Latest news with #homeoffice
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
I'm struggling to work from home now that my kids are teens. They constantly need me, and I can't get my work done.
I've worked from home for over 17 years, but it's more challenging now that my kids are older. I am struggling to balance the high mental and emotional load that comes with raising teens. I have a Registered Nurse license, so I'm considering going back to work part-time out of the home. A funny and unexpected thing has happened now that I'm a mother of teenagers and all school-aged kids: I am finding it harder, not easier, to work from home. I have five children, ranging in age from 6 to 17, and I have worked from home in some capacity since I was pregnant with my first child. I pushed through many years of burnout and even sacrificed my own health to achieve my dream of working from home because I truly believed that eventually, when my kids were older, my life would settle down, and work would get easier. Now that three of my children are teenagers and my youngest is entering kindergarten, however, I am finding that I was wrong. I'm struggling to balance the needs of my older kids and work from home In many ways, it doesn't make sense because my kids feel busier than ever, but it boils down to this one simple realization: My work as a parent has shifted from primarily physical to mental. When my kids were little, my work as a parent was mainly physical: pregnancy, nursing a baby, carting a toddler around in my arms, changing diapers, hauling them through a grocery store in the days before pick-up and delivery existed. Back then, the work I did as a freelance writer was a literal and mental escape. I had naptimes and early bedtimes and a freedom to "turn off" my brain from parenting in a way that I'm finding I can't do when they're older. Having teens feel like I'm on call 24/7 Parenting teens, ironically, feels like I'm needed 24/7 in different, often more demanding, ways. Trying to juggle their emotions and their schedules and helping them figure out their life paths and navigating relationships and friendships and the intensity that sports has become, plus just be "available" to them at their beck and call because you never know when a teen will want to talk, is something so exhausting to me I don't know how to manage it. It feels like there's no "off" switch anymore, and it's been so mentally taxing that I feel like I have nothing left creatively or mentally for my work. It's hit me even harder this summer, when all five of them are home, and I feel like I'm constantly "on call" for any of their needs. Sitting down to write feels like adding even more mental work to an already hefty load, and it's dawning on me that what was once my dream may be OK to shift as my life has shifted. I'm looking for work outside the home for the first time in a decade I have a bachelor's degree in nursing, and I worked part-time as a nurse in my first few years of parenting as I built up my writing career. I have always kept up my license, just in case I needed to go back. I had no real plans to return to working as a nurse, but I've slowly been putting feelers out for a part-time or casual nursing position. It feels like taking a physical job outside the home will help me balance the mental load parenting has become for me. In some ways, physically removing myself from the home and giving myself a "break" from being constantly available feels like it might be a healthy choice for both me and my family. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I am learning that it's OK to give myself permission to admit that my dream may not work for my current season of life. I worked so incredibly hard to have a career as a writer, so it feels silly to admit that I might want a change. Then again, isn't that exactly what we do as parents: adapt and change with each new stage? I'm teaching my kids to do this, so it makes perfect sense that I should give myself the same grace to do what works best for me right now. And maybe — hopefully — if I do decide to take a step back from my career as a writer, I could view this time and break not as a failure but as a refresher to come back better than ever. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
CNN
3 days ago
- CNN
The best printers of 2025, tested by editors
The best printers we tested Best printer: HP Envy 6555e Printer Best high-volume printer: Brother MFC-J5855DW Inkvestment Tank Printer Is there even such a thing as the best printer? In a product category so often defined by frustrations and failures — trust me, I've been there — your experience with these machines might lead you to believe there aren't any options out there worth a dime. Heck, it might not even feel necessary to own a printer. I'll be the first to admit that I don't call upon the one in my home office very often. But even in a world where physical documents, photos and tickets have gone increasingly digital, rare occasions where we need a reliable printer in our homes still exist. Those school projects aren't going to print themselves. Work-from-home life is sometimes easier to read when you're not staring at a screen all day. Or maybe you have a thick document that needs to be scanned onto your computer ASAP. A good printer should work at a moment's notice, no matter how long it's been since its previous job, and it shouldn't make it a monumental task to refill whenever ink is running low. To find which models fit that bill, I tested some of the latest options from the big names in the industry: HP, Brother, Xerox and Epson. While each possesses a quality that might make it a logical pick for specific needs, two stuck out as the best bang for your buck. HP Envy 6555e All-in-One Printer If you're shopping for a simple printer, the reliable HP Envy 6555e