"I'M THE KING OF CHRISTMAS!"

As you well know I love Christmas, that was frankly obvious from my post a couple of days ago. I was discussing with some friends yesterday as to why Christmas actually exists. Now I’m not talking about all that Jesus Jargon™ as nobody pays attention to that these days. I’m talking about why the hell it’s actually when it is in the year.

Everyone knows that it wasn’t the date of Mr. Christ’s birth, some twat way back when thought it would be a giggle to change it to the middle of the worst season, winter. You Aussies and Kiwis have it good, nice sunshine, a beach, pop some meat on the barb-e and rip open some pressies come the 25th. It was however some English dude that changed the date but why the fuck did he do it?

Let us expand a little before I answer this very important question that will decide the fate of all of our lives (even the Jews and Jehovahs are scared). Christmas is in the middle of Winter and there is this lame conspiracy theory that it was changed because it was in clashing with an otherwise more important holiday that nobody these days has heard of. Christmas is it. The big one. The top dog. JESUS’S FRICKING BIRTHDAY. Winter is the most hideous season, this is clear. There is nothing but having to force yourself to get out of bed to total darkness that could be mistaken for 10pm. The cold clasps you in its wrath, however hard you look there is no escape. This year it gets worse with more rain than ever before; at least that’s how it feels.

So why did this cretin put this wonderful day in the middle of a horrible month? “I think you’re being harsh, he’s no cretin!”. You know, you’re right. This fabulous man knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the English who had nothing but shoddy weather and horrible mornings needed a bloody break. Christmas is the only thing in the winter that people have to look forward to. A day off, time to relax and to get away from these mornings and this weather. I don’t know about you but I tried my damn-est to avoid leaving the house on the 25th and I don’t think I shall this year.

And I have just one thing to you people in the southern hemisphere: BASTARDS!

Water ad I came up with, spot the typo and I'll give you a prize.

I’ve known for a long time that something “arty-farty” as my nan calls it was the area I wanted to go into. Sure I love English but heh’ I speak that everyday, I can live without it can’t I? Actually I remember exactly when I realised design was what I wanted to do. I was about 12 and I did some lame-oh podcast just because I could (yea, I was that guy). I did some pretty shit album artwork for the show — if in fact it can be called that — It was more 15 minutes when I bothered of some random awkwardness that really should have been scripted before hand. Anyway I realised that I wasn’t much cop in terms of the podcasting and it didn’t really interest me. I loved doing the image stuff though and I ended up modifying site themes and eventually creating my own. For a while I played around with wanting to web design and I may well end up doing that but for now I’m looking at advertising.

Since I knew exactly what I wanted to do I saw my secondary school years as a waste of time, something

I miss her so much.

I didn’t really want to do. It wasn’t until year 10 that I actually got to do graphics and even then it wasn’t graphic design but graphic products which is more of a CAD/CAM kind of thing. Graphics and drama were the two things that kept me going throughout years 10 & 11 (that and Tory and Kurt and everyone else that wasn’t a total nobber). I think I made a huge mistake picking drama though. As fun as it was I didn’t realise what was needed to get in to my Graphic Design course at college and because I took art as an extra GCSE one night a week, I was so close to not getting the C I needed to get in.

All that bollocks is behind me now though. I think I love college because I get to do what I like all week, well not all week, I’m only in three days a week. The two main briefs I have done so far have both been based around branding; one a new mineral water and the other t-shirt company similar to Threadless. If anything it’s totally confirmed to me that I want to do this for a career. I don’t really consider it work if I’m honest, it’s actually just me getting to have fun and coming up with cool ideas that I wouldn’t normally have chance to.

It’s a wonder I ever manage to get anything done though. Seriously Jack, Maria, and Eddie are fucking nuts. Hilarity is sure to ensue whenever they’re around and we’re all totally different. Going to London with Jack and Maria on Thursday actually so that should be goodtimes®. Having Christmas din-dins with them next week too and that I think I’m more excited about than London, I really am I kid. Jessie and Jordan are so fun too. It seems to just be a constant slagging triangle with them generally insinuating one another is more of a whore than the other.

So what is college to me? College is a place I can be myself, have fun with amazing friends and I suppose do some work which isn’t really like work. This place is Disneyland magical, I tell you.

