Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 67
May 26, 2013
Aero 'Perfect Pairing' Blogger Challenge
Take two flavours, they said. Put them together, they told me. Create a new recipe - a flavoursome pairing out of the ordinary - and let us know all about it.
To celebrate Aero Bubbles being given a bubblicious make-over matching either half-mint or half-orange with their normal bubbly milk chocolate they've asked me (and I quote) to release my own 'weird, wacky and wonderful combinations on the world...'
Well, little did they know that I'm something of an expert having - at the age of thirteen - invented (or so I claim) the cheese and jam sandwich. Actually, for a boy from Yorkshire that's not so strange. There is no combination of (apparently) opposite flavours tastier than a slice of Christmas cake and some Wensleydale cheese.
So I tried the kids on Cocoa Pops and Kedgeree and experimented with a blend of blueberries and butternut squash but... but... the pièce de résistance has to be my breakfast special banana kippers, surely? Take one kipper (I used a microwave-in-the-bag from M&S variety as it's not only easy but doesn't stick out the kitchen) slice on a banana and add a sprinkling of raisins.
Yum...
May 23, 2013
Win an Abra-ca-Debora Picnic Hamper
I've been overwhelmed with suggestions for picnic sites since posting my Belvoir hamper competition last week. Out of an amazing 150 plus entries, though, there can only be one winner and a lovely Belvoir hamper is on its way to Amanda Oakley whose chosen location was the lovely Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire.
But have no fear! For in spite of the weather I have today another sumptuous hamper to giveaway to one lucky reader. This time it comes from the magical folks at Abra-ca-Debora - makers of delicious ready-to-eat pancakes (savoury and sweet) and provider of recipes for stress-free, mess-free no-bake cakes (no soggy bottoms or sunken middles!).
Anyway, here's the hamper...
Here's what's in it...
Some delicious Abra-ca-Debora Dutch pancakes (savoury and sweet)
A jar of chutney
A jar of Marmite
Golden syrup
Green and Black's chocolate
Icing sugar
And a lemon
And here's what you have to do to be in with a chance to win it...
As we've already had suggestions for favourite picnic sites this time I'd like to know what your 'must-have' essential picnic ingredient is - whether it be food (pork pie would be mine) or drink (a chilled rosé if I'm not driving) good book (Roger Deakin's 'Waterlog' is perfect summer reading) I want you to tell me what you have to have in your picnic hamper. Along with Abra-ca-Debora pancakes, of course.
Usual rules apply; leave a comment below between now and next Thursday after which Charlie and I will put all the entries into our virtual hat and draw out one lucky winner.
Oh, and UK entries only please... which means you all already start with something in your hamper.
An umbrella !
But have no fear! For in spite of the weather I have today another sumptuous hamper to giveaway to one lucky reader. This time it comes from the magical folks at Abra-ca-Debora - makers of delicious ready-to-eat pancakes (savoury and sweet) and provider of recipes for stress-free, mess-free no-bake cakes (no soggy bottoms or sunken middles!).
Anyway, here's the hamper...
Here's what's in it...
Some delicious Abra-ca-Debora Dutch pancakes (savoury and sweet)
A jar of chutney
A jar of Marmite
Golden syrup
Green and Black's chocolate
Icing sugar
And a lemon
And here's what you have to do to be in with a chance to win it...
As we've already had suggestions for favourite picnic sites this time I'd like to know what your 'must-have' essential picnic ingredient is - whether it be food (pork pie would be mine) or drink (a chilled rosé if I'm not driving) good book (Roger Deakin's 'Waterlog' is perfect summer reading) I want you to tell me what you have to have in your picnic hamper. Along with Abra-ca-Debora pancakes, of course.
Usual rules apply; leave a comment below between now and next Thursday after which Charlie and I will put all the entries into our virtual hat and draw out one lucky winner.
Oh, and UK entries only please... which means you all already start with something in your hamper.
An umbrella !
May 20, 2013
Let's talk about sex
Oh dear! The National Association of Headteachers is calling for children as young as five to be taught about porn and we're all getting hot-under-the-collar about sex. Again.
I taught Sex Ed for years - to girls as well as boys - and, it might surprise you to learn, very little of it actually mentioned the word 'sex'. Or talked about 'bits'. Or contained anything about which smutty fourth-formers could giggle or the Daily Mail be outraged.
