Reviews by hockeyshooter (34)

Wharfside Electrical Wholesalers, Fenny Stratford

5/5 (minimum 1) on 18 Dec 2008
A small, traditional electrical wholesalers based in Fenny Stratford, Bletchley. Very knowledgeable staff, wide range of products available, prices generally beat the likes of B&Q, etc. They were able to supply my with some rather obscure fluorescent bulbs from stock.

They don't have any web presence, though - their address is:
17/18 Wharfside
Fenny Stratford
Milton Keynes
MK2 2AZ
Phone 01908 631500

Mercure Terminus Nord hotel, Paris

3/5 (minimum 1) on 06 Nov 2008
Large hotel directly opposite Gare du Nord, the Paris end of the Eurostar line from St.Pancras International, and part of the large Mercure chain, offering fairly standard accommodation at slightly elevated prices. The staff are courteous and helpful, the beds firm and comfortable (I slept like a log) but the rooms are a little shabby. Breakfasts are not automatically included in the room rates, but the buffet option is extensive.

Ask for a room away from the station if you want a quiet night.

For conferences, un-encrypted wireless networking is available for under 10Euros for 24 hours, but otherwise facilities are minimal.

Terminus Nord Brasserie, Paris

4/5 (minimum 1) on 06 Nov 2008
Situated right opposite the Gare du Nord, and in the same building as the Mercure Hotel, this restaurant offers an excellent introduction to traditional Brasserie dining. You'd be in for a special treat if you're a fan of shellfish.

Service is fast and courteous, the food is excellent, the wine list extensive (but decidedly French), but be prepared for a bit of a shock when you get the bill! An English language menu is available.

The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield

5/5 (minimum 1) on 16 Sep 2008
Situated to the west of Beaconsfield, this pub has a claim as the oldest free house in the country with over 900 years of history. Its a really nice, traditional pub with great food at reasonable prices. Wide range of real ales on tap.
Acres of safe parking. Its a bit out-in-the-sticks so you don't get herds of drunken idiots. Highly recommended.

Chiquitos, Central Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes

2/5 (minimum 1) on 08 Aug 2008
Chiquitos used to be a regular haunt of mine, but sadly no longer. The prices have gone up and the quality has gone down. They actually served fish that was off to myself and another customer one evening. With the excellent choice of other restaurants in The Hub, this place is really going to have to improve.

Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands

4/5 (minimum 1) on 08 Aug 2008
Visited this particular branch of the Frosts chain to buy some new roses. They had a decent selection on show, all of which were in a good condition and well labelled as to variety, soil and light requirements, etc. The staff were many and helpful. Prices weren't any higher than you'd expect but I happen to go on a sale day and received a massive discount.

I went on a week day and it was pretty busy, so I'd expect it to be heaving on a sunny weekend. There's plenty of parking, but you might have to walk a fair distance. Wheelchairs are available for the less-able-bodied.

Would have received 5 stars, but the till staff were a tad incompetent.

Zizzi's Restaurant, The Hub, Milton Keynes

4/5 (minimum 1) on 05 Jul 2008
A wide choice of perfectly acceptable Italian cuisine and not-overly-expensive prices, situated in 'The Hub' behind the new Jury's Inn hotel. Gets very busy on Friday and Saturday evenings, so I recommend booking - remembering there are two of this chain in MK. Very pleasant staff; wide choice of meals. Only negative I can think of is the acoustics! When its really heaving, you can hardly hear yourself think.

The Andromeda Strain miniseries, 2008

4/5 (minimum 1) on 28 May 2008
The Scott brothers (Tony and Ridley) were joint producers on this re-take of the classic science fiction movie The Andromeda Strain which itself is based on a book by Michael Crighton. This two-parter, originally shown on A&E in the USA is well produced, and quite gripping, but I'm afraid the reasons, explanations and conspiracy get rather carried away in the second part.

If you don't like this 2008 remake, don't let it put you off seeking out the fabulous 1971 Robert Wise original, which was years ahead of its time.

