Once again we had a successful outcome to the Shop Window of the Year Awards which was one of main activities over the Christmas period. You might think that we should be putting all this behind us for another year but the winning windows were so outstanding that we thought Marlane's should be shown to you in nearly all its glory (no colour). Unfortunately, after an extremely successful spell in the Armada Centre, she is threatened with expulsion as the area in which her shops are situated is likely to be developed into one big hardware store for a national firm.
Annual subscription is still £3.75, for four issues and Consumer News.
It is with sadness that we record the death of Lord Young of Dartington. Among his many achievements was the idea for founding the Consumers' Association. He was Chairman from 1956 until 1965 when the first consumer group was set up in Oxford, followed by the National Federation of Consumer Groups itself which had its base on CA premises under its first secretary, paid for by CA.
This is now registered as a company limited by guarantee. From point of view. it takes over the role of the National Federation of Consumer Groups to which we have belonged since 1963, despite one short period when we decided we could not afford the subscription. The good news is that our new subscription will be considerably less than the old one.
There will be an annual conference and AGM, probably at the end of September this year. The postal elections for the Executive Committee will differ in that there may be greater competition with the addition of the Consumer Congress groups and we will not have regional representatives as formerly.
With money brought to NCF from Congress, we already have a Development Manager, who will be going full-time when she finishes another contract in March. Her role is to confirm and increase membership, liaise with other organisations and the media and to generally promote us as a new, forward-thinking organisation to represent grass roots consumers.
What now seems to be many years ago, you could usually tell the quality of an article or product by the price. If you paid more for an article of clothing, you expected better cloth and workmanship. The dearer joints of meat were normally the better ones. Nowadays price is not necessarily a guide to quality. The recent success of 'luxury' brand firms, such as those selling jeans or trainers, over Tesco's efforts to sell at cheaper prices, shows once again the way firms keep prices higher in Britain than in many other countries.
Again most consumer organisations have abandoned their grocery price surveys because all the main supermarkets are charging the same, or insignificantly different, prices for the basic items. On food it is the ready-prepared meals where comparison is difficult and on which they make their main profits.
The larger stores can buy in bulk and so they pay less than the small shop that may buy from a middleman such as a cash and carry. But the stores then have to add in their own costs. These are usually based on the amount of shelf space taken up by the product. The average time the article rests there before purchase also affects the cost.
The European discount traders such as Lidl and Aldi offer weekly lists of non-food items that are on sale only until they run out, a new list being prepared each week. They are able to buy large limited runs from manufacturers at favourable continental prices but shelf space (or usually in this case special moveable trolleys) is taken up for a limited time. Once they have sold out you have to wait and see if the same goods will reappear in weeks, a year or never.
Our own tests have repeatedly shown that the cheaper own brand products, especially those sold by Lidl or Aldi, prove superior in taste tests. Remarkably, our recent test on pre-salted potato crisps found the cheapest the best and the next two were in ascending order of cost, with the most expensive only coming in at number four out of the seven types tested (see page 13). The items of clothing also on sale for a limited time can again provide good bargains.
When it comes to the number one selling brands their popularity is mostly maintained by expensive advertising that has to be paid for by those buying them. This is not to deride the advertising, for otherwise television and magazines would prove very expensive without their adverts. So do not think price will tell you everything.
As a consumer group we receive an increasing number of plans. Most of these may be necessary, but they must take up an enormous amount of time of the officials producing them. Most are in a glossy format;; complete with multiple tables, graphs and illustrations. The cost of printing and distributing them must be great.
The Plymouth Local Plan has been well described in a series of articles in the Evening Herald and is perhaps the most important report for the future of all who live in Plymouth. This is likely to define planning decisions made in the next ten years. It needs close study for your own area.
"The last few years have seen an upturn in the economic fortunes of Plymouth and its sub-region. However, the area still faces tough challenges in creating a successful and sustainable economy and in regenerating its most disadvantaged communities" These are the opening sentences in a 32 page report. One problem is that central government keeps changing its own approach from year to year as one scheme follows another while the money disappears for those already successfully carrying on the business of improvement. Is the report for those unfamiliar with the area? Much of the information is obvious to those living here and statements about improvements too often seem extremely vague and merely stating the obvious.
In a foreword Patrick Nicholson states: "This plan enfolds the part the Council will play in the Pathfinder Strategy which has been developed in conjunction with our many partners in the Plymouth 2020 Partnership .... But it has to be recognised that progress will depend on available resources, technology and, of course, the funds to finance the programme." It sets out targets to be attained by December 2002 and 2006. With funding so difficult it is not easy to decide how realistic these targets are. Perhaps we should examine progress in a years time. The 94 page book is divided into relevant sections such as Best Value, Human Resources, Education, Social Well-being, Environment, Community Safety and Transport.
LONG after Beeching we hear various proposals for the rebuilding of tram- -: ways and railways. One Plymouth plan is for the use of trams in our streets. Now there is a campaign railfuture to connect the Plymouth-Bere Alston line to Okehampton through Tavistock and Lydford (for the Dartmoor Access Way). Those proposing it suggest that it would have several purposes. It would provide an alternative route when the main line via Dawlish has to be closed for engineering work and when it is out of action from the high seas that are increasingly expected with global warming. There would also be benefit to businesses in the towns en route. It would provide a commuter route to both Plymouth and Exeter. At present it can take an hour and 20 minutes to get from Lydford to Plymouth but would be reduced to less than an hour by train.