will do everything you need — printing, scanning, copying — at an accessible price. Brother MFC-J5855DW Inkvestment Tank All-in-One Printer The larger ink cartridges in this feature-rich Brother printer run laps around the smaller HP cartridges, making the MFC-J5855DW a wise choice if you know you'll be printing consistently. If you're shopping in this class of printer — where you want the basics and nothing more, nothing less — the HP Envy 6555e (and its Walmart-exclusive identical twin, the Envy 6552e) will meet those simple demands with precision, consistency and simplicity. It's HP's flagship offering for families because for very little investment, you'll have a capable machine that will print basic documents and images, copy and scan with ease and (if you want) never run low on ink thanks to HP's Instant Ink subscription. There's no better combination of value, performance and reliability than the HP Envy 6555e. Unless you're printing hundreds of pages a week, this is the best printer you can buy. Rick Stella, senior testing editor There are hardly any steps to setting up the Envy 6555e. The process is geared toward getting users on the HP Smart app, with a QR code appearing on the unit's touchscreen control panel when it first powers on. HP even goes as far as covering the USB port on the backside of the printer to encourage you to go wireless. I had no trouble connecting to Wi-Fi, making an HP account and printing, all in under half an hour. The printing specs on the Envy 6555e aren't extreme: 10 pages per minute for black ink, and seven pages per minute in color. But that's fine, really. While printing multi-page, text-heavy documents, I encountered no issues. The text was clear and smudge-free. Printing photos wasn't bad, though the colors weren't as vibrant as other printers geared toward that task. HP's recommended monthly page volume for the Envy 6555e caps out at 400 pages. As long as you're under that soft limit, the Envy 6555e will hold up for the long haul. If you expect to print more than that, you're better off with the high-capacity models I cover further down below. Of course, you'll likely be printing far less than that. I've gone literal months between prints on the Envy 6555e and still had no trouble firing it up after the dormant period. Knowing it will be ready to go at any moment, no matter how much downtime it's endured, is a huge part of why the Envy 6555e is my top pick. That trust is paramount. In other words, it just freaking works. The additional functions loaded into such an affordable unit help push the Envy 6555e from a solid choice to a no-brainer. Scanning via the scanner glass or the document feeder produced clear copies of papers and photos. When I put a comparable entry-level printer from Brother through the same scans, the results on the HP did more to clean up imperfections like the creases of a wrinkled receipt. Scans and copies can be uploaded immediately onto the HP Smart app on desktop or mobile. The app is a bit cluttered — there are HP ads on the home page — but it's not hard to navigate once you get your bearings. The Envy 6555e is an inkjet printer, meaning it carries a reputation of being affordable to purchase and expensive to keep stocked with ink. HP's Instant Ink subscription, which comes free for three months with the Envy 6555e, attempts to cut that cost. By connecting your printer to the subscription (and the internet), HP will send you ink whenever you're running low. You pay only for the number of pages you expect to print monthly. There are plans as low as $1.49 for 10 pages per month. It's a tempting offer considering the non-subscription carts, rated to last just 120 pages (color) or 160 pages (black) are not cheap at $25. It's important to distinguish between HP Instant Ink and HP+, which is really just a designation you have to opt into or out of when setting up your printer. While it may sound like an obvious opt-in scenario — doing so grants you a free three-month trial of Instant Ink, an extra year of warranty coverage and additional cloud-based features — be aware that activating HP+ is an irreversible decision that locks your printer into using only HP ink even if you don't subscribe to Instant Ink. Much to the dismay of many litigious customers over the years, the device won't run on cheaper third-party ink. While the consternation over that feature is valid, it didn't weigh heavily on my recommendation here because I would only opt for this HP model if I weren't planning to buy lots of ink. Because, really, this is the printer you should buy if you want something cheap. Just don't confuse cheap with shoddy, as this compact machine is exactly what most households need to satisfy their basic printing needs. Not everyone shopping for a printer wants just the bare minimum. The Brother MFC-J5855DW still keeps costs low while adding greater ink capacity — meaning you'll pay for fewer refills — and a thorough set of features to improve productivity. Though this printer has a significant footprint at 39 pounds, setup isn't challenging once you get it out of the box. The included quick-start guide is comprehensive without going overboard, letting you complete most of the process with or without your phone or laptop — you choose. It takes steps to ease any concerns of mistakes or misalignment by jumping right into using a test printout you can pop onto the scanner to verify everything is installed correctly. Brother's larger ink cartridges are what set this printer apart from my other recommendation. Rated to last 1,500 pages (color) and 3,000 pages (black), they'll call for a replacement far less often than the HP carts compatible with the Envy 6555e. And even when you break down the numbers, Brother's bigger carts don't break the bank. A tri-color refill is $79, meaning it comes out to a