ah ok lah

Moving house advice

2012-01-21T01:45:00.000Z

One of our friends recently moved back to Malaysia after completing his studies. The small community of Malaysians here all came over and helped moved their stuff which they had spent packing literally over the past month onto the 40 footer container. Even with all the guys, it took almost all morning to get the stuff loaded on and finally we were done.

However, sometimes it is better to use the professionals. I once helped my sister-in-law move house when we realised that there was no way we could dismantle their sofa or bring it down their narrow winding stairs. In the end they called a local mover and it was amazing watching them take the sofa through the window through a system of pulleys down to the guys waiting below. The guy in charge told me that they had carried much heavier items including pianos similarly.

I guess it is best to call in the professionals if you can afford it. For example, another friend was moving house and these guys came in a big truck and had packed up and cleared the house in half a day. Later on my friends told me that none of the furnitures had even a scratch.

However the question is how to find and hire general help for moving. And you are of course concerned - Are they reliable? Are they accountable? I have heard so many horror stories about getting day movers that sometimes risking a slipped disk sounds liks abetter option.

If you are in America and looking for day labor , you might be pleased to know that there is a website where you can get quotes, compare local service provider - all in one place.

The hireahelper site lists over 3,400 companies covering 48 states. You do not have to worry about day movers who quote you one price and then ask you to pay more once the work is done citing problems - blah! blah! blah! because you pay upfront. ANd best of all you can read real unedited customer reviews to find out what they thought about the service provider.

So if you are thinking of moving house, do check out the site.

Four naked Barbies

2012-01-15T11:10:00.002Z

While cleaning up, my daughter came across her Barbie collection and she was telling me that she's doesn't like playing with dolls any more as "only kids play dolls".

Examining the dolls, I realised that they are all different. Three of them are made in China (all 1999 batch) while the first from left which we bought for her at a car boot sale was made in Indonesia. Update: At first I thought that it was a vintage Barbie from 1966 but later found out that they did not make Barbie in Indonesia in the 1960s.

At Greenwich park Christmas Eve 2012

2012-01-13T15:53:00.002Z

We were at my sis-in-law's place in Greenwich this Christmas. On Christmas Eve, it was a chilly and cloudy but we were bored cooped up inside the house and decided to visit Greenwich Park.

Running after the squirrel

Leafless trees

At 0 Degrees Longitude - The Prime Meridian.

Auld Lang Syne

2011-12-31T20:18:00.001Z

According to a recent Daily Mail article, most people do not know the lyrics of the most popular New Year's Eve song Auld Lang Syne.

Written by Scottish poet, Robert Burns, this song is sung by millions across the World.

Well here is the full song (with lyrics) sung by Dougie MacLean on the album Tribute.

Wishing all visitors to Ah Ok Lah a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2012.

UK Protests : What's the point?

2011-11-10T02:39:00.029Z

Since the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government with the Conservatives, there have been so many protests in the UK. Discussing them with some of my friends, we wondered whether there was any point in these protests since they didn't change anything and in several cases, actually resulted in violence, disorder and looting.

Among the major ones were:

2010 UK student protests - 10, 24 and 30 November and 9 December. Peaceful protest that turned violent.

Pension reform protests. Violence breaks out again.

2011 Student tuition fees protests – 9 November. Relatively peaceful this time as compared to last year.

And of course we can't forget the recent riots between 6 and 10 August 2011, which started off as a peaceful march on 6 August 2011 related to the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan by the Metropolitan Police on 4 August 2011 and ended in widespread looting and the death of Five people.

The Occupy London protests are still going on: with tents set up one outside St Paul's Cathedral in Central London and the other in Finsbury Square just to the north.

And it looks like more protests and strikes are on the way - Public sector workers have also decided to go on strike on 30 November over the government’s public sector pension changes.

The question is whether any of these protests had any positive impact.