Tourists would also benefit from a service to various parts of Dartmoor and it would reduce the traffic congestion. Bus feeder services would connect the villages in the area to the railway line and again reduce the necessity for car journeys.
But who is to pay for this? Is it reasonable to expect Railtrack or the train companies to provide new unproved routes when money is so short to maintain the railways we already have to a decent standard of safety and service? Supporters of the scheme include Transport 2000 and Friends of the Earth. On the other hand, Devon County Council do not support a rail link between Okehampton and Tavistock but have instructed Railtrack to keep the coastal route open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The impossibility of this is shown by the closure of the Brunei rail bridge over Easter.
This is a colourful leaflet containing details of 19 of the attractions in the Teignbridge region. There are small size route maps showing how to get to the sites and the nearest bus stops with the services feeding them. In the centre is a diagrammatic map with the location of the sites numbered. There is a descriptive paragraph about each of them and symbols for important information such as free or pay parking, picnic benches and toilets.
Living in Plymouth so near to Dartmoor we tend to go to the same old places rather than seeking out something new. The Dartmoor Tourist Board wants us to be more adventurous.
Imagine life in a medieval longhouse such as Uppcott Farm. Picnic beneath Okehampton's ruined Norman Castle, or purchase honey from Buckfast Abbey monks whose predecessors established the Dartmoor woollen industry.
Where now there is only the sound of the wind, the valleys once rang to the din of tuckingmills, foundries, claypits, quarries, waterwheels and railways; the shouts of miners and quarrymen gouging tin, copper and granite from the face of the Moor.
From ancient times, farmers created reaves and drystone walls to protect their crops and animals. When you see the famous Dartmoor ponies or buy produce at Tavistock market, remember how people toiled to eke a living from the untamed land; how they have etched trails across the heights, built clapper bridges over torrents, erected crosses as moorland waymarkers.
Rooted in antiquity, many country traditions have remained unchanged. Catch the ale-tasting and bread-weighing at Ashburton or the Goose Fair at Tavistock. Join the September Festivities at Widecombe Fair and listen to the news broadcast by the town criers. You can marvel at the skills of local thatchers and glassblowers at Yelverton, or displays by the Devon Guild of Craftsmen in the Mill at Bovey Tracey. At Tavistock's Pannier Market and Farmers' Markets at Okehampton anal Buckfastleigh, the produce comes fresh from the farm: free-range eggs, speciality cheeses and preserves, wild mushrooms ,and berries, meats and poultry.
The more energetic can take a hike or a National Park Authority guided walk, identifying plants or marvelling at the megaliths. For ardent anglers there are brown trout and salmon to be hooked; pack a picnic and spend a day at one of the many reservoirs or on the riverbanks of the Dart. Whatever your temperament Dartmoor has something to offer.
The above is extracted from the Guide 2002 issued by the Dartmoor Tourist Association, Princetown, PL20 6QF. If also contains advertisements for the many tourist attractions and accommodation.
Since our committee tasted instant hot chocolate drinks, the name on the Lidl jar has changed to `Hot Cocoa Flavoured Drink'. The Tesco Value jar I still have is labelled `Instant Hot Chocolate Drink'. We know there have been arguments with the EU about our bars of chocolate that contain vegetable fat, so what is the difference between cocoa and chocolate?
Both come from the cacao bean which is white or purple and grows in a pod containing 25 to 40 beans. These are fermented using bacteria and enzymes. They are then sun-dried or machine dried to a 7°r6 moisture content. The seed coat now has a skin that crumbles easily. These beans can be exported for processing.
At a chocolate. and cocoa manufacturing factory the beans are roasted again to develop flavour and colour. The germ is separated from the seed coats before being passed through various types of milt where the grinding releases fat from the cells. The remainder (nibs) is melted by the resulting heat producing chocolate liquor. This contains 55% fat, 17% carbohydrate and 11% protein. It solidifies on cooling and is used as the bitter chocolate used in baking. It also contains 1.5% theobromine which is an alkaloid related to caffeine and is responsible for the mildly stimulating effects of cocoa and chocolate.
The released fat is cocoa butter that has a rather narrow melting range of 30° to 36° which gives it its 'melt in the mouth' properties. To this are added sugar, milk, and flavourings before various mixing and refining techniques followed by the moulding to produce chocolate bars or coatings for cakes and other goods. In the UK under present law up to 5% of vegetable fat may be added to give the consistency preferred by many buyers. This has not found favour with continental producers and in the USA is know as 'Imitation Chocolate'.
Cocoa or cocoa powder is produced from the remainder after the cocoa butter has been pressed from the chocolate liquor. Excess moisture is removed and the material pressed into a cake. This is then broken down by grinding and sifting. In the USA it is then classified by the amount of fat remaining. It is ground to a very fine powder for use in drinks or, when suspended in cocoa butter, is used to make chocolate. Instant Chocolate Drinks contain 9% to 10% of fat reduced cocoa, so the term cocoa drink seems right.
Does it matter which supermarket you choose for buying grape juice? Certainly the price varies, so we decided to taste the red grape juices. The results again surprised us. You do not have to pay the highest prices for the best.
