The labels on Samuel Smith's beer bottles are examples of how design can evoke all sorts of associations. They all conjure a collective sense of an England from history; a past that may not have actually existed but one we collectively understand.

On another note most of their beers are vegan. Recommended.

I've never been quite satisfied writing with a pen. The black lines of fresh ink are a pleasure but I invariably ruin nibs by dropping them during idle moments when my attention wanders. A biro is simply a make-do gesture toward satisfying the immediate need of making a note. Recently I've switched to using a pencil. It takes me back to primary school; I remember the leads being too hard, the paper too thin. Today I have the luxury of writing with an implement of my choosing so am trying out both a 2B and 3B Tombow MONO 100. It makes handwriting a joy.

I wear glasses all the time; I've never tried contact lenses as there weren't any suitable for my eyes years ago. As such I'm always on the lookout for lighter specs that are comfortable to wear all day. Back in late 2008 I saw this post on Cool Tools about Eyephorics which led me to the Swissflex website. Despite emailing Swissflex and getting no response I eventually found that Frames in the Lanes right here in Brighton carries the range and bought a pair a year ago. They are amazing and are the most comfortable glasses I've worn. They are entirely plastic and use no metal or screws. Mine weigh only 9g and have nosepads that conform to the shape of your face; with most glasses it's pretty typical to end a day with red pressure marks on your nose as it is difficult to get the fit exactly right, none of those problems here. Highly recommended. 

I seem to encounter more inconsequential pleasures in the kitchen than anywhere else. The other day I was making borscht which usually involves me grating beetroot by hand, a very awkward and tiring job given the quantity I usually make. This time though I had the Magimix....

25 year old Magimix still going strong

This is a great piece of design. It feels solid, the plastic exterior wraps around a weighty motor that could run forever, indeed, this Magimix is around 25 years old. Best of all it has no buttons. To operate it you do no more than set the container on the base and snap the lid into place. Genius. It is so straightforward I find it charming. No instructions are required; it cannot work any other way. Not only isn't it overcomplicated, it also doesn't add complexity to the tasks it's designed to help accomplish.

No politics in this post, just two simple inconsequential pleasures I've experienced recently. The first is my purchase, at long last, of a Le Creuset pot to cook in. If you haven't experienced their cookware then I suggest you buy one of their cast iron pots. They're expensive and you wouldn't want to drop it on your foot but they are, for all practical purposes, indestructible. You can justify the expense with the knowledge that this item will last you the rest of your life and will make the food you cook in it that bit more special. I use the pot on the hob to start cooking in and finish things off in the oven. Let things cook slowly and develop their flavour. Yum yum.

The other is watching TED talks on my PSP. I'm keeping a few handy for when I have twenty minutes here and there.

Update: I've had a problem with a couple of the talks I've downloaded. Some play fine, others aren't recognised. Does this have anything to do with what I've read about the PSP's playback requiring the header of the MP4 file to be in a particular format? When I get around to it I'm going to try converting the file with ffmpegx and will post how I get on.