Category: Gifts for Him

Hydro Flask 32oz Wide Mouth Flask

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Days Out, eco friendly, Family Life, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Sport, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Everyone has a water bottle nowadays and knows to stay away from plastic which typically isn’t easy to recycle, nor is it very good for your health, especially if left to heat up.  Hydro Flask produce a whole range of flasks and food storage items which keep your drinks and food cold, or hot, for longer.

Using stainless steel and their TempShield double wall technology, flasks such as this 32oz (946ml) water flask can keep your drinks cooler, or hotter for longer.  The inner workings of the flask include a vacuum insulation between the layers of the stainless steel, ensuring the drink doesn’t transfer heat to the outside of the bottle. Hydro Flask 32oz keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12 hours.

Think of all the ways that this is practical – not just for camping or days out where there is no hot water, but keeping water at least warm to heat up a baby’s feed, or cold drinks when you’re on the go for long distance exercise. For taking in your daily water allowance, this flask only needs to be filled up once a day on average with nearly 1 litre capacity. It also looks good with the powder coating colour and black and steel lid.

The wide mouth of this flask allows you to drink as you walk or run, but Hydro Flask also have alternative lids which suit all sorts of needs. There’s the Flex Chug Cap – ideal for when running or walking because it narrows the mouth of the 32oz flask so that you don’t spill it as easily (no guarantees that you won’t though, especially if you’re running!) and comes with the same flex strap for easy carry. The Flex Chug Cap is also BPA and toxin free and can be put in the dishwasher like all the other flasks. 

The second attachment for the Hydro Flask 32oz is the Wide Mouth Flex Straw Cap.  It fits all Wide Mouth Hydro Flask bottles and comes with two straws which can be cut down to size. It’s also insulated and like all the flasks and their lids, it’s leakproof when closed. It’s not for hot liquids though, but I’m not sure there is any hot drink you use a straw for nowadays anyway? The Wide Mouth Flex Straw Cap is also BPA free.

The Hydro Flask 32oz comes in a range of colours, including this green, called Dew, but other colours include white, black, Gojo (red) and Lupine (lilac). There’s a 100% customer satisfaction warrantee on each flask meaning there’s a limited lifetime warrantee against manufacturer defects.

Hydro Flask are quite possibly the future in insulated flasks, especially in the wake of anti-plastic.

Available for £41.40 on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BG6HYFJG?maas=maas_adg_9FBBDF957F63467F00CA4C4BB590066C_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas

Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegetarian

Disclaimer: we received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

It’s World Chocolate Day today – our favourite day of the year and we have been celebrating with some of our favourite chocolate treats from Joe & Seph’s

Joe & Seph’s are a family business and began making popcorn back in 2010 in their family kitchen. After taking the popcorn to a food show they sold out in 2 days and the rest is history. They use the finest, natural ingredients and now have a range of over 40 exciting flavours which include both sweet and savoury flavours.

The White Chocolate & Raspberry Popcorn Slab costs £8 and believe me is worth every penny. Combining Caramel and Raspberry popcorn and smothering them in delicious white chocolate, Joe & Seph’s have come up with the most amazing indulgent treat. I would like to say that we ate this over a couple of nights but that would be a complete lie! It was so good we demolished the whole slab in one sitting!!

The Caramel & White Chocolate Gourmet Popcorn costs £4 and is a real treat for the tastebuds, especially if you have a sweet tooth. The air popped popcorn is coated in smooth caramel and white chocolate and has a satisfying crunch when you bite into it. Once you’ve tasted this I guarantee you won’t go back to cinema popcorn again!

The Milk Chocolate Popcorn Bites are pieces of salted caramel popcorn in a creamy milk chocolate cup. The creaminess of the chocolate and the crunch of the popcorn go so well together and are a real decadent treat. They say each bag contains 4 servings – I think their servings are much smaller than mine!! RRP £3.50

We’ve really enjoyed celebrating World Chocolate Day with Joe & Seph’s and I can’t wait to find out what their next popcorn flavours are going to be.

iWALK PowerSquid Portable Charger

Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Mobile Phone, Stocking Fillers, Tech

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

It’s holiday time and we’re off exploring the beautiful countryside in Somerset. We’ve got everything packed, including all our tech – it’s surprising just how many items need charging. A quick look shows two phones, two smart watches, earbuds, a camera, the GPS for my bike and a couple of rechargeable bike lights. That’s a lot of charging cables and there are only two USB sockets in the motorhome.

To make things easier, I’m trying out a USB power bank from iWALK. The PowerSquid has a capacity of 9000mAh and offers quick charging to compatible devices. Its name comes from the fact that it has three built-in charging cables that are permanently attached, looking like the legs of a squid. With micro USB, USB-C and Lightning, many devices are covered but for complete coverage there is of course a standard USB socket too. Charging is via USB-C and a USB-C cable is included.

Mine is white but black and pink models are also available, it weighs 200g and feels really well made. A small LED display gives the percentage charge and also shows if fast charging is being used.

With multiple outputs the PowerSquid is able to charge a number of devices at the same time and it can also take on a charge at the same time, this was perfect in the motorhome where USB sockets are limited. It is also capable of offering fast charge to compatible devices with 5v, 9v or 12v offered on the USB-C and USB-A connector. It can charge a Samsung S22 up to 50% in 30 minutes and was able to charge my phone around one and a half times on a full charge so it will be great for weekends away. The cables all clip neatly into the casing so no more tangled cables in your bag.

It is compatible with iPhone 14/14 Pro Max/iPhone 13 Pro Max/13 Pro/13, Samsung Google Pixel & Apple HomePod devices.

I am really happy with this power bank, it is going to be indispensable when travelling both in the UK and abroad. My teenage sons have already been eying it up so that’s their birthday presents sorted too!  

RRP £34.99 available from Amazon here

Herbarium Distillation 29

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I do enjoy a refreshing G&T on a sunny afternoon, but I don’t always want the hangover that one too many glasses brings.  Fortunately, there are now some excellent non alcoholic gins available, enabling me to enjoy all the deliciousness of a sophisticated G&T but without the headache.

Herbarium 29 is the brainchild of friends Andrew Stacey & Steve Brown who struggled to find an alcohol free alternative to gin. After deciding that the best option was to simply take the alcohol out of gin they focussed on this idea and after a lot of experimentation Herbarium was born.

It is delicious served with ice and tonic for a refreshing drink, or if you are feeling a little more adventurous why not try making mocktails?

