The Scarlet Dust Master

When this Sebo clean machine arrived I took it out of the box and clipped the cleaner head and hose together in a trice without fuss, head-scratching, or having to look at the slim manual. I then put in the fresh bag that was included, again withoutneeding to consult any instructions.




Slipping the cleaner head into its vertical clip at the base, I filled out the warranty card and sat down with a cup of freshly made filter coffee, marvelling at the bright, shiny red glory of it as Charlotte Green crisply intoned the 11 o'clock bulletin on BBC  Radio 4.
After a quick flip through the manual, which wasn't really needed, I finished the coffee and plugged it in after fully pulling out the self-rewinding cable. 
Poised over it, I gripped the comfortable curved handle at the top of the tube. 

"The tube's rather short", I thought, but smiled upon discovering a thumb button on the tube that makes a telescopic chromed steel inner smoothly glide out which stops at whatever length you want it to suit your height - nice. 

I stepped on the combined power dial and foot switch: "whoo-OSSHHH...", it said, like a miniature turbine. So I hoovered away, grinning to myself at how clean the carpet was becoming with every pass, and found the cleaning head can be 'steered' on a turn of your wrist. 

I must have hoovered the lounge (24'x 18') in as much time as it takes to boil an egg, though what impressed me, oddly, was that many cylinder cleaners have this annoying design that means it's like being in a hot air backwash like a very small jet. Not this one. The K-1 'Airbelt' is so-called, because the exhaust is pushed out around 'its waist', not via a traditional straight vent. 

Around the K-1's waist is a firm, yet yielding bumper, rather like the one around a dodge 'em car, which is what the K-1 resembles. What's ingenious though is the bumper diffuses the exhaust while protecting your furniture from knocks as you glide it about. 

The bags are also a design marvel, each bag has simple, clear fitting instructions, though you don't really need them. It takes less than ten seconds to work out how they slot in, and only go in one way besides. A neat design touch is the box of eight bags comes with a set of matching small "lids" that plug the hole in the bag when it comes to putting it in the trash, thus sealing in dust in and preventing it going everywhere outside. Replace the air filter with every 16th bag change. 

Finally, I also own a Bosch Pro Power 2400W cylinder, with a power dial like the K-1. It's close, but no cigar, as the hot exhaust blows out the top. Both are well made in Germany, although the Bosch is 300W more powerful, making it stick to the carpet. The K-1 and Pro Power clean as well as each other, though the Bosch is noiser. 

The clincher is Sebo offer a 5 year warranty with their units, additional optional turbo heads and the K-1 weighs 5.5KG, while the Bosch is 8KG.

Oh, and the K-1 is cute, quieter, scarlet, and shiny.

Atlantic Broadcloth Cyanide Blue

Calgary Downtown Parkade, Alberta, Canada. It was nudging eleven thirty on a mid-July morning. I was tired, sweating and full of no coffee. The sky ached cyanide blue, congealing into a firmer shade as it adjoined a crowded horizon. The arrogant sun screamed like Hell and was enjoying it.


Occasionally a forsaken blur of cloud was daubed on this canvas, just for appearances. 




The impassive, thirsty air hung lifelessly like a movie-house fire-curtain. It smelled of new asphalt from a couple of blocks away. When it did see fit to take a shallow, resigned breath, it was dusty and parched: you could taste the red-yellow prairie grit in your mouth.


The atomic brilliance made the concrete look bleached. The concrete made the cloud look bled-out. The heat was comfortable enough, at over 28 degrees C. I had to get myself protection, or my retinas would be nicely broiled within the month. 


The wrap around goggle shades made me look like a bug, though it was better than a permanent Eastwood squint. I turned the colour of a light hardwood during my first week in this high and dry cowtown without trying.

The Secret behind the Secret-Part One "The Strangest Secret" by Earl Ni...

On way to a party - bumped into new students.

They liked my cerulean blue scarf and navy coat for some reason and wanted me to take a group photo,so I obliged.

Zut alors! Le Domaine André Brunel, Vin de Pays Rhône Vaucluse 2007 (14%) arrivé!

Right, that is enough (probably rubbish) français for now in the title. The case of Rhône Wine Futures I ordered last month arrived today, and for those whose French is as limited as mine, it is all the way from the Vaucluse region, to the right of the Rhône river in the South on your map of France.


 It is utterly delicious. If you want to treat you guests - or paramor - to a Châteauneuf-like experience, but don't want to frighten the wallet then try this. It is a touch sweeter than a budget Pape, and far leaner in body, yes but beware: though it is 14%, its black forest black cherry overtones make for a deceptively quaffable glass and may be knocked back with gay abandon when served at parties. For £6 a bottle, what do you want? Château Lafite? Buy, buy, buy with confidence and enjoy within a year.

Superplonk Wine Picks: Asda

Astonishing value bottles, one a fiver. To the left is a 2007 Valpolicella 12.5% in their 'Extra Special' range. The wine is made using a technique of "Ripasso", air drying the grape skins, which deepens and intensifies the fruit. It is a pocket pleasing £5 or so.

The second pick is more interesting: "La Différence" Carignan, is a 2007 Catalan Red, a Gold medalist top-100 award-winner of 2008 (Vins de Pays de France).

Grown in the south, this wine derives from vines so venerable that few remember them being planted. The deeply penetrating roots draw out the rich minerality of the terroir (Character of the territory/land/soil) and the yield is tiny and intensely concentrated. The palate is rich-ish, full-mouthed and ripe with several taste layers: Prunes, dark chocolate, soft plums, strawberry with a bouquet of aromatic herbiness. £7.

It's not particularly full like a big Amarone (not Hannibal Lecter pleasing), though try with lighter French beef dishes say, or lighter game. I suppose it wouldn't complain with an Italian tomato pasta beef sauce either, through something good from Tuscany or Puglia may be better there.