Rover Key / Keyfob Programming / Reprogramming

Hello everybody.

Firstly, I must apologise to all those who have purchased these instructions from me over the past few months.

From May this year, Ebay revised their Downloadable Media Policy

Lotus Cars - Part 1: Seven,Elite,Elan,Sprint,Europa

Lotus Cars - Part 1

This is one of many illustrated classic car guides I've created for the community. I hope you enjoy it. If youwish to find out more about the classicLotus sports carart featured in this guide please click here.

The Elite, Elan and Europa produced by Lotus during the 1960s and 1970s will be remembered as delectable - and affordable - high performance road cars, that pushed forward the frontiers of vehicle technology, at a time when much of the British motor industry was bogged down with technical conservatism.

Lotus Seven 1957-1963

Having established Lotus in the 1950s with a series of racing sports cars, Colin Chapman then set out to widen the scope and appeal of his business, partly to provide financial backing for his motor racing ambitions. On the one hand he conceived the technically advanced Elite, and on the other he developed the rugged little Seven.

Lotus Elite 1958-1963

The sleek Lotus Elite was the first Lotus to be conceived entirely as a road car and as one might have expected from the technically adventurous Colin Chapman, its design was quite unconventional and remarkably advanced for the period.

Lotus Elan 1962-1973

The replacement for the Elite, the Elan, was a model that brought respectability and more importantly profit to Lotus Cars. Reverting to a separate backbone chassis for the Elan, power came from the Lotus Ford twin-cam and in just over ten years, 9,659 were produced in four series.

Lotus Elan Plus 2 1967-1974

Combining most of the qualities of the two-seater Elan in a longer wheelbase, with a bigger and more roomy glassfibre coupe body, the 2 2 was produced between 1967 and 1974. Graceful from any angle, the Elan Plus 2 offered considerably more room than the Elan and handled just as well. 4,798 cars were built

Lotus Europa 1967-1975

Although Lotus took very little time to bring mid-engined racing cars to a high state of mechanical excellence, it was several years before Colin Chapman was ready to use the same basic layout in a road car. The Europa appeared in 1967 and initially used Renault power before changing to the Lotus twin-cam engine in 1971.

Lotus Elan Sprint 1971-1973

The year 1971 saw the final development of the two-seater Elan with the announcement of the Sprint. Fitted with the new big-valve twin-cam engine and producing 126bhp, it was the last and fastest of the popular model. Total Sprint production between 1971 and 1973 stood at 1,353 cars.

Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!

Citroen Cars Pt 1: GS, D Super, SM, DS19, 2CV, 15 Six

Citroen Cars

This is one of many illustrated classic car guides I've created for the community. I hope you enjoy it. If youwish to find out more about the classic Citroen car art featured in this guide please click here.

This guide celebrates the marque of Citroen, a company that has revolutionised the world of the automobile with such classics as the Traction Avant ( 1934 ), the 2CV ( 1949 ) and the DS ( 1955 ).

Citroen 15 Six

Citroen produced its first post-war car in June 1945. This was the Traction Avant, which was largely constructed of parts which had survived the war. The car was available in three versions: the Legere ( or Light ), Normale and 15 Six models. The first two had 1,911cc four-cylinder engines, producing 56bhp at 3,600rpm, while the Six had a 2,867cc six cylinder overhead valve engine, producing 77bhp at 3,800rpm.

Citroen 2CV

The biggest small car in the world, the Duck was first designed in 1936. By 1939, 250 had been built, and it was finally released for mass production in 1949. Its most redeeming features - the roll back roof, the suspension, the removable seats and trouble free engine remained virtually unchanged throughout its life and won the car a legion of fans.

Citroen DS19

Launched in 1955, the DS was one of the most innovative cars of the post-war period, with such features as a higly aerodynamic line ( the drag coefficient was 0.31 ), front-wheel drive and self-levelling air suspension using a central hydraulic unit that also fed the power-assisted steering, the clutch and the brakes ( front discs ). The original engine had four cylinders with a capacity of 1911cc, developing 75bhp at 4,500rpm. Around 1.5-million examples of the Deesse ( including ID ) were produced between 1955 and 1974.

Citroen SM

Citroen had effectively taken over Maserati in 1969 and the Italian company designed a four-cam 2.7-litre V-6 for a new sporting version of the DS called the SM or Citroen Maserati. The letters SM stood for Systeme Maserati in the same way the DS meant Deesse or goddess and this deluxe sporting coupe combined the technical strengths of both companies. A little shorter, but with recognisable family styling it offered 170bhp and a top speed of 142mph.

Citroen D Super

The D series received a major facelift in 1967 with a revision to the frontal treatment of the car. Twin headlights, faired into the wings, replaced the single headlamp styling and, in addition, the driving lights on the DS were coupled to the steering mechanism enabling the car to "see around corners". The new styling gave the car a much bolder appearance and as such won new customers to the marque.

Citroen GS

The Citroen GS was released in 1970 to bridge the gap between the 2CV and the DS. Although a middle-of-the-range car, the GS contained many of the gizmos from the DS, such as the air suspension and a braking system with discs all round. Its horizontally opposed, air-cooled, boxer engine ranged from 1015 to 1299cc and in 1974, 847 cars were also built with Wankel twin-rotar 107bhp engines capable of reaching 175km/h (109mph). Around 1.7-million examples of the Citroen GS were produced between 1970 and 1980.

Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!

2CV Citroen Cars: Model A,Charleston,Spot,Beachcomber

2CV Citroen Cars

This is one of many illustrated classic car guides I've created for the community. I hope you enjoy it. If you wish to find out more about the classic 2CV Citroen car art featured in this guide please click here.

With its unassuming nostalgic charm, the Duck was the embodiment of an entire philosophy. After 41 years of production, and over five-million examples, one of the last truly distinctive cars of this century quietly breathed its last in Portuguese exile in July 1990.

2 CV ( model A )

Formally launched in October 1948 at the Paris Auto Show, the 2CV caused a sensation. Despite critical remarks from the press, more than a million visitors passed by three mouse-grey 2CVs on the Citroen stand and the orders piled up for the model, selling at the very reasonable price of 185,000 (old) Francs. The 9hp model A used a flat-twin, air-cooled engine of 375cc. It featured all-independent suspension, linked front to rear with drum brakes on all four wheels. There were no indicators, doors without locks, no ignition key (starter button on facia) and only one rear lamp.

2CV ( model AZA )

The 2CV underwent its first major facelift in 1960, with the introduction of a new front grille (with five bars). The heavily ribbed bonnet was now replaced by a smoother affair with only five ribbing lines and the side louvres disappeared in favour of a steam-lined air intake. The 375cc engine was at last discontinued in 1961. The only major changes that occurred during the 1960s were the addition of a third side window at the rear and another minor grille change, when the chevrons were moved up to the bonnet.

2CV Van ( Camionette )

Load carrying versions of the 2CV have an equally passionate following as the standard passenger cars. This unique vehicle began life in France as early as 1951 where it was known as the AU van or Fourgonette. It was fitted with the 375cc engine and had a payload of 250kg. Due to their corrugated appearance, these early vans were often scorned by detractors as "tin shacks on wheels" - but to their many owners they were a cheap and convenient way of carrying substantial loads with ease.

2CV Spot ( Special Orange Tenere )

The Spot is interesting in that it was the first 2CV special edition. In fact, "specials" were not common at all in 1976 and Spot was one of the first by any manufacturer. It featured orange and white adhesive body-stripes. Seats and hood were in orange, with and orange and white striped sunblind, which could be pulled forward to provide shade for the driver and front seat passenger when the hood was rolled back. The name Spot was an acronym for Special Orange Tenere. Today, few examples survive.

2CV Charleston

The 2 CV Charleston was produced in three distinct colour schemes, Delage red and black being the most popular. Originally a special edition of limited number, its production was extended to match demand. The two other Charleston colour schemes were light grey/dark grey and yellow/black and these were strictly limited in number. Charlestons were popular in Britain and Holland, less so in France. These models have the air of sophisticated town cars, rather than the practical, down to earth working vehicle, which describes most plainly painted 2CVs.

2CV Beachcomber ( or France 3/Transat )

Plain colours always remained more popular for 2CVs in France, although the France 3, a white car with a blue stripe to its panel and hood, did find favour. France 3 was a yacht entered in the America's Cup races, and part of the profits from the sale of the car went towards its construction and participation. As this bore little interest outside its country of origin, the same car in England was known as the Beachcomber and in Holland the model was called the Transat.

Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!

LED's and your car / motorcycle

There is a fair amount of misinformation about LED's for automotive usage.

So far the only light that CAN NOT be replaced by LED's is the main/high beam of your front lights. This is mainly due to the beam pattern produced by LED's. That being said ALL of the other lights in your vehical can be replaced with LED's. But I hear you ask 'Why should I change to LED's?' and the answer is that because LED's use less power than normal bulbs, so there is more power left over for things like your sound system or even for the performance coil and ignition system. More power = bigger/better spark = more horse power out.

The main thing to make sure of when using LED's is that firstly they are able to work at 12volts (as standard most LED's work at about 2.5volts) and secondly they are bright enough. I personally use LED's with a power output of either 1watt or 3watts (and believe me these are BRIGHT) and I can make a rear light for a motorcycle with only 3 x 3watt LED's and still have it completly legal and MOT'able.

When replacing indicator bulbs to LED you will notice that the flash rate increases hugely or on cars some of them try and tell you that you have a blown bulb. This is because the power requirement is so low, it is now around 0.7-1.4amps rather than 3.5-6amps, so you need to either use a new indicator relay (about 9 - 15) or ballast resistors (for 2 resistors from 3.25 to 11.98).

Some traders are using ceramic resistors which MUST have 1 per indicator changed, or for the metal clad resistor you only need 2, that is 1 each side (even though some dodgy information says you need 1 per indicator changed). The main advantage to using the metal clad resistors is that they get rid of the heat build up quicker, and as there is only a need for 2 they are easier to hide, I usually put them under the seat at the rear indicators as this is a easy to reach area.

When changing to LED's for your stop/tail light the MOT is a bit vague. But as long as your brake light is significantly brighter than you tail light, is not affected by the operation of other lights and emits a steady brightness, it should pass the MOT. There is NO way to measure the output of a brake/tail light (the official manual is online at UKMOT dot COM for clarification).

With some of the newer cars you have a 'Blown Bulb' warning light on the dash which lights up when you change to LED's, and the way to get rid of this is to use a resistor (wired in the same way as the rest).