little more than 5 cents per page. A $40 refill of the chunkier black cart equates to a little more than 1 cent per page. Your actual results will obviously vary depending on what you're printing, but this is still a better expected yield than what you'll get from HP. Also noteworthy is the fact that magenta, cyan and yellow are split into individual carts and not compiled into one. If you tend to draw from one color more than the others, you won't have to replace the others if they don't run out. Installing the carts is a smooth process, as the compartment is on the front of the unit instead of under the hood. It doesn't feel like I'm digging into the nuts and bolts of the machine just to replace the ink. I tested other printers that can hold even more ink or toner, meaning they'll need to be restocked even less frequently than Brother. But the MFC-J5855DW had the best combination of solid capacity and additional features. Its oversized screen was the easiest to navigate of the group. If you'd rather control with your device, the Brother iPrint&Scan desktop app and Brother Mobile Connect app were my favorites among the accompanying platforms. Both offer a decluttered experience that makes it fast and easy to print, scan or copy. Connectivity via Wi-Fi didn't fail during my testing, and adding the unit to Apple AirPrint was seamless. If you store files on the cloud, I had no trouble syncing up the scanner to Google Drive. The same connections are possible to services such as Box and OneDrive. The smaller factors that made the MFC-J5855DW superior included a beeping notification if you leave anything on the scanner glass and a nozzle-cleaning program to refresh the system after long stretches of downtime. A second paper tray lets you stock two sizes at once, though it does increase the machine's size. If that feels like overkill, I also tested the MFC-J4335DW, which is more than $100 cheaper and shares many of the same qualities. Of course, these are all secondary to impressive printing performance and pace. When I printed a 21-sheet double-sided document that included color graphics, the MFC-J5855DW knocked the job out in a little more than three minutes, by far the fastest of the group. Simpler black-and-white documents can dispense as fast as 30 pages per minute. Its primary paper tray holds up to 250 sheets. The glass scanner and document feeder gave me the fewest issues of the pool of candidates. The entire package adds up to a reliable, value-packed printer that checks pretty much every box for those who want more out of their printer and less of a headache in keeping it in working order. I unboxed and set up each printer either in my own home or in the CNN Underscored NYC offices. Each unit then went through identical tests, which included printing, scanning and copying various documents and images. Throughout the process, the following criteria guided my evaluations. Setup Unboxing to ready: With machines this large, a simple unboxing process can go a long way. I noted any road bumps during the setup process and chronicled what it took to get to the point where I could execute my first print. Connectivity and installation: These days, a printer should connect to your phone or computer with ease, no cables required. I linked up via Wi-Fi and assessed the reliability of the connection over time, plus added each printer to my device for easy access later on. I also tested other connection methods, such as AirPrint. App integration: The best printers work with an accompanying app to operate their functions — like initiating a scan or printing a document — from afar. I navigated each partner app, judging each on its interface and ability. Performance Printing: I put each printer through identical prints, including a 43-page document with multiple colors and graphics, a black-and-white one-sheet typed in various fonts and several pictures included in this guide. The best printers produced clear text and accurate colors. Copying and scanning: I scanned a crumpled piece of paper and a collection of baseball cards to see how clear and accurate each unit's scanning capabilities were. Resolution, color trueness and any artifacts added were the most important facets of this test. Stability and noise: It's not great when a printer disrupts your entire home because it roars through a job or shakes the table it sits on. I favored printers that didn't make a scene. Speed: Especially important to those printing at a higher volume, the speed of a printer can save time. I timed longer print jobs to see how quickly they worked. Additional features: Can it fax? Does it deploy AI? Most brands are constantly releasing new models with updated features, but I tried to cut through the gimmicks to only weigh truly game-changing advancements. Design Interface: From the actual screens and buttons on board to the unit's accompanying app, how easy was it to use? Does it take too many clicks to produce a single print? Is the menu navigable and intuitive? The best printers don't feel like a puzzle to use. Tray capacities: What kinds of paper fit in the printer, and how much can it hold? Models with a larger capacity and thus fewer required refills gained standing in this assessment. Size and weight: The printers I tested are for home use, so the footprint of each mattered. Though hefty units weren't disqualified, their size was noted. Value Ink capacity, refills and subscriptions: The number one issue plaguing printer owners and a huge part of our testing in this exercise, ink capacity and the cost/frequency of refills were paramount. I valued printers that made buying new ink a flexible, accessible process, whether through a subscription or individual purchases. Price: What's an appropriate price to pay if you're not going to be printing regularly? What if you plan to run through