Distilled in copper pot stills they hand distil small batches of the highest quality, hand selected  botanicals to create a well-balanced, complex spirit that has the beautiful mouthfeel and fresh dryness that you expect from a premium gin. I tried it initially with an unflavoured light tonic to get the full flavour, garnishing with a slice of lime. The botanical flavours really stood out and it made a really refreshing drink.  

I also tried a Herblet Cocktail which can be made with these ingredients

Ice

50ml Herbarium

50ml Lime cordial

50ml water

2tsp sugar syrup

Lime to garnish

With strong notes of juniper and citrus and the classic bitterness that you expect from gin but without any of the alcohol, Herbarium is the perfect drink this summer. You still get the party taste without the hangover – what’s not to like!

A 70cl bottle costs £24.80 and is available from the Herbarium website (there is currently a 20% discount if you use the code SUMMER20), Master of Malt and Amazon.

Happi Oat Milk Chocolate

Birthday Gifts, Children, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gluten Free, Stocking Fillers, Sustainable, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We’ve been munching our way through a lot of chocolate this week in preparation for World Chocolate Day on the 7th July.  As well as traditional chocolate we have been sampling some plant based brands as being Vegan or following a dairy free or gluten free diet no longer means you need to miss out on delicious chocolate treats.

Happi Choc was founded by Gavin, Lee & Rosie who spotted a gap in the market for top quality, healthier and FUN plant based treats that they were happy to share with their children and enjoy themselves.  Lower in sugar than other chocolate brands the chocolate is sustainably sourced with the cacao bought directly from a Columbian family owned business and co-operative called Luker.  The company are 100% ethically driven and work closely with a network of farmers, alliances and communities to improve social welfare, biodiversity and farming practices. (We recently tried FATSO chocolate which is sourced from the same Columbian business)

The Happi chocolate is made using single origin 47% Colombian cacao and oat milk and comes in a range of delicious flavours – Plain Milk, White Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Orange, Cacao Nibs Crunch & White Raspberry.

Happi chocolate is the very first oat milk chocolate I have tried and I have to say I’m really impressed, the chocolate is smooth and creamy and there is definitely no compromise on taste and with less sugar it’s better for my waistline too!

My favourite was the Cacao Nib Crunch, the rich flavour combined with the crunchy cacao nibs is simply irresistible and a chocolate lovers dream. For white chocolate lovers the White Raspberry bar is one to try, with plenty of freeze dried raspberries giving it a fruity boost this one is incredibly moreish!

The packaging is also recyclable with a cardboard box and a home compostable plastic inner. They also give 1% of their annual net sales revenue to good causes and mental health organisations so another good reason to try it.

Happi is available in 40g and 80g bars from Selfridges, Ocado, Amazon and local independent retailers.

Helly Hansen Stockholm Backpack

Birthday Gifts, camping, Days Out, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Sport, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Treat yourself this summer to a new Helly Hansen Stockholm Backpack, made with waterproof material and a laptop compartment, is it for urban, or rural?

Available in various colours including dark blue, black and the green which we were sent to try, the Stockholm Backpack holds 28 litres and has a front pocket for valuables, closing with a zip. The back pocket is padded for a laptop whilst the straps, no matter what you’re using the backpack for, are more comfortable for long wears because they’re padded.

The top of the Stockholm Backpack is a roll top and buckle – no zip here, so you can stuff it full of clothes or gadgets and the roll top is waterproof, like the rest of the polyester material which makes up the whole bag.  The straps also have a cross-strap to hold them in place and distribute the weight across your shoulders, and the whole bag is wider than a normal backpack to add more volume and to even the load. The length of the bag is bigger than usual too so if you’re taking a lot with you camping, or travelling with more than usual this is for you. Anyone who is that big taller might find this a useful bag too as the dimensions mean it holds a lot more but is also more comfortable for wider shoulders and frame.

The base of the bag is re-enforced with a waterproof material which looks and feels like leather (but isn’t) to make it more hard wearing especially if it’s put down on the ground or used for travelling. Empty, it flattens down to almost nothing thanks to its square design, and the material is incredibly durable so is bound to last a long time. It’s easy to clean as well as there aren’t many components and it’s made of only a few materials which can all be machine washed.

Although pricy at £65, it is Helly Hansen so you know it’s well made, will last and is designed and made for the outdoor life.  It works just as well for commuting though as it’s the size of a laptop (or bigger) and hold a computer safely with the added compartment. It’s a great bag for cyclists who are going into work with laptop, change of clothes and lunch all thrown in, and the slightly bigger size makes it easier to carry more. Thankfully the waterproof material and buckle roll top will save your work clothes for the British weather too!

RRP £65.00: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/stockholm-backpack-67187

FATSO Chocolate

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Vegan

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I am a real chocoholic and don’t need much of an excuse to eat chocolate, so I am really enjoying the lead up to World Chocolate Day on the 7th July.

I love discovering new chocolate brands and one I hadn’t come across before is FATSO who use a Columbian family owned business and co-operative called Luker as their sole chocolate supplier. The company are 100% ethically driven and they grow delicious, sustainable cocoa that has been awarded the highest chocolate classification, FINO DE AROMA. They also work closely with a network of farmers, alliances and communities to improve social welfare, biodiversity and farming practices.

So with such great credentials the big question is, what does the chocolate actually taste like? Well, that’s very easy to answer. Absolutely delicious!!

We tried two different bars – the King’s Ransom (Mint Pistachio & Cocoa Nibs) and Home Run (Salted Pretzel, Whole Almond & Honeycomb).

One of the things that really surprised me about the King’s Ransom bar (and I really know it shouldn’t) is that it had such a wonderful minty flavour rather than the strong synthetic representation of mint we have become accustomed to in cheaper brands. The minty flavour together with the crunchy texture of the pistachio and cocoa nibs made this a delight to eat.

The Home Run bar is a 60% cacao bar with generous chunks of salted pretzel, whole almonds and honeycomb. This winning combination of flavours complement each other and it is easy to pick out all the flavours, the saltiness of the pretzel takes away some of the bitterness of the dark chocolate and sweetness comes from the honeycomb. Nuts add a satisfying crunch to this bar.

The quality of FATSO chocolate is exceptional and it’s definitely the best I’ve tasted in a quite a while.
One taste and you will see that their chocolate is a world apart from something you might pick up from the supermarket. At £6.50 for a 150g bar it is on the expensive side but you are paying for a quality product here – just keep it out of the way of the children and savour every piece!

The Genius Star

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Father's Day, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Mother's Day, Toys

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We’re on the last few weeks of the summer term and on the countdown to summer holidays. Travelling with children can be incredibly stressful so if you can keep then entertained it makes the journey a lot more pleasant for everyone! In the run up to the summer holidays I am always on the lookout for compact games that I can pop in my bag to keep the children entertained, whether they are on a plane, car, hotel room or caravan.