THE SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL SELLING GUIDE

THE SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL SELLING GUIDEIn this guide youll find loads of comprehensive listing tips as well as invaluable info on selling successfully on eBay. Read on and enjoy, and if you find it useful, please vote Yes at the end thank you! ****************************************************

The impression made by a listing is crucial in making sales, so creating clear and informative listings is a must-have skill for every eBay seller! By paying attention to the following elements of your listing, youll stand the best chance of getting the best price for your item!

Item titleThe title needs to be a catchy and informative one-line description of your item. Within the permitted 55 characters try to include words buyers might use to search for your item, along with other selling points, such as New or Limited Edition (if applicable!). eBay also allow you to add a subtitle to your listing. This might be useful if you dont feel that you can sum up your entire title into just 55 characters of the main title. Titles show up in search results, so try to think of as many applicable keywords to include in your title as possible.

Item categoryIn eBay you can search for items in one of two ways: Firstly, if you know what you are looking for, you could simply type your keywords into eBays search facility (at the top of every page). However, if you arent sure of what item to look for, or just feel like browsing, you could navigate your way through the many categories available in eBay. As such, all items on eBay need to be assigned to the most fitting category. If youre not sure which category best suits your item, you could try searching for similar items to see which categories they have been listed in. If you cant decide on just one category, you do have the option to list across two different categories, though this will cost more than a simple category listing. Usually, just one well selected category is sufficient for a successful listing.

Condition of the item: new or usedAnyone looking to buy an item will want to know whether it is new or used. It is best to describe the condition of your item as accurately as possible. If your item is new, it is also worth detailing whether it is brand new and indeed whether the tags are still intact. If it is not a new item, try to add as much detail about the condition as possible. Dont forget that with some vintage items age will be a selling point! Try to put a positive perspective on any negative aspect of your item, for instance, the pocket might be hanging off your vintage jacket, but its a sewing lovers opportunity to get a real bargain and a fun project! It is best to be as honest as possible so that potential buyers know exactly what theyll be getting -nobody wants unnecessary post-sale disputes over the item condition, or indeed the item description

Description of the itemWhen considering what to include in an item description, try to think of all the details a perspective buyer would want to know. The more info you include, the more confidence you can instil in your buyer. If a buyer is interested but cant find all the info they need in your listing, they will no doubt be prompted to approach you with their questions. So by including all relevant info in the first instance, you can save yourself work further down the line! If you do receive questions from buyers you have the option to show the question and your answer alongside your listing. This can be really handy for showing even more info about your item and also shows other perspective buyers that you offer good communication! By looking at other listings, youll see that sellers seem to take different approaches in their listing technique. Some will be friendly and affable in their style, sometimes offering perhaps a little more info than is really needed, and sometimes actually showing themselves in a less than desirable light as a result. (Reading between the lines of a seller who has had to relist and item due to a timewaster can lead you to wonder why the first person pulled out of the sale). Other listings, however, will be exact and to the point, which is great from an informative point of view, but can make the seller seem unapproachable. I think it pays to strike a happy medium with as much relevant info as possible but with a polite and approachable demeanor. This can be achieved as simple as telling potential buyers that they are free to contact you should they have any further questions, and by wishing them Good Luck or Happy Bidding. Whichever approach you choose to take, remember that eBay holds sellers responsible for ensuring that all info is accurate. By making sure that all the info is available and true, youll avoid unnecessary problems and youll have happier customers and better sales which is our goal after all!!!

A picture of the itemOn eBay it really is true that your picture will speak a thousand words. Without a picture your item is not likely to sell very well at all, and by the same token, a poorly taken photo can be just as damning! It really does pay to include a clear, detailed photo of your item. There is no additional charge from eBay to include a photo in your listing, however, if you want multiple photos or a gallery photo further charges will apply. You have the option of unloading your photos to eBay to be shown at a maximum size of 800 x 800 pixels, and for most listings this service is perfectly suitable. If you are selling a more expensive item however, it might be worth adding more of your own higher resolution images in addition to the basic one offered by eBay. When adding your own hosted images you will not have to pay the additional image fees to eBay either, so it is seriously worth considering. There are several good websites that offer specialised eBay picture hosting just Google eBay picture hosting for a selection. Where it is so important to use as high quality images as possible, you might also want to consider using a Graphics programme to crop and enhance your photos. If you choose to use programmes such as Corel Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop Elements, youll need to save your images in JPG format ready to be uploaded to eBay.

Here are a few pointers on how to get that ever important money-making pic:A simple but really effective way to create a good image is by photographing your item against a blank background. If you can use a contrasting colour or shade of background then even better! Just think how much clearer and more distinctive a dark object looks against a light background.If taking a close-up shot, make sure your camera is set to macro. If your camera does not have a macro setting, try not to get so close that your shot goes out of focus. Consider taking your shot from a little further away and cropping the image down using one of the graphics programs mentioned above.When selling objects where size is important, it can be a good idea to create a sense of scale by photographing your item alongside a common, well known object or even a ruler. Good lighting is so important. If possible, photograph in natural light as this will give as true-an indication of the colour as possible. It may also help eliminate the need for flash lighting which can reflect badly from some surfaces. eBay offer the facility to adjust the contract and brightness of your image, so you can either use this to your advantage, or if you want to go one step further, again, the use of a good graphics package is essential. Listing format and priceAuction Format when most eBayers are out for a bargain, the auction format listing really comes into play. There are a few different tactics that can be used when selling on auction format, and to get a good idea of which tactic to go for when selling your item, take a look through some similar completed listings for an idea of the best format for your type of item. By starting with a really low, say 99p, starting price you are more likely to generate interest and bidding wars (every sellers dream!) If you arent prepared to risk not getting your desired price for the item, you could try starting with a higher starting price. As with traditional auctions, eBay also offer a reserve facility which means that youre not obliged to sell to the highest bidder if bidding doesnt reach your set level. Remembering that a lot of buyers are surfing for a bargain, this kind of listing can put some people off. Without the prospect of getting a great deal, some potential buyers may not bid at all. Generally, auctions are best for stuff that you just want to sell (and dont mind what you get for it), and also for high demand-low supply items were buyers are likely to bid against each other resulting in great sales!Buy It Now format these are listings where you can decide on the price yourself and where a buyer can make an instant purchase. Because turn around time is quicker this type of listing can be more convenient for both buyer and seller. The Buy It Now option can also be set up to run alongside an auction, giving the buyer a chance to snap up the item without bidding/waiting for the action to finish. The Buy It Now option is removed as soon as the item receives an auction bid, so by using this format which does cost more than a simple auction you are running a gamble, but if you are looking for a fast turn around, this format is the one to go for.

Postage and packagingThis is the amount that youll charge to the buyer for the cost of carriage and packing materials. It is totally acceptable to increase their postage rates to above the mere cost of carriage in order to cover the cost of packaging materials. However, if the postage price is set too high on an item (and if a seller is trying to "make" on the P

Rifle shaft flexes

There are a lot of sellers at the moment selling golf irons with rifle shafts, these are stepless steel shafts and unlike standard shafts are not labeled up with standard flexes. Where a shaft such as dynamic gold has regular, stiff and extra stiff (x) flexes the rifles have numbers 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 etc and this is where the confusion begins. I have seen sellers selling 7.0 flexes as stiff, this is Phil Mickleson's shaft of choice and is far stiffer than that. according toRoyal Precissionscustomer services department5.5 is there stock stiff. I would advise anyone to either contact royal precission through there website or to get web-fit on the same site. The site will ask you for carry distance details with a 6 iron and work out your flex from this (just be honest with yourself, we all like to think we hit the ball further than we do and that includes me) Alternativley speak to your club pro. Just remember if a seller says that shafts are for someone who carries a 6 iron 200 yards he greatly reduces the number of potential buyers

Wedding Planning Checklist

Wedding Planning Checklist

I have worked as a wedding corodinator for almost three years and after working with over 250 weddingsI have put this check list together - I hope you find it useful!

This check list provides a general guide to when you should carry our certain tasks in the run up to and after your wedding. This does, of course, differe depending on how long before your wedding we are now - so you may need to adjust the timings to suit your own circumstances.

To do as soon as possible . . .

Set your budget - be realistic and also try to establish who is going to contribute
Decide if you would like a civil ceremony of a church wedding.
Complite a provisional guest list for the ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception
Research and book your ceremony venue
Research and book your wedding breakfast and evening reception venue
send 'Save the Date' cards to your guests - especially if you are getting married at a popular holiday time such as August or Easter.
Decide if you are going to organise and plan the wedding yourself, or use a wedding planner
Choose your Chief Bridesmaid, Best Man and other attendants
Arrange wedding insurance
Select and book your photographer and videographer
Order your cake - you can decide on your design and colours at a later date
Decide on the type of music you would like for your evening reception - good Bands and DJ's are hard to find! Ask your venue for recomendations.
Book your wedding cars, if required
Start thinking about your wedding dress - and then start shopping!

Six to Four months before the wedding . . .

Choose outfits for your bridesmaids and flower girls - don't forget about shoes and accessories!
Choose outfits for the groom, best man, ushers and page boys
Choose a florist, and visit them to discuss your requirements. Always make an appointment in advance.
Choose your wedding rings
Order your wedding stationary - invitations, place cards, order of service etc.
Finalist your outfit including lingerie, shoes and accessories
Choose your wedding favours and any other venue decorations

Four to Two months before the wedding . . .

Send out your invitations - remeber to include information about how your guests can book accomodation at your venue
Book musicians for the reception and ceremony, if required
Organise your gift list
Discuss hair styles with your hair dresser
Finalise your cake designand colours
Book your honeymoon - don't forget to check passports and arrange innoculations if necessary

One to Two months before the wedding . . .

Buy all your accessories
Choose gifts for your attendants
Book your hair dresser and make up appointments for the morning of the wedding
make sure that everyone involved in the wedding knows what is happening and when.
Discuss any 'must have' photographs with your photographer
Check that the groom, best man, father of the bride and anyone else making speeches are thinking about what they are going to say!
Finalise menus, numbers etc with your venue

During the month before your wedding . . .

Try on your full wedding outfit and practise walking in your shoes! If your shoes are new use sand paper to scuff up the soles so you don't slip!
Pack for your honeymoon and order travellers cheques
Finalise your table plan for the wedding breakfast

The Day Before the wedding . . .

Arrange for the cake to be delivered to your venue (unless it is been delivered on the day)
Have a manicure - everyone will want to see your wedding ring so your nails need to be perfect!
Have your overnight bags delivered to the hotel
Relax, have a long bubble bath and an early night

On the Big Day!

