Folding Bucket

Product Number: 174
How Much: £9.99 RRP
Where can I buy one: Trade:Kingstown Products.co.uk or contact Jody Allen at jallan@kingstown.uk.com.
Non Trade: Call ‘Inspired Choices’ on 08701 20 20 26

Cupboards and under-the-stairs hiding spaces are great ways to clean away clutter. Ironing board? Chuck it in there! Mop? Toss it in there! Vacuum Cleaner? In it goes. And so on, until eventually one day you realise that something just isn’t going to fit. When that day comes, it’s time to throw away your old bucket and call upon the folding bucket.


Measuring 5cm’s tall and approximately 26cm’s long, the ‘Folding Bucket’ is a space conservationists dream. It even comes in a case to keep the whole thing even more discreet. Thankfully unlike traditional folding products, the case isn’t designed to stop the bucket from ‘springing open’ again. The bucket folds up in a rather relaxed manner and there’s no springs or tight compression, making it just as happy to stand as it is to fold.

Instead of springs the bucket seems to fold by twisting the fabric around itself (imagine turning a can in two separate directions and you’ve got it). This is a little strange the first time you unravel the bucket as it means you won’t entirely trust it to stand up on it’s own the first few times. This fear is further enhanced by the crinkles in the fabric which remain no matter how hard you try to pat them down.


Thankfully this is nothing more than a minor fear and in an attempt to get over this I devised a little test. I filled the bucket up, left it for 30 minutes and observed to see if it made any attempts to fall over (don’t worry I was watching a movie at the same time as well, I’m not completely losing it…). When the clock hit 30 minutes I was pleasantly surprised to find the bucket had made no attempts to revert back to its folded state which means there’s really nothing to worry about.

Of course the next stage was actually lifting the bucket, and this is when you first realise that it’s really deceptively large. With the bucket half full (or half empty for you pessimists) I’ve got to admit it was heavier than I was expecting. That’s not to say it was impossible to lift but those of you feeling optimistic who want to wash the car in one go and fill the bucket to the brim will find yourselves faced with a very hard struggle on your hands.


For the rest of us one third full will probably suffice, and it’s nice to have that extra capacity just in case you really need to fill up on water. After all if you fill the bucket up with water than you won’t need to store those bottles of water in the cupboard either… It’s a space saving super solution!

BlagMUM: Union Coffee

After allowing my Dad to take over the reigns last month I decided it was only fair to allow my Mum (aka BlagMum) a chance in the saddle as well. This'll be a family business before you know it!

Product Number: 173
I started working in Birmingham a few months ago and soon become addicted to some of the designer coffees available on the high street, so when Blagman asked me to try some hand-roasted ground coffee from UNION I jumped at the chance. Inside the purple box the coffee was not only beautifully tied with ribbon but the smell was divine. This is just the sort of aroma to have wafting though your house when you are expecting guests. I always look out for the fair-trade symbol when shopping for coffee; so was very pleased to see it here. GM free too!


For me the difficult part was deciding which variety to try first. All the packets have lovely names including revolution/intense belief or the country of origin for example Brazil/elegant trust. The descriptions sound lovely too and must be written for me as 3 include the word ‘chocolate’. I chose the 4: medium/strong organic rich clarity and was amazed by how much coffee the 227g bag held – it was too much for my usual container! In no time at all my cafetiere was full of one of the nicest coffee’s I have ever tasted (it was even nice cold!). It can easily hold it’s head up against all the expensive designer coffees and beat some that I’d best not mention here! Even though I made it a bit stronger than I intended the flavour was wonderful, rich and smooth with none of the harsh bitter taste I’ve found with some other brands.


I will definitely look out for this coffee at the supermarket. Due to the special seal the packs stay fresh into next year and as an added bonus I now have a lovely purple box big enough for my 12” x 12” scrapbook papers and other craft goodies.

Hot Mate

Product Number: 172
How Much: £3.99
Where can I buy one: JML Direct.com

I’m not sure if another piece of circular plastic exists that packs quite as much intended functionality as the Hot Mate, but I’d be surprised if one did. Designed to solve all of the little niggles you may have from Microwave use (aside from those of you that feel it’s slowly killing us…) it solves three common problems:


The first is that of heat, or more intentionally the problem of having to remove a hot item from the Microwave without burning yourself. Anyone that has ever eaten a Ready Meal with cheese, or spitting vegetables will be all too aware of this problem and that’s where Hot Mate steps in. Despite the name ‘Hot’ Mate it’s actually designed to be heat resistant which means that no matter how long you leave it in the Microwave, you’ll still be able to touch it without feeling the heat.

