Just what is the TSA and what is a TSA lock?

We sometimes get asked what a "TSA lock" is. Well it's the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which is an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for security in all modes of transportation in the United States.

The TSA is allowed to open and search air passengers' luggage for security screening in the US. It is allowed to cut open, destroy, or otherwise disable locks during a search. This is obviously a bit inconvenient if its your baggage that they chop up!

Therefore, the agency has sanctioned two companies to make padlocks, lockable straps, and luggage with built-in locks that can be opened and relocked by tools and information supplied by the lock manufacturers.

TSA agents have these tools, as do certain authorized security agencies such as UK Customs (so not just important if you are going to the US). This means that your locks can be opened, the contents checked and the whole thing reclosed without them having to resort to slicing through your favourite bag and leaving your undies exposed on the luggage carousel!

We sell a range of TSA sanctioned products including the straps and locks.

 
Go here to see more  http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/shop/category_LUGSEC/Luggage-Security.html?sessid=RpxDX8LVEo6i3ROBRQ0mgGMdhZBRLxlV6PCWGaZt2pQKL4vkcmUUMiX78Mk7j7LO&shop_param=cid%3D%26

TravelBlue products are here!

We are very excited to be able to offer the TravelBlue range of travel accessories. This includes locks, straps, name tags, backpacks and much more.

 

TravelBlue accessories come with a free lost and found service. Simply register your item on the website http://www.free-lost-found.com/

Watch this space for more details as we add the products. This is a good starting place.... http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/shop/category_LUGSEC/Luggage-Security.html?shop_param=cid%3D%26

A busy period and then it snowed - twice!

It's been an incredibly busy time here at AllUNeed4 but it looks like the Xmas rush is abating as we get closer to the big day and the cut off for postage looms.

The weather has hit with a double whammy, first the supplies couldn't get here, then we couldn't get out to the post office! Hopefully all the customers will receive their parcels in time for Santa to deliver.

This was the view from the office this morning!

Merry Xmas everyone..

No more breathalysers

The market has now exploded for breathalysers and the big boys in retail have been buying them by the trillion meaning that they can offer them for a very, very low price. Sadly this means that the distributors are no longer interested in us small fish so they won't supply us. Therefore, sadly we aren't able to offer them any more. Still we've got lots of other goodies that are much more interesting than gadgets for smelling your beer breath! Support us today by visiting our site http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/

Thanks
Chris

Wine aeration works!

We've found some useful information on the free article site http://www.z-articles.com/ about wine aeration.

Do Wine Aerators Work?

Pour-through wine aerators are a relatively new addition to the wine accessory world, and the reviews are unanimous: they work!

They are especially useful for the average wine drinker who buys wine off the shelf, for consumption within a few weeks or months.

Most retail wine sellers don't stock ripe vintages, opting instead for more affordable reds and whites from the previous 5-10 years. These wines are wonderful, high-quality options if you follow the cardinal rule of wine: Let it breathe!

Have you noticed that the last glass poured from a bottle tastes better than the first? That's not the alcohol confusing your tastebuds, it's the oxygen improving the wine over time. Amazing wines can be ruined by drinking them too soon out of the bottle, your £10-£15 bottle needs a little TLC to live up to its price.
New reds especially need air to ripen and allow the flavours to meld. As oxygen flows through the wine, the harshest elements are burned off, leaving a smoother, well-rounded taste.
Young whites also benefit from air, as they can come out of the bottle tart or overly tangy.

There are two preferred ways to allow your wine to breathe - decant or aerate.

Decanting -
Decanting was originally introduced to allow wine sediment to settle to the bottom of a vessel, and is largely used for deep, complex reds. Today, sediment is hardly an issue with wines, normally you can see through the bottle if decanting is necessary. The average rich red wine needs a minimum of an hour to breathe in a wide vessel. Many wine lovers don't have this kind of time, especially when entertaining and serving several bottles over the course of a dinner or party.