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get ready - take your time!
Eat breakfast! Far too many brides don't and they do regret it - even if you can't manae much just have a little something.
Relax and have fun!

After the wedding . . If possible ask for family and friends to assist with some of these tasks while you are away on honeymoon

Have your wedding dress and other outfits taken home Have all your gifts taken home, or if you are going away taken to a friend or relatives house until you return
All hired items will need to be returned, so make sure some one colelcts them from your venue and takes them back to where they need to be!
Send wedding cake to any guests who weren't able to attend on the day.
Send thank you cards
Arramge for your dress to be professonally cleaned and packed away
If you have changed your name, make sure that everyone has been notified
Enjoy married life!

PROTECTING YOURSELF 100% AGAINST FRAUDULENT LISTINGS

I HAVE NOW REALISED WHAT YOU MUST DO IF YOU BUY ANY ITEM ,ALL BE IT A LITTLE LATE NOW IM 260.10P DOWN,YES PAYPAL ONLY REFUNDED ME 150 FROM MY ORIGINAL 410.50P PAID THEY WONT DISCLOSE THE SELLERS INFORMATION SO I HAVE NOW CONTACTED E BAY AND REQUESTED IT ,AND MY NEXT STEP IS THE POLICE,AS IT WAS BLATANT FRAUD. IF WE DONT JOIN TOGETHER ,IT WILL ONLY CONTINUE AND THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS WILL SUFFER,THE SIMPLEST RULE IS

WHEN YOU ARE BIDDING ON AN ITEM NEVER EVER BID MORE THAN THE AMOUNT THE SELLER IS COVERED WITH PAYPAL PROTECTION ,MY SELLER WAS 150, HAD I NOTICED THIS EARLIER THEN I WOULD NOT OF SUFFERED THE LOSS OF 260.10P,SOME SELLERS ARE COVERED UPTO 500,IF YOU BID OVER NEVER EVER PAY MORE THAN WHAT YOU ARE COVERED FOR YOU CAN SAY ILL PAY A DEPOSIT AND THE REST WHEN I RECEIVE ITS A LITTLE TRUST ON BOTH PARTYS THEN,IT WILL BE DOWN TO THE SELLER TO MAKE SURE THE ITEM IS POSTED WITH CORRECT INSURANCE ,BUT THE REAL IDEAL IS SERIOUSLY NOT TO PAY MORE THAN YOU ARE COVERED VIA THE PAYPAL PROTECTION SCHEME ,WELL AGAIN I HOPE THIS WILL SHINE A LIGHT ON NEW AND OLD MEMBERS ,IT DOES MAKE SENSE THOUGH, I THINK LOL WELL ITS WHAT I WILL BE DOING IN THE FUTURE,BEST WISHES SHELLIE X ps if you find this usefull please let me know :O)

SIDOZEY postal order scam - P. Dawood

Watch out for this seller, who asks for postal orders and then doesn't send the goods. Was trading under name of M. Joy, using Sidozey ID, now using name P. Dawood. Somehow gets ebay to cancel his items, so that you can't leave negative feedback. Please report to ebay and they might eventually do something about it. Looks like myself, as well as many others, have lost money.

Stamps Australia 2 Pound Kangaroo On Map Of Australia

VFU CofA WMK 2 Pound Black

Spyder ski jackets

I've just purchased a Spyder Ski Jacket direct from China, and it is superb ,definately genuine and (although I'll find out for definate next week)up to the job I would say it is probally the best ski jacket I've ever had. I have been skiing about 20 years so I have some idea.

The only differance between this and the really expensive U.S. ones seems to be the price. They are all made in China !!

Sizzix Sidekick machine for diecuts

I have been an avid crafter for about 3 years and have recently purchased one of these machine and what a buy........I only wish I had invested in this much earlier than I did, it makes great dies in no time at all. Athough it can only take the sizzlets and the quickcutz dies with an adapter I find this to be more than enough, these dies are a nice size to work with. I think that some of the bigger dies that go in the bigger sizzix machines are slightly on the larger side so if you only want to work with smaller dies then this machine is more than enough. It is very easy to use!!! well worth the buy, mine was bought on ebay for a fraction of the retail cost.

Mobility Scooters

Here is a quick guide to mobility scooters. There many things to pay attention to I'll try and lightly brush on most things.

Buying New - If you are buying new and there is a one year warranty on the machine, which their should be! It should cover all parts, CALL OUT charge. It will not cover tyres/punctures or batteries or damage that you cause, such as driving it into a wall. Try not to buy insurance for your scooter on the first year unless you go very far in distance on it. In which case recovery is all you should need - a bit like AA or RAC breakdown cover, they come and pick you up. Try and buy locally as buying a scooter from someone 200 miles away may not get you the same level of service should something go wrong. Ask how long they will take to come to you if something does, someone from far away may take 48 hours or more to get to you, you should not have to pay a call out charge in your first year if something is wrong with your scooter. So, paying a little more locally may pay for you in the long run. Also ask if the scooterdoes brake down in the first year that they can supply a spare of the same size for free? To me that is how customers should be treated. No good buying a cheap scooter if their is no back up customer service.

Second Hand (Used) - Batteries, the cost of batteries does change with the price of lead and on used machines this will be one of the first things you may have to change. Average prices at the moment in the London area are - They always come in 2

12v 12amp 130-160

12v 20 amp 140-170

12v 30amp alsocan be 35amp 150-180

12v 40amp 160-190

12v 50amp 240-270

12v 70amp 300-330

These are Sealed Lead Acid prices of Feb 2007. Some companies may charge a call out fee on top of this, should be no more than 30. Gel batteries are slightly better and you should add 20 to 30 to the prices above on each battery. There are many different makes of battery, some are a lot more expensive than the above so this just a rough guide.

Also try and drive the used machine a little before you take it home listen for knocking and make sure the brakes work by driving it down hill and "letting go" to make sure it stops. Insurance is probably worth getting for breakdown and mechanics as some parts on these scooters can total up quickly peope who repair them can also charge 50 an hour. So you could find yourself with a big bill, be careful.

New Strain of Fake Airmax Tracksuits

Evidently a new shipment has arrived in the UK and they have found their way on to eBay! As before, I say that if you're fine with buying fake goods then don't fret. However, make sure that you don't pay more than the goods are worth.A good starting point is the current Nike Airmax Challenge Tracksuit. This tracksuit is on sale at JD sports for about 70. Similar items have found their way onto eBay. The photo below shows the genuine article:Compare this to a similar item currently for sale on eBay:Notice the main difference here: The genuine article has a Nike tick on the left breast; the item above has Airmax. Otherwise the item looks fairly similar. The tag in this example is a very poor effort though.On the back, the original looks like this:The writing on the light grey detail on the back of the hood reads "MAX LTD. Designed to the exact specifications of championship athletes". Other than the white line going across the middle of the back, the rest is plain.There is also a rubber "Airmax" logo at the top which is hidden under the hood. The copied item looks like this:A big AIRMAX logo dominates the rear. There is no picture of the detail on the hood, but it does not appear to be the same as the geniune article. Finally, the bottoms. The genuine article has the following detail at the bottom of the leg:The item on eBay has the following:Clearly different, and in fact, the close up picture makes the material look very different. The genuine article has smooth material, whereas the one above looks like a rougher material. Signs that it would not last as long!The above item sells for 40 on eBay. Whether it is worth it would be your call. If you spot one and want to buy it, ask the seller to confirm the authenticity. I have scoured the internet, including searching genuine online stores for a similar tracksuit and have found none. The reality is that only JD Sports sell the genuine article, so unless the one you spot on eBay is an unwanted gift or used, it will probably be fake. The colour is also a giveaway. Counterfeiters seem fond of baby blue. As far as I know this item was only ever produced in White or Black.As for some more obvious fakes currently on sale, the old designs are back, albeit slightly revamped. The giveaway on all of these is the hood. They all have a contrasting colour on the hood. Take a look at this alleged Lacoste hooded tracksuit (Lacoste have not produced any hooded tracksuits to my knowledge):Notice any similarity? There seem to be any number of these fake items being produced and shipped to the UK. Generally, you can tell by the hood design. If there were further pictures with more detail we could also see that the designs are very similar throughout with the major difference being the colour. In the past I have seen virtually identical tracksuits for sale with different branding on them!Good luck and happy bidding!

A quick guide to Battery Types

This is is a very brief guide to the types of batteries on the market todaySingle use

Zinc Carbon

These batteries have been with us for the best part of 150 years now.

They are very low priced, and are great for low drain appliances such as clocks, and back up memory batteries.

Not for use in high drain appliances like radio controls and digital Cameras

Alkaline

This type have been with us for around 60 years now, and Duracell are the current market leaders.

These batteries on average last 2-3 times longer than standard Zinc Carbon batteries, and are ideal for higher drain appliances.

Lithium

Primarily used in Coincells ( CR 2032 etc), they have very long shelf lives up to 10 years, and a "constant" power output.

Some Digital Camera batteries also use Lithium, such as 2CR5 batteries and CRV3 batteries

Oxyride

This is the very latest in Battery technology, developed and marketed by Panasonic, these batteries will last on average up to 2 times as long as alkaline batteries.

And are ideal for todays high drain appliances like Digital Cameras.

This technology has only been with us for a couple of years, so there are only still a few places you can buy them, eBay of course being one.

Currently only available in AAA or AA size

Oxyride batteries

In independent lab testing, new AA-size Oxyride cells lasted twice as long as alkaline cells. That results in double the amount of pictures and more rapid flash recovery time in digital cameras. In other high-drain digital and electronic devices, such as MP3 and CD players, the batteries averaged 1.5 times more power than Panasonic's alkaline cells for more playing time. To demonstrate the extreme power of Panasonic's new battery, the company is showcasing how two AA-size Oxyride batteries are capable of powering a 40-pound car with 100-pound driver for approximately three-quarters of a mile at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Panasonic Oxyride Extreme Power battery - Next generation technology The Oxyride Extreme Power battery was developed with a technology based on a combination of newly developed materials and an advanced manufacturing process. The newly adopted cathode materials (Oxy Nickel Hydroxide and newly developed manganese dioxide and graphite) allow an increase in the quantity of the pouring amount inside the battery and a controlled mixing ratio, leading to higher voltage and current. Additionally, a new vacuum pouring technology enables the quantity of electrolyte in the battery to be increased, resulting in higher durability. With the combination of these technological developments, Panasonic's new Oxyride Extreme Power battery allows users to enjoy the benefits of improved power performance and durability.

