Free Baglett when you buy a Healthy Back Bag!

We have got together with The Healthy Back Bag Company to offer you a free Baglett with every Healthy Back Bag you buy from us from today until 15 May 2010.

This mini version (20.5 x 11.5 x 9cm) of The Healthy Back Bag is truly smart, functional and fun whether worn alone or clipped inside its larger counterpart.

How to claim:

This promotion entitles anyone purchasing a Healthy Back Bag from us to one free microfibre or distressed nylon baglett (as described below). Only available colours within the microfibre or distressed nylon baglett ranges will be given away free as part of the promotional offer. Promotional bagletts as follows: MICROFIBRE Black, Eggplant, Flamingo, Midnight Blue, Red, Sea Moss, Taupe, Lemongrass, Mauve, Chocolate, Hunter Green, Graphite, Burnt Coral. DISTRESSED NYLON Black, Burnt Orange, Brown, Crimson, Desert, Electric Blue, Purple, Sage, Strawberry, Taupe. The Healthy Back Bag Company reserves the right to supply any of the bagletts as described above as part of the promotion depending upon availability. The promotion is limited to one baglett per purchase and is open to UK, CI, IOM and ROI residents only until midnight 15 May 2010

To obtain your free baglett: Purchase any Healthy Back Bag from us and send a copy of your receipt showing details of purchase to: Baglett Offer, The Healthy Back Bag Company, 90 De Beauvoir Rd. London N1 4EN. Indicate where you saw the promotion advertised. Please allow up to 10 days for delivery from submission of order. The Healthy Back Bag Company reserves the right to rescind an order where they believe it has been made fraudulently or not in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

Why you should not let life pass you by without driving a Porsche 911

Below is the latest Motoring Column from Ronnie Fox (courtesy of City Solicitor where it first appeared)

There are two books on my bedside table. One is called Intelligent Marketing for Employment Lawyers by Daniel Barnett and Eugenie Verney. More fun to read is the other book, TopGear’s Midlife Crisis Cars.

I have always wanted to drive a Porsche. Just as there are certain places everyone ought to visit, so you should not let life pass you by without driving a Porsche 911. The kindness of Arthur Marriott recently enabled me to achieve that particular goal.

Business life deals strange hands. In 2001 Enron, the seventh largest corporation in America, went bankrupt; it dragged down Arthur Andersen, the United States’ oldest accounting firm. In 2006 a friend of mine left a small firm for greater job security and joined Lehman Brothers. Imperial Chemical Industries PLC became a subsidiary of Dutch conglomerate AkzoNobel in 2008. The first Porsches were sporty versions of the Volkswagen Beetle, the best selling car ever (over 21.5 million were made). And last year Porsche AG came close to taking over the much larger Volkswagen AG!

The focus of my test drive of a Porsche 911 Carrera S was to discover what makes the 911 the iconic sports car. What is the nature of its appeal?

Looks are the starting point. No other car has the design purity of a 911. The design links between the first 911 introduced in 1963 and the very latest stripped-out GT3 RS are plain to see. The most recent BMW 6 series, Aston Martin DB 9 and Jaguar XF all exhibit design elements inspired by the 911.

Naturally Porsche have developed the 911 over the decades. The vicious oversteer of early models has long since been designed out. Water-cooled engines replaced the original aircooled powerplants more than ten years ago. There have been massive safety improvements in terms of airbags and braking. But throughout the years the reputation for outstanding build quality (coupled with high maintenance bills) has not wavered. The car feels as solid as if had been carved out of a single steel block. Coachwork is to the highest standards. But there has never been much space in the front luggage department and the rear seats are suitable only for carrying small children for very short periods.

