Advantages: Even more great steam footage
Disadvantages: None

...Taw Valley Orient Express Steam has to be one of moy favourite of the Green Umbrella steam train videos. It tells the story of then Southern West Country Class steam locomotive 34027 "Taw Valley." You see, years ago, railway companies would design a new locomotive and name the after things. The Castle Class, for example, would all be named after castles. The West country class locomotives were all named after features in the South West of England. Hence, of course, the name Taw Valley." Taw Valley is a Bulleid locomotive. "What on earth," I thought, "is that all about, then?" Ths video explains all. (A clue: It is not pronounced Bell-eyed, but rather Bull-Id. No. You are right. That's not much of a clue, is it? I'll explain the name, later.) In 1980, Taw Valley was, let's be blunt about it, in a bit of a dreadful state. The DVD... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap (for Blu-Ray), better than the Sony ones, works well, upgradable
Disadvantages: No DVD+R / +RW playback, no SVCD or VCD playback

...analogue terminals. The first was the most important because Blu-Ray is still an evolving standard and there will no doubt be new variants and updated features in the standard that means some movies won't play properly. I had the same thing with early DVD players and insisted on getting ones that had upgradable firmware so that the bugs could be fixed. The first generation of standalone players have not had upgradable firmware and some have had older variants of the HDMI standard as well, making them a high risk for becoming redundant. The BD-P1400 has two ways in which the firmware can be updated. Both are described in the manual and are "user" options in the setup menu (not hidden or for "service operators" only). The BD-P1400 has an Ethernet port and is internet-capable. It can go to it's own web site and check for firmware updates... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap, will get creases out of clothes
Disadvantages: Not as many features as dearer models (but don't cry about it).

...cockroach to do it)? Ironing involves putting water in the iron, putting your clothes on an ironing board (or a table if you are poor) and pressing down on your clothes with the iron until the creases come out of them. ALLERGY INFORMATION Do NOT buy this product if you are allergic to any of the following: -Stainless steel soleplates -180 ml water tanks -variable steam settings -1400 watts irons -cords that are 2.5m long -temperature indicator lights ROBBO, ROBBO, STOP BLINDING ME WITH SCIENCE, JUST GIVE ME IT IN LAYMAN'S TERMS Okay, okay, here we go: VOLUME: The iron holds 180 ml, but if you put that much in (using the jug provided) it will spill out, so don't. Put a bit less in, fool. BUTTONS AND THAT: There is a dial which allows your standard three temperature settings: one dot for synthetics (weedy fabrics, like frilly shirts), two dots... Read review

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Advantages: Its pretty Amazing
Disadvantages: Its really expensive

...: The spa has a medium sized sauna (can fit about 12 people comfortably) and a similar sized steam room. Both are very nicely attired and quite comfortable, the only problem is that you eventually have to get out into the cold Iceland air. Cost: If you've ever been to Iceland then you'll know how expensive everything is in general, but this place goes even further. It cost K1400, there are approximately 100K to £1 meaning that it costs about £14. Products: The Spa has really cashed in on the whole idea of natural mud (I gave a pot to my mum, and to be honest I'm not really sure if it worked). They also do everything from towels and robes to shot glasses. Overall: I visited this place in the middle of a snow storm, an I had a blast, my head was freezing but the rest of my body was boiling. If you want an interesting... Read review

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Advantages: Portable, steams, range of styles
Disadvantages: dries hair, have to buy energy cells

.... The only piece of advice that I’d been given on the choice of curling tongs was ‘don’t buy anything by Babybliss’. So, I glanced at the selection and the Braun C20S seemed to stand out with it’s steam function and the fact that it was cordless. I took it to the checkout under the impression that it was £20.99, but in fact it had been reduced to £14.00-bargain! I arrived home and set about admiring my little beauty gadget and pouring over the instructions. I have to admit, the first time I looked at the instructions, it did confuse me for a while but I do have a bit of a slow brain and I’d never owned anything like this before. It tuned out that a number of styles are able to be performed by the tong; if you use the tong on its own then the result will be tight ringlets, if the tong is used with the addition of the brush (which is included... Read review