Mercury

Old School 125's

I recently notice someone in MCN messing around with an old AR125 claiming it was worth a fortune because they'd done this and that. Truth is a used and abused AR125 would do well to fetch 100 notes from anyone in the know, heres why........

KAWASAKI AR125 1984 - 1992

Standard early models were about 20bhp but prone to seizure reguarly. They had the most unfashionable exhuast ever seen on a sports 125 that looked like it was from the seventies and finished in matt black. Later ones were restricted to 12bhp but fitting the older exhaust or filing bits out of the can which is very restrictive gives more power. Reliability is the trade off although 85mph wasn't a bad speed in the day. Looks like a mini GPZ900 so don't pay much and it's the slowest of the old school LC's.

HONDA NSR125 1992 - CBR125

Don't bother with older early ninties and eighties models as these bikes seemed to get abused more than any of the other 125's at the time. The 1992 model is good for about 95mph unrestricted and they seem generally reliable, should be quite a few good ones still around and are a cheaper to run alternative to RS and Mito 125's. Ended up replaced by slower more sensible CBR.

Suzuki RG125 1986- 90's

These were very quick, later models look like RGV's which still look the part today. Good for about 95 - 100mph, not many around now though probably a better buy than NSR.

YAMAHA RD125LC Early 80's

Can't have a 125 guide without the legendery LC. The first fast 125!! Good ones will do a ton unrestricted, handling will almost certainly need sorting, but it is THE CLASSIC sports 125 and the engine will take loads of abuse even unrestricted as long as it's kept stock and run on decent 2 stroke oil. May be on the expensive side because if their classic status but at the right price well worth a look.

YAMAHA TZR125 Mid Eighties - Mid Ninties

Evolution of LC with trick (for the time) Deltabox frame, clean early ones still look smart with a full fairing. Good for the ton and hugely reliable if looked after properly. Late bikes had 250 frame and fatter tyres but weighed a bit more. My weapon of choice!!

CAGIVA MITO 125 1991 - NOW

Early ones were supposedly a Lawson rep, but in 1994 they looked like the then new Ducati 916 which is reason enough to buy one. Comes with 7 speed box high fuel consumption (for a 125) and heavy servicing. Top end rebuild at 10,000 miles as part of service schedule!! (TZR's have been known to clock 40,000 miles before any rebuilds needed). Good for the ton although some owners claim speeds upto 115mph, but I've yet to see it when following them.

APRILLA RS125 1991 - NOW

These are probably the most popular 125's at the moment, appart from styling and a catalytic converter they havn't changed much over the years. Engine is barley any faster than TZR, but they often have a huge gap in the mid-range and require lots of clutch slip. Cheaper on fuel than Mito, but still big service costs with engine rebuilds every 10,000.

Hope this guide helps someone looking for a used sports 125 who's on a bit of a budget. Don't let someone con you because they've wasted money on some old crap and want to pass on the cost. I'd buy super cheap, then budget for an engine rebuild and a bit of chasis tlc with bearings etc. The Yamaha's are by far the least likley to go wrong and are not shabby on the performance side of things either. Don't bother with AR's and other really crap bikes unless they're given away, they were much cheaper than the rest years ago and only sold to those that couldn't afford the better kit. I know because I bought one.

Grammar-Punctuation(Easily Explained)

GRAMMAR-PUNCTUATION.CONSONANTS and VOWELS.The 26 Letters Of The Alphabet Are Divided Into 21 Consonants And 5 Vowels.LIKE SO:-a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z.A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.

Nouns.

This A Naming Word.Example:-The Dog Ate The Bone.Verbs.This A Doing Word.Example:-The Dog Ate The Bone.Adjectives.This A Word To Describe A Noun.Example:-The Shaggy Dog Ate The Tasty Bone.Sentences.This A Set Of Words Which Can Stand Alone.Example:-The Dog Ate The Bone.Pronouns.This In Place Of A Noun.Example:-The Dog Ate The Bone. It Was Tasty.Adverbs.This A Word To Describe A Verb.Example:-The Dog Ate The Bone Noisily.Conjunction/Joining Word.This As Suggested Joins Words.Example:-The Dog Ate The Bone And Enjoyed It.Hope This Is Easily Explained.Obviously The "BOLD" words are the Noun.,Verb,Adjective,Sentence,Pronoun , Adverb,And Conjunction.THANKS

Key Fob Reprogramming

I thought that I would share my recent experiences with trying to get Peugeot Key Fobs reprogrammed to my car.Having purchased a key fob from an eBay seller, I assumed that I would be able to reprogramme it following the instructions in the cars handbook. WRONG.So I purchased and downloaded a set of instructions from and eBay seller having been led to believe that they contained some 'secret' information. WRONG AGAIN.This information was identical to that freely and easily available on the internet.I have just had the locks on my car changed by a Peugeot dealer who supplied one plip and one standard key. I asked them to recode either the original plip key I had that did work with the car or the plip I purchased from eBay. NEITHER COULD BE REPROGRAMMED BY AN AUTHORISED PEUGEOT DEALER.The moral I suppose is be wary of eBay sellers telling you how easy it is to do at home and don't expect a second hand key that has been programmed to a car already to work with your car. If Peugeot can't reprogramme them, then how can an average eBayer?

The Paypal Chargeback Scam

I recently sold a phone on eBay for 420. The ohone was worth this much so I accepted the payment via paypal and sent the item via Special Delivery. The seller had all the relevant ffedback confirmed addresses etc. After a few days I get an email from paypal claiming a chargeback against my account and -420 in my account ( a negative balance ) and another charge for administration 8. Then I was asked to send proof of delivery so I faxed a copy of the receipt to paypal who told me they had recieved it. I thought that shouls sort it and ill get my money back, but I have just recieved an email telling methat the claim has been decided in his favour but his bank favoured him disregarding my evidence. So I am recieveing threats from paypal that if i dont restore my blance to a positive they will send debt collectors and transfer me to a collection agency. Paypal dont like sellers and beware and just dont use PAYPAL.

REgards

Gillette fusion power blades

I have just bought 8 of these blades from a powerseller and was pleased to pay 12 instead of 18 in the shops. However on receiving them the back of the packet was open. When my husband used the blades they are really scratchy and in no way of the quality you normally get from these blades.

The ebay seller had also withdrawn the item for sale after I had bought it which has meant there has been no option for me to leave feedback to let others know not to buy them.

Please do not buy any blades off ebay sellers, they are either fake or seconds. You will only be disappointed and annoyed at wasting the money! And make sure you make a dispute to paypal so these sellers don't keep getting away with it.

ME TO YOU TATTY BEAR ITEMS

Don't fall victim to some of the scammers on here selling RARE Me To You merchandise!

The vast majority of these items aren't rare at all, the high street is flowing with them...yet scammers on Ebay 'plump' up their listings to make the buyer think "Oh my God I might never get the chance to buy one of these!!"

The best examples (especially coming up to Christmas) are the hot water bottles and dressing gowns.

I saw a Me To You water bottle sell on Ebay for 23 inc P

how to spot fake aftershaves and perfumes

i recently bought a bottle of hugo boss selection off seller 777punto777, the box was sealed , but once i opened the box the lid was loose and the writing on front of the bottle scraped away easily, this is a sure sign of a fake fragrance, the seller has made his feedback private as he knows people are finding him out and leaving him negative comments, my money was refunded and a complaint made to ebay, be careful when purchasing fragrances, they are making good copies out there, and i would warn you not to trade with seller777 punto777.

Smoothie recipes

Hi, here are just six smoothie recipes some for when you are feeling good and some to make you feel good. Anyway I hope you enjoy.

Apple and banana smoothie serves 2

1/2 cup pure orange juice

1/4 cup semi skimmed milk

1 whole banana chopped into 4 pieces

1 whole apple,peeled and chopped into 4 pieces.

Method : Place all the ingrdients in the smoothie maker, blend fro approx 20 seconds or to your desired consistancey. Then simpley pour and enjoy. Great for breakfast.

Fruity apple burst serves 2

2 sliced apples

1 banana

1/2 tub of low fat natural yoghurt

1 cup of apple or orange juice

handful of mixed berries (can use frozen)

Method : Take out apple cores chop into fours then chop the banana into 4 pieces. Next add all ingredients to the smoothie maker and blend for about 35 seconds. Great for mid morning or afternoon snack.

Morning burst smoothie serves 2

1 Orange

1 banana

1 apple (peeled and cored)

2-3 tbsps orange juice concentrate

ice cubes and water for texture

Method : Cut all fuit into small chunks, place in the smoothie maker. Next add water and orange juice concentrate, then blend for approx 20-30 seconds adding ice for texture as desired. Great for summer breakfast or when you have had a good workout a real thirst quencher.

Banana Vanilla- Iced vodka smoothie serves 2

2 banana

2 small scoops vanilla ice cream

1 medium cup of semi skimmed milk

100ml of vodka or to taste

Method : Chop the fruit, place in smoothie maker add ice cream, mix and add milk ( a little at a time). Stop and add the vodka mix for another 10 seconds. Pour sit back and relax.

Smooth and chrunchie smoothie serves 2

2 bananas

2 scoops of vanilla ice cream

half a cup of semi skimmed milk

1 cadburys crunchie roughly chopped

Method : Add milk and crunchie to smoothie maker, blast them for about 15 seconds, then add ice cream and bananas blend for a further 15 seconds. The kids will love this one

Stawberry Ice smoothie serves 2

8 strawberries

8 ice cubes

100ml of vodka or to taste

one freshly squeezed lemon

Method : Put the strawberries in the smoothie maker then add the ice cubes, mix them together until they are slush like next add the vodka and lemon juice mix together until smooth. Poor and enjoy

As you can see these are mouth watering recipes and use ingediants you are likely to have instead of having to go hunting for mangos and papayas, have these recipes to hand and I bet you will always be able to make them. Do not be affriad to mix the ingredients up if you have run out of orange juice try pineapple. No vodka add gin or rum works well, aslong as you enjoy them thats what works.

Thanks for reading do not forget to click if this guide was of use to you. Thanks again

Boats,Speedboats,Canal boats, river boats, advice !!

hey E-bayers,
Im here to give you some advice on buying your your boat... may it be your first or 500th...