The logic behind this is that you can simply slip the Hot Mate under your food, warm it up and then remove it by grasping the Hot Mate rather than your food. This is made easier thanks to two handles on the top of the device which you simply prop up before you cook your meal. When the timer pings you simply grab the handles and remove your food in a heat free way. It works too, and although it can’t stop the odd lump of fat from spitting at you, it’s a much easier solution than grasping the edge of a hot container.


Those handles don’t just act as handles either, because it you flip the unit over it will stand up on them. This neat trick means you can pop two meals in the Microwave at once by balancing one on top of the unit and sliding one underneath. With the ‘handles’ in place there’s just enough room to fit a small Microwave meal underneath or a bag of vegetables if you’re feeling in a healthy mood.

On paper this is great functionality, but there’s a real disclaimer that I feel should accompany the pack in this area. When cooking two microwave meals at once there’s a need to cook the food for slightly longer, so as to make sure both items are cooked. Whilst I could pretend to know why this is (Microwave rays being absorbed by two things = less rays?) what I can’t do is tell you the amount of time you’ll need to add. Although some meals do carry instructions if you’re cooking two things they only apply if you’re cooking two of the same things. Great for frozen mini pizza’s then, but for other products you’ll be left trying to recalculate the timings.


Last of all the Hot Mate also uses its heat resistant powers to act as a handy lid for your food. Good news if you’re sick of baked beans flying everywhere, and once the microwave has done its cycle the lid is easy to remove. It’s not a world defining function but it’s an extra use you may not immediately think of.

With three interesting uses the Hot Mate is a handy microwave gadget. It makes a perfect tray, a handy lid and does the job of cooking two meals well, provided you rejig the cooking times. That’s not to mention its use as a frisbee, cake stand, ornament rack…..

Street Gliders

Product Number: 171
How Much: £12.99
Where can I buy one: Amazon.co.uk

Got shoes? I’d imagine you probably do. Got wheels? Sure I’d imagine you’ve probably got a bike or car sitting around with some wheels. But have you got trainers with wheels? You know what I mean, those trainers with small wheels in the bottom that allow kids and reckless adults to skid and slide their way around shopping malls in much the same way Motorbikes are so good at nipping through traffic on the motorway, wheely shoes (as they’re more affectionately known by me) carry out the same crowd beating function.


However there comes a time when any pair of wheely shoes becomes too scuffed to wear any more or simply no longer fits as well as it used too. With normal shoes with wheels you’re forced to buy a brand new pair of trainers with wheels fitted, and you’re naturally restricted to the narrow selection of shoes that actually have wheels in the first place. To resolve this issue, comes Street Gliders, a new set of wheels which can easily be attached and removed from any pair of trainers.

This means you're free to pick absolutely any style or design of trainers you like without having to search around for a pair that comes equipped with wheels. You’ll also only need one pair of trainers for normal walking life and for wheel action. So if you find yourself walking down the street as mild mannered Clive Cent, and you suddenly feel the need to transform in to your wheel powered alter ego, you can pop on the wheels and go. Simple.


To initially set up the wheels requires a screwdriver (to free the wheels from their packaging) and an additional tool which is included in the kit. Essentially you’ll need to grab your designated pair of trainers, unscrew the Street Gliders and then move a small bar on the base of the Gliders so it fits your trainer size. You then pop them over your trainers, tighten them up and screw everything back in to place again. This allows the Gliders to grip your trainers whilst also giving you the flexibility to change when you alter your shoes.

I was a little apprehensive when first trying out the Gliders that perhaps they wouldn’t grip effectively to my shoe and that I’d probably end up flat on my face, but to my surprise, they held strong and kept me rolling along. I’d imagine they grip best if you have trainers with large heels, due to the way they’re shaped, and they worked well with both a pair of Sketchers and K-Swiss trainers which I used in my trial.


