Customer Service: Are We Really Being Served?

I have previously worked in my youth as a sales assistant for F. W. Woolworths, House of Fraser and Habitat and so, as Christmas shopping begins with fervour probably this very weekend, I am sparing a thought for the souls on the front line - the much beleaguered and frequently much criticized sales staff.

Mollie Sugden as Miss Slocombe in BBC's "Are You Being Served"

Now I know there are many,many things that drive me nuts about what Mary Portas would no doubt term the "retail experience".

For example:-

• being ignored by assistants who carry on talking to their colleagues
• hearing those immortal words "if it's not on the shelf we haven't got it"
• hot, cramped changing rooms which allow you to take completely random numbers of garments in (today you may take the magical number of 7 garments with you).
• paying for carrier bags (yes I know it's for the environment but still)
• running out of or having the wrong size bags
• never being able to find my size but plenty of 8's or 18's
• coat hangers you can never put trousers back on without having to fight with the plastic clips at either end, one of which will always break
• playing music so loud it makes your ears bleed
• chewing gum like a sheep with TMJ

But you know what?  The public can be, how shall I put it, somewhat challenging. I'm thinking of customers who

• take mobile phone telephone calls while you're trying to serve them
• try on the actual cosmetic stock rather than use the testers
• make ridiculous requests ( I was once asked for a pound of Cadbury's Mini Eggs comprised of just the pink ones - despite the fact there was a queue a mile long waiting in irritation)
• get foundation / lipstick / deodorant stains on clothing stock
• take things back having worn them (shameful)
• engage in lengthy conversations about their sciatica / gout / Mr Tibbles worming problems - again with the queue huffing in irritation behind them.

There are clearly rights and wrongs on either side.  As an observation though, on Saturdays I seem to find shops staffed with very young staff and not a manager in sight to help them or to help resolve customer issues.  Surely if there's one day of the week when all stock should be out and extra stock available, it's Saturday.  

We expect these often poorly paid foot soldiers to take everything that's thrown at them with a smile. I often think a good manager is like a good Army General. They lead from the front. Not from the stock cupboard with a cup of coffee and a copy of Hello.

Mark Carney, the new Governor of the Bank of England announced this week that there are signs that the UK's economic recovery is beginning to take hold. That's good news; not so good news for the staff of Blockbuster which is now in administration (due, no doubt to competition by online film providers such as LoveFilm). I wonder, though, why Blockbuster couldn't have seen this coming and taken steps much earlier to protect their business.

I think this year's Christmas sales may prove decisive for a number of retailers so now, more than ever, customer service HAS to be gold standard.  Not bog standard. E-tailers such as Amazon.co.uk are major competitors for the lion's share of Christmas profits.  If our high streets are to survive we need to ensure customers keep coming in - not drive them away.

Investment in staff training and strong management of both staff and stock may make the difference between survival and administration in some cases.

Let's hope it's a happy and a prosperous festive period for everybody.

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I've Been A Bit Distracted By ...Karen Millen - 14/11/2013

Karen Millen Suede & Leather Colour Block Shoe - £140

I love this pair of classic courts from Karen Millen which comes in two on trend colours - either deep red or caramel. The tip of the shoe is leather.

What I DON'T like is that these shoes do not go up to a size 8. Now Karen Millen I love you but for heavens sake - what century is this?  

To my mind, any retailer daft enough not to cater to those whose feet are size 8 and over are not only missing valuable sales but are also shooting themselves in the, er foot.

Further information for those with small feet at www.karenmillen.com.

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Breast is Best For Baby But Not Always Best For Mum

Given the furore surrounding the latest suggestion by the NHS that a financial incentive of £200 should be offered to new mums to encourage them to breast feed, I thought I'd record my experience.

Caitlin at 9 months in August 2008

From this week, new mums in parts of Yorkshire and Derbyshire will be offered £120 in high street shopping vouchers if they sign up to declare they have breast fed their baby for 6 weeks.  They will get the £80 balance if they continue to breast feed for six months.  If the scheme is successful, it has been mooted to roll it out nationwide.