Whatever sympathy that people had for the students mostly dried up after seeing the images of violence on TV and in the newspapers. The student fees still went up. Mark Duggan is all but forgotten and most people were not even aware that people were protesting outside St Paul's Cathedral until the chancellor followed by the dean of St Paul's Cathedral in London resigned.

My friend tells me that these incidents show that democracy is well and alive in the UK but what's the point if these protests didn't actually achieve anything.

How the Netherlands became a cycling nation

2011-10-27T14:41:00.000+01:00

As the following video shows, it did not happen overnight. The people demanded it, the conditions were right and the Government listened to the people.

And now they are providing their expertise to other countries.

How to Increase Cycling in the City

2011-10-21T14:54:00.000+01:00

Everyone knows that cycling is an environmentally responsible way to get around town. While purchasing a decent bike is cheap, most people still opt out for the convenient transportation a car provides. If we were to conduct paid surveys and online polls, most people would say that they want more sustainable and affordable ways to commute.

Cycling may get excellent poll numbers and publicity, but people still refuse to actually do it on a consistent basis. In order to get more people into this healthy, sustainable, and fun activity, the community needs to create more incentives for its residents. Here are some solutions to help get people out of their cars and pedaling to their destinations more often:

Paid Advertising

When you look out on the road, there are tones of mobile advertisements: NASCAR drivers are sponsored by major corporations, major corporations are using mobile billboards, and regular people are getting their vehicles sponsored in order to save on gas money. Why shouldn't cyclists be able to do the same thing?

Lance Armstrong wore the USPS' logo on his uniform for several years because he was seen by millions. Smaller businesses with smaller budgets can place their brand image on local cyclists who commute to work every day on busy city streets.

Social Events

In many cities, there are people using Facebook to plan cycling pub crawl events. Groups of riders dart around town on their bikes and visit designated pubs for refreshment. While these types of events are gaining popularity, there is one that stands above the pack. The World Naked Bike Ride is a massive event taking place over many cities that encourages riders to “Bare as You Dare.” This clothing optional event helps raise awareness for sharing the road while promoting positive body-image issues.

Whacky Races

The New Belgium brewery located in Colorado sponsors a series of races across the country simply dubbed the Urban Assault Ride. In these city-wide races, teams of cyclists pair together to race through their respective streets, parks, and neighborhoods while stopping at checkpoints to complete obstacle courses. After the race is over, New Belgium offers a healthy sampling of all of their brews for the thirsty participants. This is a good way to juxtapose the physical fitness of cycling with the atmosphere of a backyard BBQ.

Mobile Reward Apps

In London, the RecycleBank company is starting a programme that allows smartphone users to download an app that rewards them for physical activity. This app lets people who walk or cycle around town gain points which they can then redeem at local merchants. This is an excellent way to get people to become more active and rely less on their cars. It is essentially bribing them to get more physical, but the ends justify the means.

There are several other ways that cities are trying to garner an interest in cycling. This will eventually lead to a more physically fit population, better air quality, less pollution, and less congested traffic during rush hour. All you have to do to participate - just strap on a helmet and start cycling.

The bike wheels next

2011-10-21T02:20:00.002+01:00

In the process of restoring my Falcon bike, I have picked up several skills along the way. Among the few things I needed to replace on the bike were the tyres.

As I wrote in one of my recent posts, there is no such thing as a 100% puncture proof tyres but you can get some tyres which are high puncture resistance.

After reading a few reviews, I finally decided on the Schwalbe HS159 27x 1 1/4 tyres. I found a great deal on eBay for a complete set of 2 Schwalbe tyres (with amber walls) and Impac tubes for just £24.99.

Will be putting everything together this weekend. Look out for the post.

Brooks saddle made in India

2011-10-17T15:39:00.001+01:00

My Falcon bike restoration project has been on hold for a while. I was thinking of repairing the saddle - replacing the foam and getting new covers but in the end I decided to get a new one. I have always wanted a Brooks saddle and I have had my eyes on the B17 Special for a while. However, £113 for a brand new one was a bit too much and I went onto eBay to find a deal. The appeal of Brooks saddles is amazing - even ancient tattered ones are going for as high as £40. Some actually coast as much as a new bike.