A few things to look for when buying the boat:

1) overall structure of boat and what its made out of (e.g. fiberglass,wood,steel) Choosing what a boat is made out of seems a rather simple thing to think about but its not !. wood can be rotten or weak, fiberglass can be cracked,split or strained. and steel can have dents,holes.

2) Make of boat (E.g. Fletcher,shakespeare, etc..) It's always a good idea to go for a well known trusted brand of boat, this insures that you get a good strong one.

3) Age of boat, The age of a boat is very important, especially when buying second hand. boats can rott and crack away throughout the years of not being protected properly.

4) Wiring on boat, May not seem like much to worry about but if the wires are not all connected and covered properly they can spark and cause the boat the ignite.

How to avoid being ripped off.

When you go to collect or view a boat there are a few things to look for,

fiberglass boats: cracks,splits,and strains (white stretch marks).

wooden boats: splits,cracks,mold,damp (on the inside)

steel boats: dents,holes, treated properly.

ANTIFOUL !

its always a good idea to make sure the boat has been antifouled below the waterline.... antifoul is a special type of paint that stops green gunk growing under the waterline. This can severely damage boats especially wooden ones. so its always good to get it antifouled everyone season or so.

ELECTRICS !

electrics are very important on a boat because if there not wired and protected properly they can spark and cause the boat to set fire ... thus for ... you... with no boat...

STEERING !

make sure the coils are firmly attached and well lubricated (ideally lithium lubricant) this can cause a boat to jam and not steer properly.... not great when your out at sea?

TRAILER !

always ! make sure the trailer is road worthy, this means ( no rust, good wheels and bearing, painted with hammerite or red oxide, no cracks, splits or dents, a good toeing hitch.)

I hope this guide is helpful to anyone thinking off buying a new boat, if theres anything else you need to know just e-mail me and id be happy to help you !

Thanks,Joe

P.S. please vote my guide helpful :)

Slimming world directory 2007

I am following the Slimming World plan and attend a group every week. I am therefore very surprised that the recipe books that are easily availbable at the groups or on-line are selling for double their cost. This is especially apprarant with the Food directory. Many sellers are listing it as a buy it now for 12 to 20 plus very high postage costs. This actually only costs 9.99 from Slimming world and you do not have to be a member to buy it. Just look on their website and contact your nearest consultant.

Slugs No More!!

I have been experimenting with different controls to prevent Slug and Snail damage to our Hosta stock on the nursery. I tried the usual beer traps or milk traps worked to a certain extent but only worked in a small area around the traps.

Hair clippings, egg shells, sharp grit, soot with little success if the slugs want to eat they will go over them.

Garlic extract now this is the one that gave the best results plus with added benefits.

The Garlic Recipe

Get two large Garlic bulbs place in a plastic bag get either a roller pin or hammer and crush the garlic the bag helps to hold the small crushed pieces together. Once finely crushed add contents to two pints of boiling water let it boil for 2-3 minutes or until the garlic looks like it is blanched. Let it cool best to do this outside it does smell a bit. As soon as it is cooled get an old pair of stockings and place them over the saucepan and drain off the liquid into a jar the stockings help to filter out the small garlic pieces. Now you have a concentrated liquid of garlic. With this liquid put two tablespoons into your watering can about two gallon size or 10 litres and with a fine spray rose on your watering can water this over the leaves of your hostas best to do it in later afternoon after the strong midday sun has passed over. Spray your plants every 14 days during active growth ie from the first shoots starting to emerge to late August-September.

I have found this mixture can be bought ready made called "Garlic Barrier" As it is totally organic it does no harm to the air or soil it actually improves the vigour of the Hostas and gives the leaves a good sheen which also helps build up good root systems as if the leaves are healthy they are able to produce more food to put back into their roots therefore producing more "eyes" so your plants will bulk up better. It also means you do not have to spray nasty chemicals so much only if you get a sudden outbreak of mildew or botrytis that you would need to spray with a fungicide. Yes I still use commercial grade slug pellets especially before the plants start to emerge as the garlic only works on the foliage, it leaves the leaves a nasty taste for the slugs they will bypass them for a hosta not treated with garlic. With slug pellets I only have to use 80% less than I did before I started using garlic so that is a marked improvement.

Try making your own garlic spray and just do one or two plants to start with so as you can see the difference with the Hostas that you sprayed and ones you left alone. Within a month you will see a good difference. I know the smell puts people off making their own but it is worth it I can assure you. Make sure when spraying the plants that the leaves are dry so as the spray will stay on the leaves and the liquid will dry on thus giving the protection. I only spray every 14 days but weekly would be even better. "Garlic Barrier" also do a granule form that you can mix in with the compost I tried this on 100 pots of Hostas but did not get the same results as I got from the liquid sprays but this was only a small scale trial it might work for you and there is hardly any smell of the granules.

Supreme recommended Tattoo aftercare.

Feel free to copy, print and pass on to your clients.

(1) Remove bandage after 4-6 hours. DO NOT REBANDAGE!

(2) Wash Tattoo gently with soap and warm water to remove all medication, excess colour and dry blood.

(3) Dry Tattoo by blotting with soft, clean, dry towel.

(4) Use only recommended ointment (a mild antibacterial ointment). It is important to use only a small amount. Rub in thoroughly and wipe of excess. DO NOT USE VASELINE.

(5) A slight protective scab may form in a few days (depending on type of Tattoo). DO NOT scratch or pick at Tattoo. DO NOT expose Tattoo to direct sunlight.

(6) Healing will be complete in approximately a week to 10 days.

(7) DO NOT soak in bath and NO swimming until skin is completely healed.

(8) Proper care during will insure detail and colour.

(9) If you have any concerns about your new Tattoo call your artist. Do not rely on information from anyone but an experienced Tattoo artist.

BE SURE TO ANSWER WHETHER OR NOT YOU FOUND THIS GUIDE USEFUL.. If we get good feedback we will add a lot more guides.

Guide to opening a restaurant bar or cafe in the UK

Opening your own bar, restaurant, caf or similar in the UKStarting up: Your first steps to running a catering business It is very important to get things right at the start, because this will make it much easier for you to run your business well in the future.

- Where you work Registering food premisesIf you are planning to start a new catering business, you must register your premises with the environmental health service at your local authority at least 28 days before opening. This is a legal requirement under the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991 and applies to most types of food business, including catering businesses run from home, and mobile or temporary premises such as stalls and burger vans. Contact your local authority for information on how to register. If food premises are used by several catering businesses (for example, a village hall or conference centre), the person who allows the premises to be used for this purpose is responsible for registering them. However, if you use your own premises for a catering business, you must register them, even if you use other premises too. You might also need to register as self-employed and/or register for VAT. These registration processes are completely separate from registering your food premises. Remember that you might need planning permission to alter premises. And you will also need to pay business rates on most premises. Contact your local authority for information on these matters.

- Rules about premises When you choose the premises for your business, it is very important to make sure that they meet the necessary regulations are suitable for the purpose of your business allow you to prepare food safely The following rules apply to your whole premises, not just the areas used for preparing food.

- Design and construction.The premises you use must be designed and built in a way that allows you to keep the place clean and to work hygienically. They must also be designed to keep out pests, such as flies and rats.- Hand washing facilities and toilets Your premises must have enough washbasins for staff to wash their hands. (This is as well as sinks in food areas for washing food and cleaning equipment) There must also be enough toilets and these must not lead directly into food areas.

- Washbasins Basins for washing hands must have hot and cold running water. And you must provide soap and materials for drying hands hygienically, such as disposable towels.

- Changing facilities You must provide adequate facilities for staff to change their clothes, where necessary. - Waste You must make adequate arrangements for food waste and other types of rubbish to be stored and removed. There are rules about the way certain types of food waste must be collected and disposed of. Contact your local authority for more information.

- Water supply There must be an adequate supply of drinking water at your premises.

- Other requirements Your premises must also have adequate ventilation, lighting and drainage. For more information, read Food safety regulations, which is published by the Food Standards Agency, or contact the environmental health service at your local authority.

- Food preparation areas All these rules apply to rooms where food is prepared.

- Floors, walls and surfaces Floors and walls, and surfaces in contact with food, must be in a sound condition. They must be easy to clean and (where necessary) to disinfect. In practice, this means that floors, walls and surfaces should be smooth, hard-wearing, washable and in a good state of repair. - Ceilings Ceilings must be designed and constructed in a way that prevents condensation, build-up of dirt, moulds, and shedding of particles. In practice, this means that ceilings should be in good condition, smooth and easy to clean, with no flaking paint or plaster. - Windows Windows and any other openings must be designed and built in a way that prevents dirt building up. Windows that can be opened to the outside must be fitted with insect-proof screens, where necessary.

- Doors Doors must be easy to clean and, where necessary, to disinfect.