We were recently sent The Genius Star from The Happy Puzzle Company which can be played solo or as a 2 player game. The game is great fun and will not only keep them occupied whilst travelling it is also fun to team up to play together as a family in the evenings.

Inside the box are two plastic star shaped grids, two sets of 11 multi-coloured wooden shapes, two sets of seven blocker pieces (triangles) and seven dice (a mixture of six and eight sided). The game is very easy to play, simply roll all the dice and place a blocker piece into the triangle matching the seven numbers that appear on the dice, then race your opponent to fill every other space on the grid using the 11 shapes. There is also an added twist with the ‘Golden Star’ which allows you to score a double win by solving the puzzle with the ‘Golden Star’ Apparently only 57.4% of the puzzles have a solution that includes the ‘Golden Star’ so this adds to the challenge!

The game is good for STEM learning using skills including problem solving, critical thinking and logic skills to complete the puzzle.

Each game is reasonably quick but with 165,888 possible combinations you do sometimes play a round that takes a little longer to complete, especially if you try to use the ‘Golden Star’ but that just adds to the fun. With so many different combinations this is a game that will keep children (and adults) entertained these holidays.

The Genius Star is suitable for ages 8 to adult and has an RRP of £19.99

Artisan Coffee Co’s. Chocolate Flight and Coffee Pairings

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

We were very excited to learn that it’s World Chocolate Day on 7th July, which gives us a perfect excuse to test out some chocolate, and what better than Artisan Coffee Company’s Chocolate Flight and Coffee Selection Box. Chocolate AND coffee!

If you’re not familiar with Tasting Experiences, there is a leaflet enclosed which explains it all; testing the individual coffee bags with their corresponding chocolates, each flavour of chocolate and coffee designed to bring out the richness in each other. For example, testing the coffee called The Genius (no 161) with the chocolate called Wonderously Complex, you should be able to taste the rich cocoa flavour, some pecan notes and a touch of raisin and malt. 

Artisan Coffee began in 2019 after conversations about coffee between a coffee research scientist, an entrepreneur and a sommelier of coffee, known as a Q Grader in the business. It’s no wonder the company was named ‘Artisan Coffee Co’ when the team decided to concentrate on bringing the flavour of coffee to the masses and after a year of doing so, brought in Ashley Palmer-Watts; chef and coffee fanatic.  He designed a range of flavoursome chocolates which harmonised flavours between the coffee and the chocolates. 

The coffee in most cases on the Artisan website is in coffee bags – an ingenious way of getting a characterful cup of coffee without having to brew up beans and filter. Now that we’re all working from home, coffee bags make more sense, or even bringing in a few to the office when we have to makes better sense, but this Tasting Experience box also has coffee pods. So whether you’re working from home or commuting, there’s an option on how to enjoy your roast.  The chocolates are individually wrapped and remind me of after dinner luxuries.

The tasting experience card explains exactly how to set up the coffee and what the pairing of chocolates are to the tastes. This is a great after dinner exercise, or date night fun as you try each coffee with each chocolate. I’m not a great coffee lover, so trying the coffees over a few nights, you really get a taste for the pairings and start to taste the differences. The idea of combining the coffees with gorgeous chocolates is really appealing, and makes the experience more fun.

It may be World Chocolate Day and a chance to try some top class artisan chocolate, but you’ll be forgiven if you want to use it as an excuse to taste some of the best coffees on offer too!

The Ultimate Coffee Selection Box is available from £34.99 at:

The Ultimate Coffee Selection Box

Edifier MP230 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Summer, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

This retro style portable speaker from Edifier is probably the easiest I’ve ever set up a speaker. With crystal-clear sound, it’s a brilliant addition to your household or as a gift to someone you love.

The Edifier MP230 Portable Bluetooth Speaker has a battery charge of up to 10 hours with a wooden casing and grill cover to give it a retro 50s/60s portable look. The operating keys on the front are piano-style for on/off, Bluetooth, play/pause and two volume buttons.  Speaking of Bluetooth, it was incredibly easy to set up. All I had to do was turn on the speak with the button on the front, use the Bluetooth settings on my laptop, which found it immediately and press Connect. As soon as I played a track on my laptop, it came through the Edifier speaker; no need for any instructions or clicking buttons, adding settings etc, it was easy as pie!

The quality of the sound through the speaker is excellent. There are two 48mm driver units, which create stereo sound and an output power of 20W RMS. Along with Bluetooth, the input modes are AUX, USB-C port and even a TF Card. The size of the speaker also lends itself to being taken on car trips, or even packed in luggage. Measuring 16.4cm × 8.43cm × 10.8cm it can even fit in hand luggage, and weighs just 0.85kilorams (that’s just 1.9lbs!)

The Edifier MP230 Speaker can be charged with the USB port and doesn’t take long for a full charge, so can be connected to a laptop or a wall charging point. As it’s so portable, it can be taken with you anywhere, or left on the shelf in a room. The size would suggest it could go outside easily, which would be great for picnics but I don’t think the wood casing nor the grill would survive getting even slightly damp, and definitely not one for the beach!  Set up in a baby’s nursery to play white noise or as background whilst in the garden, the Edifier MP230 would be really useful.

I can’t help but think it would be a great present too. The stylish look to it appeals to anyone who likes design or for grandparents who want something that fits in with their pre-IKEA furniture and is small enough to be discreet on a book shelf. Teenagers will love this though, as it doesn’t take up much room and you don’t even need to be in the room for it to connect to Bluetooth. It’s a brilliant addition to any household as well as being a perfect stereo sound for you online music!

Available from £99.99

Lova Skin Instant Foot Peel Essential Kit Black Edition

beauty, Father's Day, Gifts for Him

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

A foot care set probably isn’t the first thing you think of when it comes to Father’s Day gifts but it’s an incredibly practical present especially for Dad’s that are on their feet all day. Long periods of standing and walking as well as badly fitting shoes can cause hard skin to form and if the men in your life are like the ones in mine, foot care and beauty products aren’t something they even think about!

My husband is diabetic, so it is important that he looks after his feet, he’s not the sort to go to a salon for a pedicure so The Lovaskin Instant Foot Peel Essential Kit Black Edition is perfect for him, it contains everything you need to transform feet from rough and dry to silky soft in under 2 minutes.

The kit contains

  • 1 Instant Foot Peel spray bottle 75 ml Black Edition – 25 applications 
  • 1 professional double-sided stainless steel foot file.
  • 1 organic cotton pouch.