ATP Photofinder portable photo geotagging device

4/5 (minimum 1) on 14 May 2008
This clever little device performs two functions. Firstly it records a track of GPS locations, saved every 5 seconds to a KML-format file.

Secondly, and much more clever, is that you can take an SD card from a digital camera, and it will geotag (correctly, in the EXIF header) with the location the photo was taken at the time it was taken.

Like the little Garmin units, it runs off two AAA batteries with an expected life of about 8 hours. Takes quite a while to acquire the GPS signal.

Its quite well built, feels robust, the SD slot and mini-USB2 slot are behind a little rubber flap and the battery cover is a tight fit. Controls are minimal (just three buttons) and there is a tiny LCD display - but this is extremely difficult to read in bright light.

Overall, its an excellent idea and very useful for doing site surveys and the like.

Ripe for the Picking by Annie Hawes

5/5 (minimum 1) on 06 Apr 2008
Read this book whilst on holiday in Liguria - quite appropriate considering this is the subject of this outstanding novel by Annie Hawes. It tells the tale of an English woman who has relocated to a little cottage in the hills above Diano Marina, just along the coast from Imperia in the region of Liguria, Italy. Superbly written, very funny and, as I can personally attest, and accurate portrayal of Ligurian life. This is one of the 'happiest' books I've read in a long time. Thoroughly recommended.

Note that this book is a sequel to the best-seller 'Extra Virgin' which I would suggest you read first if you're interested.

The Lowndes Arms, Whaddon, Milton Keynes

2/5 (minimum 1) on 06 Apr 2008
Whilst I haven't stayed in the accommodation, I must agree with the other reviewer. I had a Sunday lunch there a few weeks ago and this place has seriously gone down hill since the days when I lived in West Bletchley and this was one of my regular haunts. I would say that only 40% of my traditional Sunday roast was actually edible. Not cheap either.

Dexters Bar & Chargrill, Xscape, Milton Keynes

2/5 (minimum 1) on 06 Apr 2008
Pretty standard and actually reasonable USA-type food (lots of burgers to choose from) but the prices are astronomical. We ordered drinks first and the waitress offered nuts and olives to go with them while we contemplated our food order. Nearly four quid for that little privilege - which you'd get at any respectable Italian cafe or restaurant for free. £15 for a bottle of not-particularly-good Merlot. And £3.25 for three scoops of ice cream. See what I mean? Oh, and the standard service charge, which they whack on the bill without asking, is 12.5%

The Threat, by David Poyer

5/5 (minimum 1) on 05 Mar 2008
Commander Dan Lenson takes a political timeout in this excellent ninth book from modern US naval writer David Poyer. If you've read any of the others, you'll find the same gripping pace, as Lenson's frustrations with the administration he is forced to work under bubble to the surface.

Shows Clancy a thing or two about how to successfully transition from the pure technothriller. Highly recommended.

Diver, by Tony Groom

4/5 (minimum 1) on 27 Feb 2008
Tony's done a pretty good job here of describing his experience of diving over the years. The early part of the book, where he describes his military training, is so funny in parts that I had to put the book down so I could breath again, I was laughing so much. Then comes his work during the 1982 Falklands Conflict, where the Navy divers' crucial role in minesweeping and UXB diffusing, previously almost unsung, saved countless lives. Finally, he describes his time as a saturation diver in the commercial world.

His personable, chatty and witty writing makes this book an excellent read. Recommended.

The Regiment, by Michael Asher

5/5 (minimum 1) on 24 Jan 2008
Thoroughly researched, a good half of the book is devoted to the regiment's foundation in the deserts of North Africa during the Second World War. The author doesn't pull his punches when it comes to operations in Northern Ireland and the 1991 Gulf War.

Its certainly a long read, but nonetheless fast-paced - his descriptions of action read like a novel. You won't find a bigger collection of adjectives for the sounds that bullets make!

Highly recommended.