There was no doubt about the winner. Five out of the seven tasters put this at the top of their list and the remaining two both placed it third. Interestingly four tasters decided that the Lidl one was second and the remaining three put it third. Similarly five placed the Tesco juice fourth and one fifth, though one did put it second. There is always a degree of personal preference so we can only give you a guide as to which are worth trying against your usual brand. We cannot guarantee the prices have not changed since we did the survey so please check these when buying.
changed
Brand |
Price per litre |
Rating |
Sunpride at ASDA |
85p |
1 |
Solevita at Lidl |
69p |
2 |
Safeway |
1.15 |
3 |
Sainsbury |
1.05 |
4 |
Tesco |
95p |
5 |
When we saw the packet of Fox's Rocky bars with the clear statement 16x24g it looked as if the consumer movement, and in particular the Plymouth Consumer Group, had made a significant breakthrough. A look along the supermarket shelves soon showed that none of the other multipacks of chocolate biscuits appeared to be similarly marked. When the DTI announced that multi-packs of snack foods must be marked with total content we expected these bars and individual cakes to be included, not just potato crisps.
With Christmas and the Sales now behind us, we can look forward to less hustle and bustle in the shops (and no fairground rides cluttering up the streets MA-1 too ... my pet hate!). A relative brought to my attention that the recent season of joy and festivity did not extend to many of the shops' carrier bags over the Christmas period. Most shops change their carrier bags for that time of the year - a happy Father Christmas or festive trees perhaps? Not this year, it seemed. Those who did change their bags kept their design very low-key. WH Smith's bags all turned virtually see through for Christmas - very annoying when shopping with someone for whom you might wish to buy a present! However, well done to the Edinburgh Woollen Mill - their Christmas carriers were bright and very festive and clearly the winner when compared to other stores' efforts.
We have all clearly benefited from inventions over the years, but now inventions and marketing seem to have got totally tied together and I often wonder if there should be a prize for the most unneeded modern "invention". For example, since when have dusters needed to be disposable? you may recall a TV advert for a floor cleaner which is basically a duster on a pole, which, when you have finished wiping the floor, you dispose of the duster. Now many of the readers, both young and old alike, will know that dusters can be washed and reused - but no, the marketing men think we should all throw things away. The latest advert, seen this week, showed a woman wiping the seat of a toilet with an "antibacterial" wipe, which again, was immediately thrown away after use - her husband was seen frantically searching for a cloth. Another new invention - a pad which turns cold and can be placed on a child's feverish head (possibly disposable too!) replaces a cold, soft flannel and no longer can Mums carry a small bottle of medicine for their child but they need one dose sachets instead. And they call this progress!.
I would like to see, in 2002, a return to the time (last seen in the late 80s and early 90s) when customer care became very important. Everyone published customer care codes stating how quickly you could expect queries to be answered, or at least acknowledged. Now customer service appears to be dying - 2 recent letters to the Council's planning and highways departments have yet to be answered, or acknowledged nearly 3 weeks later. I know someone who is still waiting for a spare part for a caravan, which was ordered in October 2000! In many situations letters are sent and not even answered, necessitating chasing letters, which sometimes get a response. Is this downturn in service called progress too?
The start of the year saw the introduction of the Euro (Eurodollar). It is not the aim of this piece to comment on its merits or otherwise, but the introduction of this new currency, on such a large scale, sent our thoughts back to 15th February 1971 when the UK currency was decimalised.
We are left wondering what chance our government would have now in trying to introduce such an array of coins that went to make up the pre-decimalisation pound. At that time, there was a lot of sentiment, and in some cases hostility, about the change to one-hundred new pennies to the pound.
Can you imagine the fuss and bewilderment that would be aroused now in trying to introduce a pound made up of 240 pennies? With copper coins to the value of a halfpenny and a penny, a large one at that; an angular thrupenny piece of nickel-brass; a silver looking sixpenny piece, the silver giving way to cupronickel in 1947; a silver looking shilling which could be made up of 24 halfpennies (assuming it was not going to be 48 farthings), or 12 pennies, or 4 thrupenny pieces, or 2 sixpenny pieces, or any combination of all these? Added to this is the two shilling piece (florin), the half crown, (30 pennies), the crown fell into disfavour because of its large size, although the half-crown was far from small; and to take us halfway to the pound-note, the ten-shilling note. And if we didn't like the pound we could price things in guineas, a guinea being 21 shillings (£1.05); in this way that little bit extra could be added to a bill without it being really noticed. Many bills were presented in guineas right up to the time of decimalisation.
Whether the older ones amongst us could easily return to such a varied combination, or the younger ones, who have never experienced the joys of having three columns to calculate - the pound-column, the shilling-column and the pennycolumn, with halfpennies tucked on the side - could manage, is open to question; calculators we feel would be of little help, it would be back to the ready reckoner book.
What those of us who did see it all knew, was that shop assistants, without many years of education, could do it; many adding the grocery bills in their head, as if they held a degree in mathematics. But then they were not confronted, like today, with a trolley full of a month's shopping.
We have copies of a leaflet from postwatch 2nd class post, how to complain about your postal services. On the whole we seem to have a comparatively good postal service in, most parts of Plymouth. If you would like copies of the leaflet send a SAE to the information Officer. This organisation has taken over from the local Post Office committees.