The interior of the Carrera S which I drove was superbly trimmed in the highest quality soft leather with contrasting stitching. Perhaps the black suede roof lining made the interior a little dark; I would always specify a sunroof. The electrically operated seats were wonderfully comfortable, though there was little space between the side of the seats and the door trim in which to access the seat controls. Brushed aluminium switchgear looked and worked as befits a supercar. To allow a door to close without slamming, the windows drop an inch to release air pressure as the door is being shut. The cupholder mechanism was a work of art. I have never heard the Archers more clearly than on the sound system’s Bose speakers. As is almost always the case with German cars, the list of luxury options seems endless.

Most purchasers buy a Porsche for its dynamic qualities. The Carrera S is amazingly fast. The top speed is close to 190 m.p.h. (not tested in Cornhill because of roadworks). Slingshot acceleration from rest is accompanied by glorious sound effects. On the motorway there is a steady thrum from the 6 cylinder 3.8 litre boxer engine; the ride is firm but not
unpleasantly so. In town the car has a prodigious thirst for high octane fuel, but does that matter with a car costing between £80,000 and £90,000?

Despite the efforts of the present Government many senior executives and investment bankers still receive performance related bonuses. They should show the world that
notwithstanding the recession they have succeeded in earning a bonus by spending some of it on buying a new Porsche. Image concerns? On the front cover of the TopGear book is a picture of a Porsche. The accompanying article says, “The default supercar for the post-war European male is, was, and probably always will be the Porsche 911″.

V&A exhibition : Quilts 1700 -2010

Here’s something I am meaning to check out over the Easter break.

The V&A is presenting its first ever exhibition of British quilts, with examples dating from 1700 to the present day – a unique opportunity to view the V&A’s unseen quilt collection as well as key national loans. The patchwork and quilted covers on show bring together over 300 years of British quilting history, from the spectacular bed hangings and silk coverlets of the 18th century, to the creative reinvention of the quilt by contemporary artists such as Sue Stockwell and Caren Garfen.

I have always had a soft spot for quilts. There is something special about the craft of quilting, the spending of so many hours to produce an object both beautiful and meaningful. And the often glorious patterns, colours and recycled materials add richness to even the most modest of homes.

For more information, go to :

http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/textiles/quilts-1700-2010/exhibition/index.html

Students face the panel at the University of Brighton

Last week I took part in a Dragons Den style event for students at the University of Brighton who have been designing products aimed at addressing some of the challenges of ageing.

This event was both the climax of the second year course module on Subject Object Relationships and the precursor to the Designing for the Future competition being run by The Future Perfect Company in conjunction with the University.

Fourteen students were asked to pitch their ideas to a panel which also included Mark Beasley, from marketing communications agency, rhc advantage, and Nick Gant, principal lecturer.

The students had obviously thought very carefully about growing older and had explored themes such as social isolation, dementia, nutrition and well being. Many had drawn from personal experiences of older relatives to come up with designs which ranged from the purely practical to the conceptual. All of the students had appreciated that products for this market need to be attractive as well as functional.

Mark who has recently published an influential research report on marketing to older audiences was hugely impressed by the originality of the ideas presented. He told the students that their creativity was going to be very welcome in the 50 + market which moreover is set to grow exponentially over the next few years. It is good to be able to give today’s students some positive news about their future prospects for a change!

The results of the Designing for the Future competition will be announced in June 2010

Rhc Advantage’s report, entitled ‘Marketing and Older People’ is available free via the website http://www.rhcadvantage.co.uk

About retirement – dispatches from the frontline – Part 12

Dear Philippa

Is this your perfect future?

With all this talk of an ageing population and soaring care bills, it is easy to be pessimistic. However, the future, as always, is in our own hands so let’s imagine for a moment what the world might look like for us baby boomers in 2025 :

Housing

People are increasingly moving to live nearer their friends and relatives so creating mutually supportive hubs. “Granny annexes” have not caught on because the wealthy baby boomers are resistant to downsizing to homes the size of their student flats of old. Similarly retirement complexes are still relatively unusual. Instead families and friends are buying adjoining houses in new housing developments and gardens are becoming more communal.