- Equipment All equipment that comes into contact with food must be kept in good repair and be made in a way that allows it to be cleaned thoroughly and, where necessary, to be disinfected. Facilities for cleaning equipment Your premises must have adequate facilities for cleaning and disinfecting any tools, utensils and equipment used in the premises. There must be an adequate supply of hot and cold water. - Facilities for washing food You must have a separate sink for washing food (not the same one used for equipment and utensils) if unwrapped food is handled as part of your business. There must be an adequate supply of hot and/or cold water of drinking quality. Always use basins and sinks for the right purpose. Staff should wash their hands in basins that are used just for washing hands. They should never wash their hands in a sink used for cleaning equipment or a sink used for washing food. Equipment should be cleaned in a sink used just for that purpose. And food should be washed in a sink used just for washing food. Remember - Health and safety You must work in a way that protects the health and safety of your employees and other people who might be affected by what you do. If you have five or more employees, you must have a written health and safety policy, which describes your health and safety arrangements. For more information, see the Small Business Service publication, Small Firms: Health and Safety or contact the Health and Safety Executive at www hse.gov.uk or on 08701 545 500. - Fire safety You must carry out a fire risk assessment at your premises and take fire safety precautions to help protect you, your staff and customers. The type of precautions you must have will depend on a number of things, such as the size of your premises. For advice, contact your local fire authority. If you are planning to adapt premises, it is a good idea to get fire safety advice before you start the work. For more information, see Fire safety: An employers guide. You can view this publication online on the Office of the Deputy Prime Ministers website (www odpm.gov.uk), or order it from HSE Books at www hsebooks.co.uk or on 01787 881165. - Mobile/temporary premises If you run a food business from mobile or temporary premises, you need to know about the same hygiene issues as other food businesses. Because space is limited, the legal requirements are slightly different and allow greater flexibility. For more information, contact the environmental health service at your local authority. Mobile and/or temporary premises include marquees, stalls and burger vans. If the premises you use are only used occasionally (such as village halls), the law also allows some flexibility. Remember, mobile and/or temporary premises still need to be registered see Registering food premises.- Staff, suppliers and transport Recruiting and training staff Reliable and responsible staff are important for any business. If possible, it is a good idea to recruit staff with some catering experience and/or training. You must make sure that any member of staff who handles food hasadequate supervision, instruction and/or training in food hygiene for the work they do. So, when you hire a member of staff, you should make sure they understand the main food hygiene issues before they start work. See the 4 Cs. And you (or the manager/supervisor) will also need to explain to them how to do their individual job hygienically. It is a good idea for you and your staff to go on a food hygiene course. Short courses in food hygiene are available at three main levels: foundation, intermediate and advanced. National vocational qualifications (NVQs) in food preparation also cover food safety. It is a good idea to keep a record of any training you or your staff have done, because then you will be able to show this to environmental health officers when they visit your premises. Tip Suppliers Your choice of supplier is important because their reliability, and the safety and quality of the food they supply, could affect your business. It is especially important that the products you buy have been stored, processed and treated safely. When food is delivered, check that: it is what you ordered chilled and frozen food is cold enough (ideally below 5oC for chilled food, and below -18oC for frozen) packaging is not damaged If you have any concerns about the safety of the delivery do not accept it, or put it on one side until you return it to the supplier. Make sure it is clearly marked to avoid staff using it accidentally. It is a good idea to keep a record of what products you receive from which supplier. Then you will be able to contact the supplier later if there are any problems with the product. - Transport When you transport food perhaps from your premises to another venue, or from the cash-and-carry to your premises you must prevent it from becoming contaminated, for example with dirt or bacteria. It is especially important to make sure that: food is transported in packaging or containers that protect it from contamination chilled foods are kept at the right temperature (some businesses use cool bags and boxes, or refrigerated vans) raw and ready-to-eat foods are kept apart Vehicles used to transport food must be kept clean and in good repair. - Food hygiene Good food hygiene is essential to make sure that the food you serve is safe to eat. And it makes good business sense because good hygiene helps prevent food poisoning and protects your reputation with customers. When you are setting up a catering business, it is a good opportunity to introduce ways of working that will help you ensure good hygiene right from the start. The four main things to remember for good hygiene are the 4 Cs: Cleaning Cooking Chilling Cross-contamination You can use the 4 Cs to help you prevent the most common food safety problems. The following sections explain how you can use each one. - Cleaning Effective cleaning gets rid of bacteria on hands, equipment and surfaces. So it helps to stop bacteria from spreading onto food. You should do the following things. Make sure that all your staff wash and dry their hands thoroughly before handling food. Clean food areas and equipment between different tasks, especially after handling raw food. Clean as you go. If you spill some food, clear it up straight away and then clean the surface thoroughly. Use cleaning products that are suitable for the job, and follow the manufacturers instructions. Do not let food waste build up. A cleaning schedule is a good way to make sure that surfaces and equipment are cleaned when they need to be. It can also help to stop cleaning products being wasted or used incorrectly. Work out what needs cleaning every day, or more than once a day, and what needs cleaning less frequently. Your schedule should show: what needs to be cleaned who is responsible for doing the cleaning how often it needs to be done how the cleaning should be done It is a good idea to include cleaning instructions showing: what cleaning products should be used how the products should be used, including how much they should be diluted and how long they should be left in contact with the surface (following the manufacturers instructions) how the products should be stored (in a special place away from food) Tip Keep dish cloths and tea towels clean and replace them frequently. Otherwise they could spread bacteria. Remember Lack of basic cleanliness is one of the most common reasons for food businesses being prosecuted. - Cooking Thorough cooking kills harmful bacteria in food. So it is extremely important to make sure that food is cooked properly. Undercooked food could cause food poisoning. When cooking or reheating food, always check that it is piping hot all the way through (and do not reheat more than once). It is especially important to make sure that you thoroughly cook poultry, pork, rolled joints and products made from minced meat, such as burgers and sausages. This is because there could be bacteria in the middle of these types of meat. Proper cooking is essential to kill any bacteria, so these types of meat should not be served pink or rare. Whole cuts (such as steaks) or joints of beef or lamb can be served pink/rare at the customers request. When you are keeping cooked food hot, you must keep it above 63C. When you are serving or displaying food, it can be below 63C for a maximum of two hours. But you can only do this once. Then you must throw the food away, or cool it as quickly as possible and keep it chilled until it is used. Of course, different dishes need different cooking times. If you work out the temperature and time you need to cook a particular dish in your oven, you can use these settings and times to cook the dish in the future. But remember, ovens and other equipment can vary and go wrong, so you will need to check regularly that these settings and times are still right to cook dishes properly. Tip Keeping food hot - Chilling Chilling food properly stops bacteria from growing and multiplying. Some foods need to be kept chilled to keep them safe, for example food with a Use by date, food that you have cooked and will not serve immediately, or other ready-to-eat food such as prepared salads. It is very important not to leave these types of food standing around at room temperature. So, make sure you do the following things. Check chilled food on delivery to make sure it is cold. Put food that needs to be chilled in the fridge straight away. Cool cooked food as quickly as possible and then put it in the fridge.Keep chilled food out of the fridge for the shortest time possible during preparation. Check regularly that your fridge and display units are cold enough. Cold food must be kept at 8C or below, under the Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995. In practice, the coldest part of your fridge should be between 0C and 5C to make sure that food is kept cold enough. Use a fridge thermometer to check regularly that your fridge and any display units are cold enough. Food will cool more quickly if you divide it into smaller amounts and put it in shallow dishes. Tip Keeping food cold Cross-contamination Cross-contamination is when bacteria spread between food, surfaces or equipment. It is most likely to happen when raw food touches (or drips onto) ready-to-eat food, equipment or surfaces. So, if raw meat drips onto a cake in the fridge, bacteria will spread from the meat to the cake. If you cut raw chicken on a chopping board, bacteria will spread from the chicken to the board and knife. If you then use the same board and knife (without washing them thoroughly) to chop a cucumber, the bacteria will spread from the board and knife to the cucumber. Hands can also spread bacteria. If you touch raw food and do not wash your hands thoroughly you can spread bacteria to the other things you touch. Cross-contamination is one of the most common causes of food poisoning. Do the following things to avoid it. Keep raw and ready-to-eat foods apart at all times. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching raw food. Clean work surfaces, chopping boards and equipment thoroughly before you start preparing food and after you have used them to prepare raw food. Ideally, use different chopping boards and knives for raw andready-to-eat food.Keep raw food below ready-to-eat food in the fridge. If possible, use separate fridges for raw and ready-to-eat food. Make sure that your staff know how to avoid cross-contamination. - Storage It is very important to store food properly to keep it safe. Make sure you do the following things. Keep foods in the fridge if they need to be chilled see Chilling.Store raw food apart from ready-to-eat food see Cross-contamination.Never use food after the Use by date, because it might not be safe to eat. If you save cooked food to be eaten later, cool it quickly, put it in the fridge and use within two days it is a good idea to date food, using stickers you can write on, so you always know how old food is. Check food with a short shelf-life every day to make sure it is still within its Use by date. Follow any storage instructions on food packaging. Store dried foods (such as grains and pulses) off the floor, ideally in sealable containers, to allow proper cleaning and protect them from pests. Remember the rule first in, first out to make sure that older food is used first. This will help to prevent waste. When you put food in the fridge or storeroom, make sure the foods with a sooner Use by or Best before date are at the front of the shelf, so they are used first. Stock rotation Inspections Environmental health officers will inspect your premises to make sure you are following food hygiene rules. They might come on a routine inspection, or visit because of a complaint. Usually, they will not tell you in advance that they are coming. How often your business is routinely inspected will depend on the type of business and its previous record. Some premises might be inspected at least every six months, others much less often. The environmental health officers will offer help and advice on food safety, and can take action if they find that your standards of food hygiene are not good enough. In serious cases, action might include closing the premises or prosecution. The Food Standards Agency leaflet, Food law inspections and your business, explains the inspection process and your rights of appeal if you are unhappy with the way an inspection has been carried out.

- Rules about menus Displaying prices When you sell food or drink for people to eat or drink on the premises, you must make the prices clear, for example on a price list or menu. You must include VAT in the prices when appropriate (see Charging VAT below). If you add a service charge (a percentage or amount), or if there is a minimum charge, you must display this with as much prominence as the other prices.

- Describing food You must describe food and drink accurately on menus, blackboards and adverts. Any illustrations must accurately represent the food you are selling. Descriptions and illustrations must not be misleading. Descriptions like fresh, home-made and suitable for vegetarians can easily be used misleadingly. Visit the Food Standards Agency website www food.gov.uk, or contact the trading standards service at your local authority, for advice on how to make sure your descriptions do not mislead. Products described as sausages or burgers on menus must contain a minimum amount of meat, by law. Contact the trading standards service at your local authority for more information. Labelling food Usually, catering businesses do not have to label food. But if the food contains ingredients that are irradiated, or derived from genetically modified (GM) soya or maize, you must say this either on a label attached to the food, on a menu, or on a notice that is easily visible to the customer. The same rules apply to food that you pre-pack to sell direct to the customer (for example, sandwiches made and packed in advance in a sandwich bar). There are more extensive labelling rules for retailers. Contact the trading standards service at your local authority for more information. Selling alcohol You must have a license to sell alcoholic drinks. To apply for a license, contact the licensing justices at your local magistrates court. There are also rules about the quantities of beer, wine and spirits you can serve. Contact the trading standards service at your local authority for more information. - Law Lots of the information on this page is based on legal requirements under a range of acts and regulations. This section explains the main laws that apply specifically to food businesses in Great Britain. Similar laws apply in Northern Ireland. Under the Food Safety Act, you must not: sell (or keep for sale) food that is unfit for people to eat cause food to be dangerous to health sell food that is not what the customer is entitled to expect, in terms of content or quality describe or present food in a way that is false or misleading Lots of the advice in this booklet will help you to obey the Food Safety Act. For example, the 4 Cs can help you to maintain good hygiene in your business. This will help you to prevent food becoming unfit or dangerous to eat. It is important for you to be able to show the steps you have taken to ensure good food hygiene. If you were prosecuted under the Food Safety Act 1990, there could be severe penalties. You would need to convince the court that you had taken all reasonable steps to avoid the offence you had been accused of (this is called a due diligence defence). Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991 If you are planning to start a new food business, you must register your premises 28 days before opening. See Registering your food premises. Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 These Regulations set out the basic hygiene rules that food businesses must follow in relation to staff, premises and food handling. Many of these requirements are explained in the earlier sections of this booklet. Food Safety Regulations, a booklet published by the Food Standards Agency, contains more detailed information about the regulations. Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995 Temperature control is all about keeping food at a temperature that will keep it safe (whether hot or cold).. The regulations cover the following issues: the temperature at which certain foods must be kept which foods are exempt from specific temperature control when the regulations allow flexibility In Scotland, the regulations apply slightly differently to the rest of the UK, but the principles are the same. For more information on rules in Scotland, contact the environmental health service at your local authority. Food safety regulations, a booklet published by the Food Standards Agency, contains more detailed information on the regulations. - Checklist Have you registered your premises? Do the design and construction of your premises meet legal requirements? Have you considered health and safety and fire safety arrangements? Do you and your staff understand the principles of good food hygiene? Have you and your staff had food hygiene training? Have you considered what food safety problems there could be at each stage of your business? Have you put the necessary food safety procedures in place and are you making regular checks to make sure they are working? Have you registered as self-employed? Do you need to register for VAT? Are you keeping records of all your business income and expenses? Are you keeping records of your employees pay and do you know how to pay their tax and National Insurance contributions? Do you describe food and drink accurately?Do you need to apply for a license to sell alcohol? Some of this information was referenced from website: food_gov_uk site with thanks.