Some angel I munched

I’m blaming work. We’ve had the Christmas trees up in there and hideous Christmas toys that make me want to smash them by driving over them in my mum’s car since the middle of November; that’s just too early. At home we don’t even have our Christmas tree up yet! My sister, Hannah, is still at uni and won’t be back until next weekend. Usually we put the tree up on a Saturday, two weeks before Christmas, but this year we’ll have to put it up on the Sunday, again thanks to work.

It may seem weird but we have very set traditions when it comes to Christmas. The tree is a family thing. We film the whole thing, argue a lot, listen to Christmas music and generally just have fun. On Christmas Eve we have people around and play board games and eat way too much. Christmas day dad hands out the presents. I’ve heard from a lot of people that they wake up, wonder downstairs and just open them. Either that or they’re in piles like my parents had. We always used to around my grandad’s and uncle’s house (he never left home until my grandad died) after opening presents in the morning too. It was a memory I will always hold fondly. Sitting in my grandad’s smoke filled living room, being face molested by his various dogs throughout the years, opening more presents, and seeing family we rarely saw; I miss it. I miss him.

“It’s definitely to do with the shoddy Christmases my parents had.”

Now these aren’t tradtions my siblings and I have created, my parents are responsible for them. It’s definitely to do with the shoddy Christmases my parents had. Mum’s dad would put the tree up on Christmas Eve and take it down Boxing day. Her parents were divorced so she’d spend Christmas between the two families and I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to not have my parents together. I guess I’m lucky, these days it seems as if marriage means nothing with the majority of my friend’s parents being split up. Dad’s Christmas was a little better, he put the tree up a week before Christmas and it came down the day after his birthday (the 28th which just so happens to be my birthday!). That’s another thing though, he didn’t get a present for his birthday. His parents couldn’t afford to buy him anything so close to Christmas so he got something minor, perhaps a book or something rubbish with his brothers and sisters getting much more as their birthdays were scattered throughout the year. I’m guessing that this was also in part due to his big family. My grandad adopted two kids when they were young; black, which at the time was somewhat controversial.

My dad is the Christmas person in our house. He wraps all the presents — he likes it — and has a mini disc (yes we invested in that dead technology) with around 100 Christmas songs on. He also does the majority of the present shopping to the horror of my mum. Mum is the sensible one. She worries a little too much but she looks after us all, keeping an eye on the money and cooking Christmas dinner.

Wrapping presents <3

I think that has to be my favourite aspect of Christmas actually. Dinner is fantastic and mum always does a fantastic job with little help from us lazy gits. It starts with a very ’70s, very yummy prawn cocktail about an hour before dinner is ready (I always want it sooner but I guess that’s just me being a fat bastard). Then it’s the usual turkey and trimmings topped off with some Christmas pud and clotted cream; mm, mmm. We usually have Christmas cake too and that’s something that’s changing this year. Dad being the Christmas man of the house usually makes the pud and cake but since mum and Sam are diabetic and Hannah hates both of them we’re not bothering this year. Ho Hum.

The food is one thing but it’s nice actually sitting around a table for a change. Christmas and New Year’s are the only days we actually do, kinda sad really but it does make the days special. Crackers are pulled off the tree that we so neatly put up and argued over and the Christmas mini disc goes on. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the music, I love it (Shakin’ Stevens is playing right now). It wouldn’t be Christmas without the films either. We’re in the midst of watching our massive collection of Christmas movies at the moment and it seems my dad has gone mad and is buying more and more. Still, nothing beats a bit of Home Alone. Then again it wouldn’t be Christmas without the mad rush I usually have to go through as I always leave Christmas present buying until last minute. This year is different though and I’m not sure I like it. I’ve bought the majority of my presents already and our tree isn’t even up yet, they’re all wrapped too.

This year is different though and maybe it’s not a bad thing, we’re not having ’stockings’ either, which were essentially pillow cases filled with little presents and placed beside our beds; we’re ‘too old for that’. You know, come to think of it I am feeling quite Christmassy. Why else would I decide to do Christmas shopping so early? Why else would I decide to make a Christmas playlist now? Why else would I moan about not putting the tree up? Why else would I make a Christmas avatar? Why else?

Yes, I love Christmas.