I bid on a few saddles and I set a limit of £25 and not surprisingly I lost every bid. One day I came across a buyer who was selling Brooks saddles which had been made in India. I was a bit sceptical at first but after doing a bit of research found out that indeed some companies in India used to make Brooks saddles.

So I made an offer of £10 which the seller promptly rejected. No harm in pushing your luck. So I pumped up the offer to £15 and I was delighted when the seller agreed.

A couple of days later I received the saddles nicely packed and was really surprised when I realised that they were in mint condition.

The quality is really good with thick leather and good quality steel. I can't find a similar saddle in Brooks current catalogue (on their website). Really happy that I am the proud owner of a Brooks saddles (even though they were made in India). It will be going on my Falcon bike.

New Coldplay album

2011-10-14T12:14:00.000+01:00

Coldplay fans will be delighted to learn that the band is releasing their long-awaited fifth studio album, Mylo Xyloto, on the 24th October.

From their 2008 tour. Credit: Karl Axon from Liverpool, England I am really looking forward to how this new album fares as their last studio album, Viva La Vida, sold more than nine million copies worldwide. You can pre-order the album on Amazon now for £7.99.

Masked crime fighter arrested

2011-10-11T14:07:00.000+01:00

Earlier this year, I blogged about a Seattle vigilante, who calls himself Phoenix Jones. His real name is Benjamin John Francis Fodor. How did I learn about his secret identity? Well, the "super hero" was arrested last Sunday under this name.

Well, today I read in the news that he has been arrested for breaking up a fight with pepper spray.

It sounds funny but you can't just go around simply spraying people with pepper spray even if they are fighting. Leave crime fighting to the police.

Earlier this year, he broke his nose and I am worried that he might get into serious trouble one day.

New job, Coventry and the auto industry

2011-10-11T02:49:00.001+01:00

In case you are wondering what I am going on about. read on and you will understand.

Last week I joined Coventry University Business School as a lecturer in marketing and advertising. I got the job finally after 6 interviews and hundreds of rejections. We are really delighted that I got into Coventry University as it means that we do not have to relocate to another city in the UK. Furthermore, I have always wanted to remain in academia as a lecturer.

I also joined at the right time as Coventry University is growing massively with new buildings and facilities. Its ranking has gone up to 53rd overall in the Sunday Times University Guide 2012 - a huge jump of 30 places from the last time. I was really happy to learn that the University is now ranked higher than some of the other Universities that rejected me.

I have grown to love Coventry and am learning a lot about it's history. Car buffs will definitely be aware that Coventry was once the auto capital of the UK and my office is located at the William Morris building, named after the founder of the Morris car company. The building dates from 1916 and they used to have their engine manufacturing facilities here.

Going around the building, I was trying to find traces of the former building and suddenly I noticed that near my office are the remains of the old bannister on the stairs with fine detailed carvings. They are carvings of bulls. Not sure whether they mean anything.

Will try to find some more traces of the old building.

Cycle tyre puncture - prevention better than cure

2011-09-19T22:27:00.002+01:00

As you might have guessed from my previous posts, I am really into cycling now. I even borrowed a couple of books on cycles/cycling from the local library (I know there are loads of information on the net but nothing beats a good book with illustrated pictures).

Anyway, one thing I am really worried about is getting my tyres punctured while riding to the University. I got myself a cycle tyre puncture repair kit. Through it has never happened but repairing a tyre by the side of the road is not something I am really keen on. I tried practising at home using the old bike I am restoring - getting the tube out, trying to find the hole and then patching it up. I have seen YouTube videos and they make it look so simple. Prying one side of the tire bead over the edge of the rim was the hardest.

