough from the cold one winter. With only a small amount used, I found that it had started to make my hands look and feel a lot better. With that great success I went out and bought a tube of my own.

For there 50g tube, I paid about £1.60 from Boots a couple of weeks ago, which compared to the price of it in Asda (~£3), is an absolute bargain. 50g may sound small, but the tube is about 12cm tall and contains a lot of moisturiser. I find that with occasional use a tube will last me about 6 months.

On the back of the tube, it is described as "unperfumed an non-greasy" which is exactly what it is. It contains no fragrances or scents which is great if you don't want people to notice it and once rubbed in, it does not leave that greasy feeling behind like other moisturisers can do. It does take a bit of rubbing in, but once applied it will leave your skin feeling great for quite a while.

It can be used on dry, flaking, chapped or sunburnt skin as well as the following skin conditions: eczema, dermatitis, ichthyosis and some cases of psoriasis. Clearly if it can be used to help some of these serious cases then it must have a lot of scientific research behind the formulation to ensure it works.

I have used it only on dry hands and feet, and in both cases it has worked wonderfully. As I run a reasonable amount, my feet have a habit of becoming dry around my heel and so applying this every now and then helps to supple up the skin and make it a lot more comfortable. On my hands, they occasionally become dry from either the cold or washing them too much but with a small application of this the problem is quickly eradicated and my skin is back to feeling smooth again.

For those interested, the active ingredients are (from label): White Soft Paraffin BP 14.5% w/w, Light Liquid Paraffin Ph Eur 12.6% w/w, Hypo-allergenic Anhydrous Lanolin 1.0% w/w.
It also contains: Glyceryl Monostearate, Citric Acid Monohydrate, Cetyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Cetostearyl Sulphate, Carbomer, Methyl Hydroxybenzoate, Propyl Hydroxybenzoate, Purified Water.

I've tried other moisturisers in the past, some of which have worked as well, some which haven't, however I have found this to be my favourite due to being non-scented, relatively low cost and it provides great results. If you have not tried this before and are looking for a simple but effective moisturiser for regular or occasional use then this is definitely for you.

Summary: The best moisturiser I have tried!

Review can also be found on Dooyoo and Ciao under the username Qroo

Head Titanium 900 Badminton Racquet

Head Titanium 90 Badminton Racket

Advantages: Light weight, durable, low cost.

Disadvantages: Grip could be too small for some people.

As I have started to play Badminton quite recently with friends, I wanted to have my own racquet to use instead of the cheap hire ones from the sports centre. I didn't want to spend too much on one though, so I went to Sports Direct in the Bullring as I knew they would have some cheap but good quality ones.

The racquet I went for and am reviewing is the "Head Titanium 900" in a black, grey and white colour combination. Aesthetically it looks very good with white grip tape and strings and then bands of the other colours on the frame itself. It has the Head logo printed in black on the strings also.

This racquet is very light compared to come I have used before with it being only 102g. In a game this makes it to be very light through the air and very easy to make difficult or powerful shots. I have found that since purchasing this racquet that my aim is a lot better as the shuttlecock is now going where I want it to rather than all over the place!

The grip size for my particular racquet is "G3" which suits my hand very well. I feel it may be suitable for most as others who have tried my racquet have found it to be very comfortable to use.

With the racquet came a full length padded zip up cover for it made of synthetic material. This looks very good and is very comfortable to carry over one shoulder with the strap on it.

I'm not the most knowledgeable badminton player but on the racquet there is a sticker with the tension and flex of the racquet. For anyone who is interested they are: Flex = Stiff, Tension = 20-22lbs.

When purchasing this just after the summer, I paid just over £20 for it in SportsDirect. This is quite heavily discounted from its RRP as from looking online similar racquets sell for excess of £50. I am very pleased with it and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking at starting playing or even looking to upgrade racquets.

Summary: Great starter or intermediate racquet for any badminton player.

 Review also appears on Ciao and Dooyoo under the username Qroo.

Yummy Toasties - Tesco Value Sandwich Toaster

 

Advantages: Simple, easy to use and low cost.

Disadvantages: Not the most aesthetically pleasing.

We have had this sandwich toaster now for a few days as we really fancied having a toastie one day. I knew that Tesco has cheap electricals so I headed there for it. There value model was just over £6 (pre VAT rise) and the next cheapest was over £10 so I went for the value model.

In the past I have bought "Value" electricals and they have been very hit and miss in there overall quality, however with this it has been excellent so far. The toaster we have is a little different from the one shown in the picture. The colour is the same but the lights on top are slightly smaller.

