Tag Archives: Phones

Dame Zandra Rhodes Leads the Charge for a Stylish Spring Clean

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The much-loved British fashion icon has created an exclusive print for Recycle Your Electricals. The campaign aims to get UK households to stop throwing away or hoarding their small old electricals and start doing something useful with them, like donating or recycling them.

recycling, electrics, electrical, phones, toaster, Zandra Rhodes,

The print appears on an ethically sourced, organic cotton tote bag featuring Dame Zandra’s trademark ‘Painted Lady Head’ illustration, with bold and colourful electrical items placed around it. Fans will instantly recognise the work of one of fashion’s most respected names. Profits from the sales of the bag will go to a cause close to Zandra’s heart, Waste Aid, which helps fight poverty, pollution, and climate change by sharing waste management and recycling skills in the world’s poorest places.

The bags will help Recycle Your Electricals launch this year’s Little Spring Clean campaign, which encourages UK householders to de-clutter and sort their unused household electricals, which are creating the world’s fastest growing waste stream. The totes are a handy and stylish way to help people recycle, by popping their electricals into the bag rather than a bin, ready to be taken to the nearest recycling point.

In the UK alone we are holding onto 527million small old electricals, and 155,000 tonnes of waste electricals are thrown away in general household rubbish each year. However, if the thrown away or hoarded electricals were recycled, 2.8 million tonnes of CO2 emission could be saved, equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the road. Any item with a plug, cable or battery can be recycled, such as mobile phones, laptops, hairdryers, speakers or irons.

A passionate campaigner for sustainability, Dame Zandra led the way for a greener approach to fashion, and living, before many others. With impeccable fashion credentials and an eye for stunning design that oozes personality and demands attention, there was no better person to support the campaign.

Dame Zandra Rhodes said, “I knew right away that Recycle Your Electricals was a campaign I wanted to get behind. I’ve been a huge advocate of zero-waste fashion for many years and really helped to get it on the radar of the general public. Now, we must also raise awareness of the problem of old electricals. Not many people know that they can, and should, be recycled or donated. I hope that people buy my charity tote, pop their electricals into the bag ready to be recycled, and organise their own ‘Little Spring Clean’ to help do something about this problem.”

Scott Butler, Executive Director, Material Focus the not for profit behind the Recycle Your Electricals campaign said:  “It’s wonderful to have Dame Zandra Rhodes on board for this campaign. Not only is she a champion of sustainability, but she is a true fashion icon. The bag she has designed is both useful and stylish and I hope it encourages everyone to organise their own Little Spring Clean and start recycling their unwanted electricals.” 

The Dame Zandra Rhodes exclusive print tote bags are available in light brown or white and cost £12 from www.shoprecycleyourelectricals.org.uk all profits go to Waste Aid. Pop your unwanted electricals into the bag before finding your nearest recycling or donation point at  www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk

 

The Ultimate Guide To Clearing Your Clutter

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Last year I became quite obsessed with decluttering. In fact, thanks to Marie Kondo I think we all did. I have never liked being surrounded by a lot of stuff. I have always hated clutter. Which is why I am feeling rather proud. My husband and I have got rid of thousands of things. There are still a few things earmarked to go, but we are the closest to minimalism we have ever been. The flat looks fundamentally tidy even though we have a toddler. Things are also much easier to find and we have even made some money selling things. Here is my quick, but comprehensive, guide to decluttering. It will change your life, trust me.

You need to put things into different bags,boxes or piles. The options are: Recycle, Sell, Keep, Mend, Give to Charity.

 

You don’t have to do it all at once so don’t get overwhelmed. You can do a room at a time, or even just a drawer of cupboard. Slow and steady is just as good as one full-on day.

My biggest tip is to keep a charity bag somewhere you can easily access. Put things in there you want to get rid of, and then when it is full you can take it to the charity shop. 

You can make decluttering fun by doing it while you watch your favourite TV show or listen to music. You can even get all of the family involved. Getting rid of old stuff always feels great.

Declutter for 5-10 minutes everyday. It all adds up.

Put the handle on the hanger in your wardrobe in one direction, if you wear the item, turn the handle around. Wait a certain amount of time, say, six months, then throw out everything you have not worn.