As for using them to get around, you generally lean your heel back and push forward. Surprisingly it doesn’t really take much practice to do and unlike learning to roller-skate I’d be surprised if you fall over at all. So if you fancy some wheels on your shoes without the long term commitment then this if definitely a positive stride in the right direction.

Pop Up Timer for Turkey and Chicken

Product Number: 170
Where can I buy one: Kitchen Monger

In the first of today’s timer updates comes the Pop Up Timer for Turkey and Chicken which is designed to ‘take the guesswork out of cooking the perfect poultry’. What’s great about these devices is that they’re ace for anyone that doesn’t see themselves as a perfect chef yet wants to learn the ropes without having to constantly bug someone by asking ‘Is it done yet’ every five minutes.


Cooking poultry is an especially unnerving process for the uninitiated so it’s nice to see a device that at least makes things a little simpler. Once the chicken is cooked to perfection a little pin sticks out of the top of the device to let you know when to remove this. Sadly there’s no marker or line so there’s still some guesswork involved in guessing when it’s actually done and it’s really no replacement for good old fashioned intuition once you’ve cooked a few chickens. As a handy trainer it has potential but instead of asking ‘is it done?’ you may simply be asking ‘is the pin sticking out?’ instead.

Egg Boiling Timer

Product Number: 169
How much: £4.99 RRP
Where can I buy one: Trade: Kingstown Products.co.uk or contact Jody Allen at jallan@kingstown.uk.com.
Non Trade: Call Housewares Direct on 08701 208 301

Another traditional product which you may have seen a thousand times before, so what’s the twist this time? Well this egg timer actually goes in to the water with the eggs and as the water boils it tells you exactly when your egg is hard, medium, or soft. The way this works is thanks to a white circle which fills up on the outside of the timer, and works its way inward as your egg cooks. As it goes inward it passes a series of lines and informs you of your eggs progress.


It works too and I tried it on both a soft and hard boiled egg with spot on results. The only real niggle is that you’ll need to check where the lines are on the timer before you pop it in the water, as once it starts to bubble actually reading the text becomes difficult. Of course you can always simply move the pan from the hob for a second to give the bubbles chance to subside if you’re in any doubt. Clearly it’s effective but there’s probably a more ‘ultimate’ product that you can actually read waiting to break out of the shell in a few months time.

Sidekick: Lord of the Rings: Online

A man can never escape his past, and likewise I can't escape my old pet project Gamerswave.com. Although the site vanished from existance in September 2003, I still occasionally recieve freebies from my old contacts in the video game industry. Mostly I integrate these reviews in to Blagman.co.uk to let you know about the latest gaming experiences, but occasionally having a Mac means I'm unable to spill the beans on the latest PC releases. But never fear help is on hand, thanks to the latest sidekick Martin Roberts, who was thrown in to the world of Middle Earth to bring you todays review:

Product Number: 168
How Much: £34.99 RRP plus £8.99 a month fee
Where can I buy it: Amazon.co.uk
Developer: Turbine Entertainment
Publisher: Codemasters Online


As a fan of the Lord of the Rings series, I jumped at the chance to try out the latest offering: Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. The main appeal to this game is the opportunity to explore middle earth as it is depicted in the books by J.R.R Tolkien. The game is set around the time Frodo Baggins leaves the shire on his quest to destroy the one ring of power. The idea being that players themselves get to embark upon their own epic quests in this magnificent world, and even interect with certain events from the books.

In this pre-release pack I received:
• 1 full copy of the game (DVD).
• 10 days early ‘pre-release’ access to the game.
• A large window sticker.
• 6 exclusive mini stickers.
• A limited offer for lifetime subscription to LOTR online (UK £99.99, EUR €149.99).
• An exclusive in-game item card with a code to retrieve it upon full game purchase.

After installing the game and setting up the online account it was time to launch the game and create my very own character that I can use to explore the world of middle earth. To start with, you're faced with the choice of race and gender of the character. The choices being:
• Man (male and female).
• Dwarf (male only).
• Hobbit (male and female).
• Elf (male and female).

Depending on which race you choose, will have an impact on the classes you can choose for a character, which will define the style of play. Thankfully the creators supply short videos that briefly explain the various races, the classes you may select and also their role within the game. Once you have a pretty good idea of what to go for, you make your choice of race and class, and then get to edit the appearance. Traditionally character creation in this genre of game is quite limited, but there's some real effort on show here. Hair styles, eye colours and skin colours are all in there, all with ‘sub racial’ traits depending on where your character hails from within middle earth.