Here is a popular clip on YouTube on how to repair a puncture:

Searching on the net, I came across a site which sells Amerityre tyres which they claim are 100% puncture proof but they are not cheap. On the other hand, Andreas at the London Cyclist Blog says that there is no such thing as 100% puncture proof tyres. However, there are a number of tyres which are said to have high puncture resistance.

While shopping at Halfords I noticed a green bottle - it was the Slime Tube Sealant. I didn't buy it because I was sceptical and wanted to read the reviews first. Apparently this product was really good with so many positive comments on various sites. I noticed that it was also available at the Go Outdoors store. I later took my bike along on my way back home from the university and bought a bottle. The in-store bike mechanic put the green liquid in both my tyres for free. I haven't had a puncture even once but I do feel much better now.

I now want to put the Slime in all my bikes and doing an online search realised that I could have got it much cheaper elsewhere, with the cheapest online at Amazon Here is a comparison of the prices:

Halfords: £8.99

Go Outdoors: £8.09

Wikinson: £4.97

Amazon:

Vintage Falcon bike restoration project 2

2011-09-12T03:34:00.001+01:00

This follows on my previous post "Vintage Falcon bike restoration project".

The bike was from the Chris Thompson Cycles shop in Darlington, Durham. Found out that the shop was dissolved in 1997.

Shimano Derailleur gears (Japan)

Simplex gear shifter (France)

Presta vavle on the 27 x 1 1/4 Michelin World Tour tyre.

I took off the rusted panniers, the saddle and the rusted chain and cleaned up the bike a bit.

On the bottom of the Reynolds 531 tubing

Serial No: 2736

Other markings:
TS1
APJ77

Can someone tell me how old this bike is?

Sugino crankset (Japan)

Weinmann Brakes (Switzerland)

Vintage Falcon bike restoration project

2011-09-11T17:36:00.003+01:00

A few days back I went to pick up a slide which my wife had bought for the kids over eBay. As I was leaving the lady who sold us the slide mentioned that they had loads of stuff in the garage and enquired whether I would like to take a look. Of course, I couldn't refuse. I suddenly noticed this old black bike and the Falcon sticker. I told her that I would like the bike. Unfortunately her husband was not around and asked me to call up later.

I totally forgot about it until we received an email from the seller later inquiring whether I still wanted the bike and to put in an offer if I did. I offered £20 and he accepted. Later on we had a chat over the phone and he asked for £25. That was a little bit more than I wanted to give him but then one similar bike had gone for little more than £60 on eBay (it was in a better condition though). I had also been looking for a vintage bike to restore and decided to buy the bike.

When I brought it back home, my wife was furious. "What were you thinking?" "I don't want the junk inside my house".

She only calmed down after I explained that the Reynolds 531 alloy frames were going for more than double the price of the bike on eBay.

Here is the lovely looking bike.

I guess this was one of their cheaper models as it only has a sticker instead of the stamped metal headbadge.

The famous Reynolds 531 tubing made of a manganese/molybdenum steel alloy and apparently these are in high demand by fixie bike fans.

Badly rusted pannier rack. I read somewhere that the spokes were cadmium plate units and they must have been shining when they were new. I think all it needs is a touch of metal polish and elbow grease to remove the oxidation and bring the shine back.

It is interesting that this bike has components made in Japan, US, Taiwan, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland and of course, England - truly a global bike.

The cycle has Shimano derailleurs and Weinmann brakes which are in excellent condition. The front tyres are Michillin World Tour 27 x 1 1/4" and still hold air. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about the rear tyres (made in Taiwan).

I have no idea how old this bike is as there is very little information about Falcon bike on the net. My guess is that it is from the early 70s - meaning that we might be around the same age.

Initially I was thinking of stripping of the old paint and getting it repainted but I found out that the vintage look is in right now - people actually like the old weathered look on old bikes and have decided to leave it that way with some cleaning and touching up.

8th Blogoversary

2011-09-08T17:15:00.001+01:00

It has been 8 long years since I first started blogging on ah ok lah in 2003. What first started out as a place on the web to voice out and share my thoughts, emotions and events ended up changing my life completely. From a hobby it became my source of income and also my area of specialisation.