Because - and I hope this will reassure the many, many parents out there who are (rightly, justifiably, understandably) concerned about what otherwise appears to be rather whacky ideas from the teaching profession - sex education, or Sex and Relationship education as it is correctly called, is only very rarely about biological reproduction and all that that entails.
Indeed, it's the "R' is SRE that is most important. Because good Sex Ed in schools is about teaching children how to recognise, nurture and sustain good relationships of all kinds (platonic none more so for those under the age of 16) to have respect for themselves and other people, not to use anyone as a means to an end but to treat everyone with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Having a good basic sense of self-worth - which can and should be taught to kids as young as five - is central, fundamental and essential to being able to show respect to others. Showing respect to others, once learned, once accepted and once practised and developed in school from the age of five onwards - is far more likely to lead to a healthy attitude to sexual partners (when the times for such arrives) and to the ability to deal with pornography than any explicit lessons on the subject.
And that's what this is all about.
It's depressing to hear so many parents, grandparents and media commentators so muddled about what actually goes on - and what principles underpin - good SRE in schools. And - yes - depressing too that those so-called professional communicators - teachers and headteachers - seem unable to offer the reassurance society needs.
So, here for what it's worth, is my two' pennorth:
You can't just 'leave it to parents' as many parents just don't bother.
You have to equip children with age-approproate information about the world about them. And that includes the adult bits.
And if schools aren't about giving children the skills and attitudes necessary to forge and sustain mutually rewarding, long-lasting and appropriate relationships with other members of the human race then they should be closed down forthwith.
Oh, and one more thing.
If you don't like knowledge, try ignorance.
I taught Sex Ed for years - to girls as well as boys - and, it might surprise you to learn, very little of it actually mentioned the word 'sex'. Or talked about 'bits'. Or contained anything about which smutty fourth-formers could giggle or the Daily Mail be outraged.
Because - and I hope this will reassure the many, many parents out there who are (rightly, justifiably, understandably) concerned about what otherwise appears to be rather whacky ideas from the teaching profession - sex education, or Sex and Relationship education as it is correctly called, is only very rarely about biological reproduction and all that that entails.
Indeed, it's the "R' is SRE that is most important. Because good Sex Ed in schools is about teaching children how to recognise, nurture and sustain good relationships of all kinds (platonic none more so for those under the age of 16) to have respect for themselves and other people, not to use anyone as a means to an end but to treat everyone with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Having a good basic sense of self-worth - which can and should be taught to kids as young as five - is central, fundamental and essential to being able to show respect to others. Showing respect to others, once learned, once accepted and once practised and developed in school from the age of five onwards - is far more likely to lead to a healthy attitude to sexual partners (when the times for such arrives) and to the ability to deal with pornography than any explicit lessons on the subject.
And that's what this is all about.
It's depressing to hear so many parents, grandparents and media commentators so muddled about what actually goes on - and what principles underpin - good SRE in schools. And - yes - depressing too that those so-called professional communicators - teachers and headteachers - seem unable to offer the reassurance society needs.
So, here for what it's worth, is my two' pennorth:
You can't just 'leave it to parents' as many parents just don't bother.
You have to equip children with age-approproate information about the world about them. And that includes the adult bits.
And if schools aren't about giving children the skills and attitudes necessary to forge and sustain mutually rewarding, long-lasting and appropriate relationships with other members of the human race then they should be closed down forthwith.
Oh, and one more thing.
If you don't like knowledge, try ignorance.
May 15, 2013
Win a Belvoir Picnic Hamper!
I know. It's hardly picnic weather. But it will be soon, surely?
Last summer I mean, last weekend we had a lovely picnic at the top of West Keal hill (yes, there are hills in Lincolnshire) with spectacular views over half the county and across to Norfolk. And we had the weather, too. Remember? Sun and warmth and on Bank Holiday Monday. We had some delicious food washed down with a bottle of Belvoir sparkling presse. Lovely.
On the basis that summer must be only just around the corner Belvoir is offering you the chance to win one of their picnic hampers today. In case you don't know, Belvoir makes the most delicious cordials, presses and fruit crushes using 100% natural ingredients (including flowers and fruit from the farm) and all mixed with water from the local spring. Mary Manners began making cordials in her kitchen in the 1970s, infusing elderflowers and pressing the fruit grown on the family farm and the business has gone from strength to strength ever since.
Anyway, if you fancy having a luxury picnic courtesy of Belvoir all you have to do is leave me a quick comment between now and next Wednesday telling me where you'd like to have the picnic. I'll pick one winner at random (I won't judge your choice of venue, honest!) and then it'll be over to you.
