Adam's Blog

Category: Thoughts

  • I was surprised by the amount of buying activity on eBay during lockdown

    I was surprised by the amount of buying activity on eBay during lockdown

    At the start of lockdown I assumed that no-one would be buying anything online (apart from essentials on Amazon etc). So I didn’t bother trying to sell anything on eBay.

    However, I was pleasantly surprised when most of the bits I put up for sale went pretty fast. Not only that, the pricing reflected market rates with no exceptional discounts in place. So I’ve been selling as much as I can right now to keep us afloat.

    Given the predictions about the current economy I sort of feel there must just be more disposable income available for some people (furlough payments + no commuting + no leisure activity/travel spend?)

  • Looking forward to my RBS bank account sign-up bonus (30 days left to pay-up guys)

    Looking forward to my RBS bank account sign-up bonus (30 days left to pay-up guys)

    Pre-pandemic I signed up to the introductory £175 for a new bank account from RBS… here’s a friendly reminder that I’m still waiting for my sign-up bonus. 30 days to go until the deadline 🙂

  • Current state of ‘safe’ supermarket shopping

    Current state of ‘safe’ supermarket shopping

    With the continued lack of available supermarket deliveries in my area I was forced to visit my local large Tesco a couple of days ago…

    What I witnessed was the same signs/notices that have been up for a while: ‘limited number of people allowed in the shop’, ‘keep 2m apart’ as well as clear arrows down each aisle guiding people to keep to the one-way rule.

    However the problem was that (a) There seemed to be hundreds of people in the shop (as if the security staff had given up counting) – no queue outside (picture above is from when I visited a month ago, and (b) about 10% of the people in there were not following any guidance (too close to each other and going the wrong way up the aisles).

    It was a sad and frustrating thing to see this kind of behaviour at this time. But given the nonsensical rules from our inept government, I shouldn’t be surprised by the result…

  • Best ever basketball documentary: The Last Dance

    Best ever basketball documentary: The Last Dance

    Definitely worth a watch is Netflix’s documentary about Michael Jordan: the basketball legend. Even if you’re not a basketball fan it’s pretty interesting and gripping!

    Link: https://www.netflix.com/title/80203144?s=i&trkid=13747225

  • Thoughts on UK’s Corona-cock-up

    A continuation of what I’ve witnessed being in the UK re coronavirus, covid, lockdown etc:

    • We now live in the 2nd worst affected country in the world after the US.
    • The number of total deaths in the UK in 2020 is over double that of 2019.
    • The government has been incredibly vague, lazy, unfocussed, and downright outrageous in its handling of the crisis.
    • Today’s ‘stay alert’ instead of ‘stay at home’ advice adds to the vagueness and will encourage more killing.
    • The UK has ignored any type of collaboration with the EU: it had to create its own mobile tracing app, and it did not accept participation any PPE schemes.
    • Despite everything, the government is still kicking migrants out of the country; refusing to recognise the NHS as anything valuable (just give them a clap); and pushing for no-deal Brexit behind the scenes.
    • I have also witnessed what appears to be an incredible new leader come to power on the other side (labour) – Keir Starmer. I’m sure that if this man was leading the country right now we would be in a much better position with thousands fewer deaths.
  • It’s the lockdown, so I created The Lockdown Shop

    It’s the lockdown, so I created The Lockdown Shop

    Thinking about the situation we’re in (entertainment/hospitality industries on hold), and the fact that I like recommending products (se my previous posts), I thought I’d go and create a UK online store with the aim of being the go-to place for online shopping during this- and any future- lockdown situation.

    The Lockdown Shop is divided into all the key product categories with top-10s for each (home exercise equipment, DIY tools, gardening equipment, technology, and more) to ensure smart buying choices.

    All the 100-ish items listed have been chosen by me and recommended by the general public (all have 10+ public reviews upwards of 4 stars with an average of 4.6). I can guarantee there will be something useful to you so take a look through.

    As the site is pretty fresh, let me know if you’ve got any suggestions re the layout, the products or product categories.

  • I’m thankful for Jamie’s lockdown shows!

    I’m thankful for Jamie’s lockdown shows!