Aerating -
For wine drinkers who like to enjoy single glasses, or a number of different wines in an evening, a wine aerator is the must-have gadget to ensure maximum enjoyment. Available in single glass or bottle sizes, (some wine aerators are versatile enough to do both) aerators sit between the glass or vessel, separating wine as it's poured from the bottle into streams to allow maximum airflow in seconds, not hours.

Great for Parties
As well as being practical, wine aerators are fun to show off to guests. The next time you throw a party, make a point of pouring a glass through an aerator, and let your guests try both the oxygenated wine and the wine straight from the bottle. Most average drinkers can't believe the difference in taste. You'll be the host of the season, and establish yourself as a true aficionado.

So if you want one of these you have a choice - the VinOair which aerates as you pour, and the Rouge O2 which aerates a whole bottle at a time automatically in one minute.

Get hold of these at: http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/shop/category_Wine%2520Aerators/VinOair-Rouge-O2.html?shop_param=cid%3D%26

Beanie Hats -with head phones

This will be the teen age hit for Christmas- a trendy beanie hat with built in head phones to plug you MP3 player into - Loving the gray ribbed on with tassles.

High spec headphones: Freq Range: 20-20KHz Impedance: 32 ohms Mean SPL: 112 dB/mW Input Power: 40 mW Plug: 3.5 mm standard Cable Length: 48 inches



http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/shop/article_Beanie001n/Beanie-Hat-with-built-in-headphones.html?shop_param=cid%3D9%26aid%3DBeanie001n%26

Flo Atomiser

This is a fantastic invention - using the Flo you can decant perfume or aftershave even from a spray bottle so you can carry an aircraft acceptable amount in your hand luggage.

I also use the Flo in my hand bag all the time as it means I don't carry a big bottle of perfume with me .

The special filler nozzle means you can use a spray perfume or a more traditional bottle - the latest version of this contains 6ml of perfume. The versatility & capacity of Flo is better than any of the other atomisers on the market

They will make great Christmas presents for all my girl friends this year. The black one is great for guys that fly and want to take thier aftershave with them .

The Flo comes in 3 colours pink black and silver - if you want one of these visit the link below with discounts available on multiple purchases

http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/shop/category_HEABEAUTY/4.-Health-and-Beauty.html?sessid=kzuYtj1Z5M4f61UZpFZi5QTy6tjzx1EpAGkUywlpPYqlyP7uibFZkEZuVZfuRioQ&shop_param=cid%3D%26

Apprentice Cuuli versus the Wicked Wedge

It was with interest that I watched tonight's Apprentice as the task involved them creating a new beach product.

I wondered if they were going to come up with some fab gadget that would be a bestseller. Seems they didn't (even though Boots showed interest in the book-stand-thingy that the girls screwed up by not accepting an exclusive deal!).

The boys (and Stella) came up with a beach towel with an attached container that was supposed to keep things cool and store your stuff. From a distance and if you squinted a bit, you could probably be forgiven for thinking you'd seen a Wicked Wedge.

Personally I think the Wedge is best because it packs flatter and lets you sit against it rather than just resting your head on it - I really suspect that the storage bit is probably uncomfortable on your neck after a few minutes.

But you never know, maybe some company that is much better organised than this year's Apprentice rabble will take it up and iron out the wrinkles. Until that day I'm sticking with the Wedge!

To see more about the Wedge visit:

http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/shop/article_WWBL001/Wicked-Wedge-Blue.html?shop_param=cid%3D2%26aid%3DWWBL001%26

New Products the VinOair

It's always exciting when you find a new product that you love , then you put it on your website and it sells! This week's big hit is the VinOair- it's a red wine aerator that is said to make a £5 bottle of wine taste like one that cost £25. You use it our straight from bottle to glass- its compact size makes it easy to use and ideal for travel- also would make an excellent Chrissie present for the men in your life that are so difficult to buy for.... definitely one for my Dad !