Merry Christmas x

Summer was nothing brilliant in the UK, not that it ever is. The weather was a vast improvement on last years hideously stormy season but still not the “BBQ Britain” the Met Office promised. I guess we can’t hold them fully responsible though, I hear those Kiwi’s were upping their wine production, ‘eh Duncan? In terms of excitement though it sure did pump out some surprises. I got a lot of my Summerlist® done (though not everything I would’ve liked) and kind of got bored; four months really is a long time to have off.

I also got my GCSE results which for some reason wasn’t as exciting as I expected it to be. It was a bit of a let down if I’m honest and the nerves I was promised never came a-knocking.  Envelopes were nowhere to be found and a folded slip of paper with an A*, 3 As, 5 Bs, and 2 Cs was all that was slotted into my hand like a coin into a fruit machine. Mum’s birthday landed on the same day as the results day and I’m sad that it did. Not for me. Mum’s day was overshadowed by results celebrations and I certainly did not want it that way.

Besides the results there was the fits. Unfortunately it wasn’t limited to just one incident and I was diagnosed with epilepsy and medicated with ‘Lamotrigine’. It didn’t seem like that big of a deal to me with mum being more shocked and upset by it than I was. I guess she does have a right to be, she’d be the one phoning up when I shake my brother awake in my sleep. Later however I discovered that there is a long list of no-nos. Swimming, bike riding, and of course driving are all on the list. This is made worse at the moment as my friends apply for their provisional driving licenses and hand over their pounds to a chubby bearded man that will hopefully keep as all safe on the road. There are a couple of perks though they’re more of compensation than anything; a free bus pass and prescriptions for life.

The MAME cabinet is nowhere near completion and seems to have fallen to the back of mine and dad’s mind. Dad has applied for a new job and will be travelling a lot if he gets it; it’s some national thing for the Royal Mail. Mum was worried we may have had to move but hopefully that won’t be the case, I for one don’t want to leave Bristol after just enrolling on a course I love and making friends. Add that to the fact that if we were to move it’d be back to the job hunting and I think I’d be refusing (not that I’d have any choice).

Obviously the title of my post doesn’t suggest I’ve had the most wonderful summer of all and that’s because I haven’t. It was too long of a break and I got complacent with not having to do anything, leaving me to get bored and slowly but surely a fan of daytime television. I wish I did more with my summer, saw more people, worked a little more. Hopefully next summer won’t be as boring; as eventful; as wet, or as British.

Like most, I came out to my friends first. I wasn’t ready to tell my parents for a long time afterwards but I eventually did. I was quite lucky, or at least I feel I was, as I came to terms with my sexuality when I was relatively young. I moved schools in year 5 to Bishopsworth Junior School, and one guy helped me a lot in understanding myself. He was going through the same as me at the time, only he was braver and asked someone he liked out (I know, at that age it’s pretty pointless).

At that time it was of course a big mistake. People didn’t really understand fully about sexuality and he got attacked severely, to the point where he wasn’t able to leave the buildings at break times and had to run home after school. I felt terrible for him and selfishly I felt scared for myself. I knew that I was gay even if I couldn’t name my feelings at that age. Over the next couple of (school) years my feelings for this guy progressed, and it was reassuring but also scary that I felt that way toward a guy after being told my entire life that girls and boys go together. I never did anything about them though, and was still scared to tell anyone how I felt after seeing what it did to him.

I guess I thought that moving to secondary school would change everything.

IT DID NOT.

I went on pretending as if I could change, ignoring and repressing my feelings as much as I could which I obviously could not; and when a girl asked me out and would take no for an answer, I eventually said yes. Evidentially this was a big mistake and I only ended up upsetting her in the end.

I think it was toward the end of year 8 that I finally decided I was ready to tell someone how I felt. At the time my best friend was Chelsea, and even though we hadn’t been friends for that long, it seemed as though I could trust her. I was totally surprised by her reaction when she said she “guessed” as much. Now, this may sound majorly stupid, but never has one thing made me feel so good. The confidence I got from that was immense, and it just felt good to be able to share my emotions with someone else for a change.

After telling Chelsea I thought I could trust some other people; I decided to tell more of my close friends which it seems was a mistake. The next day was one of the worst days I’ve ever had in school. Everyone miraculously found out about my sexuality, and the constant questions drove me insane to the point where I was once again denying it. I think the next few months were the worst for me though, up until the end of year 8 (which was way too soon to ‘come out’). At that time I was the only one to be open about my sexuality (subsequently most of my friends were also, it’s quite strange how I’m severely lacking in straight friends) and so I got the full force of the cunts.