Leaving aside the stunning flaw in this 'cunning plan' - i.e. that there is no actual way i) to prove the babies are breast-fed or ii) that the money is not spent on booze and fags, isn't this the Nanny State going too far?

When I was pregnant with Caitlin in 2007 there was a subtle, continuous pressure from nursing and midwifery staff to breast feed.  I dutifully went to the ante-natal classes for a session on breast feeding.  I was fully prepared to give Caitlin the best start I could.  The actual experience was not the milky, Laura Ashley and Mother Earth experience I was expecting.  

For a start I found it really difficult to express - it hurt and I had the midwife round to the house twice (she was patience personified) to explain how to position my nipple correctly. You do not, as I thought, just stick the baby on to your breast and let them get on with it.

After ten weeks of sitting through entire episodes of Midsomer Murders during which Caitlin seemed to suck constantly but ineffectively, I became worried as her weight began to drop.  I was clearly producing insufficient milk - possibly due to my age of 43. 

After 10 weeks I was really worried and it took one particularly down-to-earth midwife to say "look, you don't need our permission to stop breast feeding.  If it's not working, try formula.".  Even though I felt like a failure,  I swopped to SMA formula and Caitlin thrived from then on.

When Ieuan was born in 2009, I put him on formula straight away. I was then 45 and decided that since my first attempt at breast feeding hadn't been a success, I didn't want to risk a similar experience with him.  And you know what?  All the extra stress and upset I went through with Caitlin meant I had less time to bond with her, to cuddle her without the extra worry - just to spend those precious first moments enjoying my new baby.  She was born by emergency caesarean so I had to recover from the operation at the same time as wrestle with breast feeding.

I don't think you can dictate to a new mum what is right for her.  And I object to making women who don't want to or for whatever reason can't breast feed, feel guilty or 'less' - and Lord knows there are enough "sainted" mothers who look down on those of us who have had caesareans as somehow having copped out without adding breast feeding into the mix.

As for offering £200 to enforce breastfeeding, frankly, I would rather see the money put towards improving the education of young people about contraception.  And in any case, given the pressure A&E units are under and given yesterday's news that the number of drop in medical centres is decreasing thus putting extra pressure on A&E, or the difficulty the NHS seems to be having to recruit midwives, surely this is where the money should be going.

To new mums out there I say, don't feel guilty.  You are absolutely NOT a failure. Do what you feel is right. As my feisty midwife said to me - if mum is happy, the baby is happy.

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I've Been A Bit Distracted By ...Ariella At House Of Fraser - 12/11/13

How gorgeous is this? It's a beautiful fishtail detail lace dress in navy. House of Fraser suggest it would make an ideal bridesmaid's dress but I think it's more a posh 'do or an especially swanky Christmas party type of frock. It creates a very feminine hourglass shape with lots of va va voom.

Ariella Long Lace Fishtail V Necked Dress - House of Fraser £200

One of the benefits of being a more mature woman is that you can carry a dress like this off with aplomb. I like to think that we fully fledged and ripened women can wear the dress rather than have the dress wear us, but I appreciate that since my usual dress code is "baggy" and "leggings", you may well wish to ignore that comment.

I did have fun though, using House of Fraser's Truefit profile. You enter your vital statistics (height, weight and bra size) and the widget calculates what your true size is in the various brands on offer.  It also tells you have close a 'true fit' a particular size will be.

I've yet to test it out but if it works it will be a boon to those of us who buy clothes online and, from the retailer's point of view, might reduce the level of returns.

Further information:  www.houseoffraser.co.uk

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Review: Ozeri Precision II Digital Bathroom Scale

The Ozeri Precision II Digital Bathroom Scale has a new widescreen LCD with xBright technology. It uses 4 high precision GX sensors that can weigh up to 440 pounds (200 kilos) in 0.2lbs or 0.1kg increments. The scale is an oversized platform made of impact-resistant tempered glass and it has new InstOn technology which captures the precise weight measurement as soon as you step on (no prodding or cursing required - well, until your weight is displayed, that is). It is auto calibrated and will automatically turn off to conserve the battery life.  It takes 4 AAA batteries which are included in the box.