Not going on holiday? Beat the winter blues with a Daylight Pod!

It's very sad that the nights are drawing in and the weather has turned distinctly autumnal (almost wintery in some places). It's the time when we start to feel a bit miserable and down. The lack of daylight has been attributed to making us feel depressed and when we go to work in the dark and come home in the dark it's no surprise we get fed up.

There is of course a recognised disorder caused by lack of daylight. Wikipedia has the following to say:

"Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or, less frequently, in the summer,^[1] spring or autumn, repeatedly, year after year. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), SAD is not a unique mood disorder, but is "a specifier of major depression".

There are many different treatments for classic (winter-based) seasonal affective disorder, including light therapy with sunlight or bright lights, antidepressant medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, ionized-air administration,^[8] and carefully timed supplementation of the hormone melatonin.^[9]

Well we can't offer the drugs but we can offer the Light Pod to help brighten your home and working space.

This simple to use portable light box has two brightness levels.

It uses blue spectrum light tubes to simulate natural daylight.

Brings near daylight inside whilst you work or relax.

Small and portable for use anywhere a mains plug is available.

Much more convenient than large tube units and better than LED versions as it does not create "spotting" in the eyes.

Supplied with Digital Switching Power Supply for worldwide use.

If you want one of these please go to:  http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/shop/article_lightpod1/Light-Pod---natural-daylight.html?shop_param=cid%3D10%26aid%3Dlightpod1%26

New product keeps you comfy and dry!

We've got the Shmangle! This is the perfect funky accessory for the outdoor enthusiast - cosy fleece blanket on the inside, with a waterproof back and hood. Whether sitting on it to protect you from wet grass or wearing it to shelter from the rain, you are going to feel snug and comfy!

The Shmangle Blanket is a large, lightweight, multipurpose, hooded blanket with a waterproof outer layer and a cosy fleece lining that packs away into a small drawstring bag. It can be worn to shelter from the rain and keep warm around a campfire or used as a groundsheet for sitting on damp grass. Use it to keep warm when festival-going, fishing, camping, caravanning, boating, horse riding, picnicking, watching the kids play football and more.

 
We've got the modest but popular blue version but if you’d like a different colour please tell us through the contact page on the website or just make a comment here and we'll get one for you.

Size 180cm x 140cm. Weight 1.1 kg Machine washable at 40 degrees - leave to dry naturally for best results.

Shmangles are ISO certified waterproof so you can rest assured that unless you sit in water, you should stay dry. Of course it is a blanket not a wetsuit, so don't expect miracles!

If you want to buy a Shmangle from us you can do so here.....

http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/shop/article_shmanblue/Shmangle-Outdoor-Blanket.html?shop_param=cid%3D2%26aid%3Dshmanblue%26

The shop is open - AllUNeed4Travel is live!!

Yes, it's true, we've opened the doors and taken the site live with 20 odd products available. More are being added everyday to extend the ranges in all product categories.

Over the coming weeks we will be focussing on the categories and detailing what's available. Your comments are vital for us to improve so please feel  free to have a look at the site and feedback either through the contact us function or why not come back to the blog and add your comments. Good, bad or indifferent, all your comments are looked at and acted on.

Ah well, back to the shelf stacking!!!

The website is nearly there!

Well it's been a few weeks of high levels of frustration but the site is almost ready. http://www.alluneed4travel.co.uk/ will launch in the next week or so.

Spent most of today putting videos and other info on the site to support the products. So far covered the Travelrest pillow, the VinOair and the Alcosense breathalysers.

Sorted Google Base out as well (I think) but who knows - it all seems so complicated sometimes.

If you ever see one of those ads saying get your web shop up and running with 3 easy clicks... well don't believe them! I do have to say that the support staff at 1and1 have been very useful, there is no way you can work some of the things out as they are just not intuitive.

Anyway nearly there - do check it out and actually if you want to buy what's up there it will work so feel free - your support appreciated!

Chris