The one lesson I remember the most was PE, I totally flipped out. I’d been having the worst day possible and the last two periods, PE, was the final straw. Some on the douches in my class decided it would be funny to shove hockey sticks up my ass; which it turns out it was not. I ended up having a breakdown and telling Mr. Hardie to “FUCK OFF”, which if you know me is surprising since I’m always a goodie-two-shoes. Kurt was amazing and stayed with me chatting for the whole lesson (love him, he’s so amazing) ridding of Danny Bees as he came up to nose, and see what the issue was.

Year 8 wasn’t all bad though. The end of that year sparked the arrival of a new kid; Jordan. Jordan was, and still is adorable and he was the first person I ever had a ‘gay experience’ with. We got quite friendly toward the summer holidays and saw each other frequently. Unfortunately he was going out with another guy, who was the guy from my primary school. I still feel really guilty for cheating with Jordan whilst he was with the guy, even if he never really liked him. After that Jordan and I never really spoke, it was awkward and was the first time something like that had happened to either of us.

The Parentals

Coming out to my parents was a really hard thing to do, and I still haven’t told my dad personally even though mum has. It was until a few months back that I actually told them, I can’t remember the specifics. Charlie and I had been discussing it for a few days in English. I don’t know what sparked my decision to tell my mum that but suddenly I decided that I was old enough to tell her without her judging me.

To be honest, I was a little surprised by her reaction. She has asked me previously if there was anything going on between me and Kurt that she “should know about” (not that she has any kind of right to know) and there wasn’t, had she asked if I’m gay it would’ve made things easier for me. On the other hand she had also said that if I came to her and told her I’m gay that’d she’d be upset as she “wants lots of grandchildren”. Anyway, I decided that the best place to tell her would be a car ride; that way she couldn’t avoid it and it would be a sure way to get her to talk to me about a seemingly difficult subject.

As we got into the car I said “Mum, I need to talk to you…I’m gay.” It was really strange, she went silent for like two minutes and then said

“No you’re not, you’re too young to know what you want.”

That made me really angry and she made it seem as if it was a choice which is something I have always hated people saying. I guess I really upset her, and I spent the rest of the night in my room not wanting to talk to anyone other than my sister (who I told shortly after I came out to friends as she went to the same school anyway). If you’re gonna come out, do not do it in a car. While the person you’re telling can’t escape, you can’t either and I think that’s a major issue as I just wanted the conversation to end.

It hasn’t been until lately that she has come to terms with it and I think that is mainly thanks to my dad. He seems perfectly okay with it which is opposite to what I expected. In hindsight I would’ve done a lot differently but at least I’m open about my sexuality (thanks to some amazing friends) — something which a lot of people still feel that can’t be.

ASK HERE

1. Q: “How large is too large?” A: 8/9″
2. Q: “Ever felt a ladies boob?” A: Yes, @Tooory has a lovely pair.
3. Q: “would you ever date michael jackson?” A: Not really into dead guys (sorry, Michael!).
4. Q: “Would you ever consider a huggle?” A: Why yes, yes I would
5. Q: “how long does it take you to be comfortable around a complete stranger?” A: A complete stranger, about a week, but less if we’ve spoken.
6. Q: “Do you wanna H5 @Tarastaunton :D” A: OF COURSE!
7. Q: “Would you rather sleep with a homeless guy or a rich woman?” A: The homeless guy can shower at mine first, then we can sleep, THAT’S ALL
8. Q: “who do you have a crush on, on twitter?” A: Hm…I dunno, @duncn, @charlotteis, @Tooory, @FlorenceRasin@steinhardt and @Leydon are cool.
9. Q: “do you believe in love?” A: ‘Course I do, Cher x
10. Q: “Blue Tit or regular, flesh-coloured tit? Hey-Oh!” A: Flesh, the blue ones make such a racket BANG BANG I WANNA KILL THEM.
11. Q: “Spit or swallow?” A: Gonna say spit, though I may change my mind at the time.
12. Q: “Have you ever watched Naruto? If not, why not? If you have, BADASS, amirite?” A: Sorry, Oscar!
13. Q: “muscled guys or chubby guys?” A: NEITHER, Twinks please ;D
14. Q: “what’s a twink? I feel so stupid” A: http://bit.ly/18OE8v
15. Q: “Who would you rather sleep with? Johnny Depp or Colin Farrell?” A: COLIN FARRELL COLIN FARRELL COLIN FARRELL COLIN FARRELL