This is a very chic and slim bathroom scale from Ozeri which couldn't be simpler to use. Simply insert the batteries, push the button on the back of the machine to select whether you would like your weight to be read in kilos, stones or pounds, step on and ..... hold your breath.

I have to say I suspect that it is also quite an effective incentive to diet as your weight is displayed in its bright blue light, so brightly that I didn't even need my reading glasses to see the ghastly truth. 

Both The Husband and I tried it and then spent a half an hour accusing each other of indiscriminate carbohydrate consumption.The Husband tried to claim his clothing weighed at least 4lbs and that he was heavier due to two cups of coffee and a bread roll. Hmm. I then found him in the kitchen making a hot chocolate as consolation. I feel my Rosemary Conley book collection beckoning.

The Ozeri Precision II Digital Bathroom Scale is a really smart piece of kit - it has the Ozeri design edge to it and wouldn't look out of place in a swanky batchelor pad in Mayfair rather than here at Downton Shabby. It currently retails at £17.95 at Amazon.co.uk

Further information:  www.ozeri.com, www.amazon.co.uk.

*A PR sample was sent for the purposes of this post which contains an affiliate link.

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I've Been A Bit Distracted By ...Notonthehighstreet.com - 11/11/13

Caitlin and Ieuan have already spotted the influx of Hello Kitty / Thomas The Tank Engine / Disney Princess / any cartoon character capable of flogging chocolate advent calendars in the supermarket. Now having accidentally (cough) tried one of these chocolates last year, there was a distinct whiff of plastic about them so, in an ongoing attempt to bring a modicum of chic to Hobbis Towers, I've found this lovely, reusable Nordic style advent calendar in one of my favourite online stores, Notonthehighstreet.com.

Wooden Nordic Advent Tree Calendar By The Little Picture Company

Notonthehighstreet.com - £34.95

As you can see, it has pretty little individual drawers for you to fill with your own treats and treasures and each drawer has a Christmas image - including penguins. I don't actually remember penguins being involved in the Nativity but I can't see any reason for not letting them join in the fun.

Would it be mean to fill each drawer with a household chore and then hand out a chocolate coin as a reward. Hmmm. Ever so slightly Gina Ford. Perhaps not.  

Further information: www.notonthehighstreet.com

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Review: The Corkcicle From iwantoneofthose.com

It's that time of year when our thoughts turn to gifts and the annual office fun that is "Secret Santa". Luckily I'm spared the later by dint of being a stay at home mum but I still have the challenge of flicking through the "Gifts for Him" section of various catalogues and the gadget reviews of the Sunday papers in the hunt for something suitable for male relatives that isn't i) beer or ii) socks.

Thanks to www.iwantoneofthose.com I have discovered a rather nifty implement to chill your wine quickly - both white and, for the more sophisticated, red wines. It's called the Corkcicle and is a clever gadget that you put in the freezer to, well, freeze and hey presto, you have an icicle with a cork on top which you then place in your bottle of vino to achieve the best temperature which, according to the chaps at Corkcicle, is somewhere between table and ice bucket temperature. Within 15 minutes (please show somé restraint grape lovers), your wine will have reached optimum temperature and will stay that way for over an hour.

Now I have to say that making a bottle of wine for two last over 60 minutes is something of an Olympic standard challenge in this household, but in the name of science and with the health of my readers' livers in mind, The Husband and I decided to give it a go. We can report that it does indeed keep the wine chilled.

Full instructions on how to use the Corkcicle are on the back of the box. If you're drinking white, you need to pour out the first chilled glass and then pop the Corkcicle in. If you're drinking red, merely pour out 'a taste' to make room for the Corkcicle. The Corkcicle is reusable, non-toxic and BPA free - just remember it is handwash only.

In-depth scientific research fearlessly carried out on your behalf

The Corkcicle is available at iwantoneofthose.com at £18.99 with free standard delivery. There are also free shot glasses when you spend over £20 on Bar, Beer & Wine. As unusual gifts go, this one's quite n-ice.

*A PR sample was received for the purposes of this review.