Shoe Sizes - It is impossible for any shoe shop to stock a full range of shoe sizes. Just the adult range of sizes runs from 1 to 14 at half size intervals; then there are nine widths from AA to H for men and a larger range A to EEE for women. The Central Hertfordshire Consumer Group checked their local shops. There is a greater tendency to put shoes on racks for self-selection marked with sizes but not width fittings. Most girl's shoes ended at 8, so those with larger feet may have to buy men's shoes. It is necessary to try the shoes on, especially if marked in continental sizes, making mail order shopping hazardous. Too often shoes were available only in a standard width, though sometimes they could be ordered in the required size.
Cheese Prices - The prices of mature cheddar ranged from £5.43 to £8.67 per kilogram when checked by Central Hems.. No one was able to forecast the cheapest by blind tasting, 3 people chose the third dearest (£7.99), 3 the next (£8.19) and two the next (£8.67). The two actual cheapest ones, Sainsbury’s Mature English, which was mistakenly thought to be one of the organic ones by 3 testers, and Waitrose Mature Davidstowe, were not chosen by anyone. Four did get the dearest Safeway Organic Coombe Farm Mature correct as being organic. Once again the choice of cheese does not necessarily depend on the cost, rather on personal taste.
Refrigerating Jam - A 1949 Ministry of Food booklet The ABC of Preserving (1/6d) says that the sugar in jam will act as a preservative but it should be kept in a 'dry airy place'. We may no longer have a cool pantry so is this why some manufacturers advise keeping jam in the refrigerator once it is opened? For low, sugar jam we can To see the necessity. The Birmingham Consumer Group looked at the labels on pots of jam and found a surprising confusion. One with 62g per 100g (Co-op) recommends a cool place, Hartley 63g refrigeration, as does A1di with 66g. Maribel at Lidl had no instructions.
Shaver Foil - an annoying fact of electric shavers is that the foil breaks down after a while. A Birmingham Group member was quoted £25 by Comet telephone replacement service. Are we just lucky to have a Shaver Centre in Plymouth? Replacement foils seem to be available for most shavers at just under £10. Is there no shaver centre in Birmingham?
This is yet another example of not being able to tell the quality of the product from the price. The first three packets of crisps chosen by our taste testers turned out to be in order of price, starting with the cheapest. The dearest, not unsurprisingly from Marks & Spencer, then came in at number four.
Ready-salted crisps do vary in the amount of salt that is used, so this may influence your own choice. The winners were extra thick and crisp and not too salted, remaining crisp for weeks after the packet was opened if properly resealed. Some of the thinner crisps soon became soft once they were opened.
This may be the reason that some of the large packets contained smaller ones of either 20g or 25g, either 6 or 12 to the outer packet. The largest single packet was the Lidl Crusti one with 300g of crisps, while the Aldi one had 150g. This may have some bearing on the cost but we are looking at value for money and Crush still appear very good value for money.
Though the potato has been known since 3000 BC, in the early days it was the food of the poor, given to Spanish soldiers and to prisoners. Little did they know it would become the staple food of the Irish and, by the number of supermarket aisles taken up by potato crisps, a favourite food of the. young.
Type |
Cost /100g |
Remarks |
Choice |
Crusti Croc Lidl |
30p |
Crisp |
1 |
ASDA |
33p |
First Group |
2 |
Co-operative |
36p |
First Group |
3 |
Marks & Spencer |
66p |
2nd Group |
4 |
Sainsbury |
- |
2nd Group |
5 |
Somerfield |
60p |
2nd Group |
6 |
Connoisseur A1di |
46p |
Unpopular |
7 |
Smaller Shops: Winner: Mariane’s Coffee Shop
Runners up: Love and Marriage, The Evening Herald Shop
Larger Stores: Winner: Woolworth
Runner up: Debenham
The top two small stores are both in the Armada Centre which deserved a commendation for its overall decoration. Each year they manage to make one of the best displays in Plymouth. Several of the charity shops, especially Scope and Cancer Research, had made worthwhile endeavours.
The usual shops had made an effort with their windows but this year, with the effective new street lighting display, we were disappointed that more had not made an effort. It had been suggested by the City Centre manager that we should have rewarded 1920s windows but there were none.
Each year of the competition we have had the Evening Herald shop on our list of possible awards. This year they have made it to third place with an inspiring display in blue and silver of the various items they sell. Unfortunately our printing technique will not run to full colour pictures so we cannot display the full effects of this and the other windows that received awards.
With the revamping of the west end of Plymouth most of the traders in the Pannier Market, had decided to make a special effort. There were strings of coloured lights, streamers and flags which all added to the atmosphere created by the bustling crowds at the busiest times. Unfortunately the effect was spoilt at the southern end where everything looked very bare in contrast to the northern end. Perhaps next year with more time to prepare this will be improved. Especially notable were the rooftop displays as shown below, though you needed to go up to the cafe level to get a good view of these.
Plymouth Market and the West End-After years of what appeared to be neglect, it is pleasing to see the appointment of Barry Hayward as Market Manager, and the efforts that are being made by the stall holders. The conditions under which they work are far from ideal.
When visiting other towns one is attracted to their markets, street or otherwise. It is easily forgotten that this priceless jewel still exists in Plymouth. In France even the small villages and towns have their market days with traders moving from one to another.
