back to menuin February I bought a large cushion with a Turkish Kelim type weave and pattern on a velvet backing. For three months it was much admired. One day we all commented on the 'dead animal' type of smell and we all searched for several days for the source until, one evening, I sat next to the cushion and found the answer! It was an awful smell. I wrapped it up and put it in a box and sent it to IKEA with a note commenting on the smell.
Three weeks later the cushion was returned to me with the accompanying 'very helpful' letter. The offending cushion has since then hung on my line, come rain or shine, and the smell is just as bad. I am tempted to send it back.
The letter from IKEA reads:
Many of us in the office had a sniff of the cover and. comments were many and varied. A few of us even liked the smell. I also kept a check on the other covers in the store and came across others with the same smell.
Today the supplier came into the store so I asked him for his opinion and he told me that the smell was not at all unusual for the type. of product, being made from goat and sheep hair in Afghanistan, using traditional methods and materials. He couldn't see why the smell, being quite normal, had not been noticeable from the beginning, suggesting that it could be that the cover became damp for some reason, thereby accentuating the smell.
I hope this explanation of the product is satisfactory for you and I am, of course, returning your cover. If I can be of any further assistance, do not hesitate to contact me.
Earlier this year NfCG published the result of a survey, showing considerable support for Metrication. Some members may be aware of the UK Metrication Web Site that I set up a year ago. If not, it is www.metric.org.uk. I set it up to promote factual information on metrication and to counteract inaccurate information from other sources.
Having had a considerable degree of success, I am now forming an association of those who support the furthering of the metrication process. I would like to invite interested parties, both individuals and businesses, to contact me if they would like to pursue this. My e-mail address is Chris@metric.org.uk, my phone number is 01292 525396 and fax 0870 1680380
I was interested in your factual dissertation on the introduction of Digital Television etc. but regret that it did not have any regard for the Consumer/Listener/Viewer and the attempt at steamroller tactics of ALL broadcasters to get the public, 'willynilly', to invest in new equipment even before their analogue set(s) need replacement.
The quality of programmes on 'normal' terrestrial channels is, apparently, generally less than that on Digital - with so many repeats and game shows.
Unfortunately my comments on quality (or the lack of it) has been met by a less-than-helpful reply from the BBC -saying they give the public what they want !! NOT for this member of the public .
Editor's reply - I suggest you join the Voice of the Listener and Viewer - the BBC (and Government) certainly listen to what the VLV has to say - VLV can be contacted at 101 King's Drive, Gravesend, Kent. DA12 5BQ, telephone 01479 352835 and the e-mail address is' vlv@btinternet.com
In September Members of VLV had the opportunity to meet and question Helen Boaden, the Controller of Radio 4. They told her what they thought of the programmes and I think she went away impressed.
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