Now it was time to begin the game. Looking around, the visuals are quite impressive to look at, given the scope of this game with around 50 million square miles to explore. The interface appears simple and shares most similarities with the online giant ‘World of Warcraft’, which I believe can only be a recipe for success.


The first major event that i encountered was to rescue the burning town of Archet from the bandits nearby, which were under suspicion for some time. Also other information tells me that as a Dwarf (quote) 'you’ll see Gandalf and face the result of delving too deep in the Blue Mountains' which is intriguing stuff. Sub-quests range from having to retrieve a stolen item from some bandits, to killing some pesky boars which have been picking off the local livestock. And also preforming errands and favours too.

You can gain experience by killing the local wildlife (boars, spiders etc...), and bandits/hostile foes. Or by completing quests. Usually the two are closely knit together though. By gaining the experience, you gain levels, which enables you to learn new skills from a trainer of your chosen class. These skills prove essential in combat and in the development of your character throughout the game.

Moving onwards, I began following what appeared to be an intriguing and compelling storyline. Whilst there are many other quests to do within the world, this main story continues to be the focus and just keeps me wanting to see just how it develops.

While I have only had a few days to investigate this game to see what it has to offer. I get the feeling I have just only scratched the surface with just what this game is about. This is definately one game that has the potential to keep the player entertained for months, perhaps even bordering upon years.

I-Can Opener

Product Number: 167
How much: £9.95 RRP
Where can I buy one: Kitchen Monger


We all have our kitchen kock-ups and mine has always been the humble can opener. Over the years I’ve had one can opener which refused to work and another which actually managed to unscrew itself as I turned it, and then fall apart in to pieces. So it was with relief that I turned to the I-Can Opener. As opening cans was about the only thing the 6-in-1 can opener couldn’t do let’s see what its spiritual brother can offer.


The main benefit is that is reduces write strain by being easy to attach as it clamps on to the can once you clip it in to place. This means no need to push down or grip the can opener as you use it. Annoyingly the can opener is a little heavy so you will have to at the very least place one hand on the tin otherwise the whole thing has a tendency to fall over to one side! Once attached you pull down on a lever like a slot machine and the can turns around all by itself. It’s quite ingenious to watch and by far the best can opener I’ve ever used.

Curious? Well the packet says 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' so it’s got to be worth a test!

Silicone Bakeware – Large Muffin Pan

It’s the little things in life that make things great, but they sure are hard to write 500 words about… So in wanting to share information on some of the latest freebies today I'll be bringing you another one of my famous round ups, with two more great little things you’ve hopefully never seen before!

Name: Silicone Bakeware – Large Muffin Pan
Product Number: 166
How much: £10 approx
Where can I buy one: Kitchen Monger


I’ve put this first for two reasons. The first is to catch your attention and to get you to read on, and the other reason is simply because if I left it till the bottom you’d probably skip it and assume it’s a typically dull baking tray. Well your eye line has been rewarded as there isn’t really anything typical about this oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe.

First of all it’s made of silicone which means it’s incredibly flexible, non-stick and even cooks a little bit faster than a typical baking tray! As a downside it’s not quite as strong structurally and a little prone to piercing (as is confirmed by a message on the back reading “Never use sharp metal tools to remove or cut food”).


To put the pan to the test I filled it up with Tom and Jerry cake mix, slapped it in the oven for 20 minutes and left it to see how it got on. On removing it from the tray I noticed it had changed in colour from red to purple which seemed a little odd at the time. Whether intentional or not this actually acted as a great indicator of when the pan was cool enough to touch. Once it returned to its regular red colour (in about 7 minutes) I could touch it all over. What made this even better was that I was able to push the muffins out from underneath the tray, and as the whole thing is non slip, they slid out with ease.