1. I pretend I’m in a music video - There have been several occasions when I have pretended that I am not only some kind of megamusicman® but that I am also starring in my own music video, usually when I’m suffering from sleep depravation and a funky 80s track comes on my iPod.
2. I can’t sleep if it’s silent - I dunno why this is and I should probably just take sleeping pills, but I just cannot sleep if it’s silent i.e. without music, a podcast or something.
3. I host a cooking show when I’m making shizzle - I totally stole this from Riley, but I also do it. Whenever I’m alone and I find myself cooking I pretend I’m hosting some kind of cooking show, with instructions et cetera.
4. I shout at the TV - This is totally irrational and it usually happens when the Royal Family or Gordon Brown comes on the news but I do it to an extreme degree.
5. My love life doesn’t exist - I know I’m gonna get shot down for this but fuck it. I’ve never been with anyone.
6. I talk to myself when sat on the toilet - I think this is probably to help me think about things. Some people read things on the toilet (HELLO, HYGENE!) but that’s just disgusting. I think, but usually that involves me talking to myself — whisper actually.
7. I can’t go in public - Kind of a gross one but we were talking about toilets. I find it IMPOSSIBLE to go to the loo when I’m in public. It can be the nicest toilet in the world, and there can be nobody around but I still won’t go. *Shrugs*
8. I have no life - This is obvious, but if you’re reading this you don’t either. I’m spending my Saturday night writing a blog post about things that mean nothing to nobody — exciting.
9. I own a Charlotte Church song - Please, don’t judge me. I was young (12), naïve, I didn’t know what I was doing and she suckered me in with her flat voice and terrible lyrics; I know that now.
10. I listen to music to make myself cry - I don’t know. Sometimes I just get in a mood where there is nothing I want to do more than cry my eyes out and feel sorry for myself. Music people commit suicide to and is listen all around by wrist-slashers and self-harms is good, but I generally find a little Bic Runga, or dare I say it James Blunt (that’s like old skool now).

Now, before you judge me I would like to say that I am usually a very organised person. I don’t think I’ve been late to anything more than three times, which if you ask me I’d say is good going. This however, is a story of how I can easily fuck things up.

“Due to this status as Mr. Bigshot-City…”

I live in the not so fabulous city of Bristol, which if your geography is terrible or you live in another country, is in the west of England. London seems to be the place to be. I can’t see this myself. I mean, who wants to live in a highly congested, highly polluted, and highly expensive city — lots, that’s who. Due to this status as Mr. Bigshot-City, EVERY-SINGLE-TWEETUP seemed to take place in there, much to my hate.

Let’s Do This Thing!

It was in the insane Skype chat that had been going on for a few weeks that the subject of tweetups cropped up. Some idiot organised one during school and working hours, when neither he or anyone else could go (I think only two showed up in the end). I thought that a tweetup should be in Bristol, just because. An obvious location for this kinda nerdy shizzle seemed to be The Watershed. I emailed them (I’m really not a talk-on-the-phone kinda guy, maybe that’s a social defect but I don’t care) to find that they want £TOOMUCH.

They did however forward me to Pervasive Media Studio, where I spoke to Genevieve (I say spoke to when I really mean typed to). Gotta bring me on biccys and cake but it’s all organised for the 24th [Friday]. I setup a twtvite to track who is coming et cetera. Most of the people I wanted to come, were.

“Shit!”

‘Awesome!’ I thought. Well, that was when it all start to go a little…Erm…Shit. I suppose it was a little unfair of me to expect people who live farther than London to come to a meetup some two-hundred miles away in Bristol. Anyhoo, Angelique and Jack said they couldn’t make and Charlotte was having some doubts about coming, it wasn’t until this week that she booked her tickets.

This is also the week that I got my first job at Sainsbury’s but I’ll talk about that in later. It is how relevant to this story, a little. My first shift is this Friday, 10:30 - 2:30, bang in the middle of Tweetup West — looks like I’m gonna be missing it, this is just how bad my organisation is.