 

You can give away unwanted stuff while doing good for the environment via Freecycle.org

 

Get rid of all your old phones. Just remember to delete your personal information and remove the SIM card. There are plenty of good websites and companion websites which will give you the best price. I use https://www.mazumamobile.com/sell-my-mobile. Just make sure you check out their reputation on trustpilot.com

You can also sell old ink cartridges. The amount you can earn is so low that I would give them to chairty instead. Cash for Cartridges pay for old ink cartridges but you have to set up an account, the withdrawal limit is £25, and their prices are so low it would take an age to get there. http://www.cashforcartridges.co.uk/ink-cartridge-recycling-prices

Personally I think it is better to donate them to the British Heart Foundation. You can download their free post label here. https://www.therecyclingfactory.com/bhf/. Other charities that take old printer cartridges include the British Institute for Brain Injured Children, RNLI, Barnados, Sense, and the World Cancer Research Fund.

I have sold all of my old gadgets. After removing my personal data of course. I used eBay.co.uk as I found they had the best prices. There are other places of course. cashinyourgadgets.co.uk, musicmagpie.com and even Apple itself will buy your old technology. It is best to remove your old hard drive before selling your old computers. Note that Apple will give you a gift card in return. They also recycle things for free that they do not buy, including PCs.

Amazon.co.uk marketplace allows you to sell books, DVDs and some other stuff. They do take a huge fee however, a massive 17.25% commission. The good news is that it is free to list. They also give you a postage credit which does not always cover the cost of posting the book, then take it away in fees.

You can also sell by Car Booting. Car boot sales are not the best place to get the top price. I have never done it personally but there will be plenty in your area. Just do a search. They tend to charge a fee to pitch up your car and sell. I would mark your prices up a bit as people like to haggle.

Other good places to sell your stuff.

 

Facebook groups

There is even a sell option on Facebook. You can also join groups and sell your stuff on the group.

The best way I have found of getting rid of stuff is to give it to charity. You do good and give back to the community while clearing out your home. Win win.

You can donate pretty much everything. For instance, the RSPB, DHIVERSE and the World Owl Trust will take old stamps. Your old glasses and sunglasses can go to charity shops. Branches of Boots Opticians and  Dolland and Aitchinson usually have recycling bins for old glasses. You can donate your foreign currency. RNIB will take it. Help the Aged, Marie Curie and Age UK will even take old currency that can no longer be changed. Many charities will also take your old phones.

Take your old clothes to a charity shop or a local clothes bank. H&M, Uniqlo and Marks & Spencer’s all take old items of clothing.

It is best to sell furniture on Gumtree.com, Facebook groups or other local resources. Furniture and homeware does not hold its value well. If you do want to get rid of your furniture and don’t want to sell it do not spend hundreds getting someone to take it away for you. We were quoted over £400 for someone to come and take our furniture away. I donated it to the British Heart Foundation instead and they came and took it away for free.

When it comes to donating furniture the Furniture Reuse Network will take your goods and then distribute them to a charity organisation in your area.  Oxfam and the British Heart Foundation also take furniture. You can also try Freecycle and Freegle where you offer your good for free to anyone who can collect them.

Gone For Good is a great social enterprise that puts people in touch with charities that will come and take away their furniture or anything else they want to donate. You use the Gone For Good app by taking a photo of your unwanted stuff on our phone and then one of the charities will come and take the goods away based on your postcode. The app is free to use and the charity will pick up your goods for free too. Great for people who don’t have a car.

When you give stuff to charity make sure you sign up for Gift Aid. This allows the charity to claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give and also lets you get some money off your tax bill. Don’t do it unless you pay tax though, you will have to pay the extra gift aid. To learn more about tax relief and gift aid go here.

My last tips are to get rid of old change via self services machines. No, the staff from the supermarket don’t like it but as long as you don’t overdo it I am sure it will be fine. I also find eBay.co.uk the best place for selling stuff. Even if there are some people on there that just want to steal your stuff. I send valuable things signed for. My other, and biggest, tip for decluttering is also the one that is best for the environment: stop buying so much crap. Seriously. I rarely buy anything these days other than food and it has changed my life. My sure everything has a place and goes back into that place. Everything else can be sold or given to charity.
Thank you for reading. Please add your own tips below.

Great decluttering books:

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying: A simple, effective way to banish clutter forever

Stuffocation: Living More with Less

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less

Debrett’s Reveal The Questions They’re Most Frequently Asked

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debrett's guide to good mannersDebrett’s have revealed the questions they are most frequently asked by the public.  The list, which covers everything from social kissing to mobile phone use, provides a revealing insight into the social anxiety people experience in behaviour for everyday situations. We may no longer live in the structured world of ‘Downtown Abbey’, but it’s clear that many of us still yearn for guidance on good manners.