Hôtel des Princes, Chambéry, France

4/5 (minimum 1) on 15 Nov 2007
Quite a nice hotel in the lovely, picturesque town of Chambéry in France.

Avoid rooms on the top floor if you're tall as the ceilings can be very low! A couple of quibbles: my pillows smelled somewhat of cigarette smoke, and I never managed to get any hot water in the bathroom.

A generous continental breakfast is provided on the ground floor; free, open wireless network in the lobby; underground car parking available at another hotel nearby. Lots to see and do within walking distance.

Motorcare Service Centres

5/5 (minimum 1) on 10 Nov 2007
The particular garage I visited is one of a chain of three. I have been there once before, and a friend had used them recently, but they do make a refreshing change from the vast majority of motor vehicle-related establishments in that they are *honest*. For the second time now, they have turned down work that they deemed unnecessary - I had asked for brakes and exhaust to be changed at the same time as the front tyres on my 'T'-reg Vauxhall and they said neither needed doing. I'm certain that many other garages would have done the work regardless. Also, my car requires unusual-sized tyres, which I quite expected them to have to order, but they had four in stock. The staff are very polite and the work was done quickly while I waited.

Shijie (The World), Chinese movie

4/5 (minimum 1) on 14 Oct 2007
I must admit that I watched only part of Zhang Ke Jia's 140-minute Chinese film "Shijie" (The World). It portrays the lives of a small group of workers at a strange theme park just outside Shanghai, built around scale replicas of famous landmark buildings around the world - so much more ironic for many of the central characters yearn to leave China and see some of these buildings for real. Superbly acted, I found it a sad yet compelling movie that accurately portrays the huge culture clash between the China of old and the Western world China now strives to become part of. Providing you don't expect anything like the sort of movie modern Hollywood tends to churn out, I think you'll be absorbed by this impressive work.

Battlestar Galactica, 2004 onwards

4/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
The story so far: Humans created Cylons; Cylons evolved; Cylons got the hump; big war, Cylons get a good kicking and disappear for decades; Cylons do a bit more evolving and now some look human; Cylons come back and almost wipe out Humans; less than 50000 Humans left leg it into space.

Kicked off by a miniseries in 2004, the "new" Battlestar Galactica has been a brilliant success for the SciFi channel in the United States. The fourth, and probably final series, is due to begin airing in late 2007.

I'm happy to have watched it all on DVD as I think the constant interruptions you get on commercial television, especially in the USA, would have ruined it. As with all series, you do get some duff episodes, and some parts of the storyline are repetitive. Perhaps its inevitable when they have to produce so many episodes (over 20 per series).

The Outdoor Shop, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes

5/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
An excellent high street supplier for all your camping, climbing, caving, orienteering and generally mucking about outside activities. They have a very extensive range and could kit you out for pretty much any adventure, up to and including summiting Everest. Prices are not necessarily unbeatable, but they often have special offers on certain items. I bought a breathable waterproof jacket from them, discounted by £30. The only problem is parking - there is none in Fenny High Street.

Pollards Hardware Store, Fenny Stratford

5/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
Pollards is what hardware stores used to be like: walls lined with little bins of the widest variety of bolts, screws, hinges, wheels, tools, etc. you can possible imagine, staffed by clever folks in overalls. But not grumpy folks, oh no, these are cheerful souls who go out of their way to make you welcome and serve your needs, even if it means scouring the entire shop and all their catalogs.

Echo Park by Michael Connelly

5/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
Another in Michael Connelly's ever expanding (thankfully) series of books based around Los Angeles detective Harry Bosch. Harry, having come out of retirement, now works in an unsolved crimes department and an opportunity arrises to finally solve a murder from his early days on the force. As is usually the case with this author, the pace is excellent and the book is very difficult to put down - I read it over two days. Were it possible in revyu.com, I would have awarded it 4.5 stars as the ending is a little weak.

