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Hardy's Nottage Hill FreshCase (First Look)

This new wine box called the FreshCase is not in the shops till November the 1st but I've managed to get my hands on a couple to drink.. Err.. I mean to review.

Drinking wine from a box reminds me of my time in Australia (they are called Goons there) where we recycled enough of the wine bags to build a raft but were not that clear of head to actually sail it anywhere.

This is not a wine box in any conventional sense. This seems to me to be the next generation of bulk wine container. Don't get me wrong. I love the traditional aspect of drinking wine from a bottle but there seem to be a few features and benefits of drinking wine from a container like this that I'd not considered. Add that to the fact this is not just any old plonk but wine I like to drink.. and the idea becomes even more attractive.

So.. Would you consider drinking wine like this..? Would it make you drink more/less? Could you see yourself taking the box apart to recycle? (That would be a must for me.)

I really enjoy wines from other parts of the world and do think about the door to door environmental impact of indulging in such pleasures. If this is going to lighten the load in more ways than one, I see it as a good thing. Also, as the wine lasts 6 weeks after opening, it also means I'm not going to waste wine on the one hand, or finish a bottle just because it's there on the other.

I have only opened the Red Nottage Hill Cabernet Shiraz and it works well. It looks like the white Chardonnay has a different system allowing it to lie down in the fridge.  I didn't pay for this particular wine but could see myself shelling out £19.99 when it's finally released. I think it's a move in the right direction.

There's a fresh twitter account for @FreshCase here

UPDATE:

Result! Leave a comment on the blog and if you would like to try the case and wine @FreshCase have a few samples they can send out to UK bloggers.

Please include your twitter name in the comment and follow @FreshCase so they can contact you.

Fresh Case offer

 


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Filed under  //   cabernet   chardonnay   Documentally   environment   freshcase   hardys   nottage hill   packaging   shiraz   video   wine  
Posted October 23, 2009
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Petzl MYO RXP (First Look)

I just got hold of a Myo RXP from Petzl. Winter is setting in and living in the country means, like broadband, street lighting is not yet every where.   Some places I walk the dog are close to pitch black and where there are dogs, there's poo. I guess I needn't go any further.

This is the first Petzl head torch with programmable regulated lighting levels allowing you to customise up to ten levels of power into three lighting modes from 8 to 140 lumens. One setting for walking the dog (as low as possible, just enough for poo scanning) one for cycling in the woods (long beam reaching ahead) and one for nipping the back way to the local pub (diffused and wide for climbing fences and avoiding nettles).

The Petzl Myo RXP Features

  • Wide angle impact resistant polycarbonate lens
  • Operates on 3 alkaline or rechargabler AA/ LR6 batteries
  • It's compatible with lithium batteries
  • Water-resistant

The Petzl Myo RXP Specification (according to the website)

  • Regulated power levels gives constant lighting power and automatically switches to reserve power mode when batteries are almost discharged.
  • Three lighting levels can be chosen (choose from among ten levels between 8 to 140 lumens)
  • Choice of the order of activation of the three lighting modes
  • Flashing mode frequency can be programmed (slow, fast, SOS signal)
  • User-friendly programming in three steps, using the two buttons
  • High-output lighting:160 lumens (Boost mode), 8 to 140 lumens (programmable levels)
  • Shines up to 97 metres in Boost mode
  • Compatible with lithium batteries
  • Wide Angle lens allows to quickly switch from flood beam proximity lighting
    to focused long-distance lighting in a single movement
  • 95 h battery life with program level no.1
  • Lightweight: 175 g
  • Battery charge indicator light: warns when the batteries are 70 % and 90 %
    discharged
  • Switches are protected from accidental operation when light body is in upright
    position
  • Water resistant for all-weather use
  • Compact design
  • Adjustable elastic headband 
So, I'll give this a try and no doubt pop back to report on if it's any good or not.

(I will say I thought the packaging was over the top and dangerous. I would have been happy if the product cane in a rubber band. It's not like you need hardcore display packaging when purchasing of the net.)

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Filed under  //   documentally   head   light   packaging   petzl   review   tech   torch   video  
Posted October 20, 2009
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Paving The Way

Did you know Polystyrene was discovered in 1839?

I quite fancy egg chips and beans with a cup of tea but at what price..?

At the risk of sounding like a hippy (after all I was brought up by them) Polystyrene does not biodegrade.. I have known this a while but every day I watch my kid grow I wonder what I have done to pave his way.. What kind of world will he grow into.

Sad as it seems I do look at the packaging provided before I order food to go and this does dictate to me whether I'll eat at one place over another. Maybe my Son will get to see these foibles and understand early on that although the choice is limited, I try to make the right one and am not just plodding along automatically without a care in the world. Without a care for the world.

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Filed under  //   documentally   eco   environment   food   minimentally   packaging   polystyrene   recycling   waste  
Posted October 5, 2009
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