Experiences as Presents

You can’t have failed to notice the number of companies offering gift experiences.  You can buy anything from Balloon flight to Spa experiences, from cookery courses to a trip to the theatre.

You can do just about anything you want to do.  I’ve always fancied driving a tank over the top of a car.  I saw a car being crushed by a tank years ago and the appeal has always stuck with me.  I have a friend that really wants to swing a wrecking ball into a building.  My wife on the other hand wants a spa experience or to do aerobatics in a small plane. The only draw back is the price.

My suggestion is to research carefully on the net to find what experiences are available then do a few local searches to see if anyone offers the experience locally, just Google the experience followed by your town.

We worked this out after buying my daughter an aerobic flight – must be something my wife passed down in her genes the thought terrifies me and I would probably need tranquilisers just to get me in a small aircraft.  We bought the experience from a large gift experience company who sent us a lovely certificate in a gift-box along with the telephone number of a local airfield who were going to provide the experience.

My daughter had a great time, the pilot carried out a barrel roll, loop the loop, vertical flight with a stall.  He even let Amy take the controls.

While she was up and enjoying herself, I picked up a leaflet about the airfield and the services it offered.  There was the exact experience my daughter was enjoying with one major difference.

Gift company Price $300

Direct Price $150

That’s right half the cost of my gift went to the gift company for their efforts in marketing the experience.

My wife is really pleased we have now booked her in at half the cost.

And me?  I’m still searching for a local company that will let me crush a car in a tank

Established Company or Unknown Entity?

One of the brilliant things that the internet has brought is choice.  Google just about anything and you will get several million returns.  This has opened up bargain hunting to the international stage.  But which is best.  Going with the well known name or taking a punt with a company you have never heard of that are trading half way round the world.

I have tried both and have had varied experience.

The great thing about a big name company is they have a reputation that they guard carefully; this means they have multiple levels of service that ensure your security and satisfaction.  I would certainly go with the big name if I want:

• Complete peace of mind about my money
• Fast (often free) delivery
• Good customer service if things go wrong
• An easy and economical returns policy

For most of my major purchases I go for companies that I know and trust; Amazon, big chains or manufacturer’s sites based in my country.  I just don’t think it is worth the risk for a saving of a few dollars on a purchase of several hundred.

I have had mixed experiences when shopping with unknown entities.  I recently bought myself an MP3 player from a company based in the Far East that I found on an auction site.  I just wanted a cheap machine to put some music on for my gym sessions.  In the past I had always bought Sony – going right back to the early 80’s when I had a Sony Walkman cassette player.  But the machine I found seemed to have all the features I needed and was less than $30.

The problem was when it arrived I just couldn’t get it to work.  The thing would only take downloads in a certain format and try as I might I could not get music onto it.  I even tried reading the instructions that had been translated badly from Chinese – believe me like most men I only reach fro instructions as a last resort.

In the end I decided to send it back.  It took several e-mails to get a reply and when I did I realised that I would have to pay the return carriage which was going to be almost as much as I paid for the thing.  I decided to write it off to experience.

On the other hand we recently bought a dress from China for my daughter’s prom.  The garment was stunning.  Hand stitched, made to her exact measurements in quality silk.  The delivery was super fast considering it had been made to order.  Actually it was delivered faster than a local dress-maker had quoted us for the time to make it.   We paid little more than $100 and my daughter got more compliments than several girls that had paid several hundred dollars and more.

Conclusion

The truth is it’s your money and you need to make the decision.  In future I am going to stick to the big companies for major purchases, but I am quite happy to search for the unknown company bargains on occasions.

The Kindle DX – Are You Ready for an E- Reader?

Got to be honest here about my position.  I have always been pretty anti the idea of reading books on an electronic reader.  I’m a bit of a bibliophile.  I absolutely love books and I read at least one novel a week.   I have always avoided E readers because I like the feel of a book, I like to turn the pages and be able to flick back.

I have recently been swayed.  I was waiting for a friend recently and picked up his Kindle DX while I waited.  This guy is the sort of person who is always first to have every gadget so I wasn’t surprised to find he had the latest Kindle DX, and I have got to say it was a pleasant surprise.
I have tried reading on the ipad and the color Nook but both would be quite a strain after a while.  The great thing about the Kindle DX is that they have developed a display that looks very similar to reading a page of text in a book.  There is no glare and therefore no eye-strain.  I even took the gadget outside to test how it would react in direct sunlight.  The great thing was when I was outside no matter what angle I held the thing I could still read clearly.  Amazing.

The one criticism that I have found comes up regularly is battery life.  Because the kindle has a larger screen and higher resolution the battery does need charging every couple of weeks or so.  I believe the regular Kindle 3G will last up to a month.  To be honest charging once every two weeks is no big issue for me.  I can still take my reading for a holiday safely on a Kindle.  And anyway how often are you away from a source of electricity for more than two weeks?