NEGATIVE FEEDBACK BUYERS AND SELLERS ADVICE

HAVE YOU EVER HAD ONE OF THEM CUSTOMERS THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO THEY LEAVE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, ITS A SHAME THEY DONT REALIZE WHAT THEY ARE DOING

WHAT I MEAN IS THIS, I AM A LARGE SELLER JUST A MUM WORKING FROM HOME WHO HAS BUILT UP A BUSINESS RUNNING A BUSINESS ON EBAY IS FAR FROM EASY ITS A SEVEN DAY WEEK AND MANY MANY HOURS A WEEK I HAVE NEVER WORKED LESS THAN 12 HOURS A DAY IN FOUR YEARS OF EBAY BUSINESS....

WHEN A BUYER RECEIVES THERE ITEM IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THEY SHOULD FIRST EMAIL THE SELLER, WHO NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN WILL DO ANYTHING THEY CAN TO RESOLVE ISSUE. HOWEVER I FIND THAT SO MANY PEOPLE NEVER EVEN EMAIL ME SO HOW CAN I HELP IF THEY DONT EMAIL

THEN I GET SILLY COMMENTS LIKE TO SMALL ETC NO OFFENSES BUT HOW IS THAT MY FAULT I DONT MAKE THE CLOTHES I JUST SELL THEM THE SIZE IS ON THE TAGS SO WHY DOES THAT WARRANT A NEUTRAL HOW CAN THAT BE FAIR

THE WORST ONE THAT GETS ME IS NON PAYING BIDDERS ITS A HUGE FAULT IN EBAYS SYSTEM, YOU SEND A NON PAYING FORM AND IF THEY ANSWER BUT STILL DONT PAY THEY CAN LEAVE A NEGATIVE FOR YOU IN RETALIATION

IF THEY DONT ANSWER TO UNPAID REMINDER FORM THEN THEY CANT LEAVE NEGATIVE BUT I FEEL SO STRONGLY THAT ANY TYPE OF NON PAYING BIDDER SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE ANY FEEDBACK FOR THE SELLER AS THE SELLER HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG

ANOTHER TYPE OF FEEDBACK FOR EXAMPLE

I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING............................................

I HAD ONE TODAY MY LISTING WAS FOR A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL NECKLACE IT SAID IN LISTING THAT DESIGNS WOULD VARY DEPENDING ON STOCK LEVELS, THAT TO ME IS CLEAR TO THE BUYER..................... BUT SOMEONE LEFT A NEUTRAL SAYING I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING A PICTURE OF TROY..................

THE BEST WAY TO REALLY SEE THROUGH NEGATIVES AND NEUTRALS IS TO WORK OUT THE AVERAGE FOR YOURSELF I GET AROUND 800-900 POSTIVE FEEDBACKS A MONTH AND ON AVERAGE 2 NEGATIVES AND 3 NEUTRALS...........IF U PUT IN TO CONTENT THE POSITIVES AGAINST THE BAD THEN YOU CAN SEE I AM A HONEST RELIABLE SELLER

ANOTHER WAY IS TO READ THE ANSWER THE SELLER HAS PUT TO FEEDBACK, THERE IS NORMALLY A GOOD EXPLANATION AND HONEST EXPLANATION

DONT FORGET US SELLERS WORK HARD VERY HARD AND NEGATIVE AND NATURAL FEEDBACK EFFECTS OUR SALES WHICH IN TURN EFFECTS OUR FAMILIES AND LIFE ITS THAT SIMPLE

SO DONT JUST SEE A NEG AND THINK THATS IT NOT BUYING FROM THAT SELLER CHECK THE POSITIVES AS WELL

New Afghan Kazak and Chobi rugs

A note about the age of many of the rugs and carpets for sale on ebay, particularly those labelled as Kazak or Chobi. Most rugs labelled Kazak are modern copies from either Afghanistan or Pakistan as are those carpets and rugs labelled Chobi or Ziegler. Production of these rugs did not start until the late 1980's when large numbers of these copies of Caucasian and Persian designs began to come out of west Pakistan and later Afghanistan. Any rug labelled Afghan Kazak or Afghan Chobi described as being old, antique or over 20 years old is misdescribed, in fact many rugs on ebay are brand new.

Tibetan silver jewelery safety warning in EU incl UK

Having purchased some Tibetan silver jewlery recently the following has come to light. An investigation by a UK assay office shows the base material to have 12.4% nickel content under a thin plate of silver. The Dangerous substances, Nickel safety. Instrument 1668 bans these items from sale in the UK as the nickel can lead to a dermatological reaction. Read the full regulations on the internet under nickel regulations and uk search or teg.co.uk, and then search for nickel.

If you purchase earrings of this type then ensure you know how large the ear piercing in your ear has to be to be able to wear them. In the opinion of a Birmingham valuers the size of the wire is too large for normal UK ear piercings.

How To Measure Your Radiator

How do I measure for my made to measure radiator cover?

Send your sizes to us as A = ?, B = ?, C = ?, D = ? when placing your order. WE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MEASURING ERRORS, but hey we're all human, we'll work through any problem with you.

A - The width of your radiatorWhen measuring the width of your radiator, please ensure that the tape stretches from the outside edge of each valve.

B - The height of your radiatorTo measure the height of your radiator simply place one end of the tape on the floor and measure to the top edge of the radiator.

C - The depth of your radiatorMeasure the depth of your radiator by placing the tape on the wall and measure to the front face of your radiator.

D - Your skirtingPlease measure the depth and height of your skirting- this allows us to make your cover a snug fit for your wall.

Vitamins Do You Have Enough?(If Not See A Doctor.)

Later in Life One Can Use These Vitamin C Zinc.(To help support the body's defences.

VITAMINS
There Are Many Vitamins And Minerals That Keep Up A Healthy, Nutritionally Balanced Diet. These Elements Are Needed To Convert Food Into Energy, Create Amino And Fatty Acids, Generate Tissue Growth , And Drive Many Other Internal Processes. Generally A Varied Diet Including Whole Grain Foods, Lean Meat, Vegetables, Legumes, Fruits And Nuts Is An Excellent Source Of Essential Vitamins And Minerals.
NOTE:Some Nutrients Are Particularly Important To Certain Age Groups. (As Demonstrated Below. ) But It Is Important To Balance These Nutrients At All Stages Of Life.
IF IN DOUBT? SEE YOUR DOCTOR !
VITAMIN. RDA . BENEFITS. SOURCES.

Vitamin 'A' 700-900mcg Night Vision. CHEESE; EGGS; SALMON;

Growth And Tissue Growing. YELLOW ORANGE AND Maintaining Healthy Skin. LEAFY VEGETABLES.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vitamin 'B' 1 To 2.4mcg DNA Metabolism. EGGS, MILK,YOGURT, 12 Red Blood Formation . FISH, SHELLFISH, Central Nerve System Maintenance. FORTIFIED CEREALS.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Vitamin 'C' 45-90mcg Controls Infection . CITRUS FRUIT, BROCCOLI Powerful Antioxand. BERRIES, GREEN AND RED Helps Make Collagen. PEPPERS, FORTIFIED CEREALS.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Vitamin 'D' 5-10mcg Maintenance Of Bones. FORTIFIED MILK, CEREAL, Maintenance Of Teeth. EGG YOLK, BUTTER, SALMON, MILD EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT. (30 Minutes in any Week)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Vitamin 'E' 15mcg Protects Muscle. NUTS AND SEEDS, Protects Red Blood Cells. VEGETABLE OILS, Antioxand Benefits. WHOLE GRAIN, Helps The Body Use. LEAFY GREENS.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Calcium 1000mcg Combination Of Vitamins 'A'

Roomba - robotic hoover - does it work?

Well in short the answer is yes. If you're thinking of maybe buying one of the new ones the 530or 560 then read on.I was sceptical to be honest, but when my wife's friend told her to get one, she insisted we go halves. So halves we went and off I trotted to get one. The new 530 model.It's smaller and lighter than you might think, and for that reason alone, you think, it won't work that well.But - it works. Charge it up. Press the clean button and off it goes. There's a little rotating brush like a strimmer that pulls dirt towards the machine, and underneath there are two rotating mechanisms . A brush and a rubber thingy that must do something.The dirt box, if you'll excuse the analogy, is small, and needs changing pretty much after every clean - tho the instructions say afterevery2-3 cleans.The point is that it cleans so well, it picks up loads, esp if you have a carpet or rug. The filter needs cleaning as well every few go's, But its a small price to pay for less earache. All that needs cleaning is very easy to remove in one click.. so its not a huge chore. And unlike a normal hoover or dyson, this thing's is very light. Of course it can't do the stairs, but this is no gimmick, and the dog loves chasing it.

So some tips.

1. Use it room by room - not two rooms at a time.2. Get as many obstacles off the floor.3. Clean after every 1-2 cleans.4. Make sure you clean the bearings - ie remove hair5. Give it a name. Ours is called Samantha. [update its now called Sasha]6. The advice is that the filters must be replaced every two months - apparently cost 10 for three from the web site - not on website yet, that info after a phone call - but - they look very much like you can wash them [rinse] and use more often.