The kit is simple to use and there is no need to soak feet first as the product is used on clean, dry feet. Spray the Foot Peel spray 7 times per foot – on the heel, sides of the foot and toes. Once the foot is completely covered leave it for 60 seconds (no touching) and then massage the dry skin off using your fingers. Once you have done that then you can use the rough side of the foot file to remove excess dead skin and then flip the file over and finish off with the fine side. Once you have filed your feet all that is left to do is rinse them and see the difference it has made to your feet.

I thought the spray was incredibly effective and a quick and easy way to treat your feet. The process is very straightforward and so easy to do and the fact that my husband has been finding the time to time to use it shows how good it is! This set makes a great Father’s Day gift and goes well with the traditional socks!!

RRP £59.90 (enough for 25 applications – which is much cheaper than going to the salon for a pedicure)

MoGo 2-Pro Portable Projector from XGIMI

Birthday Gifts, camping, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Home & Garden, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Disclaimer – The MoGo 2 Pro was sent as a review sample for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

What’s a great Father’s Day gift Dad isn’t expecting? Or what kind of gift could you get him that he doesn’t know he wants yet but when he tries it, will wonder why he hasn’t bought one for himself before!

The MoGo 2 Pro Portable Project from XGIMI has so many feature that I can hardly write them all, but for an overview of what it does, it’s a portable projector and speaker all in one!

With a 120 inch screen, the projector can be used for movies, online content (for example, You Tube) or gaming.  It’s compatible with power banks too so you can even take it outside or use it whilst camping. I told you Dad didn’t know he needed it!

As for the technicals, the MoGo 2 Pro Portable Projector supports HDR 10 with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.  With an auto focus of ISA 2.0 and an aspect of 1:2:1 it also has Intelligent Screen Alignment and Intelligent Obstacle Avoidance. 

The system contains 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM with a system of Android TV™ 11.0.  There’s an impressive 3 different ports (USB type-C, USB type-A and HDMI 2.0) and an AU 3.5mm output port.  Bluetooth 5.0 is also included and it works on a Wifi 5 Duel band of 2.4/5GHz.

The whole kit includes a power cable as well as a remote control. It only weighs 1.1kilograms (2.42lbs) which makes it even more portable and I liked the cube shape which also makes it easy to pack if you’re going away. The possibilities are endless with this projector so having never owned one before, I was excited to get it set up and see how it works!

There are instructions included with the projector, but as you take it out of the box you realise it’s actually pretty simple to set up and the screen takes you through it. Start by connecting the power with the power pack provided, then press the on button. The MoGo 2 Pro starts playing music as it asks you how you want to set up, starting with the wifi network and password, then going through the different type of screen adjustments. The pages take you through each option before you get to the Apps page. There’s even an explanation of how the screen adjustment works on the projector too. 

The last page of set up already has a TEX app and you can download other Adroid (Google) apps.  There’s no need to hook it up to a computer or network, it’s simply connected to the internet, you log into your Google account (which includes You Tube) and you can view any of your saved videos, or go and search for more.

 The whole time I was setting up the projector, it was adjusting to the distance from the wall so that it stayed in focus, as well as the horizontal.  It didn’t matter how far the projector was from the wall, it adjusted the size of the screen, knew when it was out of focus and kept adjusting so that it was completely clear.  As I was thinking of all the movies and programmes I could now watch on the big screen thanks to this projector, it was really exciting to think how it could change how anyone watches TV, especially as I don’t have a projector already. It was like having my own personal cinema!

The picture remained sharp the whole time my movie played, as well as the audio being pitch perfect throughout.  If you have a really good internet connection too it helps, and there was no buffering or loss of sound throughout. I also like how you can play it against any wall, curtain or makeshift movie screen no matter where you are, and the sound of the fan is very quiet so doesn’t detract from the soundtrack.  The remote control is super easy to use as well and makes life much easier rather than trying to fiddle with buttons on the machine.

The MoGo 2 Pro Projector changes the way you watch TV and videos, especially if you’ve never had a projector before, and is much easier to use than a TV! Perfect picture, perfect sound and so, so easy to set up that anyone can use it and the whole family can enjoy it. Even Dad… 

Video to show the MoGo 2 Pro features: https://uk.xgimi.com/pages/mogo-2-pro?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjryjBhD0ARIsAMLvnF-jlS0VT-o2VOsZ79C22jjQYth6bDMBpZPVGylBW6VL4VNmLr_PpoQaAoy_EALw_wcB

Link to MoGo 2 Pro online:

https://uk.xgimi.com/pages/mogo-2-pro?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjryjBhD0ARIsAMLvnF-jlS0VT-o2VOsZ79C22jjQYth6bDMBpZPVGylBW6VL4VNmLr_PpoQaAoy_EALw_wcB

Available from £529 upwards: https://www.amazon.co.uk/XGIMI-Portable-Projector-Automatic-Alignment/dp/B09MD5YM1P?maas=maas_adg_AA8418F13B9FA3969B7CB325343050E3_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas

Great Newsome Beers Father’s Day Gift Box

alcoholic drinks, Birthday Gifts, Drinks and Mixers, Family Life, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

A great choice for Father’s Day is a gift box or hamper, especially one that contains beer! This £10 gift set from Great Newsome Brewery contains two bottles of beer, a beer glass and a natty pair of socks in a presentation box which can be posted.

Great Newsome Brewery was started in Yorkshire in 2007 for the sole purpose of producing good quality British Beer. With their trusty dog Jem nearby (and Jem’s descendants still wagging around today) the team sought to grow the best malting barley and homegrown hops. With special strains of yeast they developed traditional craft beers. No mean feat when you’re so far north in the country. Although the barley is ready in the summer, they product many different beers throughout the year, including a bitter called ‘Yule Do’, available for Christmas!

Although their British craft beers are available in pubs and some shops, their gifts such as the Great Newsome Father’s Day Gift Box is available online. The box contains;

  • 1x Sleck Dust beer (500ml and their best selling blond beer)
  • 1x Old Fergie (500ml classic brown ale)
  • 1x Great Newsome Brewery Beer Glass
  • 1x Great Newsome Brewery Men’s socks, size 7-11 UK

All the items are packaged up in a recyclable cardboard presentation box and can be bought on their website (link below). 

As a gift, this is particularly good for posting due to the size (it arrived with us in the post with no damage and was well packaged!) but makes Father’s Day much easier because it’s a whole gift in one. The addition of the beer glass and the socks is particularly useful as it shows a bit more thought has gone into the present, and it’s not just beer on its own.  The socks show a fetching portrait of the lovely Jem, the brewery dog mentioned before.