Oh, and the great British weather!
May 13, 2013
Routine
Today's post is a guest contribution by Eva Fernandez, who's tackling the tricky subject of routine within a family. She writes...
Having routines can be essential for families. Routines enable us to complete chores and can free up more time for having fun. Some sort of routine helps to ensure everybody gets ready in the morning, housework gets done and meals are made at the appropriate times throughout the day.
But there's more to adhering to than practical convenience. Routines are a way of educating your children and allowing them to understand what’s important and why. Something as straightforward as a regular get-together with relatives can become established as a family ritual that helps to build a sense of belonging and familial cohesion.
Although children's individual propensity for routine varies it has been suggested that a certain amount can benefit a child in a variety of ways. Consistency encourages healthy habits in young children. Boring tasks such as brushing teeth can become an automatic response to being in the bathroom as a child reaches for their best toothpaste and brush.
And a predictable home environment can help a child feel safe and secure. Routines often prove to be particularly helpful for children with certain disabilities especially those which result in them finding it difficult to cope with change and feeling insecure in unfamiliar surroundings.
Not only do routines help to develop certain life skills, such as a sense of responsibility or time management, they can also create sacred time for spending with loved ones. A ritual revolving around shared enjoyment, such as reading a book together before bedtime can strengthen family bonds and become an important time of togetherness that helps to build family relationships.
It’s helpful too to bear in mind that routines shouldn’t be set in stone. Children will naturally challenge some rituals or simply outgrow them and family structures can also alter. Flexible family time and being open to adapting existing routines can avoid many unnecessary altercations. Reluctance to relinquish some rituals purely because of parental preference can fracture familial relationships. There’s little point in forcing a family tradition that has long been outgrown by a teenage child. Build stronger bonds instead with compromise and mutual respect.
There are no set rules about what routines you should have. Every family is different and functions in its own unique way. What works well for one family could prove to be too prohibitive for another. So choose your own unique and evolving rituals that work for your particular family unit.
Having routines can be essential for families. Routines enable us to complete chores and can free up more time for having fun. Some sort of routine helps to ensure everybody gets ready in the morning, housework gets done and meals are made at the appropriate times throughout the day.
But there's more to adhering to than practical convenience. Routines are a way of educating your children and allowing them to understand what’s important and why. Something as straightforward as a regular get-together with relatives can become established as a family ritual that helps to build a sense of belonging and familial cohesion.
Although children's individual propensity for routine varies it has been suggested that a certain amount can benefit a child in a variety of ways. Consistency encourages healthy habits in young children. Boring tasks such as brushing teeth can become an automatic response to being in the bathroom as a child reaches for their best toothpaste and brush.
And a predictable home environment can help a child feel safe and secure. Routines often prove to be particularly helpful for children with certain disabilities especially those which result in them finding it difficult to cope with change and feeling insecure in unfamiliar surroundings.
Not only do routines help to develop certain life skills, such as a sense of responsibility or time management, they can also create sacred time for spending with loved ones. A ritual revolving around shared enjoyment, such as reading a book together before bedtime can strengthen family bonds and become an important time of togetherness that helps to build family relationships.
It’s helpful too to bear in mind that routines shouldn’t be set in stone. Children will naturally challenge some rituals or simply outgrow them and family structures can also alter. Flexible family time and being open to adapting existing routines can avoid many unnecessary altercations. Reluctance to relinquish some rituals purely because of parental preference can fracture familial relationships. There’s little point in forcing a family tradition that has long been outgrown by a teenage child. Build stronger bonds instead with compromise and mutual respect.
There are no set rules about what routines you should have. Every family is different and functions in its own unique way. What works well for one family could prove to be too prohibitive for another. So choose your own unique and evolving rituals that work for your particular family unit.
May 12, 2013
Sunday Supplement
It's a while since we've posted a Sunday Supplement round-up of the kind of events, reviews and incidents that might not make a full-length post but are certainly worthy of a mention. This week we've been taking the lead with a couple of leads, learning to count with Lego Duplo, growing our own tomato ketchup (sort of), having fun at the fair and opening our own eBay store. (Well, listing a few 'Father's Day' themed objects, anyway!)
So, about those leads. They're not dog leads or any ordinary kind of leads but two, frankly, ingenious little twists on something that we're too all familiar with - charger leads. First, The Snugg Live Wire Flowing light charging cable for the iPhone 5. It looks like this. You can 'see' the electricity flowing from the mains to your phone. It's great. Just don't use it if you charge your phone at night at your bedside!
