Monday 23rd September - Apple hardware

The other day a friend was talking about how her daughter is so hard up, and was asking for a loan to buy a mac.

I could quite understand that her husband had no idea how much a mac would cost, and, knowing the daughter, I knew she would never settle for a cheap one from a chain store, but would have to have something with a bit of style. I agreed wholeheartedly that £850 is a very Large Loan.

It wasn't until the word "air", as in MAC Air, entered the conversation that I realised my mistake. I had thought that £850 is a lot for a winter coat. Actually, it is still rather a lot for a laptop.

We are an "Apple-free" zone in this household. However, I have been trialling a brilliant piece of apple hardware with great success. I find it is a joy to use, and it has gained acceptance with my husband who is the arbiter of most technical gadgetry in this household. Like all new devices you need a bit of perseverance to get the settings right when you start, but with a bit of practice everything soon becomes very straightforward.

The results are highly satisfactory; your apples are magically peeled, cored, and sliced, with all the pips and toenails removed.

A few minutes in the microwave and there you are - all ready for the freezer.