We must all have thought that the nightmare train journeys with bus transfers were a thing of the past. Now they have been revived for passengers bound for London or the North. Having tried to book a train for London over a period of three weeks it finally became possible with "a rule 4f 12" whereby I understand that the rail firms only have to give 12 days notice of impending rail closures and repair works. By the time that Saturday train times were known most of the Friday evening cheap bookings were no longer available. The Saturday limited stop 10.33 due in to Plymouth at 13.39 was now re-timed to arrive after 15.00 hours (too late for the Argyle kickoff!). The train would terminate at Weston-super-Mare from where buses would proceed to Taunton and then a train onwards to Plymouth. The previous train at 0933 from London had cheap seats but not for the onward connection from Taunton. When will we get a proper weekend train service to encourage visitors? Even over Easter we hear that the Brunet bridge will be closed to rail traffic.
Teamakers are usually bulky and expensive so we decided to purchase the cheaper one available from Index. We had never thought of using a coffee filter machine but that is what they provide with a smaller gauge filter for the tea. Unfortunately the cups were too small for a decent early morning cuppa and a large china mug made the tea too cold. The answer is a plastic basin to collect the tea and two plastic mugs. To save getting out of bed twice, a timer plug (from Lidl) is used as can be seen in the picture.
Also as a special offer from Lidl was a battery charger which incorporates a discharge system for longer battery life and a meter to check the state of the batteries. Four AA batteries were included for £6.99. Additional batteries were rapidly selling out at four for £1.99.
Will we live to see that "superhighway" that is proposed to run from Honiton to Folkestone along the south coast? Anyone who has made a journey to Portsmouth or Southampton will realise its necessity as one travels slowly along those winding, hilly roads behind a juggernaut.
This is a new 62 page free book from Rukba, an organisation 'helping elderly people to stay independent'. The first section deals with money, financial benefits to be claimed . with reference to leaflets such as GL16 (rent) and GL17 (council tax). It is also possible to get help to pay your fuel bills, or to raise money on your home, but seek legal and financial advice first and get Age Concern's free fact sheet. Section 2 suggests ways of finding help at home, including that for the disabled. There is a list of organisations that can help with their phone numbers (a feature throughout the book which puts advice at your fingertips). They even ask if you have any tips to pass on. If so send your comments to Rita Irving.
Further chapters deal with keeping the home secure and free from hazards and coping with confusion. It may be that you are thinking of moving into a smaller home or into sheltered or retirement housing or even a residential or nursing home. Again there is sound advice about what to do and think about and organisations that can help. Finally there is a page for becoming a Rukba volunteer, giving a donation or advising them of someone they may be able to help.
The Royal United Kingdom Beneficent Association is a national charity founded in 1863 which helps people on low incomes to stay in their own homes, whether owned or rented. It provides small regular incomes guaranteed for life and emergency grants.
Rukba can be contacted at Freepost, London W14 8BR or by telephoning 020 7650 4200 or at www.rukba.org.uk Though the book is free a small donation of £1 or so would be gratefully received.
For 30 years until 1979 this secret chemical defence establishment in North Cornwall was allowed to do almost whatever it wished with various denials emanating from the Ministry of Defence. It was the first and only plant to produce deadly nerve gases. On closure it was said that all harmful chemical substances had been dealt with.
Now, according to Surfers Against Sewage, the MoD has admitted that liquid was discharged into the sea to test it on prawns and gobies (small marine fish with ventral fins joined to make a sucker) but there are no records of which chemicals were released and no monitoring.
Born in Torquay in 1890, Agatha Christie is back in the news. Her first book The Mysterious Affair of Styles was written in 1920 when married to her first husband, Archibald Christie. The divorce came soon after her mother died in 1926. This was when she disappeared for several days. After the divorce was settled in 1928, she started writing as a living rather than a hobby. In 1970 on the publication day of her 80th book, and her 80th birthday, she was created a Dame of the British Empire. Many of the books were adapted for the theatre, several by Agatha herself. The Mousetrap, now in its 50th year, is still running in London. A few were adapted for the screen, the first Hercule Poirot being long-forgotten Austin Trevor in the early 1930s. Television has firmly established David Suchet in the role. Margaret Rutherford was a classic screen Miss Marple but possibly eclipsed by Joan Hickson in the TV versions.
The interest has been reawakened by an exhibition at the British Museum which concentrates on her lesser known role as an assistant to her archaeologist 2nd husband. This was originally created by the Ruhrlandmuseum in Essen. Many of her travels and experiences are recreated in her mystery novels. She spent time on digs at Ur where she met her second husband who escorted her home when her daughter fell ill, and at Nineveh and elsewhere in Syria. Originally she acted as photographer including films which form part of the exhibition. Later she took on the job of cleaning ivories, using her own supply of face cream. With her interest and skill at jigsaw puzzles she also developed techniques for sorting out and mending pots and ornaments found in the digs. III health eventually put a stop to this.
The exhibition Agatha Christie and archaeology is on at the British Museum until 24th March, 10.00 to 17.30. It costs £T, or £3.50 for concessions. The Agatha Christie Collection has been on sale from January. It is issued fortnightly and includes a booklet about the author's life and a copy of one of her novels. The first cost just £1.99 at newsagents but later editions will be £4.99
TIP - It is worth looking out for an ultraviolet pen when next in a stationers. All expensive electrical equipment should be marked with your postcode followed by your house number (PL3 5BJ 20). Alternative methods are to engrave or etch it in. There are special ceramic marking pens to mark china, glass or any glazed surface which do not cut or scratch.