At £10 for the whole giftset I was shocked at what good value it is and how versatile it is as a present.  The box doesn’t mention that it’s only for Father’s Day, so it could also be used as a birthday gift or house warming present. It’s a brilliant idea that saves anyone having to put together a gift box for themselves, as well as having some interesting items which Dad, or Grandad will enjoy!

And if Jem looks familiar, she’s the dog featured on the labels and bar tags for all Great Newsome products.

Available for £10 from: https://www.greatnewsomebrewery.co.uk/shop/themed-boxes/fathers-day-gift-box/

Sinzero Low Alcohol Chile Wine

alcoholic drinks, Birthday Gifts, Drinks and Mixers, Family Life, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him, Spring, Summer, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

No one misses out this Father’s Day with the Sinzero range of low and no alcohol wine.  The range includes a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Chardonnay, a Rosé and a Sparkling Brut white wine which have only recently been launched in the UK. Whether you’re drinking alcohol or not, each of the Chilean bottles tastes of summer and you won’t notice the difference having low alcohol makes compared to what you find on the supermarket shelves. Each variety has a maximum of 0.5% alcohol. 

Starting with the Sinzero Chardonnay, which is both vegan and alcohol free, the unmistakeable sharpness of Chardonnay is still there, with a slightly fresher, fruiter scent and after taste.  This makes a great accompaniment to food especially white meat and fish and doesn’t have the acidic flavour you’re used to with some Chardonnays, probably because it’s from Chile.  I’m reliably informed it only has 20 calories per glass too!

The Sinzero Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon tastes of vanilla but has a fragrance of strawberries, redcurrants and summer berries.  I loved this one on its own, not with food but it goes particularly well with lighter meals like Italian pasta, it is a lovely lunchtime wine.  The Sinzero Chliean Cabernet Sauvignon is also award winning, with 96 points and a gold medal in the IWSC.

Sinzero Chilean Rosé is a great wine for BBQs and works swimmingly with pasta, cheese and lighter dishes. I can also be drunk on its own and is also vegan and less than 25 calories per glass. It’s crisp, floral and fruity, just like a rosé should be!

Finally, there’s the Sinzero Chilean Sparkling Brut.  We saved this for a family birthday as everyone could drink it, regardless of age or what medication they were on! The sparkling, crisp wine goes with anything or can be drunk on its own as the celebratory drink it is meant to be. Like all the other Chilean wines, it is light and fruity plus has less than 0.5% alcohol. Perhaps a good sparkling for family celebrations, especially as it’s got a slightly sweeter taste?

I didn’t know non-alcohol and low alcohol wines could be so tasty, let alone light and refreshing like the Sinzero line.  I’m looking forward to seeing what other varieties they bring out in the future!

All Sinzero products are available via DryDrinker.com;

Sinzero Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon from £11.25 p/ bottle

Sinzero Chilean Chardonnay from £11.25 p/bottle

Sinzero Chilean Sparkling White Wine from £13.76 p/bottle

Sinzero Chilean Rosé from £11.99 p/bottle

Oxford Rye Whisky Easy Rider

alcoholic drinks, Birthday Gifts, Drinks and Mixers, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him, Sustainable

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Oxford Rye Whisky Easy Rider makes a fabulous Father’s Day gift. Whether Dad is a seasoned whisky drinker or just likes to keep a bottle for special occasions throughout the year, this is a great choice.

Oxford Rye pride themselves on making easy-to-drink spirits, with this batch of whisky being their 7th of Oxford Rye Easy Rider. Based in Oxford, as the name suggests, the distillery has worked hard over the last decade to create the best environment for growing crops which produce the best spirits.  Easy Rider is blended from 9 different casks including American Oak to give it that authentic Southern State aroma.  The result is a blend which is sweet, rich and not too smokey, leaving the 50% ABV to work its magic. The aroma is slightly fruity, with a sweet aftertaste and subtle finish. It would work perfectly as an after dinner drink, or mixed with soda for an afternoon drink in the sunshine.

The Easy Rider is perfect for making an Old Fashioned cocktail (or to give it its proper name, the ‘Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail’) and the recipe can be found on the Oxford Rye website: https://www.theoxfordartisandistillery.com/blogs/cocktails/how-to-make-a-wriggly-old-fashioned

WRIGGLY OLD FASHIONED INGREDIENTS

  • 60ml Oxford Rye
  • 10ml Wriggly Monkey beer sugar syrup (see below)
  • 10ml Triple sec or Cointreau
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters
  • 1 dash Orange bitters
  • Orange twist (to garnish)

WRIGGLY OLD FASHIONED STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE

  1. Chill an Old Fashioned glass by filling it with crushed ice.
  2. Add all the ingredients apart from the orange bitters to a mixing glass or tin, and stir for at least 30 seconds and then a little more.
  3. Discard the ice and add a large ice cube to the glass.
  4. Pour the cocktail into the glass and dash the orange bitters over the top.
  5. Garnish with the orange twist

You don’t often find whisky distilled in the UK, and there isn’t much of a history to it apart from in the Highlands of Scotland, but Oxford Rye are blazing the way with creating a new type of whisky and traditions, based on heritage grains. In addition to heritage, they are building a sustainable way of creating the best possible whisky they can.

Dad will love this new twist on a traditional whisky with the bonus of it being distilled in the UK and not like any other brand out there.

The Guards London Dry Gin

alcoholic drinks, Birthday Gifts, coronation, Drinks and Mixers, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Gin isn’t always associated with Dad for Father’s Day but there’s no reason why Mum has to have all the fun!  The Guards London Dry Gin from Hawkridge Distillers was developed by an ex-Guard to be exceptionally smooth and let’s face it, it appeals to Dads, doesn’t it?

Made in Great Britain, it was inspired by a serving officer in the Guards between 2021 and 2022 and has the branding of the Household Division with the busby helmet but also the distinctive red tunic for a label.  The Household Division is made up of five regiments of the Foot Guards and are some of the most decorated in the world. You might recall seeing them at the recent King’s Coronation and they’re a common sight around London. 

The distinctive busby fur helmet of the guards adorns the top of The Guard’s gin bottle, complete with chin strap chain to make it look more authentic! Although a gimmick, it makes for an interesting centre piece or gift for someone who was in the guards.

The gin itself is exceptionally smooth. At 40 ABV it’s bound to be, and this is a gin for gin lovers after all. It’s won the London Spirits Competition Gold place in 2023 and I’m sure it will win more as the year goes on. It’s well bodied with a slightly sweet after taste, so goes well with any mixer.