a ream per week? I assessed whether each printer merited its price based on suggested usage. Warranty: Printers have a reputation for being unreliable machines. While I aimed to only recommend devices that passed our tests, having the backing of a warranty adds peace of mind. How often will you print? If you're shopping for a printer, you know you'll want to print at least every so often. But the volume and frequency with which you print will affect exactly which kind of printer is best for you. Those whose printing demands don't stretch beyond the occasional document or scan don't need to think too hard here. But users with high-volume printers will be glad they spent a bit more on something that holds more ink. Just look at the ink cartridges that work with my top two picks. HP's carts are rated to yield roughly 120 (color) or 160 (black) pages, while the Brother printers' standard carts predict 1,500 (color) and 3,000 (black) pages. That's a huge difference. The former won't cut it if you print often. The latter will last way longer. If that still doesn't work for you, some of the other models I tested and wrote about further in this guide have even greater capacity. What do you want your printer to do? If you're only printing now and then, the answer to this question might not matter to you. More frequent printers, though, should keep in mind the goals of their print jobs. Simply printing out papers and articles so you don't have to do your reading on screen? The clean text a laser printer supplies might be ideal for you. Searching for rich colors at a fair price? The inkjet models I tested excel in exactly that role. Plus, though these devices are called printers, I find that copying and scanning are often the most common reasons I call my printer into action. If you need to digitize documents for your records, don't sleep on the value of those functions. While modern smartphones can turn a picture into a PDF with relative ease, the document-feeder-style scanners on both of my top picks in this guide can work through a stack of paper much faster. Xerox C235 Color Multifunction Printer You'll get sharp text and rich colors from this Xerox laser printer that might be a bit overpowered for home use. Its toner will last, but be prepared to pay up when it's time to restock. There's really nothing wrong with the print quality on any of the other models I tested, but if text clarity and vivid colors are crucial to you, the Xerox C235 is worth considering. This is a laser printer, meaning it doesn't use reservoirs of ink. Rather, toner is drawn via static charge to mechanisms inside the printer and then heated onto paper. This process works quickly and produces accurate results true to the resolution you see on your computer or phone screen. The C235 is a monster of a printer, weighing in at over 42 pounds, but that heft was the only pain point in an otherwise simple setup process. The unit is packed carefully with an excess of tape. Its toner cartridges are all preinstalled; you just need to remove some pull tabs to activate them. Getting set up with the Xerox mobile and desktop apps, which were easy to navigate like those from Brother, didn't present many challenges. With all these positive remarks, why didn't it earn top billing? Price is the main factor, though I did encounter a few hurdles during testing. The output tray is advertised to handle 100 sheets, but it paused printing twice when holding only nine. There are a glass scanner and a document feeder on board, but the latter couldn't process a paper that wasn't perfectly flat. Xerox's Workflow Central sounds like a valuable suite of AI-powered features — transcribing written notes and converting documents into audio or Microsoft Office files — but it's only available for the price of an added subscription. While I was able to get around those hiccups with more attempts, the cost of the C235 is what kept it from earning a top billing. It's a capable unit that could be worth it for demanding users who need more performance than what my winning choices provide. But you'll have to pay. Not only does this printer cost more up front — at least $400 as of this writing, and if you're buying from Xerox, that's only after a rebate — it's also expensive to restock on toner. A combo pack of black and all three colors will run you nearly $500. (That's not a typo: the toner is more expensive than the printer itself.) Even though that bundle is rated for up to 3,000 pages, it's daunting to commit to that kind of upkeep cost should your printing habits demand it. Epson EcoTank ET-2980 All-in-One Supertank Printer If ink capacity is the only feature that matters to you, this small unit won't need a refill until you've printed through thousands of pages. Put the pros and cons of this printer on the back burner for a second. If the other printers I tested have the ink capacity to go months without a refill, even with moderate use, the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 will run for years. Its ink supply is rated to last 6,500 pages (color) and 8,500 pages (black). While I don't want to go through an entire forest of paper to verify that, know that this is a worthwhile unit if avoiding ink refills is the only concern you have with owning a printer. The difference with Epson's Eco-Tank line is that it forgoes cartridges altogether. Its ink arrives in small plastic bottles that are then poured into reservoirs in the front of the printer. It sounds complicated, but it's not. The bottles have a lid that only dispenses when it's attached to the reservoir's spout, so don't worry about leaks unless you're clumsy. Ultimately, the Brother MFC-J5855DW bested the ET-2980 because it still has more than adequate ink capacity while also offering a cleaner, more feature-rich experience. The onboard interface of the