I really struggle to get out of bed at the moment – dark dismal mornings, chilly air – frankly it’s all too much and I’d rather snuggle under the quilt for far too long. So I’ve been searching for the ultimate motivator and I think I’ve found it in the shape of a small alarm clock. But not just any alarm clock – Arighi Bianchi’s Rise & Play Radio is a bit special. Firstly it looks so cool. In a choice of three quirky colour combinations, it’s neat and retro. I love the yellow version, just looking at it makes me smile, but the green and purple ones are equally bright and cheerful. But don’t be fooled by the playful design – this is a triumph of modern technology. Besides the usual clock and alarm functions, it has bluetooth. Just link with your mobile phone and wake up to anything from samba music to K-pop (I may have over-shared my eccentric taste in music), or to a podcast or your favourite radio station. Dragging yourself up and into the shower is so much easier with Macarena filling the bedroom, isn’t it? Or is that just me?
One feature I love, as a lady of a certain age, is the large, clear time display. Has anyone else squinted through sleepy eyes at a bedside clock, trying to work out whether it’s 8am and you should be panicking, or 3am, in which case you can sink back into the land of nod? Not so with the Rise & Play Radio – the display, which occupies the whole lower half of the device, is crystal clear to even the most myopic of us. When the display’s turned off the little clock resembles a colourful box but if voice activation is enabled, it appears again as if by magic, as soon as you speak or make a noise near it.
Even I managed to work the simple controls to set time and date, one of three alarm modes, brightness level and the date and room temperature display options (yes, room temperature, another useful feature).
At RRP £25 I think this makes a great gift, but hurry, it’s on special offer at the moment at just £22.50 from the Arighi Bianchi website.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.