It’s worth noting as an added bonus that some of the proceeds from each bottle sold will go to regiment charities, supporting veterans and their families. 

The Guards London Dry Gin makes a beautiful gift for Father’s Day, especially for any vetrans or anyone interested in the military.  Gin lovers will be more than happy with The Guards too!

Available from £39.99 at: https://hawkridgedistillers.com/product/the-guards-london-dry-gin/

myFUJIFILM Photobook

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home & Garden, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Father’s Day will soon be here, and you may (or may not!) have started thinking of a gift for your Dad. Beer and chocolate always go down well but sometimes it’s nice to find a gift that means a little  more and photo gifts are great as anyone receiving one is bound to appreciate the thought that has gone into creating it.

myFUJIFILM have a fantastic selection of products on their website that would make a superb Father’s Day gift including #photobooks, mugs, water bottles and #prints. The website is simple to use with a page dedicated to Father’s Day gift ideas. Each gift has plenty of images so you can get an idea of what the finished product will look like, and prices and delivery times are clearly indicated. Once you have selected your gift it is easy to create your masterpiece, simply choose the photos you love and myFUJIFILM will transform them into a personalised gift that you and your family can enjoy for years to come.

I created a photobook which was very easy to do – there are plenty of different options on the size, shape and look of your book, you can choose rectangular or square, hard or soft cover, matt or gloss paper and there are different size options too. Everything about the book can be edited, there is the option to add backgrounds, change the layout and add text to personalise your photobook.

I found it very easy to add photos and once the photos are uploaded you can either use the “Auto Fill” option to add the photos to your book in one go or add them manually. The “Auto Fill” is much quicker and you can still alter the layout but it does make it harder if you wanted to group certain photos together on one page.

Once you are happy with your design it is time to place your order, the process is nice and easy and you can add multiple copies of the same gift which will be great at Christmas. Once the order had been placed I received a confirmation email and a second email once my products had been dispatched, which also including tracking information.

myFUJIFILM have gifts for all budgets so take a look at their website where you will be able create a gift of precious memories, use the code LOVEDAD40 to get 40% off all personalised gifts.

Wahl Colour Trim Stubble & Beard Trimmer

beauty, Christmas, Fashion, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Valentine's Day Gifts

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

Father’s Day is just over a week away and we have some great last minute gift ideas for you. My husband likes practical gifts and will be thrilled with the Wahl Colour Trim Stubble and Beard Trimmer which will be a very useful for keeping his beard tidy.

The Colour Trim Stubble & Beard Trim is a small, re-chargeable trimmer that comes with eight different guides, a blade guard and the usual cleaning brush, comb and clipper oil. Also included is a zip up case to keep everything together.

Uniquely the guides are all colour coded and this isn’t just for show, it is a lot easier to find the right guide once you know the colour so there is no more rummaging around in the bag for the correct size – just remember your colour, snap it onto the blade and you’re off!

The guides come in half sizes from 1.5mm to 13mm (#½ to #4) giving you plenty of choice when grooming your beard. So, whether you want a close cut or something a little longer you can easily achieve it with this set. 

Although much more compact than a standard hair trimmer with just a 2.5cm cutting width, the trimmer feels comfortable in the hand and whilst made of plastic the sides of the trimmer are ribbed and allow for a good grip. It has a good weight and a quality feel that I’d expect from Wahl and is backed by a 3 year warranty.

Wahl have chosen to not fit lithium batteries to this trimmer so it is best to fully charge it before use and then re-charge once the power starts to drop. You can’t overcharge it so leaving it plugged in overnight is fine. Wahl say to expect around 60 minutes of trimming from a full charge but if you do run out it can be used whilst plugged in.

A nice touch is that the instructions include directions on how to remove the battery for when it comes time to re-cycle the trimmer.

RRP £32.99 but currently on offer at £21.99 at Wahl here

Sponge Baby Brownies

Birthday Gifts, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Vegan

Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

Everybody loves cake and with Father’s Day just over a week away it is the perfect opportunity to treat your Dad to some delicious brownies from Sponge.

Sponge are an online cake shop who make the most fantastic cakes which are suitable for any occasion. They have a great selection which includes large cakes, sharing cakes, pinata cakes, brownies as well a range of letterbox cakes which fit nicely through your letterbox, removing the need to factor in a trip to the post office to collect your cake. The cakes from Sponge are incredibly well packaged in a sturdy cardboard box so there is no need to worry about the cakes arriving in less than perfect condition – very important when you are buying them as a gift.  

The Father’s Day Baby Brownie Gift Box contains 4 delicious brownies (choose from standard, gluten-free, or vegan) as well as gift wrap and a card.

The brownies are miniature versions of the popular full sized brownies and the gift box includes the following flavours

Raspberry & White Chocolate

Chocolate Orange

Triple Chocolate

Hazelnut Praline.

The brownies are nice and thick and are incredibly moreish! Soft and fudgy, they are full of flavour but not too dry like some brownies tend to be and the toppings make then just that little bit more special. Delicious hot or cold they have been a big hit in our house and just the thing to spoil Dad with on Father’s Day.

A pack of 4 costs £13.25 and cakes can be delivered all over the UK with next delivery if you place your order before 3pm.

Purchase them from Sponge here

Read our other Sponge reviews – Coronation Pinata Cake, Chocolate Cake, Mother’s Day Tea Hamper, Valentine’s Gift Box


Britains New Holland T7.300 LWB Blue Power and John Deere Kids Giant Floor Puzzle

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Him, Stocking Fillers, Toys, Valentine's Day Gifts

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Some men are notoriously difficult to buy presents for, a lot of my family are farmers and with no time for hobbies and days out this tends to rule out a lot of traditional Father’s Day gifts. The one present I know will go down well is a tractor and whilst I can’t stretch to a real one, a Britains tractor from Tomy is definitely the next best thing. Britains 1:32 die-cast replica models are incredibly well made and I haven’t met a farmer yet who doesn’t have at least a couple on the shelf.

Farmers tend to prefer a particular brand of tractor and in my family it’s New Holland, the T7.300 LWB Blue Power tractor is a favourite, it is designed for high power yet is still compact sized.  It has a power output of 280hp which can be boosted up to a maximum of 300hp so it certainly packs a powerful punch. The new flagship model from Britains captures every detail of this impressive machine, we have the removeable Horizon Ultra cab which allows you see the intricate details of the interior, big soft feel tread tyres along with a working steering wheel and detailed die cast body. The front wheels turn easily and pivot up and down so they can be driven over uneven ground and it has a front A frame hitch and rear tow hitch, which is compatible with other 1:32 scale models so you can attach whatever trailer or implement you need.