Epson left me wishing I had opted for a step or two up on the Eco-Tank line. Its screen is too small. Its paper tray is less of a tray and more of a chute out the back, meaning your paper is exposed to dust and debris while it awaits duty. The setup process via Epson's app mimics a texting conversation, but its chatbot didn't charm me. I found the experience to be drawn out. Brother MFC-J4335DW INKvestment Tank All-in-One Printer Somewhat of a hybrid mixture of my two top picks, this Brother model runs on the same ink carts as my high-capacity pick. It's just not as feature-rich, yet still pricier than the overall winner from HP. I pitted the Brother MFC-J4335DW up against my overall favorite, the HP Envy 6555e, and the matchup was certainly tight. HP came out ahead because it's priced a bit lower, but Brother's offering is just as worthy of a purchase if you can find the right sale price. It's an especially tempting option if you want the capacity of the more robust MFC-J5855DW without having to pay for upgraded features you don't need. The following FAQs were answered by the author of this guide, associate testing writer Joe Bloss. Are printer ink subscriptions worth it? Are printer ink subscriptions worth it? It depends on whether you're the kind of person who doesn't want to think about refilling. The HP Instant Ink plan that's available with my top pick, the HP Envy 6555e, charges based on the number of pages you expect to print monthly. It starts at $1.79 per month for 10 pages. If you print less than expected, pages roll over. Similarly, if you print more, your account can buy more automatically. Signing up means you don't have to monitor ink levels because HP will ship you more whenever your Wi-Fi-connected printer gets low. What's the difference between laser printers and inkjet printers? What's the difference between laser printers and inkjet printers? The difference is what's used to apply content to paper. Laser printers use toner powder, which makes them more expensive and bulkier but longer-lasting for office settings. Inkjet printers use ink and dye, and while they will run out faster than toner, they make for a more affordable, compact package that works best for printing at home and in other less demanding settings. Do I even need a printer? Do I even need a printer? You'll know the answer to this question best. You may think you don't, only to reverse that thought the next time you actually have to print something. That's why I recommend buying a cheap printer but not going overboard with a model designed to do more than what you need. What is the best way to connect a printer to Wi-Fi? What is the best way to connect a printer to Wi-Fi? You'll likely have fewer connection issues over the life of your printer if you can set it up near your internet router and hardwire it in via an Ethernet cable. But if you're planning on connecting wirelessly, follow the instructions included in your printer's quick-start guide. Across every model I tested, that was the simplest method of getting the printer up and running on Wi-Fi. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors with many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products who ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, associate testing writer Joe Bloss put each printer through identical trials to see which is best for certain use cases. Bloss is an experienced product testing writer, having penned several guides across various categories over the years. He's the author of CNN Underscored's guides to the best slot toasters and the best car phone holders.
The Sun
23-07-2025
- The Sun
5 Best extension leads
EXTENSION leads are the unsung heroes of the tech world, and a good one goes a long way. Today's models do more than just add sockets, and I've tested the best extension leads that truly earn their place in your setup. 5 They might not be glamorous, but a good extension lead is one of the most useful bits of kit you can have around the house. And while they might seem low-tech, the best extension lead options these days come with smarter features that make them surprisingly handy. Having tested everything from smart home devices to the best video doorbells on the market, I've seen just how much difference the right set-up can make. Many extension leads now come with USB-A and USB-C ports, surge protection, timers, and even voice control. Whether you're building a home office, powering smart devices, or just fed up with juggling chargers, the right lead can make your setup run a whole lot smoother. Read on for my top picks. How I tested I've plugged in and put these extension leads to work over the past couple of weeks, testing how they hold up in a busy household. From simple desk setups to outdoor use, and juggling multiple devices charging at once, I've seen how they perform in real life. I focused on build quality, the variety and usefulness of ports, how well any smart features work, and overall day-to-day reliability. After plenty of hands-on time and careful comparison, these are the extension leads that really stood out. Best extension leads - tried and tested Tapo P304M 5 Tapo P304M Smart Power Strip, £29.99 from Amazon I didn't quite realise how clever extension leads had become until I got hands-on with the Tapo P304M. This one lets you control each of the four mains sockets individually through the Tapo app, which means you can turn off things like a lamp or printer without having to get up. It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands and basic automations, and you can even set timers or schedules. There's some neat energy monitoring baked in too, though I didn't find myself using it much day to day. Same goes for voice control, it's clever, but most things I plug in are there to stay, so I rarely found myself actually talking to