Prescriptives (The Nudists Range) Moonbeam Reflective Gloss

Product Number: 165
How Much: £13.00 RRP
Where can I buy one: John Lewis

As we have the word ‘man’ in our title we’re sometimes incorrectly seen as a site for men only which couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure we occasionally like to indulge in mass shaving foam reviews and a bit of male waxing but that doesn’t mean we don’t also take the time to explore things like the Claritweeze tweezers or L’Oreal lip glosses. Our latest acquisition comes courtesy of Prescriptives - a high end makeup brand – and more specifically their new Moonbeam reflective lip gloss which Marie will now investigate:


Coming fresh from their new range ‘The Nudists’ (sorry if you came here via Google and were expecting something a little saucier) the moonbeam gloss we received came in two distinct shades: Summer Constellation 02 (a subtle yet elegant shade of pink) and Summer Solstice 01 (a browner darker shade, which still maintains a lightened tone). You’ll notice from the above shot that the lip glosses appear to be comprised of three different colours, and the end effect on your lips is something of a mixture of the three.


Despite this merging of colours there’s no worry of mixed and uneven colouring ending up on your lips. Each application goes on smoothly and there’s a general consistency between each colour which ensures fabulous lips from the start of the bottle to the end. A soft brush applicator also helps to even out the tones and feels as nice to use as the gloss is to look at.


Wear time isn’t much of a bother either and you’ll get quite a few hours of wear from each application. Other interesting points include the creamy yet slightly minty ice crème smell of the Summer Constellation 02 and the shimmery pink gold effect on Summer Solstice 01. The bottle itself also comes with a shiny lid which maintains a touch of class, yet urges others to look closer and see that all important Prescriptives logo on top!


Which is good news as this is my first experience with the Prescriptives brand and as a treat I found them irresistible. Although they are pricey when compared to the L’Oreal lip glosses I reviewed last year, the Prescriptives glosses do claim to bear a closer resemblance to the latest cat walk styles so try before you buy and maybe you’ll be embracing the Nudist philosophy soon!

Mercury Meltdown Revolution (Wii)

Product Number: 164
How Much: £39.99 RRP
Where can I buy one: Amazon.co.uk

I’ve been wanting to write about the Nintendo Wii ever since it was released last year as it perfectly sums up what we’re all about. A breakthrough product that appeals to people yet might be overlooked as nothing more than a novelty. Thankfully Nintendo have effectively carpet bombed every major TV station with adverts so everyone out there knows about the console and what it can offer so any more words I have on the subject would be pointless. But what of the overlooked gems that can’t afford that kind of market exposure? The unique treasures that take that machine even further? Well we’re there to give them some time in the spotlight too.


Mercury Meltdown Revolution is one such gem, and is featured on these hallowed pages simply because they took the time to send us a copy of the game. Like Super Monkeyball and Kororinpa - which may be familiar names to Wii owners - Mercury Meltdown tasks you with guiding a small ‘ball’ from one end of a maze to the other by tilting the maze with the Wii Remote. However, unlike those previous games your ball isn’t all it seems to be.


For one it’s made of Mercury so the ‘ball’ will change shape as it rolls its way around the tricks and traps in the mazes. Some panels will make it hot and start to melt which sends little bits of mercury rolling off on their own course. Others will turn it in to a solid hard ball (allowing it to roll along pipes) or make it soft so it can bounce over platforms. All of these components mean that your blob of Mercury is constantly under threat, and even in its default form the slightest knock on a sharp object will split it in to two.


This leads to a hilarious scramble as you rotate the level and try to control two blobs of Mercury at the same time! This is tricky but it helps add to the ‘tongue between the teeth’ moments as you slowly tilt the Wii-remote (which is held sideways in both hands) left and right to try and reconnect the blobs in to one complete blob again. Unlike Super Monkeyball which was too sensitive, and Kororinpa which let you rotate levels a full 360 degrees, Mercury Meltdown Revolution fits neatly between the two and lets you carry out small movements easily, which is ideal given the number of narrow ledges you’ll need to traverse.

Splitting the ball in half is more than just a nuisance, and there are occasions when you’ll need more than one blob in order to progress. For example, one of the big features of the game is the ability to change blobs in to different colours by passing through ‘paint shops’, which then allow you to pass red, green and blue gates. When you come across a purple gate, you’ll then need to split your blob in two, find a red gate and a blue gate and then merge the balls together again in order to progress. It’s tricky but once you get the hang of it, you’ll soon appreciate the numerous puzzles this creates, and a handy colour chart is always on show to help with the colour mixing.