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Silent Sunday - 10/11/13

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Review: Corina Pavlova at The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

What better way of spending a cold and blustery Saturday afternoon than cocooned in The Sherman Theatre's Arena whilst the kids are held spellbound by the puppetry and song of "Corina Pavlova And The Lion's Roar" at Cardiff's Sherman Theatre. All the more satisfying for The Husband is the fact that kick off for Wales -v- South Africa is not till 5 pm. We managed to find a car parking space in the nearby Dumfries Car Park and skate in with ten minutes to spare before the production starts.

"Corina Pavlova And The Lion's Roar" (written by Elen Caldecott, translated by Branwen Davies and produced with both English and Welsh performances) is the delightful story of a young girl who feels displaced by the birth of her brother and seeks a pet to play with rather than accept her new playmate. The help of strange pet shop owner Mr McAlistair is enlisted to find Corina a pet. Unusually, in this pet shop, the pets are allowed to select their preferred owner.

The stage was simply set and the cast comprised three actors who sang, danced and played a variety of musical instruments - the clarinet, the flute, the recorder, the xylophone and the accordion. The pets were conjured up by means of costume and puppetry.

Aimed at 3-6 year olds,Caitlin and Ieuan really enjoyed this show which had enough mature references to keep the grown ups happy and just the right amount of audience participation from the kids. I liked that, as with the previous production reviewed, Boing, there was a distinct and universal message in the piece. Here it was the upset that a new sibling can cause in a tight knit family group and the process of adjustment.

I won't spoil the ending but suffice it to say that the lion's roar is an excellent metaphor for this upset and the audience help Corina to finally accept that her family unit now comprises four, and not three people. As we drove home two little voices came from the back seat - "what show are we going to see next mum?".

Corina Pavlova runs from Monday 9 December 2013 until Saturday 4th January 2014, with performances in both English and Welsh. Tickets are £7 and there are no booking fees.

We are looking forward to a forthcoming production, "The Sleeping Beauties" The Sherman's Christmas show which is an adaptation of the much loved fairy tale with a twist. Aimed at the over 7s, the tale deals with the themes of friendship and, very topically, what it means to "be beautiful".

"The Sleeping Beauties" runs from Tuesday 10th December 2013 until Saturday 4th January 2014. Tickets are £15-£25 for grown ups and half price for the Under 25s. Again, there are no booking fees.

Further information is available at:- www.shermancymru.co.uk. The box office telephone number is 02920546900.

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Review: Psychologies Magazine - December Issue 2013

I have long been an avid reader of women's magazines. I have been hopelessly seduced by the promise of a quick-fix, easy route to a glamorous lifestyle.  I have been teased by the idea of dressing up like a Hollywood Siren on a ragamuffin's budget and tortured by endless advertisements for bags and shoes that, short of selling my soul to the Devil himself, I am unlikely to attain by legal methods.

But over the last few years, I have fallen distinctly albeit gradually out of love with them, save stalwarts such as Women & Home and Good Housekeeping which seem to have stayed true to their original ethos and maintained their quality and standard of writing.

I had been aware of "Psychologies" but had lumped it in my mind together with magazines by Oprah and other American journals featuring happy clappy advice about loving yourself and saving the universe through positive thinking.  

I have to say that, having reviewed, the December 2013 issue (the 99th in fact) of Psychologies, I have been pleasantly surprised to find a glossy magazine with a writing style suited to readers who relish intelligent, informed material which makes them think and actually offers useful advice. 

Psychologies is a mix of thought provoking articles such as "Speaking Up" (the danger of being too quietly spoken may hinder your career development as a woman) and "The (Un)fairytale ending" in which a Catholic divorcee talks about her feelings of guilt and isolation as a result of opting to leave her marriage after just a year.

The magazine contains sections such as "The Life Lab" (a mix of self-help, wise words, special reports and experiments).

The Boost contains information about beauty, wellbeing, home, living, food and travel.

The section entitled The Fix contains news, reviews, books, film art and ideas. Every topic which you would expect to find in the glossy heavyweights is here - which surprised me. There is a fabulous article called "Cold Comforts" which talks about how to protect your immune system in the coming winter months and recipes for coconut madeleines (coconut is surely becoming the new superfood), cherry and cinnamon bundt cakes and oatcakes with pink peppercorns, with the idea of making these as Christmas gifts.