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Advantages: Gives nice bouncy angel curls-like it's meant to
Disadvantages: Doesn;t have the power to work on all hair types

...Carmen Girls Angel Curls, is a pink and girly hair curler directed at the teenage market. The design being so girly, will make any preteen/mid-teenage girl very happy; it's ideal for a present because it's good value for money aswell. It's RRP is £19.99, but it can be bought off the highstreet at £14.00, and I've evwen seen an Ebay listing for it for £4.00! The curls created are angel curls - ringlets. But aside from being a very decorative and trendy looking peice to buy for someone, practically it's not too good for curling all hair types. Performance wise, the curler doesn't reach salon quality high heats, but then it's not priced at that level either. And even though the heat doesn't go that high, there is a steam function available to help set the curl. From my experience, having thick, long and straight hair, the curler... Read review

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Advantages: A truly entertaining evening
Disadvantages: Tables seat 8 people so not always ideal for groups less than 4

...and they do charge service on top (however you are within your rights to refuse to pay the service charge and can instead leave a tip for the chef/serving staff). The meals range from approximately £15.00 - £50.00 which does seem a lot but the meal includes a soup, salad, prawn appetiser, main course, steamed rice, and ice cream. However this is in small print and you can feel obliged/tempted to order a starter only to find out later it was not really needed! The kids menu is very well priced (approximately £4.00) which is ideal for kids parties. Atmosphere This is the most exciting and fun restaurant I have been to. The chefs are amazing to watch and involve the whole table in their show. They play football with the prawn tails, make volcanos, and can even juggle with the bowls full of rice! Drinks They have a good cocktail and wine menu... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent quality, excellent autofocus
Disadvantages: Necessarily large

...The Olympus C-1400L is a beauty of a camera - one of the few on the market that are a true SLR design. Olympus have managed to make an SLR without a mechanical mirror, by using a prism to split the light. This does have the disadvantage that it is sometimes not crystal-clear in low-light situations, but the high-sensitivity CCD means that the C-1400L can usually capture very clear pictures even in action shots. Another key consideration is the auto-focus system. While many of the cheaper cameras are merely fixed-focus systems, this camera has an excellent infra-red auto-focus, that consistently captures crystal-clear shots in a huge range of situations. To see a few results from this camera, take a look at http://www.netacclaim.dabsol.co.uk/pix/ The C-1000L and C-1400L are essentially identical cameras, except that the 1400L has... Read review

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Advantages: Reliable, good looking, great programs, easy to use, very efficient
Disadvantages: none

...With this machine you get what you pay for. We've used it now for around 9 months. Never had a problem with it. Originally we planned on buying a washing machine costing up to £500 but when my saw this reviewed in a gadget magazine, she wanted this one. We ended up going for the boring white and silver colour combination (there are quite a few different colours available) and it looks great alongside the silver fridge. Now to the meat and potatoes of the review. Well it washes clothes well. The display is totally clear and (as silly as it sounds) the way it switches on adds some colour to a usually bland experience. From the tuneful 'bong' when you switch it on, to the colourful selector dial to the informative large lcd display, it all lightens a dirty job (sorry!). We found the steam function which decreases the clothing was superb... Read review

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Advantages: Beauty
Disadvantages: weather

...can spend your time admiring the scenery whilst having the pleasure of Riding on a steam train. Does anyone love canoeing, white-water rafting, abseiling, hill- walking, rock climbing,potholing if you do you have come to the right place. There are various shops in the town that hire out equipment etc. JJ CANOEING being amongst the best. Shopping in Llan is typical welsh stuff, such as lovespoons, miners lamps, slate and coal products, pottery, stone figures, sheepskins and goatskins (the rugs are gorgeous)the list goes on. A good place to go if you like sheep (by sheep I mean they are so friendly they will happily share your lunch) is The ponderosa it is a café come gift shop situated high upon the Horseshoe Pass near Llangollen it is 1,400 ft above sea level. It has the most stunning views you will ever see in wales. In the café... Read review

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