Well April was certainly a month for showers and it looks like May might be going the same way if today is anything to go by.  So it seemed the perfect time to be trying out our new umbrellas from Susino, which we were sent to review.

H is sadly getting a bit too old for children’s brollies and whilst they look fun, I wanted something that he could take to secondary school without being teased.  So we went for a classic black one for H. It’s a really good quality umbrella with a wooden handle.  It has an automatic opening function which is fun, although it does make the umbrella become a bit of a toy for an eager 11-year-old. The handle is easy to hold and the umbrella feels fairly sturdy, so I can see this one lasting a long time (as long as it doesn’t get lost, which is entirely possible for a 11-year-old navigating public transport alone for the first time).   There’s a carry strap on the cover too, which could be handy for picking it up on the bus or whatever.

I decided to go for an umbrella that fulfilled two functions: a selfie stick and an umbrella.  Now I don’t take a huge number of selfies, but as a blogger it’s sometimes necessary.  H isn’t always around to take a picture of me when it suits.  Also, a selfie stick can be useful sometimes when you want to get a better angle or need to be a bit taller and you don’t fancy climbing up a tree to get the shot you want.  I figured if my umbrella was a selfie stick too, I’d be more likely to have it with me because I don’t generally pop a selfie stick in my handbag, but I would carry an umbrella.  There’s a remote control on the umbrella cover and the selfie device is part of the umbrella handle, which is a really convenient arrangement.   The selfie stick doesn’t make for as comfortable a handle as on H’s umbrella and that would be the downside of this.  I think I’ll be using it on days out and when I’m at events, rather than on the school run. I love the colour though and it’s a lightweight umbrella to carry.

TVs over the years have got thinner, but a giant plasma on the wall still dominates your living room and is a bit dull to look at when the TV isn’t on. So I was interested in the idea of trying out the  Epson TW-650 home cinema projector, which we were recently sent to review.  A projector is a great way for creating a cinema experience from the comfort of your own home and it is much more unobtrusive when it isn’t in use.

So this is what was in the box when we got it out.  It’s quite easy to set up and the controls are instinctive. In fact, H set it up in the living room for a while and I set it up in the bedroom and we both found it really easy to operate. We liked that batteries were provided for the remote – the last thing you want when you have invested in an product like this is to be hunting around for batteries and potentially not being able to be able to play with your new toy because you didn’t have any in the house. It works in a very similar way to a TV (as you’d expect I suppose).

The main thing to think about when you have a projector I think is where to site it in terms of both where you will get a good picture and the practicalities of the cabling.  Depending on how you use it you will at least need to connect it up to the mains for a power supply.  So it’s worth thinking about where you would plug it in and where the cable would go.  If you plan to connect it up to a DVD player or computer, you need to consider these cables too.  HDMI and computer cables are provided in the box with the projector and whilst they are a generous length, you might need your cables to stretch a touch further.  There isn’t necessarily a need for connection cables at all though if you use its built in wifi and the iProjection app (you can download this from the App Store or Google Play).  But, if you want to link up to your DVD player or games console that’s very possible too.

My pictures were taken in the height of the day and whilst I did draw my fairly ineffective curtains, the room was still very light.  Despite this I did feel that the image was clear and bright.  Apparently this is all thanks to 3LCD technology, which produces an equally high White and Colour Light Output of 3,100 lumens.  Epson’s 3LCD technology delivers a clear image that doesn’t have the ‘rainbow effect’ you get with some 1-chip DLP projectors.  Focusing the projector is simple and is done by a sliding mechanism on the front of the machine. You’ll also find an easy to navigate control panel which is clearly marked or you can use the remote.

As well as having built in Wi-Fi, the projector also has features such as:-

• AV mute slide
• Automatic keystone correction
• Built-in speaker
• Horizontal and vertical keystone correction
• MHL audio/video interface
• Quick Corner, Split-Screen-Function

The sound quality from the projector’s own speakers is acceptable, but you can plug it into other devices to boost the sound for the full cinematic experience.  We’ve enjoyed trying out the Epson TW650 and have been amazed by how simple using a projector TV is.

You can also buy accessories such as a soft carry case and a ceiling mount on the Epson website to help you get the full home cinema experience. The Epson Home Projector EH-TW650 retails at £599.99 inc. VAT.  To find your nearest dealer visit the Epson website.

Over the last few weeks I’ve had my Naipo Back Massager Chair set up in various locations around the house.  I’ve used it whilst watching TV and lots of visitors have tried it out when they have come to the house.  I’ve also tried sitting in a favourite spot in my bedroom and that works well too, but I think in front of the TV is my favourite spot for it.

I’ve previously reviewed a much smaller Naipo massager which I’ve found quite handy over recent months for dealing with tense shoulders.  That’s very handy as I can pop it away in a cupboard when it’s not in use.  My new chair massager is bigger and bulkier which is the main disadvantage.  Finding a suitable place to store it which is close enough to make sure it gets used and also keeps the place looking tidy has been the main challenge, but I think I have sussed that now. Using a chair is better in many ways because you can target different areas at the same time and it’s easier than having to move a massager around to cover the whole of your back.

The Naipo chair massager has lots of features.  There’s Shiatsu deep kneading where the rotating, kneading massage rollers imitate a real ‘human finger-like’ massage to relieve your fatigue and get rid of neck shoulder and back knots. There are 8 rolling massage nodes and they can be adjusted up and down.  These are suitable for people between 1.6m and 1.8m height which includes most adults I’d say.  With the cold days we have been having it’s been nice to have a massage in the evenings with a little heat.  I find that heat helps loosen the muscles more effectively.  The vibration massage is great when you are sitting on the seat as it helps treat your hips and thighs – there are 3 different levels to choose from.

Being able to customise the experience is really useful as you can use that feature to tackle particular problem areas. You can choose your own massage settings and even pinpoint massage spots on your back.  I generally use it for a massage session and it will turn itself off when it has completed the massage. You can either plug it into the mains or use the car adapter if you prefer to use it in the car (perfect on a long journey).

I have a bit of a thing about boxes.  I own a number of pretty or characterful boxes, some are modern and some are antique.  There’s the art deco pewter jewellery box that I bought on eBay with it’s beautiful enamel stone and the old wooden till box that I bought in a real live auction in Barmouth in North Wales.  Some boxes have been gifts, but many I’ve picked out myself.  So imagine my enjoyment at picking out a box from Personalised Cart.  They have a great range of personalised gifts, but as often happens I was drawn to the boxes. In the end I decided on a Watch Storage Box which I opted to have personalised with my initials. There was a selection of 10 fonts available and I chose the ‘Dancing Script’.  It’s worth spending some time looking through the fonts, especially if you have an initial like E which can often appear very differently in different scripts. I like the way my initials have been engraved and it makes the box extra special to me.

Inside there are eight watch sized compartments.  I have three nice watches currently, so I am using the other slots to house my bracelets currently, but they’d also be good for other jewellery. The middle slot is a handy size and could be used to store a pair or glasses or maybe a statement necklace.  The little black cushions are a good size and shape for holding watches, so they will keep them safe and well protected.   As well as providing safe storage, I think the cushions set off gold and silver coloured items very nicely and the effect is pleasing to the eye.  I think I’ll have to increase my collection of watches now that they will be so well housed.