it. The big miss for me is the lack of USB ports; there are none here. In 2025, that feels like a bit of a slip, especially when so many of our gadgets charge via USB-C. That said, for under £30, it's a great value way to make a standard setup a bit smarter. The 2-metre cord gives you enough reach for most rooms, and you can mount it if you want a cleaner finish. Sockets: 4 mains sockets, USB ports: None, Smart features: Voice control (via Alexa/Google), app timers, energy monitoring, Cable length: 2m, Mounting: Freestanding or wall-mountable, Power switch: Master on/off switches in app Addtam 1.6m Extension Lead 5 Addtam 1.6m Extension Lead, £16.99 £12.34 on Amazon BUY HERE This Addtam lead has quietly become one of my most-used tech bits around the house over the past few years, and it's held up really well. It's compact and surprisingly travel-friendly, with a tough braided cord that feels much more durable than the usual plastic kind. I've used it by the bed and when working on the dining room; and it's the one I'd reach for to pack for trips abroad. Despite the small size, it gives you two mains sockets, plus three Type-A and one Type-C port, which is a brilliant mix for charging everything from laptops to earbuds. The Type-C port is the star here; more devices use it now, and it means you don't need to lug around extra plugs. I would've liked another one, but having at least one is a win at this price. I went with the shortest 1.6m model just to make the sockets behind the bed more accessible, but you can go up to 5 metres if needed. Now that I know how well this works, I'd have no hesitation branching out to Addtam's larger extension leads. VonHaus Tower Extension Lead 5 If your desk or media setup is crying out for more sockets, the VonHaus Tower Extension Lead is a no-brainer. It gives you a whopping eight mains sockets and four USB ports (2 Type-A, 2 Type-C) in a compact, upright design that takes up way less space than a flat bar. I swapped this in from a chunky old lead and immediately doubled my socket count without any clutter. I've got it powering a lamp, smart speaker, and our phone chargers, and it looks tidier than most, with a clean, matte finish. You get surge and overload protection built-in too, which adds peace of mind if you're plugging in expensive gear. My only gripe is it's so lightweight that it can wobble or tip if only a couple of plugs are in play. Still, that's a minor issue; overall, it's a smart, space-saving pick that can easily handle a busy setup without looking like a jumble of cables. Sockets: 8 mains sockets, USB ports: 2 Type-A, 2 Type-C, Smart features: None, Cable length: 2m, Mounting: Freestanding, Power switch: Master on/off switches on tower VonHaus 25m Splash-proof Extension Lead 5 VonHaus 25m Splash-proof Extension Lead, £44.99 from VonHaus For outdoor jobs where a standard lead just won't stretch, this VonHaus 25m splash-proof reel is a proper workhorse. I use it mainly for things like jet washing the patio and running power tools at the far end of a long driveway. With 25 metres of cable, I've never once felt restricted. It's got more than enough reach. The reel design keeps things tidy when you're not using it, and it feels really solid. The sockets come with hinged, IP54-rated covers to keep out water, which gives me peace of mind when I'm sprucing up the driveway. No panic if the jet wash gets a bit wild with a stray blast. This one's not trying to be smart or techy, it's just a well-built, no-fuss lead that does exactly what it promises. It's a bit of a beast, weighing in at 3.47kg, but if you're doing garden work, running a shed, or sorting outdoor lighting, it's a brilliant bit of kit. Best extension leads FAQs What should I look for in an extension lead? Start with what you need: number of sockets, USB ports, and whether a strip or tower suits your space. Prioritise solid build quality, a decent cable length, and surge protection, especially for high-traffic or visible areas. Where can I buy extension cords? You'll find them at most major retailers, Amazon, Argos, B&Q, Screwfix, and Currys, all stock a wide range. Basic leads are everywhere, but if you're after smart features or USB-C ports, Amazon and Currys usually have the best selection. Here's where to look: What are surges? A surge is a sudden spike in voltage, usually caused by power cuts, lightning strikes, or large appliances switching on. They can damage your electronics or even start fires, so surge protection is something to look for in any good extension lead. What are surge protectors? It's an extension lead with built-in tech that blocks power spikes from reaching your devices. If you're plugging in pricey gear like a laptop, TV, or sound system, it's definitely worth having. No one wants their setup fried during a storm. Do extension leads use more electricity? Not by themselves. They only draw power when something is plugged in and switched on. Some smart models, like the Tapo P304M, even show you how much energy your devices are using, which is handy if you're trying to cut down on bills. Can you plug an extension lead into another? That's a no-no, and it has a name: 'daisy chaining.' But it's not as fun as it sounds. It can overload the circuit and pose a fire risk, so stick to one quality lead that can handle your needs safely. What can I not plug into an extension lead? Avoid high-powered appliances like heaters, fridges, microwaves, and washing machines; they should always go straight into a wall socket. Plugging them into an extension lead can overload the circuit and risk damage or pose fire hazards. Are 6-plug extension leads safe? Yes, as long as they're used properly. A single lead designed for six (or even more) sockets is safe to use, provided you don't go over the total wattage limit (usually around 3,000W in the UK).