The drawback with most leads is that they only fit specific devices. So, if you've got lots of different things in need of charging you'll need lots and lots of leads. Or you'll need the Innergie 3-in-1 USB cable with three different attachments built-in, thus potentially eliminating at least two extra wires as well as the distinct possibility of losing the attachments. Very clever.
The long overdue arrival of some warmer weather this week gave us the chance to get out in the garden, and to plant our very own tomato ketchup tree, sent courtesy of Heinz. (Well, tomato seeds anyway.) They're in a lovely little branded pot, watered with a lovely little branded watering can and will - we hope - grow into some lovely little non-branded tomatoes we can enjoy during the summer. If we get one, that is. Watch this space, both for tomatoes and for summer.
You know how easily you can miss the postman when he comes knocking with a parcel? Sometimes you don't even hear him knocking. Sometimes the first time you realise you've been sent a parcel is when that little red card lands on your mat. It helps if the parcel - when you collect it from the sorting office - is something special like this wonderful Lego Duplo counting train. Here it is in action. It's great when you have a big brother on hand to help you...
Finally, that eBay store. Well, I say 'store' - themed listing, more like. And the theme is 'Father's Day'. Not long to go now, you know. So, why not take a look? Being a dad myself, y'see, I know a bit about dad stuff and - being a dad - I'm also a dispenser of pocket money, often in large quantities when it comes to birthdays, anniversaries and things like Father's Day. So I thought, why not lost a few things dads might like - a
Til next time...
So, about those leads. They're not dog leads or any ordinary kind of leads but two, frankly, ingenious little twists on something that we're too all familiar with - charger leads. First, The Snugg Live Wire Flowing light charging cable for the iPhone 5. It looks like this. You can 'see' the electricity flowing from the mains to your phone. It's great. Just don't use it if you charge your phone at night at your bedside!
The drawback with most leads is that they only fit specific devices. So, if you've got lots of different things in need of charging you'll need lots and lots of leads. Or you'll need the Innergie 3-in-1 USB cable with three different attachments built-in, thus potentially eliminating at least two extra wires as well as the distinct possibility of losing the attachments. Very clever.
The long overdue arrival of some warmer weather this week gave us the chance to get out in the garden, and to plant our very own tomato ketchup tree, sent courtesy of Heinz. (Well, tomato seeds anyway.) They're in a lovely little branded pot, watered with a lovely little branded watering can and will - we hope - grow into some lovely little non-branded tomatoes we can enjoy during the summer. If we get one, that is. Watch this space, both for tomatoes and for summer.
You know how easily you can miss the postman when he comes knocking with a parcel? Sometimes you don't even hear him knocking. Sometimes the first time you realise you've been sent a parcel is when that little red card lands on your mat. It helps if the parcel - when you collect it from the sorting office - is something special like this wonderful Lego Duplo counting train. Here it is in action. It's great when you have a big brother on hand to help you...
Finally, that eBay store. Well, I say 'store' - themed listing, more like. And the theme is 'Father's Day'. Not long to go now, you know. So, why not take a look? Being a dad myself, y'see, I know a bit about dad stuff and - being a dad - I'm also a dispenser of pocket money, often in large quantities when it comes to birthdays, anniversaries and things like Father's Day. So I thought, why not lost a few things dads might like - a
Til next time...
May 11, 2013
Panasonic NB-CT579 Slimline Combination Microwave Review
There aren't many things I'm sent to try out that I'd seriously part with my own meagre earnings to buy, but this is one of them: the Panasonic NN-CT579 Slimline Combination Microwave. Why? Well, apart from the obvious combination of microwave, grill and convection oven, apart from the 1000 watt power output, 27 litre interior capacity and 34cm diameter rotating turntable the simple truth (and it has to be simple for me, in the kitchen) is this:
The Panasonic NN-CT579S (or 'James' as I'm going to call it) has an amazingly simple, effective and comprehensive range of auto start/cook settings which basically allows you (ok, me - I'm sure you'd read the manual carefully and follow the recipe) to press a button marked 'chicken' (or pizza, or pasta, or fish or veg.) enter the weight, press a button and then pout yourself another glass of wine (other beverages are available).
Look. It's this simple...