I received a scholarship to do a PhD in marketing at the Warwick Business School my research looks at the relationship between interactivity and attitudes towards blogs and towards advertising on blogs. I now blog on several blogs and even have been invited to speak about blogging to different audiences including a presentation on teaching with blogs to some academics at the University of Warwick.

Some say blogging is addictive - in my case it has been therapeutic. Other people play golf, or video games or do yoga. In my case, blogging helped me whenever I was stressed. It has definitely helped me with my writing skills in a language which is not my mother tongue.

I have come a long way - from someone who used to enjoy reading blogs to someone who is now considered an expert on blogging.

Why do I blog?

Flying kite at Memorial Park Coventry

2011-08-17T18:43:00.001+01:00

Recently we went to the Memorial park in Coventry as the kids were quite restless at home and my daughter wanted to try out the kite her mum had bought for her.

Unfortunately there was not much wind that day apart from the occasional gusts and we couldn't really get the kite up high. Still we all had fun.

Will definitely be going again when it is a bit more windy.

Muslims are our neighbors

2011-08-12T03:11:00.000+01:00

I recently got to know about a film project in the United States called "My Fellow American". The project is devoted to recognizing that Muslims are our neighbors. They have come up with a really touching 2 minute film that you should watch. Visit My Fellow American site here.

Compare car insurance and make sure you get a better deal

2011-08-07T00:43:00.000+01:00

Car insurance can be a pain in the proverbial. Third party only, or fully comprehensive? Limited mileage or windscreen excess? Roadside breakdown assistance or…you get the picture. In a world of endless possibilities, car insurance providers can baffle you with a mind-blowing array of choices, options and decisions to make. And you can’t escape it – car insurance is a legal requirement to drive on UK roads. It’s a criminal offence to drive whilst uninsured.

So we all have to bite the bullet and every year do the rounds of car insurance providers. If you already have insurance, the temptation can be to forgo all the hassle and simply stick with what you know. Your current insurance provider has looked after you for the past year at least, so why start swapping and changing just for the sake of it?

Consumer power – putting you in the driving seat
For years, the insurance companies had it all their own way. They knew that customer loyalty was practically guaranteed because the process of hunting around for a better deal was a time consuming and boring business. It meant hours on the phone, repeating your details ad infinitum to different call centres and all to find out that the first or second quote you got was the best one.

Today, things are different. Online comparison sites have made the process much easier. Now, to compare hundreds of car insurance quotes you simply have to type your details in once and an at-a-glance list of potential suppliers pops up instantly. For consumers who want to compare car insurance, online sites have been a revelation.

So how do I use a comparison site?
Once you’ve typed your details in (and remember not to leave any important details out as it could invalidate any policy you buy), you can then start to see what each provider offers. The simple choice first – what cover do you need? The obvious is to go for fully comprehensive cover, but that will cost more than third party or third party, fire and theft. However, it does provide the most comprehensive cover (hence the name).

Then there’s the excess to think about. The more you are prepared to pay, the cheaper your premiums. But remember that the excess will have to come out of your pocket, so consider carefully how much you could budget for in an emergency and put in a realistic amount. It’s better to pay a couple of pounds more and have a lower excess than to discover that you have to find the first £500 on a £600 claim out of your own pocket.

All those little ‘extras’
If you already have breakdown cover, do you really need to pay for it again? You would be surprised just how many people pay twice as much as they need to by including unnecessary additional breakdown cover on their insurance policy. A normal standard on all comprehensive policies is windscreen cover. A cracked or shattered windscreen can cost a small fortune to repair, especially if the windscreen is a non-standard size or shape as in some ‘panoramic windscreen’ style cars.

What about my no claims bonus?
Transferring your car insurance to a new provider does not necessarily mean that you lose your accumulated no claims bonus. Look for insurers who will allow you to transfer your bonus over to a new policy. Some will even offer a considerable discount for careful drivers with over five years’ worth of no claims.