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
I only work 3 days a week during the summer. The rest of the week, I'm offline and enjoying time with my kids.
I've long adapted my career to my children's schedule, and the summer is no different. Since they are now at home all summer, I asked my boss if I could work only three days a week. My boss agreed, so now I spend my other two days enjoying summer with my kids. I've been lucky enough to have a flexible career as a digital director. I'm a contract worker, which has always given me great flexibility, especially while raising my kids. My career has adapted to my kids' schedules at each stage of their development. For example, I could only work through pre-K hours, and when my youngest went to kindergarten, I worked all five workdays. I worked that full-time contract role for one year after my youngest started kindergarten. However, this summer I decided to change my schedule again: I now work only three days a week in the office and spend the other two days at home with my kids (ages 6 and 8) offline. I simply asked my boss for an accommodating schedule I have a history of getting stuff done. When I had surgery, traveled, or had to deal with a sick kid, my deadlines were always met. Since I'm a proven contractor, my boss allowed me to reduce my schedule to three days this summer — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and stay home the other two. "As long as everything gets done," my boss said. We agreed the new schedule would not affect my pay because I'm a contract employee. After that, I had to inform the rest of the team of my new schedule, which I announced at the next management meeting. I also had to tell my subordinates. I ensured they knew they could reach me via email or text if it's an emergency. There's no animosity because I have to pick up weekend slack, and I bear the responsibility they prefer to avoid. In return, I get to come and go as I please, work from home, and attend all my kids' events without counting up PTO. Being home with my kids during the summer is worth it I get two days home with my kids, plus holidays and weekends. We usually start our home days — or as they call them, "Mommy days" — by picking up and doing a few chores. I run laundry and do the dishes; they pick up their rooms and do a simple chore like bringing in eggs or taking out the trash. Next, we decide what kind of day we're going to have. Maybe they have a friend over, perhaps they want to play in the backyard, or, if it's an open evening, we'll do something more fun and take an adventure. We might head to a splash pad, swim, hit up a park out of town, go golfing, or visit out-of-town family members. We've gone on train rides, visited museums, and spent the night at my friends' houses with similarly aged kids. As my kids have gotten older, we've become more flexible about what we can do and how long we can be away. It's a privilege to spend this time with my kids during the summer. While it requires some extra work on my part, it's all worth it for that extra summer fun with my boys. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
ABC News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Late ABC journalist Peter Ryan celebrated for 'long and storied career'
On the wall of Peter Ryan's Sydney home hangs a picture bearing the simple title: "Scoop." The framed and enlarged print of the Penguin cover of the Evelyn Waugh novel of that name often appeared in the background of his live TV reports filed from his home office. The satirical novel about a journalist who, in a case of mistaken identity, finds himself becoming an international news correspondent was a cultural reference point — and possibly a thoroughly-undeserved dig at himself — that Peter could never resist slyly sharing with the ABC's viewers. For anyone sharp-eyed enough to pick up on that small, personal indulgence, Pete's jovial face would always light up with delight as he proudly claimed the joke. It was no small sign of Peter's generous spirit that he welcomed the Australian viewing public inside his home, when, confronted with the challenge of pandemic lockdowns, he transformed his home office into his own remote broadcasting centre, bringing business and finance news uninterrupted to national audiences on radio and television. Of course those days were not without the occasional technical hiccup, which Peter always handled with his customary aplomb, just as he did during one fondly-remembered television live cross when an off-camera voice called out in the middle of the report "Dad, lunch is ready!" Peter embraced working from home with gusto, demonstrating a technological nous, versatility and adaptability that few could hope to match. He would delight in showing off his home "studio" to visitors and he could be paid no greater compliment than when his listeners wrongly assumed he was filing his stories from inside the ABC's Ultimo headquarters. Versatility, adaptability were always hallmarks of one of the ABC's most efficient and multi-skilled content-makers. From his earliest days in the noisy, smoke-filled newsrooms of the 1980s, Peter stepped effortlessly from a world dominated by manual typewriters, telex and fax machines, through to a media landscape fundamentally