Assistance gadgets - real and hypothetical

I had a survey done on my house, and was annoyed the surveyor had knocked a box I wanted into the cellar.

Henry the Hoover to the rescue! Box was empty, A5 size, and after a bit of 'fishing' managed to get it, the suction kept it 'attached' so I could retrieve it.

Cabbie21 The potato masher for closing the window is a good idea. I use a coat hanger (the ones uses for trousers)

StarDreamer

MerylStreep

StarDreamer
Do you mean something like this.

]]

Thank you.

It looks right, but I noticed that in the description it has

> Power sourceCorded Electric

So I am wondering.

That might do, but ideally I would like one without all of the automated part, just a light that comes on when switched on at the socket switch.

MerylStreep

StarDreamer
Do you mean something like this.

]]

Thank you.

It looks right, but I noticed that in the description it has

> Power sourceCorded Electric

So I am wondering.

Cabbie21

My DH now removes his socks by shuffling his feet on the floor, then picks them up with his grabber. Really useful things.
I use a potato masher for reaching the handle of an opened window to close it.

That use for a potato masher is ingenious, thank you.

QuotegrandtanteJE65 wrote If you need it because some of your power sockets are at bit dicy, you should really get them checked by an electrician.

No, the sockets are fine. The problem is that a light bulb has failed. I have been unable to change the bulb. I got the old one out, but I cannot get the new one in. So I am seeking a workaround until I can arrange to get the lightbulb changed.

I use Alexa and a snartbulb to switch on my table lamps in the living room.

StarDreamer
Do you mean something like this.

www.amazon.co.uk/Integral-Auto-Sensor-Night-Light/dp/B00DG1HHL0/ref=asc_df_B00DG1HHL0/?hvlocphy=9045030&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&hvnetw=g&hvadid=231971530794&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=gransnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-423312952035&hvrand=12505126568236676838

My DH now removes his socks by shuffling his feet on the floor, then picks them up with his grabber. Really useful things.
I use a potato masher for reaching the handle of an opened window to close it.

I do like my long handled shoe horn and my dustpan and brush (DH used to say that I looked like a cleaner at an airport pushing the brush round the floor) DH kindly bought me a grabber when he thought I couldn't pick things off the floor. I actually use it for grabbing things that are too high for me to reach.

StarDreamer

I am wondering if there is such a thing as a self-contained unit that plugs directly into a mains socket that emits light when the mains switch is switched on.

So no cables or needing to stand a lamp unit somewhere.

I have looked on the web and thus far as far as I can tell I have only found one that just has a neon indicator so that one can test if a socket has power being fed to it.

The problem is I don't know what such an item, if available, would be called, so I cannot search for it easily. I have tried various things.

We had a small green lamp on bord our boat that came on when the shore power line was plugged in, when we were staying in marinas, if that is the power was on in the marina.

I have not the faintest inkling of what it was called, we bought it in Nijmegem at a very well-assorted electrician's shop.

So after the weekend, perhaps you should phone an electrician and ask.

If you need it because some of your power sockets are at bit dicy, you should really get them checked by an electrician.

I am wondering if there is such a thing as a self-contained unit that plugs directly into a mains socket that emits light when the mains switch is switched on.

So no cables or needing to stand a lamp unit somewhere.

I have looked on the web and thus far as far as I can tell I have only found one that just has a neon indicator so that one can test if a socket has power being fed to it.

The problem is I don't know what such an item, if available, would be called, so I cannot search for it easily. I have tried various things.

Thank you, Maywalk

I did not know such things existed.

I have found that such items, made of plastic, are available to buy now.

The problem with using a foot to lift it would be that the magazine lies flat on the floor with perhaps a millimetre of gap where the very end of the length of the envelope or plastic wrapper extends beyond the contents, so I could not get my foot under that small gap, but your kind suggestion has caused me to think that I might be able to use the long-handled dustpan to lift it up, as it has a thin end to the pan, then use the grabber once I am then able to get one side of the jaws of the grabber underneath the package. So thank you, I will try that the next time such a magazine arrives.

I have not got the grip now to use a grabber, but I found my fathers long shoe horn to have SO many uses. My son bought it for his granddad over 50 years ago and it is still going strong.
I use it to scratch my back, plus catching hold of the window latch so that I can pull the window in to lock it.
It also comes in handy to pull any washing out of the washer that is TOO far back for me to get, apart from helping me on with my shoes or pulling things towards me when sitting that I have dropped through fingers going into locked spasms.

Can you not pick the magazine up with your grabbers? If your balance is okay you can lift it up a bit with one foot, if that helps to grab it.