SAINSBURY'S BASIC JUG KETTLE

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Last year, I was surprised by the sound of an explosion and it came from the kitchen. I checked the appliances, one by one, until I smelled the burnt plug of an electric kettle. The fuse had exploded and the electrical wire was severely affected, too, which made the kettle impossible to mend and get back in working order.

The kettle was absolutely irreparable that evening and I was left with no hot water for my hot chocolate drink (LOL!). Honestly, I found it very challenging not to have sizzling hot water in the house especially in the morning. Who would not be when you are used to having a cup of refreshing coffee after breakfast and late afternoon tea as well.

I woke-up at 5AM and searched immediately for electric kettles from various sellers online. I visited six stores to see their offers and ended with two of my best choices. They were from John Lewis website with impressive remarks from the previous customers. Additionally, they were not too expensive given the style, colour as well as their key features.

I stayed up and didn’t go back to bed....

My top two choices were amazingly very good but I ended up buying Sainsbury's Basic Jug Kettle. My only idea was to try it and to see if it's worth the trouble saving a few quid? Unfortunately, it wasn't a wise buy at all nor saving a few dosh in my purse!

While I was in the kitchen for hours, I couldn't stand the look of the kettle as it was disappointingly very basic and cheap looking (Sorry for being blunt and insulting). On the contrary, Sainsbury's Basic Jug Kettle functions similar to my broken Dome Kettle from Russell Hobbs. Yes, I didn't go to John Lewis to buy one of my choices and because of that, I hated myself (a little bit). My decision in buying it was absolutely a pointless compromise. Well, I'm only human!

I disliked it but didn't return it to the store...

Last year, the Sainsbury's Basic Jug Kettle was placed in the "balikbayan" box and shipped over to my beloved country. It wasn't exquisitely ideal for my finicky taste but it was worth experimenting. On the other hand, this well-made inexpensive kettle has been very useful at my brother's humble abode nowadays.
 

Technically speaking, this compact jug kettle has a light weight power base which doesn’t need so much space with the additional cord storage. It has twin water gauges on both sides of the body to see through the water level with removable and washable filter in the spout. The kettle is finished in clean white with a generous 1.7L capacity- providing you with more sizzling hot water for coffee, tea and other purposes. It also has a flip-top lid with on/off switch which illuminates with an orange glow when the water is boiling. Moreover, this household jug kettle brings water to the boil rapidly because of its powerful 1850- 2200W.

THE WHITARD OF CHELSEA'S 4 CUP CAFETIERE

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

I went into a pub and orderd a large cup of luscious creamy cappuccino, and absorbed the civilised ambiance as well as the magnificent Victorian decorations. In particular, I was impressed by pictures of shire horses- pulling carts full of beer barrels. Apart from that, I watched the locals through the big glass windows coming and going along the high street.

It wasn’t in my plan to visit this working class pub, but I still had extra time before heading back home. I decided to rest my weary feet for a few minutes as I'd been walking up and down the busy high street on a mild sunny day. As far as I was concerned, I only stayed for 20 minutes and after that, I walked uphill towards the bus stop.

Whenever I go out, I love to visit a particular shop just in front of the main entrance of the bus stop. I visited it again and was drawn to a filter coffee maker with its original box. It was in very good condition and at a reasonable price too. I was so lucky but I wasn't that convince about buying it. Then I realised, I badly needed a coffee filter that can be used also to prepare loose tea. So I bought the cafetiere and handed over to the lady the exact amount. She turned out to be Lady de Burgh and told me about the huge fireplace she had just installed at Rosings. But I diverge... LOL!

I was there in the shop to find something for myself and I was a bit disappointed because it wasn’t that fruitful for me. But that day, I didn’t go empty handed as an elegant looking cafetiere manufactured especially for Whittard by Bodum was with me.

The cafetiere is designed with two metal holders which are glued to its cylindrical glass jug as well as connected to the black finish plastic holder. In the box also, was included a rounded dessert spoon and a cork cardboard mat which was shaped and curved perfectly to fit the base of the jug. Moreover, it can provide up to 4 cups of hot beverages which makes it ideal not only for a couple but for a big family too.