 

Debrett’s was founded in London in 1769, and now has an international presence.  In the last 12 months they received more than 10,000 enquiries from across the globe.  The enquiries on social behaviour inform part of the recently released Debrett’s Handbook, a 480-page compendium on good manners.

 

Below Debrett’s reveal the questions they have been most frequently asked in the last 12 months, and provide their responses.

 

1 – MOBILE PHONE USE

Debrett’s receive more enquiries about mobile use than any other device. According to Debrett’s, it is always rude to pay more attention to a phone than a person in the flesh, and they should always be put away when transacting other business – for example, when you’re paying for something in a shop.  They should be switched off in theatres, cinemas (including during the trailers!), art galleries, or any space where silence is desired.

 

2 – SMOKING E-CIGARETTES AT WORK

As electronic cigarettes become more popular, so to do the number of enquiries that Debrett’s receive on the device.  The most pressing question is whether they are acceptable in the workplace. According to Debrett’s they should never be used in a work environment. Vaping shows that you’re not focused on your work and may also be a distraction to your colleagues.

 

3 – SOCIAL GREETING: KISSING

Many people are clearly unclear on the subject of social kissing.  According to Debrett’s, kissing is not appropriate in many professional situations. On the whole it should only be used among friends, but not on first meeting. An air kiss, without contact, may seem rude or impersonal, so very slight contact is best but no sound effects are needed.

 

4 – EATING AND APPLYING MAKE-UP ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Following the recent controversy surrounding public-shaming websites, Debrett’s has been inundated with enquiries as to whether it’s acceptable to eat or apply make-up on public transport.  According to Debrett’s you should avoid both.  It’s inconsiderate to eat smelly food in a confined environment, and applying make-up on public transport can jeopardise that all-important first impression and make you appear disorganised.

 

5 – RECLINING YOUR SEAT ON AEROPLANES

This is a common bugbear.  According to Debrett’s, it’s selfish to recline your seat back during short daytime flights. When travelling by plane always stay within your own designated space and don’t hog the armrest. Also avoid kicking the back of the seat in front of you or using it as an aid to standing-up.

 

6 – GIVING UP YOUR SEAT ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

In a recent university experiment only 20% of London tube passengers offered to give up their seat to a visibly pregnant woman.  According to Debrett’s, passengers should always offer to give up their seat to any individual that is pregnant, elderly, or clearly in need. It is important to remember, however, that it is just as rude to aggressively decline the offer of a seat as it is to not offer a seat.

 

7 – BLIND COPYING (bcc)

Debrett’s receive a high level of enquiries on best business practice.  The most commonly asked question is whether it is ever right to blind copy (bcc) someone into an email. According to Debrett’s, blind copying should be used discerningly as it is deceptive to the primary recipient. Instead, the email should be forwarded on to the third party, with a short note explaining any confidentiality, after its distribution.

If blind copying is essential – i.e. for a confidential document where all recipients must remain anonymous – then the sender should address the email to themselves, and everyone else as ‘bcc’ recipients.

 

8  – EATING BEFORE EVERYONE IS SERVED

The final question is one that we’ve all asked ourselves: is it rude to start eating at the table before everyone else has been served?  According to Debrett’s the simple answer is yes, unless the host or hostess gives their permission for diners to start

 

Out now, Debrett’s Handbook is the most comprehensive book Debrett’s has ever published aside from its famed registers, People of Today and Peerage & Baronetage, and combines Debrett’s Correct Form with a guide to modern manners for the first time. Priced at £35, and available from the Debrett’s online shop Debrett’s Handbook will make for a great Christmas present – and it’s sure to settle a number of age-old family debates on manners and appropriate behaviour! The Debrett’s Handbook is out now.  For more information visit www.debretts.com

 

 

The Best Smartphones For Your Online Fun

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Mobile phones are so much more than just communicative devices these days. With Wi-FI available everywhere from cafés to high streets, not to mention the rise of 4G internet, more than ever we’re using these little gadgets to get online.

 

If you’re a little behind on the times when it comes to picking a smartphone, we’ve done our homework on the best smartphones for whatever your needs, from social media to online shopping and gaming.

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Social media

 

Shameless selfie addicts and status updaters can doubtless choose a better smartphone than the HTC One for all their social media needs. The phone boasts some funky features for those who like to snap at every opportunity, including a camera with its own name – ‘Zoe.’ Dubbed as ‘ultrapixel’ thanks to its low light pixel performance, it’s great for capturing those special moments. What’s more, its Android interface helps to aggregate all your social media and news feeds into one place, so you’ll always have a finger on the pulse.