The free 3G connectivity makes buying and downloading books a cinch.  No need to connect to your computer.  The added bonus is you can browse text based websites directly on your reader.  Great as a portable reference tool.

I would have liked the machine to be a little lighter, but I don’t think I will strain myself holding the 18.9 ounces.

At $379 it’s not an impulse purchase, but I’ve got to admit I’m really tempted.  OK the price might come down a bit but I can feel the temptation drawing me in.

I don’t think the kindle will ever replace books for me completely.  I just enjoy the look of them too much.  But I think I am convinced enough to buy one for my weekly novel.  Storing 52 books each year is getting to be a bit of a problem.  I know my wife is sneaking some of my older ones down to the charity shop whenever she can.

GPS Systems – How to Make Sure You Get the Best Sat Nav.

If you want to get the best Sat nav. system for you be sure to think about what it is you need the system to do.  Like most gadgets these days there are many different features, so you need to make sure you know which has the features you are looking for, then you need to find that GPS system at a good price from a reliable supplier.
So what are the features you are looking for?

·         Obviously you need clear directions

·         Are you in a country where speed camera detection would be useful?

·         Do you want a large screen?

·         How about battery life? Important if you plan to use the system away from your car?

·         Some tell you an estimated arrival time, some distance to destination.  Which is most useful to you?

·         Do you want the option of alternative voices?

·         Is it important to have a well informed list of local attractions and restaurants.

·         How about re-routing?

·         Or ease of controls?

The key things I look for are; ease of use, accuracy, regular connection to satellites with few breaks, easy and economical map updates and clear voice directions.  If you travel out of your area a lot you will also find directions to restaurants and hotels useful, just be a little careful that the system does not just contain fast food restaurants.  My first Sat Nav. seemed only to have McDonalds and Pizza Hut in its database, which my kids loved.  I recently updated to a Garmin Nuvi which has all the chains and a fair number of independent restaurants listed.
I particularly like the Garmin as its screen is really clear, the directions are precise and given with enough warning.  It also re-navigates rapidly if you take a wrong turn or need to avoid congestion.
I would always go for a wide screen model.  It is much easier to glance at while driving.  Programming is easier as there is more room for the keyboard display – really important if you have large fingers.  The wide screen comes into its own in crowded city centres where you may need to make a series of turns as you can see several directions displayed at the same time rather than waiting for the screen to move down.
You can easily switch the Garmin to walking directions which is really great when you get to your destination, have parked and need to find your way to an exact address.  Just make sure you switch it off before you go into that important meeting or you will find your pocket announcing “turn left in 100 yards”.  Yes, it did happen to me!!
You will need to consider your own needs but I don’t think you will find better than a Garmin

Walking to Lose Weight - Why Walking is My Favourite Exercise

If you are serious about wanting to shed those extra pounds you will need to cut back on the calories you eat and increase the amount of calories you burn. 

Before you stop reading let me tell you I am not about to recommend either starving yourself or spending hours at the gym.  I believe the very best way of incorporating exercise into your life is by making it simple and enjoyable.  One of the most effective things you can do is to include walking to lose weight as part of your program.

Walking is really simple to do.  It requires no special equipment to get started.  But you would be wise to invest in a really good pair of walking boots or shoes.  Once you have tried getting into a regular walking regime and liked it don't skimp on the footware.  You will protect you ankles and give your foot proper support.  The good thing is good quality walking boots don't have to cost too much, if you search online you will find good quality boots for around $50 -$70

You can start walking at whatever level you are and then build.  Walking can be built into your everyday lifestyle quite easily.  And walking can be a really sociable activity.

If your goal is to lose weight you should be aiming to raise your metabolic rate, and walking regularly can be one of the best ways to do this.  Walking needs no special equipment or preparation and can be started at any time.  You could go for a walk as soon as you finish reading this article.

You can even incorporate walking into some other interest or hobby and get even more pleasure from the activity.  Why not get a walking buddy, you will be able to motivate each other and it is a great time to catch up and have a really good uninterrupted conversation.  How about getting a dog so that you always have a reason to go for a walk – my dog never says no to a walk and adds another element of fun to my walking.  If your life-style means you cannot have a dog of your own, volunteer to walk your neighbour’s dog.  Walking is a great way to enhance an interest in photography or painting.  I nearly always have a camera with me and have some great photos of wildlife that I have captured on my walks.

The only real thing your need to do before you start is to give a little thought to your current level of activity.  If you have been a real couch potato for the last few years you really don’t want to go for a ten mile hike on your first outing, you will end up with strains and blisters and probably won’t walk for fun again for the next few years.