Initially it needs to be heated up, which does not take very long (a few minutes). During this time you can prepare the bread and fillings. The toaster holds 2 sandwiches, so we butter 4 slices of bread and place the buttered side facing outwards. We have tried a mixture of different fillings such as: Cheese and Sweetcorn, Baked Beans, Cheese and Turkey. It has been found that some fillings can make a mess of the machine if you put too much in, and clearing it up can be a pain if it goes into the back part of the machine.

To toast the actual sandwich does not take too long at all. I normally leave it for about 3-4 minutes which toasts the bread and makes the fillings piping hot. For the price, I have found no problems with its use or general operation. It produces delicious sandwiches, is easy to clean and small enough to store in a cupboard.

I don't normally buy things from Tesco's because I don't like the shops or the company itself, but for this product it has been very good. If you do need a sandwich toaster then this is ideal if you don't want a fancy chromed model. If your a student or on low income and want a tasty but inexpensive snack or meal then this is the sandwich toaster for you.

Summary: Nice sandwiches for a low budget, can't complain at all.

 Also appears on Ciao and Dooyoo under the username Qroo.

Unbeatable - Apple iPod (3G) 8GB

Apple iPod nano 8 GB Black (3rd Generation) OLD MODEL

Advantages: Ease of use, perfect size, huge memory.

Disadvantages: No longer produced!

I've had my 3rd Generation Apple iPod Nano now for around 4 years and throughout this time I have had no problems with it at all. When purchasing, I decided to get the 8gb instead of the 4gb model as I had a growing music collection at the time.

The iPod works on the PC when connected up with the iTunes software, which is downloadable free of charge from the internet. From this program, you can upload all your music onto it, so it can act as a "Jukebox" on your computer. When you transfer music, you simply select which tracks you do and don't want on the iPod and it quickly transfers them over.

In the 8gb memory, I have 1836 songs on my iPod with 4.4Mb free space. This is a huge selection of songs and it means I can always listen to something different. With the music you can have the album artwork displayed as well. This does look nice, but I have chosen to turn this feature off as it takes up space on the iPod that I needed for music.

The iPod doesn't just do music though, you can add music videos, TV shows and films to it, all of which can be watched quite comfortably on the 2 inch colour screen. If you want to listen to podcasts then this is perfect for them as it can store many on it as well. Other features include a clock, calender, contacts, alarms, games, notes and a stopwatch. When synced to your computer you can download data for all these extras.

There are other mp3 players on the market that can offer the same memory for a lower price, but for what the brilliant functionality and ease of use that the iPod Nano offers, it is worth paying the extra for it. The iPod has become the world leader for portable music and this is due to the simple designs, easy computer synchronisation and the unbeatable sound quality that you get with the free headphones.

Sadly this model is no longer available for purchase as they have subsequently released the 4th and 5th generation Nano, which I believe are no match for this one. I find size is just right for carrying, especially when jogging or in the gym. If you look at the newer ones, they are either long and slim, not great for pockets or very small with a touch screen, which could be fiddly with sweaty hands.

Once this iPod eventually breaks (hopefully not for a few more years), I will definitely try and get another of this model just because I like it so much. I've tried other iPods and mp3 players in the past but none have been as good as this one.

If you want an iPod and can find someone who is selling this model then I would highly recommend it.

Summary: Best iPod to date.

Review can also be found on Dooyoo and Ciao under the username Qroo.

Have you tried turning it off and on again? - The IT Crowd Series 1 (DVD)

 The IT Crowd: The Complete Season One 

Advantages: Very funny and lots of extras on the DVD.

Disadvantages: None!

The IT Crowd is a sitcom set in the IT department of Reynholm Industries (fictional) and centres around the lives of Moss (Richard Ayoade), Roy (Chris O'Dowd) and Jen (Katherine Parkinson). Throughout this first series of 6 episodes, we see the characters be introduced to us and it shows us how funny they are.

Graham Lineham clearly has well researched the kind of geeky lifestyle that is stereotypical of IT workers as many of the jokes, are simple yet very funny and anyone who has had experience with IT call centres/departments can relate to them.

Through these first six episodes we are shown how the company sees the IT department as the lowest of the low, this is also related to by them being based in a dark and dirty basement. Roy and Moss, both quite socially inept try to break out of this position they are in, where as Jen thinks she is a "people person", when she is quite clearly just like Moss and Roy.

This is definitely worth a watch if you like good, simple British humour and even though it is rated a 15 certificate, it is suitable for all to see. It is the first of four series that are currently available on DVD and according to wikipedia, a fifth series has been commissioned.

I have to give this DVD a 5/5 just because I have found it very funny and the simple jokes that have been made out of simple conversations makes for excellent writing. It has won a BAFTA and EMMY so I'm not the only one who loves it!

Summary: Great comedy for all the family that everyone who has contacted IT support can relate to!

All reviews can be found on Ciao & Dooyoo under Qroo username.