    Basically Jamie Oliver is a complete star: he’s continued his cooking shows through the pandemic. He’s fully-isolated. No studio, no staff, just him, his wife and all the kids helping out. He tries to encourage the art of swapping in ingredients based on what may -or may not -be left in your fridge and store-cupboards.

    Obviously there’s a bit of editing by some remote staff to clean it up, but he does a fantastic job of presenting his ideas/hacks to the TV/Internet viewers.

    Link to the series: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/jamie-keep-cooking-and-carry-on

  • For those who have never used Cashback sites before…

    For those who have never used Cashback sites before…

    I can’t believe I haven’t recommended this already. I’ve been a fan of cashback as a money-saving concept for over 15 years now. Quidco is the absolute best that I’ve used to date.

    Over the last couple of years I’ve earned around £1,000 from simply clicking through to the sites that I was going to use anyway.

    For example: I click through Quidco every time I need to renew car insurance, house insurance, renew a phone contract, or basically any time I need to buy anything online.

    I login, find the retailer name, then click through to generate the cashback. You’ll usually have to wait a few months before you can withdraw it to your bank account as it has to be tracked, but it’s well worth the wait.

    Click through and sign-up now for an immediate £5 cashback just for clicking my link here. Easy cash for everyone.

  • Best Bikes for the Lockdown (currently on Amazon)

    I thought I’d put a quick list together of all the absolute best top-rated bikes available to buy during the pandemic lock-down. (Something I had time to sit down and get done!) Obviously if you’ve already got all the fully-working bikes you need then this list doesn’t apply to you, but there’s a lot of folk out there who need to know what the best options are to buy right now to either replace or upgrade their current bicycle(s).

    For toddlers-to-small-children:

    The RoyalBaby with stabilisers (4.6 Star Rating)

    For children who have graduated from stabilisers:

    The NDCENT Flier BMX (4.4 Star Rating)

    The city-dweller’s ideal electric bike:

    The Windgoo Moovway 12 Incher (4.5 Star Rating)

    The unisex all-terrain bike:

    The Ancheer 2019 250W (4.8 Star Rating)

    The alternative all-terrain e-bike:

    The BUNAO 26 Inch 36V (4.3 Star Rating)

    For serious non-electric bikers with cash to burn:

    SAVA Carbon Phantom 3.0 (4.5 Star Rating)

  • What I’ve learnt about the virus which has had an incredible impact on the whole world

    What I’ve learnt about the virus which has had an incredible impact on the whole world

    My bullet-point list of things I’ve learnt about this crazy Coronavirus so far:

    • It originated in Wuhan, China, where it was transmitted to humans via some other undefined animal in a market.
    • It is incredibly efficient at transmitting from human to human in close proximity.
    • Mortality rate is estimated to be at least 2%, which is quite a few people due to the transmission efficacy.
    • It shows up with a variety of flu-like symptoms in most people who contract it.
    • It is exceptionally dangerous to the ‘at risk’ groups: the over-70s and anyone with a fragile immune system.
    • It can be contained where very strict human-movement measures are put into place, and where testing and tracing is used.
    • The far east has been the most effective at containing the virus (China reported just over 3k deaths and then it all cut out; the UK is at 9k deaths; the USA is now over 18k deaths and it doesn’t seem to be calming yet).
    • The west has been incredibly poor at containing it (governments trying to be liberal failed miserably).
    • The UK initially thought ‘herd immunity’ would be wise (letting the virus run loose), and then adjusted it’s irresponsible policy when it realised the health system (NHS) couldn’t cope with such an idea. The Netherlands also favoured herd immunity, but with an apparently stronger healthcare system.
    • The economy in every country has suffered immensely, with a lot of industries being completely suspended (such as mine).
    • Most countries now are operating with some form of ‘lockdown’ policy in place.
    • Healthcare workers in most countries are the most valued people in society right now. They are doing an incredible job while being underpaid, and while being under-armed ‘soldiers’ trying to save vulnerable people in the UK and other nations.
    • A vaccine might be available in about a year from now.
    • No-one knows when ‘normal’ life will resume…