On top of 150 levels there’s also secret objects to find on each, time challenges and the lure of attempting to get all 100% of your mercury to the end of the each level without losing a drop. There’s even a few party games tossed in there for you to unlock, such as a fantastic racing mode, curling sim, tetris clone and a rodeo mode where you have to stay on a level whilst a fan tries to blow you off. All in all a complete package and although we would have loved some multiplayer support (everything is single player only) it doesn’t take away too much from a great example of what the Wii is capable of.

Mercury Meltdown Revolution hits stores today so be sure to look it up or head to Amazon.co.uk.

Button Up Shawl With Scarf

Product Number: 163
How Much: £19.99
Where can I buy one: Trade:Kingstown Products.co.uk or contact Jody Allen at jallan@kingstown.uk.com.
Non Trade: Healthy Living Direct.com

I’ve never been more confused than I was last night whilst trying on the button up shawl. Without actually looking at it properly I removed it from the packaging, undid the buttons and attempted to try it on, only to find a complete absence of arm holes. After grabbing in to thin air for a good thirty seconds or so I soon realised the cape like essence of the garment and slumped it on my shoulders.


It was then I realised that undoing all of the buttons was my second mistake and that trying to attach buttons whilst wearing a garment on your shoulders - which moves as you move - is actually a tricky experience. Eventually I found that by shifting one shoulder in the air and another in a downwards direction I could pop the buttons back in again and regain control of the garment.

Only then I was left with a dangling bit at the front which I had absolutely no idea what to do with. A quick burst of inspiration later and I soon realised the extra bit of fabric was designed to be used as a scarf and I swiftly swung it around in the air to cover my neck and keep me warm. Having never worn anything quite like this before I’ve decided to post the various wearing styles I discovered in my trials so as to aid others who may be confused by this unique fashion trend.


The Wizard: Whilst wearing the shawl raise your hands in to the air screaming “Begone spawn of Satan” or “You shall not pass!" and you’ll be able to pass for a Wizard in training. Better yet, it you can find an old rickety walking stick then no one will be able to tell the difference.

The Prophet: Very similar to the Wizard but in this example you’ll need to extend one arm in to the air and hold the other to your chest. This is to signify the authority of your preaching status whilst also keeping one hand close to your heart to give your speech an emotional impact. If you want to take this one step further you can even knock up a ‘Commandments’ style slab and hold that with your downward hand.


The Boxer: Are you ready to enter the boxing pit? Not without one of those giant gowns boxers seem to wear before they enter the ring and this is the perfect substitute. It’ll even make you look larger than you actually are so you might not even have to fight in the first place.


The Bib: Always spilling food down yourself? Then the obvious solution is to use the shawl as a handy adult bib. Whilst it’s probably a little fancy to be used for such a purpose there’s no denying that it does an effective job of mopping up sauces.


The Blagman: Inspired by This snazzy pose you can even use the cape to do ‘The Blagman’ pose. Simply cross your hands in an X, hold a product in each hand and look unashamedly smug and you’ve got it.

Of course the shawl has plenty of real world clothing uses too but that should give you some ideas of the ways you can embrace a fashion that you may not have tried before. Give it a go and see what creations you can come up with!

AZBOs Part 2

Product Number: 158-162
Price: £9.99-£12.99 each
Where can I get one: Trade: Nemesis Now.com
Retailers: Forbidden Planet, Tribal Voice, Equinox Gift Shop (Tenby)

Back in the 50 visitor a day era of Blagman, when I felt like I’d do anything to entice people to the website, I once thought about adding the site to a mixture of ‘child-frendly’ site lists. After all back then the site had mostly reviewed toys and food, so it seemed like the early Blagman.co.uk could offer a safe haven for children. Thankfully I had a momentary sense of badness and realised that there are some things which just aren’t fit for kids. And after all we couldn’t really be the “review anything website” if we only reviewed products for under 13’s now could we?


Take the AZBO’s for example; Fantastically detailed figures but not exactly something you’d want to get in to the hands of young children. Heaven forbid that they would decide to take on any of the characteristics of the below band of misfits:

Alco Frolic (£12.99)

Each of the AZBO candidates in today’s update suffer from some sort of addiction and essentially that’s what shapes their grotesque appearance. Alco Frolics vice is obvious and her party lifestyle is fantastically illustrated with her overflowing pint glass and bumper sized bottle of champagne. As I mentioned last time I’m a sucker for the little details and this model in particular offers everything from exposed knickers, on-display bra straps, tan lines, and tights. Not that it’s in any way sexy, the half zombie like state of her eyes and mouth see to that but it’d certainly make a nice figure for any potential party animals in the making as a satirical look on their life.