transformed by the digital and social media revolutions that would follow. As his best mate and long-time colleague, former ABC Foreign Affairs Editor and former AM host Peter Cave said today: "He was a technical wizard." "He set up the TV studio there, he set up the radio studio, and he could work from home," he said. "And he did right through COVID. And as he became ill and couldn't get into the office, he still reported from his home bureau." But Peter was never a stranger to the office where he was long a fixture as part of the ABC Audio Current Affairs team, working to generate agenda-setting news and current affairs on ABC flagship programs AM, The World Today and PM, along with creating bespoke content daily for News Radio, Radio National, the ABC local radio network and the ABC News Channel. His work ethic was always herculean — and his joy in delivering breaking news never diminishing over his long and storied career as a journalist. From his beginnings as a "copy kid" and cadet at Sydney's Daily Mirror where he graduated to covering crime and other mayhem on the overnight news beat, before moving on to what he called his "spiritual home" at the ABC where he quickly rose to become Washington Bureau Chief, a senior news executive, ABC Business Editor and Senior Business Correspondent. A Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to journalism, he won a Walkley Award for breaking the Commonwealth Bank's money laundering scandal in 2017. His coverage of misconduct in the financial sector was instrumental to the establishment of the banking royal commission, leading to reforms that have affected virtually every Australia in some form or another. Regardless of his many accomplishments, Peter was always genuinely pleased to help others and shared that help far and wide throughout his long career. As Peter himself told his colleagues when his medical retirement was announced last month: "Be kind and caring to people who need it. "As my father once told me — treat people on the way up, the way YOU want to be treated on the way down." It's no small mark of the man that when Peter learned a younger colleague, AM Technical Producer Khem White, was planning to visit a St Vincent De Paul outlet to purchase a wedding suit, Peter insisted on taking him shopping for a "new quality suit". "I'm sure my wife was thankful I wasn't sporting the extra-large, mothball-smelling, pin-striped number. From that day forward I came to realise what a lovely man Peter is and how he will always take the time to make everyone feel valued and important. Even when he would be connecting-in from the Reserve Bank on a busy interest rate announcement day, he would always take a moment to speak to me like an equal," he said. It was that fundamental kindness and decency that characterised Peter's dealings with so many in his orbit. And there were many, many people in that orbit. "He maintained a meticulous contact book, it was amazing," Peter Cave said. "He could within minutes pull just about any business leader of Australia out of his contact book, get on to them and get them on air." Those contacts, his high regard from the business community and Peter's reputation as a fair and balanced reporter, ensured a steady flow of exclusive interviews. But he was always a fierce and effective warrior against those he saw as responsible for injustice and other misdeeds. A champion of transparency, accountability and gender equity in the boardroom and the workplace, he was always dogged in pursuing the truth and countering disadvantage wherever it existed. Among his many other professional credits, he sat on the board of the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance's Benevolent Fund, which provided help for journalists who had fallen on hard times. Regardless of his accomplishments though, Peter always had time to share a joke, some words of advice and offer a friendly ear to everyone. There are countless journalists who benefited from his advice and mentoring. And at a time when many people's careers are winding down, Peter was throwing ever-more energy and enthusiasm into his craft and his hunt to get the next "scoop". He never lost his zeal for journalism while always being generous and supportive to his colleagues and quick to offer advice, enthusiasm and praise — he always had time to offer his friendship, a word of advice or camaraderie, or just a joke or wry observation. He was the kind of person everyone walked away from feeling better about themselves. Sadly, life just didn't have enough time for Peter and we're all the poorer for it. A lifelong Beatles fan, Peter might have appreciated the words credited to John Lennon: "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Peter had great plans for the years ahead, often discussing his plans for retirement and his desire to devote his future to his two favourite people — his wife Mary and daughter Charlotte. His devotion to them was an inspiration to anyone who juggles the work-life balance and a reminder that the greatest measure of anyone's success in life is the cherished memories they leave behind for those who loved them. Peter was well-loved and will be well-remembered by those whose lives he touched. We will never see his like again and we will miss him deeply.