Take a chicken. (Add a few other ingredients if you'd like to make it even tastier... I'm going to roughly chop an onion, one lemon and a couple of cloves of garlic and insert them into the, erm... 'cavity')
Turn said chicken upside down. (It cooks 'breast down' for the first two-thirds of its incredibly short time in the miracle microwave). Place in microwave. Press button marked 'chicken'. Enter weight (don't worry - it will prompt you to do this and even ask you whether you'd prefer to do it in lbs and ozs or grams).
Press 'start'. You'll notice that the cooking time seems dangerously short. But fear not.
Here's what the bird looks like when it's finished:
Does that look cooked to you? That's because it IS cooked - wonderful, thoroughly cooked with a lovely, crispy skin (I drizzled a little olive oil on mine, as is my wont, and scattered some mixed herbs). Serve with a little salad and there you have it - a quick, tasty and delicious supper in less than an hour.
But ah, me. The model they loaned has got to go back on Monday and the RRP is £239.99 (gulp!). (Panasonic, incidentally, has not paid me a penny to put down these words in this order - not that I'd ever say anything different about any product I had been paid to write about - I just tell you that to try and gain a little sympathy... )
I've found it cheaper at Argos - £219.99 or, if I can wait for to have it delivered (and stomach supporting a bit of tax dodging) an price-busting (and rather irregular) £156.68 on Amazon.
I know, it's still a lot of money for a microwave.
But I want one.
Look, the kids even watch it in the morning instead of asking for CBeebies!
The Panasonic NN-CT579S (or 'James' as I'm going to call it) has an amazingly simple, effective and comprehensive range of auto start/cook settings which basically allows you (ok, me - I'm sure you'd read the manual carefully and follow the recipe) to press a button marked 'chicken' (or pizza, or pasta, or fish or veg.) enter the weight, press a button and then pout yourself another glass of wine (other beverages are available).
Look. It's this simple...
Take a chicken. (Add a few other ingredients if you'd like to make it even tastier... I'm going to roughly chop an onion, one lemon and a couple of cloves of garlic and insert them into the, erm... 'cavity')
Turn said chicken upside down. (It cooks 'breast down' for the first two-thirds of its incredibly short time in the miracle microwave). Place in microwave. Press button marked 'chicken'. Enter weight (don't worry - it will prompt you to do this and even ask you whether you'd prefer to do it in lbs and ozs or grams).
Press 'start'. You'll notice that the cooking time seems dangerously short. But fear not.
Here's what the bird looks like when it's finished:
Does that look cooked to you? That's because it IS cooked - wonderful, thoroughly cooked with a lovely, crispy skin (I drizzled a little olive oil on mine, as is my wont, and scattered some mixed herbs). Serve with a little salad and there you have it - a quick, tasty and delicious supper in less than an hour.
But ah, me. The model they loaned has got to go back on Monday and the RRP is £239.99 (gulp!). (Panasonic, incidentally, has not paid me a penny to put down these words in this order - not that I'd ever say anything different about any product I had been paid to write about - I just tell you that to try and gain a little sympathy... )
I've found it cheaper at Argos - £219.99 or, if I can wait for to have it delivered (and stomach supporting a bit of tax dodging) an price-busting (and rather irregular) £156.68 on Amazon.
I know, it's still a lot of money for a microwave.
But I want one.
Look, the kids even watch it in the morning instead of asking for CBeebies!
May 10, 2013
The BBC Philharmonic: Old Jack's Boat
I came across this clip on YouTube and - following my post on Staithes and Old Jack's Boat the other week - couldn't resist sharing it. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsing and then recording the theme music to this nautical, salty new incarnation of the children's television fifteen minute story slot. In other words, Jackanory. With wet feet. And sea air.
In my callow youth I wrote a letter to the late, great Robert Robinson who'd been rather sniffy (with his Saturday evening 'Stop the Week' chums) about some new Dickens adaptation on TV. My point was valid (he said so himself, in a note back) even if the pomposity of expression wasn't. It was this. Music - so often overlooked, sometimes hardly even noticed - is integral to the success of so many otherwise visual or verbal productions whether as a mood-setting theme or atmosphere-inducing background. Here are the men and women who make it...
In my callow youth I wrote a letter to the late, great Robert Robinson who'd been rather sniffy (with his Saturday evening 'Stop the Week' chums) about some new Dickens adaptation on TV. My point was valid (he said so himself, in a note back) even if the pomposity of expression wasn't. It was this. Music - so often overlooked, sometimes hardly even noticed - is integral to the success of so many otherwise visual or verbal productions whether as a mood-setting theme or atmosphere-inducing background. Here are the men and women who make it...