Oh, one other thing, it has a docking function, where it will return to the docking station. This is very very cool. As it approaches the docking station, it slows right down. You need to see it to uderstand what I am saying.But if you're in two minds - get one. It will make clean the floors a doddle, and its a great talking point. For around 200 - its a snip it really is. And I promise I do not work for iRobot Corp.Have fun with it.

*UPDATE FEB 2008 - okay so its been going well for a while now, so some home truths. You will have to investnew side brushes..the small round brush that rotates quickly to draw dirt and dust from skirting boards. The one that was attached to the machine lost much ofan arm every three weeks or so.. it has about 6 arms that extend.. not a huge problem, you get a spare, but will need to get a pack.. PRICE about 40 odd for a pack of three , with spare internal brushes as well...it is easy to maintain.. but occassionally it is a bitof a ballache when the dust container is full, and you have to clean the brushes etc etc.. as you will read below, you have to do this every two-three cleans... It's still a must have though despite all this...

"4 GB" MP3 Players

Many people will be buying MP3 players around now, and Ipod nano clones appear to be most popular. The original Apple Nano costs over 120.00, so to pick something up with equal memory, with the ability to play video and jpegs along with an FM radio seems too good to be true. Sadly, it is too good to be true. It seems the vast majority of these items for sale on Ebay are not quite what they claim to be. They look right, and in the "Memory Info" menu, they display will read as 4 GB. However, it is possible to hack these players to display a false memory reading. You'll even see the files happily loading onto the player, but when you try to play back any files loaded after the reduced limit has been reached (in my case less than 500 Meg!) you get all kinds of file error messages with the bottom line being that they will not play.

Another annoying aspect these sellers expoit is to give the impression that they are based in the UK. In my case, the seller indicated they were in Leighton Buzzard and the items are pictured with Union Jacks, but are really in Honk Kong, so if it comes to returns or refunds there is no end of trouble locating them then agreeing who will pay for postage and whether it will be national or international postage rates.




This from mympxplayer.org , from someone who knows how these things work better than I do...


"I never thought there would be anything fishy about 4GB players because i knew Apple had them (didn't realize they use two chips), but after finding this site, thought i should check it out straight away.

The first thing that caught my attention is that most of the flash based players all operate with a FAT file system and specify that they should only be formatted with this type. Of course that means a limitation of 2GB. When i hooked up my player, i noticed it was FAT32 (therefore able to support drive capacity greater than 2GB) and after formatting it as FAT32 again, it worked just fine. I couldn't format it with the "MP3 Player Utilities" program though, obviously because it saw it as FAT32 but wanted to format it as FAT. Windows reported is as being 3.99GB after the format.

The next thing i did was fill it up with more than 2GB worth of stuff. This worked no problems. However, when playing songs on the player, i found that once it got to an mp3 that was transferred on after the 2GB mark, it would restart (as mentioned in some other threads). I played around with the amount of files on there, and found the limit to be just under 2 billion bytes, ie: "2GB", or 1.86 real gigabytes.

I thought i'd give the hardware the benefit of the doubt and put it down to a software issue whereby the player couldn't support more than 2GB of data in the mp4 directory, so i created a new directory in the root and chucked mp3s in there aswell. Functionality of the mp3 player was fine, (ie: no restarting), but after transferring those files back onto the computer, they sounded all over the shop, as though they were playing random bits of the previous mp3 i had listened to. Windows seemed to think they were properly sized though.

This left me with the option of physically checking the memory, so i pulled apart the player tonight and checked it out. The memory is:

SAMSUNG 616
K9WAG08U1M
PCB0

Looking at Samsung's site, there are 3 versions in the family of flash. You can download the specification data sheet -here-

The base chip is the K9K8G08U0M, which is 1G x 8bit, and the K9WAG08U1M (2G x 8bit) and K9NBG08U5M (4G x 8 bit) chips are based off that. The website is -here-.

So basically,
K9K8G08U0M = 1GB
K9WAG08U1M = 2GB
K9NBG08U5M = 4GB

The part number decoder can be found -here-.
8G stands for 1GB, AG stands for 2GB, and BG stands for 4GB

Looking at pics of a 4GB Apple ipod nano, i noticed that my chip was the same. But looking closer you can see that the daughterboard which houses the flash has a chip on both sides, ie: 2x 2GB chips to make up 4GB. Pics -here-.

So it turns out my 4GB player is really a 2GB player
I am going to put it back together and contact the ebay guy and see how i go with that. I am not expecting much, but i forked out an extra $75 to go to 4GB so i have nothing to lose.

What i would like to know is how Windows (and the player itself) thinks it's a 4GB drive, even after formatting, and how i was able to transfer data to a space that didn't really exist, and how the assumed size of the files was able to remain after they were transferred back (even though they were stuffed). If anyone knows the story behind that it would be great to hear it.

So there you have it, the 4GB chips do exist, but be very careful about what you actually get. (Seems the price of the chip alone is a little over $AUD 100, check out www.multiarcade.com ). As for 8GB chips, there is no mention of these on Samsung's site so i would stay well clear any advertised on ebay and the like. They are most likely 8gigabit chips, ie: really 1GB.

PROOF EDWARD VIII 1937 GOLD SOVEREIGN

PROOF EDWARD VIII 1937 GOLD SOVEREIGNIf you clicked on this item expecting to buy a gold sovereign, you would be disappointed, and having your time wasted. The item is not a gold sovereign, it is not even a forgery, it is an imitation. It is not even made to the same specifications as a real sovereign.Why does this eBay member and seller use such a misleading title?We don't actually know, but we can guess that he sells more of his replicas or copies. Perhaps some people don't bother to read the description or interpret it.The description itself does state "modern issue" as though this explains that the item is not a genuine authentic coin, but recent official issues are known as "modern issues".To make his description clear, and to avoid misleading potential buyers the description should clearly state that this is an unofficial copy or replica, is not a real coins, and has not legal tender status or value.It would also be better to state the weight of a real sovereign for comparison.We believe many of the buyers for these replicas believe, or at least hope, that they are getting a real sovereign. It may be rather naive of them, some may say stupid or greedy, but it does not excuse the vendor for failing to describe his item clearly and honestly.In addition to the description being made clear, the item title should clearly state the word "COPY" or "REPLICA", this would save many potential buyers from having their time wasted looking at an item which is not what it is stated to be.We know from our own 42 years of experience that even when we try our best to make things clear and simple, misunderstanding arise, some people make mistakes.Dodgy Dealer?The vendor is clearly a dealer, and as such should exercise more care and attention to the accuracy of his listings. With a feedback of over 2377, and 17 similar replica items currently on offer, he should stop trying to fool people.What's more, eBay appear to consistently turn a blind eye to these abuses. We guess the simple reason for this is that they are making plenty of money from the selling fees.Come on eBay, clean up your act!AvoidAs an eBay member, you could do one of a number of different things about listings like the above. * You could ignore them. * You could report them to eBay. It would be interesting to see the results. Whenever we report any misleading auctions, nothing happens. eBay make a big song and dance about their "Trust and Safety Centre", and have forms and procedures on its sites to allow members to report offending auctions. These forms are fairly hard to find, even when you have used them before. There are numerous pages to click through and read before you get to the report item form, and when you do get there, in most cases there is no space or facility for you to tell eBay exactly why you are reporting the listing. In many case the items breach more than one listing rule, and there is no way to tell eBay when you file a report. Try it and see! * You could and should avoid buying anything from any vendor who persistently uses misleading titles and descriptions. They are no better than crooks and scammers. More Misleading Items From the Same Vendor: * PROOF EDWARD VIII 1937 GOLD SOVEREIGN Magnificent 1937 Edward VIII 1937 Gold Full Sovereign modern issue. Struck to Full Proof standard with 6.4 gram of Gold, hallmarked on a milled edge. * PROOF EDWARD VIII 1937 GOLD HALF SOVEREIGN Magnificent 1937 Edward VIII 1937 Gold Half Sovereign modern issue. Struck to Full Proof standard with 3.4 gram of Gold, hallmarked on a milled edge. * VICTORIA GOTHIC 1847 GOLD HALF SOVEREIGN MODERN PATTERN Magnificent 1847 Victoria Gold Half sovereign modern patterns. Superb strike with over 3 gram of Gold, hallmarked on a milled edge. Only 200 of these struck - very rare. Two types available George and Dragon or Gothic Shield reverse, just let me know which you require. * Spectacular Edward VIII (8th) 1937 Brass Threepence The King who Abdicated. None of Edward VIII coinage was issued for general circulation. Only a handful of 1937 Brass Threepences accidentally got into circulation and are magnificently rare and expensive. The ONLY way for most of us to own one is with one of these recent issues. Beautifully designed 12 sided Brass 3d. 5.6 gram, slightly thinner and lighter than convential threepence just like some of the real Edward VIII patterns that got into circulation. Comes fully encased in a plastic protective capsule. Two types available - professionally Toned and full BU versions. Just let me know how many of each you require. Paypal, Sterling or Euro cheques accepted with no extra charge. For more items visit my website: (We have removed the link from our guide,as it is contrary to eBay general policy) * Edward VIII (8th) Penny 1937 Brilliant Uncirculated The king who abdicated. None of Edward VIII coinage was issued for general circulation. They are magnificently rare and enormously valuable. The ONLY way for most of us to own one is with this superb PROOF modern strike. Paypal, Sterling or Euro cheques accepted with no extra charge. For more items visit my website (Another auction breaching eBay general policy about web links). * 1905 Crown PROOF FABULOUS MODERN PATTERN BEAUTIFULLY STRUCK TO PROOF STANDARD No 1905 Crowns were ever produced. The larger silver coins of this year are very rare, achieving high prices even for low grade specimens. Now available is this Modern Pattern 1905 Crown struck to PROOF standard with excellent detail and reflective surfaces. Milled edge, 39mm diameter. * 1847 VICTORIA GOTHIC HEAD PENNY No Gothic Head Victoria Copper coins were ever struck but now available is this Superb Modern Pattern struck to PROOF Standard.In the style of the larger Bun Head pennies this is 34mm diameter and 18.8 gram it looks Fantastic amongst a penny collection of that Era. * 1887 VICTORIA JUBILEE HEAD PENNY BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED No Jubilee Head Victoria Copper coins were ever struck but now available is this Superb Modern Pattern struck to PROOF Standard. Looks Fantastic amongst a penny collection of that Era.

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