 

Gaming

 

Today, more than ever, mobile gaming has increased in popularity thanks to more choice from sites like Uptown Aces. Improved graphics, faster loading times and better sound effects all make for some big demands on a smartphone, but luckily, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is equipped to deal with all of these. The powerful Snapdragon 800 chip has 3GB RAM, giving gamers the opportunity to multi-task, while its 32GB of storage is ample for storing your precious hours of game play.

 

Video streaming

 

With apps like Netflix giving us access to our favourite movies and TV shows 24/7, the last thing today’s smartphone users want is a phone which is badly optimised for video streaming. Thankfully, the T-Mobile G2X is perfect for streaming, thanks to its sharp display and accessibility. The phone features a 4-inch LCD display, guaranteeing a cleaner image with more vivid colours, while it also gives users the chance to play videos on their TV through an HDMI connection.

 

Online shopping

 

With online retail sky rocketing in recent years, it’s only natural that today’s smartphones should offer more secure operating systems in order to make sure users are shopping safely. Generally, the iOS system for iPhones is regarded as securer than the Android due to the latter’s open platform. Malware threats are considerably lower for Apple systems, so you may be advised to purchase the iPhone 5S if you want the latest model – or wait a few weeks and get your hands on the highly anticipated iPhone 6.

 

 

 

Mobile Etiquette

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The mobile phone can be our closest ally at times, helping us make our lives easier and our days more efficient, these obvious advantages do not come without their drawbacks – many of which highlight the negative impact they can have on our society.

Recent research has uncovered the surprising truth; that although the majority of the public believe that use of mobile phones in public places is a nuisance, there are still many individuals who cannot differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate use of their mobile phones, when it comes to when and where they should or should not use them.

Research found that funerals topped the list of the most unacceptable events at which to use a phone, ahead of driving, being at the cinema or during a wedding. Studies have brought to light the worrying evidence that 1 in 6 Britons has admitted to making or receiving a call, or texting or using social media when they should have been paying their last respects at a funeral service.

Mobile Phone Etiquette at Funerals

Mobile Phone Etiquette at Funerals [Infographic] by the team at Co-operative Funeralcare

Blackberry Torch and OS 6 {Gadgets}

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Possibly one of the most humourous things in life is watching a friend repeatedly jab an ordinary phone screen with a perplexed look on their face. This simple joy has now been stolen from me as Blackberry have announced their first phone which has both a touchscreen and a keyboard.

Blackberry Torch

Named the BlackBerry Torch, it will come with Blackberry 6 Operating System which was previewed earlier this year. Add to that a 5mp camera, web-kit browser and a track pad incase you can’t get used to the idea not having one (like a vesigial organ of mobile phone evolution).

Blackberry have also announced that Blackberry 6 OS will be will be available in the months ahead (depending  on carrier) on some of their range, including the Pearl 3G 9100, Bold 9650 and Bold 9700.

Preview; Blackberry OS 6

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Blackberry makers Rim have released a video revealing their new Blackberry operating system “OS 6”. I’ve tried to gather as much information from the video as possible but I’ve had to mute it as too much “boom, boom, pow” could probably hypnotise you. If it doesn’t then they’ve recruited gyrating, guesturing and tie straightening dancers to finish the job. 

 
In case you were like me and got distracted; here is what I’ve gathered:
Features multi-touch for touchscreen but OS 6 will be available on both touchscreen and keypad phones. It looks to be more intuitive and has a customisable home-screen with different pages accessible by flicking in different directions.
Scrolling also features “Rubber-banding” which I presume means that when you accidently scroll a little bit too far it boings back. I could be wrong.
It also features pop up menus showing the functions that appear to be short-smart-shortcut menus with big icons.
 
The graphics are slicker and they appear to have integrated youtube into the OS.
Media Player gets a makeover and features an album “cover flow” style music organizer so you can flick through the album artwork and click on them to play.
 
The new inbox is basically the same old familiar inbox except with bigger icons to differentiate between email, twitter, facebook etc. messages and it also includes integrated RSS feeds. From what I can tell; emails now support image thumbnails.
 
The universal search looks quite handy searching contacts, calender, emails, Internet, social feeds etc all from one search bar on the home-screen.
There’s a new app for intergrating multiple social feeds to ensure you can never ever ever escape!!!
 
It also includes the Web-Kit based browser (better than the current one with widgets, fast panning and zooming and full HTML5 support and tabs)
 
It’s thought that it might be available from July but it’s not yet known whether current handset owners will be able to update their firmware to the new OS.