Be sensible; if you know you are unfit just go for a gentle stroll.  You can always add to your initial efforts in a week or two.  On the other hand if you are already pretty fit walking can still be a valuable asset in your exercise routine.  Try using interval training by alternating between rapid bursts of power walking and moderate paced walking to allow your body to recover.  This is a particularly effective way of increasing your metabolic rate and enjoying fat burn even after you finish your walk.

After a few weeks of regular walking you can increase the pace or distance very easily to vary and intensify your walking work out.

There are no excuses for not improving your fitness and weight loss by taking up walking.  My father, at 81 is still an active member of the local rambling club and will take 3-4 hour walks several times a week.  I have a walking buddy who is a wheel-chair user and the pace he sets can really get my heart beating.

So, what are you waiting for?  Are you still here reading?  Get out there and start walking.

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The Canon Powershot SX30

One of the things that drives me bonkers when reading reviews of technical stuff and gadgets is the reviewer that talks in jargon.  The reason I go look at reviews is I want an expert to tell me whether the item will do the job I want it to do.  And I want that in plain English.

OK rant over.  Here’s my review of the Canon Powershot SX30.  I’m not an expert so I won’t be talking in focal lengths, apertures or processors.  What I am going to do is tell you how I found the camera to use and what the quality of the pictures is.

I wanted a camera at a reasonable price that had a good zoom and was easy to use.  I’ve always enjoyed photography but have never got into all the technicalities of taking a good photo, but I needed a new camera after winning a trip to the Gambia – One of the things the Gambia is famous for is being home to over 600 exotic bird species.  I needed a camera that could zoom in fast and take sharp pictures quickly.  I’m no bird expert but I guessed the birds were not going to let me walk up close, nor were they going to be standing and posing while I focussed a camera.

The Powershot has the best zoom in its class at 35x.  In simple terms that put me 35 times nearer to the bird without moving an inch.  The zoom was simple to operate and very quick and the camera automatically adjusted focus so that when the picture was framed it was ready to take.

Canon has also built in some electronic wizardry which reduces shake.  Even when zoomed in I could take clear photos without worrying that my shaky hands would blur my pictures.

You can either look down a traditional viewfinder, or use the fold out LCD screen.  As I come from an era when we would peer into a viewfinder I found that just perfect.  My daughter really liked the LCD screen and discovered almost immediately that you could vary the brightness so she could get a clear picture whatever the amount of sunlight shining on the screen.

The camera has a host of features and can do far more than I have tried so far.  The great news is I was taking pretty decent pictures within 15 minutes of taking the camera from the box.  I can get down to discovering what else it can do when I have more time.

Conclusion

I pretty much loved it.  It did the job that I wanted it to without any fuss.  It is easy to handle and the results are good.  For the money (around $400) I don’t think you will find much better

Stop Press.  I’ve just seen it on Amazon at $369.  Bargain

Effective Acne Treatment Without the Highstreet Product Prices

There are many products for treating acne that can be bought in the pharmacy or supermarket.  Unfortunately many of them can be quite harsh and contain high levels of salicylic acid or peroxide.  They are also very expensive.

You can also treat acne by making a few very simple life changes and using natural products that you will probably find in the kitchen cupboards.

Acne is caused by blocked pores, over production of sebum and high levels of bacteria on the skin.  So let’s tackle each of these one by one.

Blocked pores.  As we shed skin cells all the time it not surprising that sometimes a pore can become blocked.  The best way to tackle this is by exfoliating the skin.  Using something that is slightly gritty will rub away any loose skin cells and leave your skin fresh.  But you don’t need to go and buy lots of products to do this.  Try mixing a little baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) with a little water to form a paste.  This paste will effectively exfoliate, but go gently it is your delicate face skin you are rubbing not a piece of wood you are sanding down.

Sebum Production, is usually caused by hormonal imbalance and is best tackled from within with herbal products.  You can also use the herbs Dandelion and Burdock leaves as an external cleanser.  Crush the leaves and apply liberally over the effected area.  It is best to leave the paste for around 15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.  Milk of Magnesia is also great for absorbing grease.  Apply the liquid neat onto the spots and allow it to dry before rinsing off.

Excess Bacteria builds up as the bacteria feeds on the extra sebum so removing the sebum will help.  Tea tree oil is a very good antiseptic.  Place a few drops of Tea Tree into some warm water and use as a lotion directly on the spots.  If you find Tea Tree too harsh then lavender oil is a milder alternative that can be used neat.

If you combine these natural remedies along with ensuring that you get a nutritious healthy diet, full of fresh vegetables and fruit for vitamins, you will be well on the way to a healthy, clear skin.