Credit Reference Agencies have received good and bad publicity in the past. The first one was set up by Great Universal Stores to pool information from the various mail order accounts and this has grown into Experian with 330 companies subscribing. It holds files on 3/4 million consumers, and not just when credit has been turned down. If we have sought any form of credit or a loan, then we are likely to be there, including payments from our bank accounts. Much of it is positive, not just a blacklist.
Information is obtained from the electoral roll, court orders and credit account companies with an average of three entries per applicant, a total of 250 million records which are usually held for six years. Lenders can add notices to the system including disputes. 174 million searches are made each year. The records will show these searches as well as address links with the purpose of stopping fraud. By the end of next year you will only be linked with another person if you have joint accounts or take out joint loans.
You can write to the Experian Help Service for a copy of their booklet The credit reference agency explained. This is free but for £2 you can get a copy of your current file. If you are thinking of making a big purchase' or taking out a mortgage in the near future it is best to get this to check there are no inaccuracies or misunderstandings in it.
Apart from the credit reference file, whether you will be granted credit or a loan Will depend on credit scoring which is carried out automatically by computer. You should be told the main reason if you fail to reach the requisite score. There are commercial firms which offer to 'repair' your file but these should be avoided as they usually depend on using half-truths and other doubtful methods for a fee. Mistakes can be corrected free of charge by contacting Experian.
The address for the main or other leaflets is: Consumer Help Service, Experian, P0 Box 8000, Nottingham, NG1 SGX. Tel. 0870 2414297
Telephone Preference Service complaint - "We will be contacting the company concerned and requesting them to make enquiries into your complaint. Thereafter we will include it in our report to the Information Commissioner. Under the regulations it is unlawful to make a direct marketing telephone call to individuals who have registered their number on TPS."
Teacakes bought on 12th November at Marks & Spencer cost 89p for six. Three days later the price had risen to 99p. The firm replied:
"We don't like to increase prices; we prefer to keep them the same or lower. However, if we are faced with higher costs that we cannot continue to absorb, we have to decide whether to put the price up or stop selling the product. In this case - and it is a popular product -we decided that we should let our customers choose whether or not to buy at a higher price. We believe that the price still represents good value for money. I hope that you'll agree and will continue to shop with us in the future."
Unfortunately the letter does not say what the higher costs are to make a price increase of 11% necessary.
An honest mistake was the verdict of the Regulator when a customer complained about her gas account being transferred without her knowledge. It seems that on this occasion the numbers seen at the bottom of the account had been transposed and the wrong person transferred.
I Receive Talking Newspapers from the Plymouth and South Devon branch which operates from Tavistock, despite now living in Wales. Through the tapes I learnt that Plymouth City Council benefited to the tune of £1.3m in parking fines. This set me thinking of my own experience and an anomaly that exists in certain towns and cities.
Because of my eye condition I am unable to drive and I have a disabled badge which I display on the car in which I am being driven. In late September I went to stay with a colleague in Bournemouth. We went to a municipal car park and I instructed him to park in one of the places allocated for disabled drivers. With a disabled badge there was no need to get a ticket, or so I thought. But I failed to read a notice that reads "All cars must be paid for". On returning there was a ticket telling me that I had incurred a fine of £30. An appeal at the Council office proved to be a waste of time. The anomaly is that I could have parked in the road for three hours using the badge.
It would be of great help if the Social Services departments issuing the badges could give a warning based on the experience of other badge holders and issue a list of 'Disabled Unfriendly' towns. I have heard that Brighton and Hove also come into this category but 1 have had no trouble when being driven by car in Plymouth.
Milk deliveries in Plymouth will be reduced to three times a week. Will the occasional need to top up at a supermarket make people transfer permanently?
Having reached their 100th edition of Counter Points the Edinburgh Consumers' Group has reissued its first magazine, albeit in an economy print size. One of the interesting articles in this 1963 magazine is about biscuits:
"The innocuous biscuit is 'packaged', 'loose' and 'weighed'. This fashionable philosophy of biscuitmanship quickly gripped the Edinburgh Group: they revelled in it. Indeed the number of biscuits tested at the infrequent meetings of the group was only rivalled by the consumption of coffee, which latter beverage was not fortunately, under scrutiny." The article goes on in similar vein describing how the survey was carried out.
The Group asks if readers are aware that loose biscuits are cheaper than packaged and usually better value if they can be guaranteed fresh by rapid turnover. Now, we rarely see biscuits sold in anything but a sometimes difficult to open pack.
Seventy samples from 17 manufacturers were purchased, though 35 types were from only 3 firms. "This concluded the first of the surveys, a simple trial, a difficult analysis and overall a slow realisation that the consumer cannot always be right."
Unfortunately apart from buying biscuits loose, a practice that has all but disappeared today, they come to no conclusions regarding quality, best buys or the difference between the firms. A lot of hot air and splendid rhetoric but nothing useful resulting from this first report. Have we changed today?
Our own readers will have their own opinions. It is interesting to look back, so perhaps we should see how the Plymouth Group got on in their first magazine reports.
A ready reckoner was supplied for judging the value of eggs. The grades then were large, standard and medium, in a strict weight ratio of 8, 7, 6. Therefore if the prices are in the same ratio you will get the same value for money. The prices quoted were 4/- (20p), 3/6 and 3/- (15p), and this was for a dozen eggs.