Government grants which first became available in 2009/10 to make homes more energy efficient have been extended to help people to “future proof” their homes. Unfortunately the housing industry did not respond to the changing demographic quickly enough and much of the housing stock is unsuitable for people as they get older. Government grants are now available for building a downstairs bedroom and ensuite big enough for a walk in shower, installing lifts, stair lifts, ramps and grab rails.

All adaptive equipment has to comply with a BSI British Standard which means that it must be discrete and attractive as well as being functional and robust. Designers are competing to bring out new designs in this lucrative market and the prestigious Conran Design Award for Inclusive Design is in its third year.

Employment

After years of debate, the compulsory retirement age has finally been abolished. People in their 60s/70s/80s now often have portfolio careers, combining part time or consultancy work with volunteering and helping with the extended family, be it providing child care or looking after older family members or friends. Caring and volunteering are both considered as valuable economic activities and recognised in the pension and benefits system.

Education

Education no longer stops at 21. Increasingly people of all ages are returning again and again to education and skills training. Universities are no longer the preserve of the young as freshers are as likely to be 65 as 18.

What do you think? Is this a likely scenario? Is this your perfect future?

About retirement – dispatches from the front line – Part 11

My grandson, Archie, is what my mother would have called a bit of a limb, a difficult child when he perceives some advantage in it. It gives me immense pleasure watching him give his parents a hard time. Recently at breakfast he was sat at the breakfast table scowling at his untouched toast. My son Edward asked, all reasonable, what the matter was: “There’s a problem with the jam”. This took some sorting out and while this was going on I reminded Edward of the time, at the same age, when dissatisfied with his fried egg he picked it up between thumb and forefinger and gave it a good shake to demonstrate its sub-standard quality. Archie watched me closely and with great interest as I described this episode, making it clear that I thought it was hilarious; I cannot leave it to him to have all the best ideas.

Easter special! Free delivery until 15 April!

To get into the mood for Spring, we are offering free standard delivery on online orders until 15 April.

So go on, buy the perfect present or treat yourself! It’s a great time to get out into the garden. Have a look at our OXO Good Grips gardening range and our fabulous Bionic Gardening Gloves.

Green People nominated for ‘Best Organic Product’ in The Times Style Beauty Awards!

We are delighted to report that Green People have been nominated for “Best Organic Product” in The Times Style Beauty Awards. Green People use pure plant extracts and oils which are gentle and soothing on sensitive skin to create exceptional natural face care products.

The glamorous Organic Body Spa range is a selection of luxurious natural products which allow you to indulge to your heart’s content. With organic Cranberry, Pomegranate and Rosehip central ingredients to this range, the Organic Body Spa helps you to combat the signs of ageing and be naturally gorgeous.

Try for example, the Reviving Day and Night Cream or the Firming Facial Gel. With free delivery for online orders until 15 April, why not treat yourself?

Introducing Catriona Watt, our new legal expert

Let me introduce you to lawyer, Catriona Watt. As we all live longer, early retirement or indeed retirement at all, is likely to become the preserve of a lucky few. Many of us are going to need to, or may want to, work for longer. The law governing employment, partnerships and discrimination will be one of the areas in which the difficult issues raised by an ageing population will be most hotly debated. We are very lucky to have Catriona on board to guide us through this particular minefield.

• Name: Catriona Watt
• Born: Inverness, Scotland
• Lives: Clapham, London
• Occupation: Solicitor qualified in Scotland and England and Wales at Fox, an employment and partnership specialist law firm in the City of London. Previously worked at a large commercial practice in Edinburgh.
• Job description: Advising a wide range of employers and employees usually based in the City on employment and discrimination issues. We have seen and heard everything!
• Hobbies: Enjoying London life and its proximity to Europe, skiing and other outdoor pursuits and trips back to the bonnie highlands of Scotland

Introductions over, look out for Catriona’s regular blog postings over the coming months.