I have never been particularly persuaded to buy a magazine on the strength of its cover star.  I prefer to be tempted by the article straplines but the lead article with Julia Roberts, and a following one with Amanda De Cadenet (who I remember as some sort of wild child) do not disappoint.

I really enjoyed Psychologies and would certainly buy it. If you would like to try it for yourself, the magazine is currently offering a 3 issues for £3 trial when you subscribe with direct debit.  

For further information just go to www.kelseyshop.co.uk/psy/c101.

*A PR sample was sent for the purposes of this post.

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Fuller Figured Mannequins - Why Do I Feel Uneasy?

High Street retailer Debenhams is planning to introduce size 16 mannequins to its 170 UK stores. They will be displayed alongside the traditional size 10 mannequin.

British Equalities Minister Jo Swinson with Debenham's new size 16 mannequins, Oct 2013

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Now I know I should feel that this is a great step forward in terms of retailers accepting that the average British woman tends more towards size 16 than she does towards size 8 (according to various nebulous surveys). I know that I should probably be applauding any attempt to help women love and appreciate the size they are.

But this move makes me feel vaguely uneasy. I'm more concerned that we are daily becoming more accepting of being overweight and increasing mannequin size is a tacit admission that the dial on the scales is moving ever-upwards.

And the real motive behind the increase in mannequin size is, in my mind, simply to sell more dresses without irritating the hell out of women who are fed up of never finding a size above a 12 on the rack.

Will other stores follow Debenhams lead? For this to work, merchandising and stocking will have to reflect the change. More larger sizes will need to be stocked. Is there anything more frustrating than having to cue at customer services to have an assistant ring round or checking online with other branches to see if your size is available, and you then having to wait a week or so for it to arrive?

And will this policy be rolled out unilaterally?  By that I mean will all stores operate in exactly the same way? For example, many stores seem to run a ridiculous system whereby keynote pieces are available in limited numbers only in prime store locations such as Marble Arch or Oxford Street - and certainly not here in Cardiff.

Are designers really going to be happy to put their name to clothes catering to larger sizes?

Certainly there is a plethora of new online / catalogue retailers challenging Evans plus size crown - Curvissa, and SimplyBe to name just two.  I'm not sure if I'm even allowed to use the term plus size now because it sounds derogatory.

We've got ourselves in a right mess regarding weight issues, haven't we?  We can't discuss being overweight (God forbid you should use the term obese) without giving offence or sounding as if we're being 'sizeist' but I think we need to.  Size 16 certainly isn't fat.  It's more the subtle acceptance of our increasing size that gives me concern.

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I've Been A Bit Distracted By ...Henry Holland At Debenhams - 06/11/13

Lots of so-called Christmas jumpers would frighten a reindeer and make you vaguely resemble Gyles Brandreth's aunt.

This one is quite cute though. It's by the designer Henry Holland (his H! range at Debenhams) and features a cute robin plus a boat neck and fold up cuff sleeves. 

H! by Henry Holland Designer White Robin Jumper - Debenhams - £40.00

If you want to channel your inner Jayne Torvill, you'll have to supply your own ice skates.

Further information at www.debenhams.com.

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Win 10 x 1 month's supply of Germany's Number One Slimming Supplement, formoline L112

This giveaway is now closed but you can find all my current competitions on my competitions page.

If you’re worrying whether there’s still time to squeeze into your favourite LBD before the festivities begin, then formoline L112 can lend a helping hand.

Germany’s number 1 slimming product, formoline L112 is a certified Class lll medical device.

formoline L112

But this is no ordinary slimming pill. This is a practical ‘engineering’ solution to an essentially simple but persistent problem: if you consume more energy than you need for your body to function, your body stores the excess as fat. So to lose weight or prevent weight gain you need to reverse that equation.

formoline L112 helps you do just that. By using a naturally derived fibre that binds with fats, formoline reduces the overall calorie intake from food by removing a significant proportion of dietary fats at source, in the stomach.