The Department of Trade & Industry is sponsoring a 'mystery shopper' exercise to get an idea of car servicing levels across the country. So far this has been left to individual trading standards departments. The Consumer Minister, Melanie Johnson, has said that the industry must now do something about the thousands of complaints recorded each year. As might be expected, the garages have attacked the plans. Typically the Retail Motor Industry Federation says their members already have minimum standards.
For years I've been toiling with the idea of positioning wind turbines in, as yet, unthought of areas. Their colour and looks could be changed making them appear more like trees. As I see it, they are a worthwhile investment for our future, especially in view of the increase in the use of electricity and the need to cut down carbon monoxide emissions. There are always the inevitable protests from the general public that they look unsightly. The electric pylons criss-crossing the country are not admired but 1 am sure we would not be without them.
I suggest that in all cases the advantages of wind turbines should be weighed against the disadvantages. We know that power from wind is cheaper and safer than atomic energy and even coal.. To encourage the use of wind turbines in this area they could be placed on the breakwater where they would certainly catch the wind and form a visitor attraction. Alternatively they could be placed out of sight on the far side of Drake's Island, with the owner's permission. There are also many coastal headlands where they would not be seen by the public. What do readers think?
After heavy rain the floods across busy roads in Plymouth can be extremely dangerous, especially at night when the water may not be seen until a vehicle is in it. It can throw you off the road, affect the steering, suddenly make the engine cut out, affect the brakes and almost drown pedestrians on the footpath.
The annoying part is that this has been happening for well over 20 years, to my knowledge, and is much more serious when it freezes. With the prospect of warmer winters and a consequent increase in rainfall, we need to be prepared for this now before any serious accidents are caused through the lack of efficient drainage. Come on, the powers that be, get it FIXED.
At the end of October on a beautiful sunny day I couldn't help thinking what a backward place Plymouth is. A record number of people were on the foreshore lining up at the ice cream vendors yet the Terrace cafe was closed and the Dome, with its restaurant and gift shop, due to close the following day. Looking at our beautiful Hoe with Smeaton's Tower still covered in blue plastic and the dirty, disgraceful swimming pool there seemed little to entice visitors.
Your daily salt allowance should be limited to 6 grams. A poster shows what could be a typical day's menu with a glass of orange juice and one of wine. There are cereal flakes for breakfast (not the sugared variety), a bread roll, an apple, a bowl of soup, bread and cheese and a salad of lettuce and tomatoes with what looks like lasagne and olives and tofu. The tag is "A so called 'healthy' diet is rarely low in salt". How much does the example contain? 13 grams, double the recommended intake, so it is not just the calories you have to watch.
The leaflet for children shows a double cheeseburger which itself contains 7g of salt, the same as the pizza in the centre. The morning fry-up is little better at 6g. The leaflet for children's meals says that, though manufacturers have reduced the salt content of baby foods, this does not apply to many of those designed for toddlers. The child will soon be eating the family diet and should not have more than 4g of salt a day. In the adult, excess salt is linked with high blood pressure, stomach cancer, asthma and kidney disease as well as fluid retention of up to 4 pints.
We have supplies of the leaflets above, but perhaps more importantly 4'/s printed pages of the salt contents of common foods. We can supply any of these if you send a stamped, addressed envelope to the Information Officer. The campaign is being run by CASH from the Blood Pressure Unit at St George’s Hospital Medical School, London SW17 ORE Tel. 020 8725 2409
By the way they talk about it, you'd think some people enjoy bad health. The only way to keep good health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like and do what you'd rather not do.
"This Rock Salt"; says the label, "is' over 200 million years old, formed through ancient geological processes in the German mountain ranges." Best before 04 2003 .
(Letter in The Times)
Had a phone call. I was told of the savings and was then advised that the details of prices and an agreement pack would be sent so I could discuss them with my husband. These would be received within 213 days and I then had 7 days to cancel the contract. If I did nothing then the change of supplier would go through. I received nothing by post and was unable to contact the caller as I had no contact number. I had got 'number withheld' on dialling 1471.
Two weeks later a letter arrived welcoming me to British Gas and advising me that the supply of electricity would begin within the next two weeks. Immediately I telephoned the number given and was advised that it was too late the contract had gone ahead. I was not amused and demanded to speak to a supervisor. After a heated discussion - on my part - I firmly told him that they had not stuck to their word and had in fact gone against all that had been quoted on the telephone. Having advised me that I had 7 days to cancel I was now giving him less than 24 hours notice and he had no right to refuse me. I stuck to my guns and refused to accept what I was told and demanded that they advise my current supplier that I was not changing. Eventually he agreed to make sure the contract was cancelled and sort it out.
I asked for written confirmation and am still waiting despite the fact I myself had put everything in writing. I also telephoned my own supplier who said they had had too many calls of a similar nature. Another 10 days later I received the 'welcome pack'. A few days before this I had received another welcome letter from British Gas, this time for the supply of gas. I am assured by my current supplier that the details have been logged and, though I may get a final account from them, I will still be supplied.
What really concerns me is that British Gas has caused me (Ed. And it sounds like a lot of other people) a lot of unnecessary stress, telephone calls and letter writing. How many elderly folk or those unfamiliar with the system have been conned in this manner? Many may simply accept that it is too late to cancel a contract.
Our Chairman also received a similar phone call. He asked for a detailed statement of his suggested savings to be sent by post but was told this was not possible.
