Glubs

Since I was on the subject of gloves and why I hate 'em, I might as well have my rant. I've banged on about entry-level products at various points of the years; these are the cheaper end of any product line and, sadly, seldom worth even the pittance that the makers ask for them.

"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper", as John Ruskin once said or, to quote the vernacular, 'You gets what you pays for'. Sadly that isn't always true either, as there are plenty of unscrupulous companies willing to charge you an arm and a leg for something that's no better than cheaper imitations. Although it probably has a nice logo, or spends a bit on advertising. That's why you have to be careful.

Let's have a 'for instance'. One of these trugs will cost you £4.99 on special offer. There's no manufacturer's guarantee so let's say it will last a few years with careful handling. On the other hand one of these non-oil based ones, featured on the BBC's Victorian Farm project, will cost you about £48 - you could always talk nicely to Mr Jones for a discount. How long will it last? Mr Jones scratched his chin thoughtfully. 'It could probably do with a bit of attention in twenty years or so,' he said, 'But with care, I should think getting on for fifty years.' And then, to demonstrate how tough the one he had just made was, he turned it upside down and made Ruth Goodman jump up and down on it.

Okay, so I don't own one either (but I covet them... oh yes, I do), but WP and I do own a cracking pair of quality gloves each. These are Gold Leaf Tough Touch gloves made by Jayco in Southampton.

Ordinary gloves run anywhere from £5 to £15, but they're generally uncomfortable, so poorly made they're just busting to fall to bits, and they don't really fit either. These babies on the other hand fit like, er, a glove; they're thin and flexible so you can still feel what you're doing; and I look good in them too.* They last an age, and at £24 they're much better value than the allegedly 'heavy duty' crap sold by the high street stores; I've dropped them into my Amazon store, and I haven't been able to find them for less money. So there.

*Okay, so I'm lying. Mine don't have that wholesome yellow glow any more, but frankly that's a bit of a relief. Marigolds? 'Nuff said.