Canon EOS1D Mk.IIn

5/5 (minimum 1) on 03 Oct 2007
Yet another model in Canon's like of professiona digital SLRs, I bought one of these to go with my 1D so I could use two lenses at once when shooting soccer. Built like a tank, as you'd expect, the Mk.IIn offers higher resolution, a slightly higher frame rate, a much bigger review screen, improved environmental sealing and E-TTL II flash metering. My particular one was second hand and has a problem with its autofocus. This model has already been superceded by the Mk.III.

Sanyo CE26LD81B 26" LCD Freeview TV

3/5 (minimum 1) on 28 Sep 2007
Have just rented one of these rather than bought it - the technology is changing so fast and you can bet new CODECs for Freeview are just around the corner! I opted for this make over Philips since I had tried one earlier: its picture quality was quite bad and its internal Freeview receiver did not give a good signal. The Sanyo, on the other hand, gets a much stronger signal off the same aerial and the picture is better as a result.

The glossy black cabinet looks smart, its wide base means its not going to topple over and it doesn't get too hot; apparently it takes less than 2W in standby mode, which is excellent (it has a very bright blue light on the front to remind you that its still on). The back panel offers two SCARTs and two HDMIs, plus a slew of audio connections too should you want to plumb it in to a home cinema setup.

The Sanyo is, however, let down by a poor remote control. To start with, its shape means its difficult to hold, especially for older folk. Channel and volume share a control instead of having separate rockers, which I think is silly. Menu/EPG/digital teletext navigation is via another rocker, but instead of its centre button being "OK/accept/go" it uses a smaller, separate button. Channel switching is rather slow, the channel "up" button sometimes skips a channel and although it has an "auto" setting for the aspect ratio, it doesn't seem to work, staying stubbornly in 16:9 mode.

Hurtigruten coastal cruises, Norway

5/5 (minimum 1) on 04 Sep 2007
The Hurtigruten (direct translation 'fast route') is a fantastic way to see the coast of Norway, and all the major towns along it, from the sea. They are basically a fleet of ferries that travel along the coast, collecting and dropping off supplies, people and their vehicles, sailing daily, year round.

I travelled with them in September 2003 on the entire voyage, from Bergen in the South, way past the Arctic Circle and North Cape (the most northerly part of Europe) to Vadso. You can complete the return leg of your journey by air, rail, or rent a car.

If you are lucky, you might get to meet some Sami (who have incredibly blue eyes) and their reindeer. During the tourist season, you may get invited to a Crossing The Line ceremony when the ship crosses the Arctic Circle.

My trip was organised through Canon Cameras, but anyone can book a trip directly. There are discounts available for low-season travel (although the weather can be a bit dire) and you can usually get a single cabin then without paying extra. The on-board buffet/restaurant provides three meals a day (may not do during off-season) and the quality of the food is excellent. Given they always travel within spitting distance of the coast, the ride is mostly smooth, so they can be a good introduction to cruising for those who don't like being away from sight of land!

The same company also offers cruises to Spitsbergen (where you can see wild polar bears), Greenland and Antarctica.

Kerso photographic equipment supplier, Scotland

5/5 (minimum 1) on 04 Sep 2007
Ian Kerr, aka Kerso, is a personal importer of Canon and Nikon cameras and lenses. His prices are pretty much unbeatable without resorting to dodgy suppliers who ship directly from Hong Kong and the like, where you normally end up having to pay Duty and VAT on the item when it arrives. You don't get that hassle with Kerso - he takes care of all that before sending the goods. Payment is via PayPal; delivery via Royal Mail recorded and you normally receive the item in a couple of days. Personal collection is possible. He has an entry for his shop on eBay (see link) but if you contact him by email, he may actually offer you a small discount.

Sitecom LN-401 wireless IP camera

3/5 (minimum 1) on 19 Jun 2007
Bought one of these, brand new, for just £50 via eBay. Turned out to be more proof of the theory that 'you get what you pay for'. Picture quality is never brilliant, its network range is pretty weedy and you don't appear to be able to set separate ports for its webserver and video stream (necessary if you run both a 'proper' webserver on your network and want to embed just its video in another web page). Also, for some reason, I couldn't see the video through our work firewall - which rendered the thing pretty much useless for me. There's lots of information about this product on Sitecom's website, but they never responded to an email I sent them. It will be going back on eBay shortly.