May 8, 2013
Let there be light!
Now, the third in this short series of video tips posts is all about light - lighting, luminescence, illumination.
As you'll know by now if you've read parts one and two, I'm passionate about iPhone photography and videography. I've analysed the results from a wide range of cameras and those from the iPhone (and mine's a mere 4 - not even a 4S or 5 which are even better) are as good as almost any mid-range equipment and better than many.
But there is one big drawback. And that's the ability to take decent still or video clips in low light conditions. When you think about it, those are often precisely the conditions many family films and photos (birthday parties, special dinners, opening Christmas presents) are taken in so this could be a major drawback for the smartphone filming.
Step forward the Manfrotto KLYP case, which ingeniously allows you to both attach the phone to a tripod and - with the addition of the ML240 LED - add a light, portable (and very effective) external light source to make those indoor movies even better.
Of course, the iPhone does have it's own lighting but it's distinctly underpowered and also has the rather unsettling effect of making people's eyes glow green in the dark. Being an LED array and being adjustable the ML240 acts more like the diffused light you might get in a studio - it significantly reduces shadows in bright light, for example, but will also allow you to film pretty much in the dark, as here. This short sequence (filmed entirely on my iPhone 4) shows first, footage with no additional light then (following the transition) the effect of the iPhone's built-in light and then, finally, with the ML240 turned on:
At the moment the entire kit can be bought for just under £50 from John Lewis ('never knowingly undersold') online. But if you do decide to buy from them beware - when I ordered mine the picture clearly showed that the package also contained the Manfrotto mini tripod. When I contacted John Lewis about the discrepancy between the picture and the product description I was told I would have to 'phone one of their stores and ask for a box to be opened, which I had no intention of doing as my order - and my enquiry - referred to their online operation.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only issue with my order. Although I'm happy with the case I was clearly sent one that had (albeit briefly) been opened and used by another customer. There were slight marks on the clip fittings and - the real giveaway - the box contained the returns slip from a lady in Edinburgh.
And I've noticed that John Lewis online has now at least taken down the original, misleading photo. Pity they couldn't be bothered to tell me or maybe even thank me for pointing out a serious - if inadvertent - case of misrepresentation on their website.
Never knowing undersold? Maybe now we know why..
As you'll know by now if you've read parts one and two, I'm passionate about iPhone photography and videography. I've analysed the results from a wide range of cameras and those from the iPhone (and mine's a mere 4 - not even a 4S or 5 which are even better) are as good as almost any mid-range equipment and better than many.
But there is one big drawback. And that's the ability to take decent still or video clips in low light conditions. When you think about it, those are often precisely the conditions many family films and photos (birthday parties, special dinners, opening Christmas presents) are taken in so this could be a major drawback for the smartphone filming.
Step forward the Manfrotto KLYP case, which ingeniously allows you to both attach the phone to a tripod and - with the addition of the ML240 LED - add a light, portable (and very effective) external light source to make those indoor movies even better.
Of course, the iPhone does have it's own lighting but it's distinctly underpowered and also has the rather unsettling effect of making people's eyes glow green in the dark. Being an LED array and being adjustable the ML240 acts more like the diffused light you might get in a studio - it significantly reduces shadows in bright light, for example, but will also allow you to film pretty much in the dark, as here. This short sequence (filmed entirely on my iPhone 4) shows first, footage with no additional light then (following the transition) the effect of the iPhone's built-in light and then, finally, with the ML240 turned on:
At the moment the entire kit can be bought for just under £50 from John Lewis ('never knowingly undersold') online. But if you do decide to buy from them beware - when I ordered mine the picture clearly showed that the package also contained the Manfrotto mini tripod. When I contacted John Lewis about the discrepancy between the picture and the product description I was told I would have to 'phone one of their stores and ask for a box to be opened, which I had no intention of doing as my order - and my enquiry - referred to their online operation.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only issue with my order. Although I'm happy with the case I was clearly sent one that had (albeit briefly) been opened and used by another customer. There were slight marks on the clip fittings and - the real giveaway - the box contained the returns slip from a lady in Edinburgh.
And I've noticed that John Lewis online has now at least taken down the original, misleading photo. Pity they couldn't be bothered to tell me or maybe even thank me for pointing out a serious - if inadvertent - case of misrepresentation on their website.
Never knowing undersold? Maybe now we know why..