The fibre is entirely inert, none is metabolised, and it passes safely through the system with the bound fats, removing them from your body before they are digested.

formoline L112 works specifically on fats (not sugar-based foods or carbohydrates) and so is most effective when calories are derived from a diet rich in processed foods that contain large amounts of saturated and trans fats. Unlike some fat-binding supplements, formoline does not require you to be in the close vicinity of a bathroom at all times.

Results show a possible weight loss of 7kg over a 4-week period.

formoline L112 can be used as part of a systematic weight loss programme or as an occasional use product when it isn’t possible to count calories, such as when on holiday or when dining with friends, and will help you to manage your overall intake of fat and fat-derived calories.

It also promotes a feeling of fullness, so users may naturally consume fewer calories. It does not act on the body’s metabolism and is very well tolerated. It is suitable for people with diabetes as there is no carbohydrate exchange value and it can help to lower cholesterol intake.

formoline L112 is an award-winning, trusted slimming product that has graced the headlines in Germany (for all the right reasons), for more than twelve years. German users have learned to adapt their use of formoline L112 according to their circumstances and it is used as much by those trying to maintain their weight as those trying to lose excess weight. Now it’s time for slimmers in the UK to employ a little “weight loss durch Technik!”

formoline L112 costs £24.95 for 48 tablets and is available from pharmacies and health food shops nationwide, or online at www.healthstuff.co.uk. Call 02890 703100 for your nearest stockist.

I have 10 free boxes of one month's supply to give away to 10 lucky winners, as well as a £10.00 money-off voucher for every reader to spend on formoline online at www.healthstuff.co.uk. Simply type in SLIM112 when prompted at the checkout.

Simply enter via the Rafflecopter below.  The usual Terms & Conditions apply and the competition ends on Friday 6th December.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: Nakd Snack Bars

The arrival of a box of lovely Nakd snack bars for us to try was extremely timely. Having just lapsed in the ways of confectionery over the weekend, viz one Twix and one Kinder Bueno whilst stranded at Hereford Railway Station (don't ask) and having left The Husband in charge of the snack cupboard (or as the Domestic Goddess Nigella herself, would refer to it  "The Gillian McKeith", far too much fat and sugar was consumed by us all.  

A Box of Nakd Gorgeousness

The Nakd range of snack bars (made by Natural Balance Foods) includes Cocoa Mint, Banana Crunch, Cocoa Crunch, Strawberry Crunch, Caffe Mocha, Ginger Bread and Cocoa Orange. Their ingredients are fruit, such as dates, nuts, such as cashews, fruit juice to bind and the odd touch of natural flavouring, e.g. natural mint and chocolate in the Cocoa Mint bar. The bars are 100% natural, gluten, wheat and dairy free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. They are also an excellent source of protein, as much as 18% in the case of some of the bars, such as the Banana Crunch bar.

In terms of calories, for example, the Banana Crunch bar is 108 calories and the Cocoa Orange bar is 145 calories. Much better than, say a four finger KitKat which weighs in at around 233 calories. This makes a Nakd bar a much healthier choice.

Caitlin & Ieuan tuck in to the Banana Crunch bar and the Cocoa Orange bar

The acid test was to employ the kids as taste testers. As I'm sure you know, kids are brutally honest about what they do and don't like and both of them made short work of their bars. The Husband and I tested Cocoa Mint which was rich with dates and cashews and had a lovely fresh mint flavour.

As Natural Balance Foods say "a typical cereal bar can contain as many as 30 ingredients, many of which are completely unrecognisable and several of which are actually just various types of sugar. Despite what it says on the pack we all know that these heavily processed, syrup-laden and additive-filled cereal bars are not really 'healthy' at all!"

Nakd snack bars are ideal for lunchboxes and keeping at the bottom of your handbag for bribery purposes when your children decide to have a monumental melt-down in the middle of John Lewis, or from keeping you away from the overpriced confectionery stand in your local train station!

Further information about Nakd snack bars and other healthy products can be found at www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk.

*PR samples were sent for the purposes of this post.

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I've Been A Bit Distracted By ... Fat Face - 04/11/13

Fat Face Softie Stripe Snood - £25

It is absolutely freezing here and so it's time to unearth the various moldering scarves languishing in the coat cupboard. I won't manage to find my gloves until around February when the weather turns mild again and will probably end up wearing a tatty pair of men's thermal gloves from the local garage. 