Currently priced at £34.45 on Amazon I know plenty of farmers who would love to receive one of these on Father’s Day!

For younger farmers the John Deere Kids 36 piece giant floor puzzle is a great activity to do with Dad on Father’s Day. Measuring 3’ x 2’ this jigsaw features a fantastic countryside scene and the large pieces are nice and sturdy and easy for little hands to pick up without bending or tearing. The pieces slot together nicely and the picture is bright and vibrant. Our mini reviewer loved this jigsaw completing it three times in a row before I dragged them away to have tea!

As well as being great fun to do jigsaws are a great way to develop hand eye coordination and fine motor skills and conversation too, our mini reviewer talked nonstop about what each character was going to do on the farm!

RRP: £13.99 available from Amazon

Lottie Shaw’s

Birthday Gifts, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

It can be tricky coming up with the perfect Father’s Day gift but if your Dad has a sweet tooth then a delicious tin of biscuits and cakes will go down a treat and if you are lucky he might even share them with you!

Lottie Shaw’s is a Yorkshire family business that began 100 years ago with Lottie’s great aunts, Mary & Edith Harrison. When Lottie’s parents were running the business Lottie spent a lot of time in the bakery enjoying the treasured family recipes and decided to revive one of her favourites – The Yorkshire Parkin cake. This cake was traditionally enjoyed at bonfire night and Lottie, convinced the cake was a winner then created the Lottie Shaw’s brand.

If you look at their website, you will see that Lottie Shaw’s have lots of fantastic gifts and the Cyclist’s Treat Tin will make a perfect gift for anyone who enjoys cycling. The individually wrapped flapjacks are perfect for putting in your pocket when out cycling and will give you a welcome energy boost when you are climbing those hills. The tin has a beautiful decorative card sleeve depicting a couple of cyclists enjoying the countryside which has been drawn by Yorkshire artist Eleanor Tomlinson. I especially like the detail in the picture, look closely and you’ll spot a couple of Lottie Shaw’s biscuit wrappers! Open the tin and you will find a souvenir card along with a selection of Lottie Shaw’s award winning treats and the all important Father’s Day card.  

The cakes and biscuits inside the tin are  

5 x Yorkshire Parkin biscuits 135g

4 x Triple Chocolate Biscuits 140g

2 x Millionaire Shortbread 70g

1 x Traditional Oat Flapjack 100g

1 x Oat Flapjack with Chocolate Chips 100g

All the cakes and biscuits are individually wrapped and have nice long best before dates – although there was no chance of them lasting that long in our house! They all looked delicious, the hardest part was deciding which one to try first! In the end we decided to try the triple chocolate biscuits and settled down with a cup of tea! The biscuit was nice and chocolately and just melted in my mouth and I was unable to stop at just one!!

My favourites had to be the flapjacks which were flavoursome and incredibly moreish – they were moist and satisfyingly crumbly.

I love Parkin but had never tried a Parkin biscuit before and these Yorkshire Parkin biscuits absolutely scrumptious, they have the warming, spicy flavours of ginger, black treacle and syrup along with the flecks of oatmeal that I love in the cake but are in a biscuit form. My husband described them as a cross between a ginger biscuit and a Hobnob which sums them up quite nicely and of course they are great for dunking in a cup of tea!

I was extremely impressed with the Cyclist’s Treat Tin, all the treats were absolutely delicious and I think it is a lovely gift to purchase for someone special. I really like that it came with a Father’s Day card and the beautiful illustration which I have already framed.

At a cost of £19.95 it’s an excellent price for such a fantastic gift and I would definitely recommend it for your loved ones.

Lottie Shaw’s gifts range from £12.95 for Letterbox treats all the way through to £100 for seriously good large baskets and all gifts come with a personalised gift card.

If you subscribe to their newsletter you can also get 10 % off – what are you waiting for!!

Edifier W820NB Plus Headphones

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Tech

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I have been using a pair of headphones from Edifier for a few weeks now and I’m really happy with their performance.

The Edifier W820NB Plus headphones are a pair of lightweight (221g) bluetooth headphones with USB-C charging and connection. Made completely of plastic they are available in a range of 5 colours (Blue, Grey, Green, Ivory and Black) and are lightweight and very comfortable to wear. I have worn them for several hours at a time without any discomfort or sweaty ears! The headband and ear cups are soft and the headphones are adjustable so will fit pretty much any size head. The build quality is good and whilst lightweight, they have a quality feel to them.

Most of my listening is done whilst working in the garden so noise cancellation is important to me, I was mowing the grass the other evening and was really impressed with how well they coped, my podcasts were easy to listen to and whilst I could still hear the petrol mower it wasn’t a problem at all. If you want to know the figures, Edifier’s website claims “upgraded noise cancellation with ANC depth of up to -43dB”.

I’m no audiophile but I can tell you that the sound quality through the 40mm drivers was very good, I couldn’t fault it. The frequency range is listed as 20Hz – 40kHz which is way more than my ears would hear! If you choose to install the accompanying app then you can select some different equaliser settings, but it isn’t something I would make use of so just left the settings at default. The headphones are Hi-Res Audio & Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified for those who have a Hi-Res device and a special game mode can be selected with a couple of presses of a button which offers a latency as low as 0.08s.

Controlling the headphones is done with the usual combination of single and double taps of the various controls. I’m never good at remembering all the different options but the basic controls are easy to use although the buttons could be a little bigger and more spaced out for me.

Answering a phone call is a single tap of the main button as is ending the call and noise cancellation can be turned off with a single tap too.

So far I haven’t had to charge the headphones, Edifier suggest they have a battery life of between 33 and 49 hours depending on how much the noise cancellation is used and a 10 minute charge should give 7 hours of use. More than enough capacity for me.

£79.99 available from Amazon

Qwick Hose Starter Set

Birthday Gifts, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home & Garden

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

Summer is most definitely here and like a lot of people I’m spending much more time in the garden, both gardening and relaxing with my friends and family. Like it or not, the hotter weather does mean plants need more watering and with a large garden, a hose pipe is the simplest way to do this.

A few weeks ago, I discovered that my hose was not in the best of shape, leaving it out in all weathers certainly doesn’t do it any good, so with lots of plants to water I decided it was time to invest in a new one. After purchasing a new coil of hose, I was intending to use my existing fittings but then the starter set from Qwikhose arrived so the timing couldn’t have been better! QwickHose are a new style of fitting made from extra-robust, UV stabilised, premium-grade plastics that are designed to last longer than typical models and won’t keep popping off when the water is on full pressure.