By using an online comparison site to compare car insurance, not only could you save a considerable amount of money on your policy, but you could also end up with a tailor-made package that suits your requirements better than your existing provider. And never be afraid to haggle with your current insurer for a better deal. Comparison sites have given consumers back an element of control over their financial affairs, so use the information you can gather from a comparison site to your advantage.

Tragedy in Norway

2011-07-23T19:48:00.003+01:00

Was really shocked when I heard about the twin attacks in Norway yesterday. This follows the three separate explosions in Mumbai just last week and the first thought that came to mind was "Muslim terrorists!" Even the BBC reports speculated that extremist "Jihadis" were responsible for the attacks. "Bloody F£$%^&g, B£$%^&ds" I cursed.

Not surprisingly comments on most online news sites including the Telegraph, Sun and the Daily Mail were filled with anti-Muslim and anti-immigration sentiment. Many were so blatantly islamophobic and some actually were incitement to violence.

Today it emerged that the man at the centre of the attack has been identified as Anders Breivik, 32, a Norwegian with links with to right-wing extremists and a neo-Nazi. He is also said to have anti-Muslim feelings and against a multi-culturarism. Few reports describe him as a conservative Christian.

I could almost hear a collective sigh of relief from Muslims all over the World.

I was really interested to see how the readers of the newspapers responded to the latest news. A lot of people were offended about the description of the killer as "conservative" and as a "Christian". Some guys correctly pointed out that when similar incidents involving a Muslim happens around the World, news reports promptly put "Islamic terrorist" or "Jihadi" tag, whereas in this case the guy was simply a "mad man" or simply "the Oslo gunman".

Larry Keffer of the Biblical Research Center in Norway warned that "that people should not think that just because Breivik says he is a Christian that he actually is one."

The best comment was by a Mohammed kamran on the Daily Mail .

He points out that

"Terrorists use religion to get the moral high ground and give themselves a cause. My religion has been hijacked by terrorist s*** but Muslims reading this know he is NOT a Christian. We know what it's like when someone claims to be of your religion and causes an outrage like this. My thoughts and prayers are with Norway. God bless you."

I do wonder whether the anti-Muslim and anti-immigration rhetoric sweeping all over Europe may have had a part in this tragedy.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this tragedy in Norway.

Updated: Various pictures also show him wearing the ceremonial robes of the Freemasons. I wonder what is his link with this very secretive group.

Trip to Ayr

2011-07-09T22:16:00.002+01:00

Last week we drove up to Ayr, in Scotland. We went along with another family. We started off around 11 from our house in Coventry and then went to Derby to pick up our friends. The whole journey took us about 7 hours from Derby to reach Travelodge Ayr - our accommodation at Ayr.

We didn't exactly go there for a holiday - we were there to get our son's eyes examined by Ian Jordan who has an optical practice. However, still get the chance to go down to the beautiful beach and the kids really enjoyed themselves. Wish we had more time to roam around this ancient town.

Would love to come back here again someday.

Choi Time tea review 1

2011-07-06T02:51:00.004+01:00

First of all I would like to clarify that I am not an expert on teas. However, I love teas. If you come to my house you can rest assured that I will have a tea you like - from the ordinary English breakfast teas to herbal teas. Just take a look at range I have:

So you can imagine how delighted I was when Choi Time, a company specialising in quality Chinese green, rose bud and chrysanthemum flower teas, sent me a couple of samples to try out.

They have an amazing selection and the first tea I tried out was the one called Exotic mixed flowers. This is how it looked before...

...and after I poured the hot water in. It was amazing watching the ball unfurl to reveal needle tea leaves with several other flowers carefully woven.