We sent a copy of the above letter to Energy Watch at Bournemouth and to Ofgem from where it was also forwarded to energywatch SW region.
Was sorry to learn of the difficulties your member has been caused and can confirm that, unfortunately, her experience and that of your Chairman are not isolated ones. Indeed, if we were asked which subject was currently causing the highest level of complaints, then dubious doorstep selling methods and the resulting problems would be at the top of the list. (We knew this already!)
As you may be aware, there are strict licence conditions governing sales and marketing practices and, because of the number of complaints received, enhancements to these came into force on 10 January 2001 (Do they mean 2002? See below)
energywatch (perhaps the gimmicky small letter is appropriate in view of their apparent ineffectiveness so far) is working closely with both the Office of Fair Trading and Trading Standards to ensure consumers are made aware of the pitfalls of doorstep/distance selling. Also energywatch, together with Ofgem, launched a jointly developed voluntary code aimed at protecting consumers who have been switched to a new supplier by mistake. (It seems ineffective for those customers who have been deliberately and fraudulently switched). All gas and electricity companies have agreed to sign up to it. (Will it then be ignored?)
This is the message from Energy Minister Brian Wilson in a January news release. "Each week over 160,000 consumers switch supplier to take advantage of lower prices. Unfortunately, a small but significant minority of these accounts are transferred in error. Many of these stem from wrong data or human error but those that cause the most concern arise from sales malpractices."
From May to July 2001 there were 2.2 transfer complaints per 1,000 electricity transfers and 4.19 gas transfers. The Erroneous Transfer Customer Charter will ensure:
In addition, the Minister suggests that the companies should provide adequate compensation. We are disturbed to find in the letter that no sanctions are proposed on British Gas and no attempt to get compensation. How many customers accept their unexpected transfer, considering it too difficult or time consuming to complain?
We now hear that energywatch is proposing a register of fraudulent switches.
One hundred years ago this last December the first Morse message was transmitted from Poldhu to St John's in Newfoundland. It is rumoured that this was returned immediately by the first Letter from America by Alistair Cooke.
The human factor may be one reason that traditional banking is dead. A true story is of the clerk at a Scottish Highlands bank where trade had been particularly slow, when told at 3.30 pm to close the door, admitted "I'm sorry, but I forgot to open it this morning".
A viewer wrote, to Breakfast News about their coverage of the Euro. They had not explained the exchange rates between the French, German and Dutch euros!
There were various estimates in the press as to Christmas sales in 2001 compared with the previous year. These were then sometimes 'seasonally adjusted' to compare them with other quarters. A broker who mistrusted such statistics stated "Seasonally adjusted ... the Great Lakes in America never freeze over".
I asked my husband to purchase a Sony Notebook at £1,232. He came back with a spiral bound one, cost 40p. Super economy !
"My wife contacted the local council to request a recycling bin. When it arrived, she phoned them up to complain they had sent her a used one."
An advertisement from 1952 is for a two week coach holiday visiting Belgium, Germany, Austria (one week), Switzerland and Paris (two nights). The cost - £42 - and you were allowed to take £10 spending money with you. (Autosleeper News)
What's wrong with the banks? If some parts of the Hoe are surplus to requirements, then we will sell it off. All the monies will then go in a big pot. (Deputy Council Leader Kevin Wigens : Sun. Independent)
From a Factory Shop Catalogue: "This amazing multiband radio will receive an incredible 15 shortwave band broadcasts from around the world ... hear cricket in the West Indies, tennis in the USA NB: Reception is of course dependent on the proximity to a transmitter and to geographical location." (The Oxford Consumer)
A Netherlands office has no air conditioning, so windows can be opened and closed as needed!
Devonport History on the Internet - A really excellent potted history with photos of some of 'Devonport's historic buildings and attractions can be quickly downloaded. The area was owned by the St Aubyn family when the Crown purchased land in 1757. Fortifications were built at Mount Wise, which have recently been redeveloped as an open site. Richmond Walk was built on land reclaimed by the Admiralty. Recent history is also covered together with well-known people connected with Devonport and its corporate history. You will find it on hftp://www.devonportvillage.com/DevonportHISTORY.htm
Ready for Christmas 2002 - On 7th January the first offer arrived. It was an order form to start saving for a Christmas hamper with Unigate. The grocery ones vary in price from £92 to £265 and there are specialist drinks (£58 to £120), meat and or candy ones plus a mixed one at £44. All are illustrated in full colour and the contents fully listed. We are unable to decide on the true value of these hampers but in the past other firms have charged top prices for each item. We would prefer to bank the money, rather than buy savings stamps, and then go on a shopping spree nearer Christmas when we can choose precisely what we want and not have the possibility that we will get items we do not want.
A Never Ending Supply - Instant coupons for "one free sample" of tights can lead to an unwanted everlasting supply. True, you will get your free pair, but you will also get sent a shipment of 4 pairs every 4 to 5 weeks 'on approval'. You can cancel at any time but you will have the trouble of returning the unwanted ones. You cannot keep them as unsolicited goods as you have returned the order card that gives this information in very small white print on a blue background. Best ignore the offer.
What a Sauce! - Mushroom sauces could face .a mushrooming increase in taxation. The heavily subsidised EU vegetable growers are further helped by a 228% tariff on imported vegetables. A true sauce with up to 20% of `lumps' faces only a 20% tax. This is to stop importers disguising vegetables as sauce. Will the lumps be increased?
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