The starter set costs £39.99 and contains a Wing-Lock Connector, Nozzle Spray End, Tap Connector, No-Flow Wing-Lock Connector along with a handy wall mount to keep everything together.  The hose connector itself is fully compatible with other fittings but the QwickHose is so much easier to fit to the actual hose than traditional fittings and gives a more reliable fit. So what is different about the QwickHose fittings – well instead of a ring of short, fiddly teeth, which are prone to coming apart or leaking, the QwickHose fitting opens up wide to reveal a long inner tube over which the hose is inserted. You then simply clamp down the outer wings and secure the wings with the nut and you are ready to go. With a double row of teeth and 50mm of hose inside the clamp, these fittings feel very secure and are very easy to fit.  

At £40 for the set, they are more expensive than other hose fittings but they work incredibly well and the proof is when I water the garden, ordinarily the hose pops of at least twice but since I started using these fittings it hasn’t happened at all.   

I am very impressed with the quality of the fittings and it’s good to know that they are made in the UK and run by a Hampshire based family business. They were the winners of the 2022 GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund (GISCF) at Glee Birmingham and it is easy to see why.

With Father’s Day coming up the starter set would make the perfect gift for garden lovers – my Father in Law is a keen gardener so one of these will be perfect for him!

The starter set is available from QwickHose here

Father’s Day Letter Box Hamper 

Family Life, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Him, Home, Subscription Boxes

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Father’s Day is Sunday 18 June, and everyone, without fail, struggles to find something that’s perfect for Dad! Every year he says there’s nothing he wants, knowing that he’ll get another supply of socks or beer like every year, but secretly, I’m sure all Dads would like something that’s more of a thoughtful treat for them. 

The Letter Box Hamper company cater for all sorts of hamper treats throughout the year, and this year have sent us a lovely Father’s Day hamper. Keen followers will see that we also have one of these Father’s Day hampers as a competition prize too, so I’ll do my best to give you the low down!  

At £32.95 this is a great price for a gift on Father’s Day. It’s not too expensive, but it shows that some thought has gone into this present and isn’t just picked off the shelves. In fact, you can only buy it online on the www.letterboxhamper.com website and have it delivered, so not everyone is going to have one.  If you don’t fancy the Father’s Day Hamper then there are loads of other lovely ones for other occasions on their website too.

As the name suggests, the letter box hamper fits through the door. You don’t need to be home to be able to receive it and there’s nothing breakable inside to worry about as it hurtles through the air and onto your doormat.  The box itself is lovely and resembles a hamper/suitcase of old and when you open it, there’s a personalised message in there for Dad too so he knows who it’s from! When the hamper arrives through the post, it is parcelled up with lovely wrapping paper and string and looks so special, so there’s no way Dad can miss it.

As for the box, it has loads in it;

  • 5 Classic tea bags from Tregothnan (the tea grown in England)
  • A pack of 2 Scottish shortbread fingers from Shortbread House of Edinburgh
  • 3 chocolate truffles from Charbonel et Walker 
  • A traditional oat flapjack from Lottie Shaw’s
  • A bar of 61% dark chocolate from Coco
  • A bar of hazelnut and raisin dark chocolate from Willie’s Cacao

If you do the simple maths, there’s five tea bags and 5 snacks in total so that’s tea and a snack for every day of the work week!

Starting with the tea if you’ve never had English grown tea before (thanks to global warming there are plants all over the UK now) then this medium/strong tea is a great delicacy and probably something you wouldn’t expect as a gift given how local it is.  The chunky oat flapjack from Lottie Shaw’s is Yorkshire baked and delicious, particularly good for when you need a heart pick-me-up in the afternoon or if Dad has been working in the garden. I’m a big fan of shortbread anyway so the House of Edinburgh shortbread fingers are particularly nice and not too grainy!

The other snacks are all chocolates. If you’re familiar with ‘posh’ chocolates then you’ll recognise Charbonnel et Walker as being one of the premium brands sold in their custom shops and when you eat their truffles, you’ll understand why. Made with the finest chocolates and ingredients, they are to die for!  Willie’s Cacao also feature with their Peruvian dark chocolate flavoured with hazelnut and raisin. The taste is so subtle and actually very grown up so I wouldn’t imagine children would enjoy this, leaving it for Dad. The final chocolate bar is the Coco Colombian dark 61% chocolate. Again, this is great for adults as it has the distinct dark chocolate taste that goes so well with strong tea or coffee.

The Letter Box hampers all have a variety of items in them so you feel like there’s more there than just a quick bite to eat or a cheap snack, and plenty of choice if there’s something in them that you don’t happen to like.  This Father’s Day hamper is a hit with the whole house too with a lovely selection of different snacks and the personalised note makes it a special holiday treat.

Excuse me whilst I make another brew and tuck into some more chocolate… or another shortbread finger…

Manchester Gin

alcoholic drinks, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Valentine's Day Gifts

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

Gin has become incredibly popular over the last few years with plenty of small distilleries starting up, each with their own unique gin flavours. Being a gin fan myself, I do enjoy sampling all the different types and when it comes from a city close to my heart it’s even better.

Manchester Gin was created back in 2016 by Jen Wiggins and Seb Heeley who met in a Manchester bar. They both shared a love of gin so decided to take the plunge and create their own starting distilling in their dining room. Fast forward to 2019, the couple opened a brand new distillery, bar and restaurant under railway arches in the centre of Manchester, where you can not only sample the gin but see it being made too.

Made in the heart of Manchester the aptly named Manchester Gin Signature is distilled in a copper still and is one of the most awarded gins in the country. It is a citrus-led gin with 12 botanicals including orange, lemon and dandelion and burdock. The gin is spicy and sweet and makes a very refreshing G&T.

I served the gin with a premium Indian tonic water and plenty of ice, adding lemon and lime slices to make the perfect G&T. This is a very refreshing crisp flavoured gin, having a real juniper punch and a delicate sweetness from the liquorice.

Once I had tried a traditional G&T it was time to hit the cocktails and I found it worked well in the classic Gin Fizz or add fresh lime juice, homemade lime syrup and mint for my favourite – the zingy Gimlet cocktail.

If you are heading up to Manchester any time soon you can book a distillery tour where you can see the process and taste their gin for yourself. For gin connoisseurs you can even create your own gin. If you can’t get up to Manchester then the 42% proof gin is available from The Whiskey Exchange at a very reasonable £34.95.