This tea apparently has several health benefits as well. For example, chrysanthemum is said to have cooling properties and detoxifies the blood, helps with sinus decongestion, lowers high blood pressure and also calm the nerves. On the other hand, Marigold aids in improving digestion. The tea has a strong aroma and a slight hint of bitterness which is replaced by a sweet after taste. I refilled the pot with hot water twice and my wife preferred it the second time around - with a light taste.

A few days later, I tried out the Jasmine Pearls. This tea has won 3 gold stars at the Great taste awards in 2007 and 2008.

Made from lu-cha tea leaves and scented with Jasmine blossoms, the handrolled balls slowly unfurled as I poured in the hot water.

Jasmine teas are the most popular type of Chinese teas and I can see why the Sunday Times Style Magazine called this tea the Dom Perignon of the tea world. Has a nice aroma and light taste with a really nice slightly sweet after-taste. They are also said to have several health benefits as well.

Though I liked both, I would have to say I definitely liked the latter slightly more. The former is really dramatic and can be a nice conversation starter when you have guests at home. I am definitely going to order packs of both teas.

UPDATE:
Choi Time is offering an extra 10% discount to all my readers. All you have to do is use the code twithadamok. Enjoy.

Godiva Festival 2011

2011-07-05T17:31:00.002+01:00

Last Saturday I went along with my daughter to the Memorial Park in Coventry for the Godiva Festival. Even though I have been here in Coventry for quite sometime, this was the first time I went to the Festival. There was no direct bus to the festival and there were some angry people and raised voices at the Pool Meadow bus station. I got into the #12 bus which took us to Earlsdon and we got down near the library there. We walked to the park from there.

My daughter really enjoyed the Kid's art and crafts tent where we spent quite sometime making "stuff".

We then went around the various stalls and exhibits - learnt a few new and interesting things in the process.

Next was the Funfair - didn't go on any of the rides but my daughter won a bunny rabbit stuffed toy which is now her favourite toy at the moment. What is it with girls and soft toys?

We then moved to the main festival area - bought some over priced ice-cream. Got some freebies for filling up a survey at the NHS stand and then sat down to listen to some music. No idea who was playing but they were OK but my daughter was more interested in visiting the 'Bang Goes the Theory' tent. I found some of the exhibits quite fascinating.

We then finally left the park at around 5 pm and walked back to Earlsdon where my wife picked us up.
It was nice to finally spend some quality time alone with my daughter.

Promotional items online

2011-06-16T01:13:00.001+01:00

Today as I was jotting down some notes, I noticed that the pen I was writing with was a souvenir that I had received at a conference sometime back. It made me realise how important promotional items are. Among the best ways to promote your company or brand is by giving away promotional items printed clearly with the company names and logos. Given away as door gifts, part of the conference pack or gifts to clients, the most common items include t-shirts, pens, mugs, mousepads and stationery.

There are several online stores where you can order promotional items for your company and the World's biggest online seller of promotional products is said to be Branders.com. Another popular company is Vistaprint.co.uk.

These sites carry all types of gifts ranging from the usual items like pens and mugs to promotional apparel and even personalized food gifts.

Motorway rest area cons - beware

2011-06-15T23:36:00.000+01:00

This weekend, we were on our way back from London on the M1 and stopped at the Toddington rest area to take a break. As soon as I got out of the car a guy approached me - white, about 5 feet 6 with short cropped hair, wearing jeans and a white t-shirt and sneakers.

He said that his car was out of petrol and that his kids were with him in the car ( he pointed somewhere far away and there were a lot of cars). He wanted to borrow £5 just to get back home. I instinctively reached for my wallet without thinking but I took a look at him and didn't really the look in his eyes. I told him that I didn't have any change. But he was persistent an asked me if I could take out money from the ATM. This made me even more suspicious and I refused and walked away. I was feeling a bit guilty and thinking to myself "what if he was telling the truth?" when I noticed he was then talking to another car driver but this time he was pointing in the opposite direction. It was then I realised that he was a con artist and I am glad that I trusted my instincts.

Not sure whether the guy is still trying to con people at the rest areas but be careful.