I’m not worried about missing it all too much if I’m honest; I just worry that Charlotte will be okay. She’s never been to Bristol before and Chris can’t make it so she’ll be all alone when she come in to Temple Meads at 12:30 this Friday. Thankfully Kurt, Oscar, and possibly Tory will be there to meet her and then I can meet up with them at Tweetup West when I arrive.

Ho hum.

]]> http://www.graphicsplant.com/personalblog/2009/07/bloody-organisation/feed/ http://www.graphicsplant.com/personalblog/2009/07/i-just-need-to/ http://www.graphicsplant.com/personalblog/2009/07/i-just-need-to/#comments Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:59:08 +0000 admin http://www.graphicsplant.com/personalblog/?p=127 I just need to:

• Tell you how I feel.
• Apologise to a few people.
• Eat some cake.
• Relax.
• Get a job.
• Try and get along with certain people.
• Stop being a ‘pansy’.
• Work a few things out.
• Tidy my room.
• Have an early night.
• Take some more photos.
• Cut down on the bitching.
• Work out.
• Save some money.
• Visit the neurologist.
• Read some more.
• Get up earlier.
• Skype.
• AIM.
• Facebook.
• Finish watching Torchwood.
• Update my portfolio.
• Block some people.
• Get a haircut.
• Go clothes shopping.
• Watch Harry Potter.
• Catchup with my filmlist®.
• Survive.

The new PRS-700 model includes a light, which is great; except that it’s not sold in the UK. The PRSA-CL1 retails in at around £30-£35 and with the price of the Reader being £199 it may well be worth looking at importing the new 700 model from the US despite the screen being of a poorer quality.

Design

Sony always do a great job with the design of their products, and the lighted case is no exception. The design is similar to the included leather soft case case but adopts a more stylish black than the standard ‘tan’. It is easily removed if you wish to hold the Reader naked, using the hinge clips in exactly the same way as the included case. I did however find the case to be much more rigid and supportive, not moving around as much and making the reading experience that much more enjoyable.

Tan and Lighted Case side-by-side

The case however does add a fair bit of weight to the device, weighing in at 240g. It is also substantially thicker and wider than the tan case included with the PRS-505. Having said that, I like the additional weight. It makes the device easier to hold and feels much more case like when the light on the book is flipped to the left. The size is also not an issue and the ability to read in the dark makes it a much more useful device.

The Added Weight and Thickness Are No Issue

The light also has some nice design features. The clear plastic cover protects the screen and lights it at the same time. It’s made from a stylish matte black plastic and chrome, complimenting the Reader’s design nicely. The PRS-ACL1 also includes two light levels, which help to maintain battery life and are good if your eyes begin to hurt.

Pros & Cons

The pro of the lighted case is fairly obvious, giving the ability to read in the dark at ease. There are however many cons, and some of them are quite substantial. While the light is extremely effective, it is very susceptible to picking up dust. This isn’t a major issue and the text on the screen is very much still readable, but it can be a little distracting.

The device also requires it’s own power source, running from AAA batteries. It would have been nice for Sony to have allowed it to use the Reader’s battery, but I guess this was done to keep the Reader’s battery life as good as possible (I get about 1-2 weeks on a full charge with constant reading). The light does last a long time though, with Sony claiming as much as 38 hours usage on the lowest lighting setting.

Glare is an issue when using the case during the day as the Reader is lighted using an overlay that covers the e-ink screen fully. This is an innovative way of lighting the screen and prevents the ’strobing effect’ you get with normal back lights, giving a clean and well lit area to read from. The glare can be combated easily though as the screen overlay can be flipped off of the screen allowing you to read with ease.

The PRS-ACL1 Lit In A Dark Room

Text from the device while lit is extremely clear but is lacking of a little contrast that you would usually have when using the Reader without the case. This however, is almost unnoticeable and when using the device in the dark you simply do not care.

Text On The Reader

One final gripe I have with the case perhaps is me just being too ‘wanting’. I feel that it would have been nice if Sony made the case from leather, rather than the ’soft case’ material they used for the standard tan one. You either have a light, or a leather case and it would be nice to have both.

Overall

Overall, I feel that the case is a fantastic one. It’s stylish and matches the Reader’s design supremely. The light works well and really is one of those accessories that really is a necessity. While there are some issues, I would say that they £30 for the ability to read wherever you like really outweighs those cons and I would recommend the PRSA-CL1 to anyone with a PRS-505.