I am completely at a loss when it comes to wearing a scarf with any degree of aplomb.  I can't do that folding thing where you loop the scarf and wear it as a double layer around your neck.  And any other scarf makes me feel a bit like Princess Anne.

These lovely soft snoods from Fat Face will do the trick, adding warmth and a bit of laid back insouciance, and this one can be doubled up for a cosy layer.

I think even I could manage that.

Further information:  www.fatface.com

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The Reluctant Hotel Inspector - The Grange City 5* Hotel - London

Back in London for business again, the Inspector chose a hotel close to his client meeting and booked a room for one night at the 5* Grange City Hotel.

Grange City Hotel, London

The hotel overlooks the Tower of London and Tower Hill Underground Station is approx 2 minutes walk away.Fenchurch Street railway station and Tower Gateway DLR station are less than 5 minutes walk. Car parking is either on street by a parking meter or there is a car park on Tower Hill which has 110 car park spaces.

For history buffs, the hotel site incorporates the last remaining section of London's Roman Wall which stands undamaged.  The hotel is close to the Tower of London, Petticoat Lane Market and St Katharine Dock.

The hotel has 307 guest bedrooms, several bars and restaurants and a state of the art health & fitness club with a private gym, virtual golf simulator, a spa and a 25m swimming pool. One floor is dedicated to meeting space for conferences and events and there is a private club lounge for business guests. The hotel offers free WIFI in all bedrooms and public areas within the hotel. The bedrooms also have a high speed broadband connection if required.

The Inspector had an executive double room on the 2nd floor at a cost of £274 for one night (excluding breakfast). The room was extremely large with double bed, TV and desk and a separate lounge and office space. The room was nice and quiet.

The Extremely Spacious Executive Double Bedroom

The bathroom contained a bath, toilet, washbasin and a walk in shower. All spotless.

Dinner in the hotel''s main restaurant was a sirloin steak with mushrooms and tomatoes, plus a side of vegetables and fries.The bill came to around the £50 but the Inspector found the meal well cooked but average. The steak was served on a mound of vegetables, the majority of which was potato rendering the extra flies surplus to requirements - a point not mentioned on the menu or by the waiting staff.

This was the Inspector's first time at the Grange City Hotel London but he enjoyed his stay and this hotel is one on his shortlist when visiting the metropolis.

Coopers Row
London
EC3N 2BQ
Tel: +44 (0) 7863 3700

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Review: Breathease Cleaning Range Formulated To Help Asthma & Allergy Sufferers

Now, readers of this blog will know that its author is somewhat challenged in the "domestic goddess" department and I have to confess that, when it comes to cleaning products, my preference has always been for sprays and unguents which are nuclear powered and would strip the paintwork off the average family saloon car in under five minutes.

The Breathease Range, however, has been a bit of a revelation. Both my two children have had mild childhood eczema and I have never felt entirely comfortable having bleach-based products in the house. The Husband suffers from chronic hay fever or allergic rhinitis to the extent that any pet, with the possible exception of a goldfish, is out of the question. (At least, that's the excuse we give to the kids!).

Products from the Breathease Cleaning Range

The Breathease Range of products has been formulated with those who suffer from allergies or asthma and there are over 21 million people in the UK who do - that's nearly one person in every other household. The range has been independently tested through extensive user trials with allergy and asthma sufferers and the results were impressive. 90% of 126 respondents reported improved respiratory effects versus their usual cleaner. This has led to Breathease being the first UK cleaner to have earned the Asthma and Allergy Friendly accreditation, supported by Asthma UK, the leading Asthma charity. The products are proven to remove surface allergens whilst ensuring that airborne allergens are minimised, and also remove dust mite, mould and pet allergens.

The range comprises five products, four of which I was sent samples to test.

The Breathease Kitchen Cleaner 

The Kitchen Cleaner is suitable for use on cooker tops, sink and tiles and work surfaces and I found that it cut through grease on the hob with remarkable speed. Particularly noticeable with all the Breathease products is a lovely fresh fragrance which both the kids commented on.

