So Much More than a Coffee Machine

Tassimo the machine that lets you play at being a Barista like those from Costa (who also do coffee for Tassimo), it is the machine that gives you the experience of that coffee shop without sometimes having to step into one. From filter coffee to mocha choca and then there's tea . Yes you heard me right Tassimo makes tea as well with that quintessential English tea that is Twinnings.

I received only what I like to call a care package which consisted of the Tassimo T20 machine , Twinnings Breakfast tea and Kenco Columbian coffee. That's that the sort of looking after I love ! I owned a Tassimo many years ago but sadly my head got turned by a false idol that was another brand of coffee  machine worst mistake of my life and I gave my old Tassimo away. Safe to say the one that I had decided to cheat on the Tassimo with broke within months.

My life then became a mindless tippy tappy of a spoon as heartless granules fell into a empty mug while I switched on the kettle like some caffeine crazed zombie. But this Tassimo T20 has given my mornings a new heart and has awaken my soul and now there's happily no going back.

Operating the Tassimo T-20 is child's play (obviously a child is not going to operate the machine ) you choose your T-pod for your choice of drink , the T-pod has a barcode on it which tells the Tassimo how much water through the machine , also on the back of the T-pod packet there is an indication of what size drinking cup you'll need.

It is a sleek machine that would not look out of place in the V & A museum there is nothing complicated about it , yet it gives you a very professional looking brewage. The machine is quick , quiet and efficient , I love that the water tank on the machine is slimline. There is no leakage what so ever with the Tassimo T-20 and when you take the T-pods out there is no mess either as granules etc are contained within the T-pod.

  

And if the amount of beverage in your cup is not quite to your liking you can intercede at the end of the machines cycle by pressing the button to let more hot water through.

And even Jack Black got in on the act sadly not the comedian actor but my black moggy who is obsessed with cardboard boxes.

So in conclusion ...... I love my Tassimo T-20 it was love at first site.

I was sent the Tassimo for review my love of tea and coffee has not biased me in my review and all options as such are honest and unbiased.

Currently Tassimo have the T-4 on offer for only £30 but hurry! 

Silent Sunday June

Paddington Bear with me

Don't you just love the quirky nature of London so one Sunday after waving a fellow 

Blogger off at Paddington station where I ran into a certain famous bear and then got lost. I ended up on the wrong tube and at the completely station several stops later I ended up thankfully back at St Pancras.

Back at St Pancras I saw this , I think it's been there ages I think I have had mind fog when I've been to Lonon previously.

It just shows you that just once or twice look up and see what you can see.

Income Protection makes you think

Work base benefits according " to a new report commissioned by Unum , today’s employees are more likely to fall into financial difficulty than they were 30 years ago. The report suggests that this is partly owing to the fact that employee benefits – designed to provide financial protection – have failed to keep pace with the changing UK workforce which is now more feminised, older and includes more disabled and long-term ill."

I was encouraged to ask my HR department about my employee benefits and these are quite comprehensive ranging from sickness benefits, death in service benefits maternity benefits and so forth. But because many a local authority is in a state of flux due to the introduction of "Single status" in the work place I don't think that anyone wants to commit themselves as to if these benefits will change.

The working benefits are on a sliding scale depending how long you are off for, and being a local authority are quite generous as far as I gather there is no income protection other than the statutory right.

Working part time I am afforded the same benefits and rights as full times workers as my salary is on a pro rota scale.

I have to say the whole experience has left me feeling a little vague if I am honest and I think independent income protection is something I would look into again this is cost dependant. Unum have worked with Mumsnet on a income protection survey.

Disclosure ( I was not told what to write about all my view are completely my on , I am being send a voucher for writing about this ) 

Retail Royalty Challenge

You wait a lifetime just to be grown up.

You throw away your childish toys and momentos.

Or so you think.

I pick them up and store them.

For when you leave home.

Your dad says fly away far.

I say "NO"

Stay close.

Childhood is precious you see and that's why when I agreed to take part in Money Supermarket Retail Royalty there were many charities that sprung to mind. But I decided upon the children department at my local Derby hospital where I and my family have spent many a long hour. The budget given to us was £30 for us to spend on the charity of our choice.

Working in EYFS (Reception) my focus is always on value added play especially those that encourage sensory and fine motor skills, which are very much one of the building blocks of education.

Now the challenge is to buy as much as you can for £30 and as it's a hospital I really wanted a child there to have the pleasure and joy of unwrapping a new toy. You 'll be surprised to see that I have only 2 items in fact now you might very well be scratching your head. 

You see the value is in the play itself there is NO shortage to a child's imagination and the adventures that these and other toys can take them on. The Rainbow sound blocks are brilliant for teaching focus and interaction and will delight many children.

The other toy that I decided to go for was Duplo's first zoo , Duplo is always a firm favourite and you pay for its quality but it's a quality that will last countless generations.

I spent my entire budget of £30 but I think I did well don't you ?

This is my entry for Retail royalty challenge, from MoneySuperMarket.