Mosher (£12.99)

I have absolutely no idea how Mosher can support his giant guitar with such small hands but I guess the master model makers at Nemesis Now must be masters of balance. In case you’re wondering there’s absolutely no way to see Mosher’s face no matter how you turn the figure, it’s forever obscrubed by his long locks and punk lifestyle. Whilst the tattoo, and skeleton fingers are a nice touch I can’t help but wish he was holding his free hand in the air in a rock salute…

Evo Stick (£12.99)

Mosher may be stable but Evo Stick definitely is not. Balanced precariously on two angled feet but offblanaced by a skateboard and oversized spray Evo Stick is an accident waiting to happen. He was the first figure I took a photo of purely because I was so worried I’d topple him over and break him before I even got around to the article. Thankfully he’ll balance well enough on his own but the slightest knock may be enough to send him on to his back. Which is a shame because his graffiti splattered trousers and shoes and his paint stained hands make him a very interesting figure.

6 Pak (£12.99)

If the AZBO’s have a leader then 6 Pak would be it. Each of the figures contain cards detailing their ASBO record and 6 Pak includes such hum dingers as Address: “Wherever I Wantz” and Country of Birth: “F.U. “. Still once you get over the macho attitude there’s still plenty to like such as the massive boom box, obligatory bling and well detailed baseball. And don’t forget those white eyes without pupils, sure to make you do anything he says…

Needy Weedy (£9.99)

Last time I remarked how Phatso and Virus were adorable thanks to their rounded shape and Needy Weedy is just as loveable. Sure he may be so hoped up on his vices that he thinks he lives on Mars but you can’t argue with a figure that shows such fantastic hair. In fact with his large white eyes, tiny nose and detailed face you’d be mistaken for thinking Needy Weedy was an Anime character gone wrong.

That’s it from the AZBO’s and our un-PC period, so you can unlock the kids, free the pets and carry on as if nothing ever happened. But be sure to keep one eye open for the AZBO's, as they could be lurking on any street corner, or perhaps if you like then, on a shelf or dark corner in your very room...

ClariTweeze

Product Number: 157
How much: £5.99
Where can I buy one: JML Direct.com, Focus, Woolworths

I talked last week about the pressures ‘modern men’ are under to look good and shape up their appearance in modern day society. Whilst I didn’t entirely agree that visual tweaks were the correct way to be a ‘modern man’ it was indicated that perhaps being just a little bit less scruffy would help to cement the modern man image.


By comparison women undergo a much harder scrutiny of their image and it is for this reason the ClariTweeze has been created. Whilst men can get away with simply shaving there’s a perception that women must go further, and that each hair in their eyebrows must be neat and plucked to perfection. Thankfully there’s no reason why this should take more than a minute or so and ClariTweeze is on hand to speed up the process indefinitely.

The first feature of ClariTweeze is a small magnifier that you can flip around in order to get a better look at each hair. If you couple this with a mirror aimed at your face you’ll get extra magnification and the ability to see each troublesome hair one by one. It’s an effective touch and you can easily swing it around for when you require it. One brief observation that Marie spotted is that you’ll need to approach your eyes in a vertical and not a horizontal direction in order to see through the magnifier so you may have to use the ClariTweeze slightly differently to the way you’re used too.


The next feature is a handy light that you can use to gain an even clearer look for any stray lashes. This helps to light up any faint hairs that you may otherwise have missed, whilst removing any shadows, which would simply get in the way. Sadly this power comes at a cost of three watch batteries and although they’re included at first, you’ll have to shell out a packet to replace them later.

Last but not least there’s the tips of the tweezers, which are quite fat. This means they’re not quite as effective at gripping hairs as well as shorter tips would be, which is a shame as it somewhat takes away from the precision afforded by the rest of the device.


Which means that although the ClariTweeze(rs) still work very well there’s a general consensus amongst those who tested it that sharper tips would make it perfect. Despite that it’s still the best option for stray and light hairs that you may otherwise have missed and may be worth a look if you’ve got an especially fair hair colour.