Breathease Shower & Tile Cleaner

The Breathease Shower & Tile Cleaner is suitable for use on shower doors / curtains, tiles and taps. It cut quickly through grime on the bathroom tiles (I'm not joking when I refer to our house as "Downton Shabby") and left the sink nicely clean.

Breathease Multi-Purpose Cleaner

The Multi-Purpose Cleaner does what it say on the, er, bottle  It is ideal for cleaning children's toys and rooms without the worry of triggering an allergy.  Note that it is not suitable for wooden, painted or soft porous surfaces or items made of copper or brass.

Lastly, I tested the Window & Glass Cleaner which made short shrift of yoghurt smeared mirrors and hand prints on glass doors.  It performed just as well as my usual choice of window cleaner, Windolene, without the overpowering smell.

Breathease Window & Glass Cleaner

I really liked these products which performed well and left a really fresh fragrance. I also found that my hands didn't feel so rough whilst using them. We'll certainly be buying these in future.

Further information:  Breathease products are priced at £3 and are available exclusively at larger Tesco Stores.  See http://breathease.co/. For more information about asthma, please visit www.asthma.org.uk.

*PR samples were sent for the purposes of this review.

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Review: Boing! Family Fun At Cardiff's Sherman Theatre

It's been quite a while since I got to see what I'd term 'proper theatre'. We've taken the kids to see CBeebies shows with all the lights, dazzle (and merchandising!) in the Motorpoint Arena. So it was a new experience for our two to sit quietly in a darkened auditorium at Cardiff's Sherman Theatre to watch a piece of dance theatre lasting around 50 minutes in a fun show entitled "Boing".

Boing - an enchanting mix of comedy, acrobatics and dazzling breakdance 

The new front of the Sherman Theatre

The Sherman Theatre has had a massive overhaul without the original charm of the building being spoiled. The ticket office and cafe bar sit in a bright, welcoming entrance area and the staff were obviously prepared for an onslaught of excited children as they had thoughtfully provided colouring sheets, crayons and dressing up boxes. There was an easel with chalks to practise signing your autograph, a separate play area and a dressing up box with fun props.

Playing before the show starts

We arrived a good half hour early for the show so I was wondering how the kids would behave but they really enjoyed the items laid out, especially the dressing up box, and The Husband and I were able to enjoy a very reasonably priced coffee.

We were duly ushered into Arena 2 which is the smaller of the Sherman's two theatre spaces. The stage was simply set and lit with an enormous bed in the middle of the stage. The stage is at 'ground level' with the audience seated on rising tiers surrounding it. This gives the effect of actually being part of the perfomance.

Waiting for the show to start

Part of the Travelling Light Theatre Company, the inspiration behind "Boing" comes from director Sally Cookson (an associate artist of the Bristol Old Vic) who wanted to produce an early years piece about going to bed. 

The piece tells the story of two young brothers, Wilkie and Joel, who are going to bed to await the arrival of Santa Claus. The theme of sibling rivalry is also woven into the tale as the two brothers fight sleep in their excitement and end up fighting each other.

The two performers, Wilkie Branson and Joel Daniel, who both choreographed the show, skillfully kept the audience entertained throughout the duration of the performance - no mean feat when the audience is primarily comprised of little ones. Boing is a mixture of comedy, acrobatics and breakdance as the boys' bed becomes a giant trampoline and even a boat. Caitlin and Ieuan particularly enjoyed the pillow fight sequence and the bit about "Sheet Man". 

The piece captures well the excitement of Christmas Eve and grown ups and children were all equally able to relate to the feelings of anticipation and the frustration at the length of the night. All the more impressive when you consider that there just two cast members and the only props were the bed, two teddies and two Christmas stockings!

We all had a thoroughly good time and I left with the renewed determination to make more of the Sherman Theatre, which is practically on our doorstep. There is nothing quite like the exhiliration of a live theatre performance.

Boing is on until Saturday 2nd November. Tickets are £7. Performances are at 11 am and 2:30 pm daily.

I'd heartily recommend both Boing and the Sherman Theatre for young families - and there are still a couple more days of half term here to fill. This is a great way to spend an hour.





*2 free tickets were given for the purposes of this review.

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