Canon D400 digital SLR

5/5 (minimum 1) on 21 May 2007
This camera was bought for me by my department. I went with Canon since my own cameras are Canon and all my lenses could be used with it should the need arise. The 400D is their newest 'entry level' digital SLR and mine arrived as part of a kit that also included the 17-85mm zoom lens (which has image stabilising) and the BG-E3 grip (which allows the camera to be powered by AA batteries instead of the normal lithium). I also got the 430EX Speedlite flashgun to provide additional lighting for the indoor shots the camera is most likely to be used for.

The camera has a 10Mpixel sensor which features a self-cleaning mechanism (getting dust on the sensor is a problem with digital SLRs) giving us the chance to make massive enlargements should the need arise. The camera is light weight and quite small without the grip fitted; it is also quiet in operation.

The 400D takes Compact Flash memory cards, which are still the most common and therefore easiest to obtain. I bought a 2Gb-sized Sandisk Extreme III card from play.com to go with it.

Its only real disadvantage is that with a 1.6x maginification factor (its sensor is quite a bit smaller than the full 35mm frame) very wide angle photography becomes rather difficult.

casino royale

5/5 (minimum 1) on 21 May 2007
Have only seen this on DVD, but I still think its one of the best Bond movies made to date. They seem to have started from the ground up here - its more of a switch than to any of the earlier actors. And notice how, apart from Dame Judy Dench, hardly any of the other main roles are played by known actors. Even the theme music represents a re-think. Q doesn't appear at all.

JavaScript Bible

4/5 (minimum 1) on 19 Mar 2007
A pretty decent book on JavaScript programming, let down only by the fact that half of what you think is in the book is actually only on the included CD-ROM. I guess the advantage is that the whole book is on the CD-ROM and is searcheable.

The layout and style of the book is good; most functions are explained at least once, although there isn't always an example; it also tells you about cross-browser compatability.

The 6th Edition of this book is due out in April this year (2007). I would hope they have added stuff about Ajax, coz there's nothing about it in the 5th Edition.

Ye Olde Swan, Woughton On The Green, Milton Keynes

5/5 (minimum 1) on 18 Mar 2007
I love this old pub. It serves by far the best pub food in the area - there's a wide selection available, although it is fairly pricey. Best book for evening meals at busy times of the year though.

1and1 Domain Name Registration

5/5 (minimum 1) on 16 Mar 2007
I now have 9 domains registered by and hosted with 1&1 and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to establish an Internet presence. 1&1 are the biggest hosting providers in Europe; they are based in Karlsruhe in Germany.

PMP-400 Personal Media Player

5/5 (minimum 1) on 16 Mar 2007
The PMP-400 is a personal digital multimedia player about the size of a PSP, capable of playing or displaying music, video, still images and text.

The LCD display is of very high quality and the sound from the built-in speakers is very impressive; a small set of in-ear headphones is included.

It has a high-speed USB2 port to enable the uploading of a wide range of media types. Using the included composite/audio cable you can even use it as a video recorder from an analog source, such as a set-top box or video camera.

Whilst it can be connected directly to a number of digital cameras (supports USB host mode) I found it rather slow to transfer images to it. And it doesn't have a flash card slot.

It uses an off-the-shelf 2.5" (parallel) ATA hard disk for its storage, which can be replaced or upgraded, although this would probably invalidate the warranty.

Note that this product is not the same as the similarly-named and similar-looking Archos PMA400.

The PMP-400 is imported and sold in the UK exclusively by glenelg Personal Media Solutions

Batman Begins

5/5 (minimum 1) on 10 Nov 2006
By far the best big-screen Batman movie since the original with Jack Nicholson, Christian Bale takes the role of the caped crusader in this tale that once again explains how the alter-ego of Batman came to exist. Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Liam Neeson all provide credible supporting roles.

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