Fast Lane Garbage Truck review

This post gives a quick review of Fastlane garbage truck. Fastlane garbage truck is a good toy but it has a big issue which doesn't make buying attractive.

* The big problem is with the blue garbage bin holder , the attachment to the garbage truck is too fragile and it broke after few weeks. 

When i say fragile to use, Kids have to fix the yellow garbage bin to the holder and they lift the lever up to dump the garbage into the truck. The concept is good and very attractive one for kids. Unfortunately as this gets used too many times in the life of the toy, it is also the bit of the toy which is  most prone to get broken because of repetitive hooking and unhooking of  the garbage bin to the holder. The motor (or the pulling bit inside ) is attached to the lever by 1-2cm thick plastic , it is too weak for long term use. I would suggest the toy manufacturers to build it with a stronger, better material.

I bought the toy for £19.99 in uk , original price was £29.99. Other than Achilles heel of holder ,the whole toy itself is good. It has flashing lights , you can lift the back body to dump the garbage. It simulates the real life very well. And also for the money i paid i think its good value.

In the above pictures you can see different features of the garbage truck itself.





Disclaimer- All the opinions expressed in this blog is authors opinion and is based on the author's usage ,it doesn't suggest any opinion on manufacturer. 

Life in UK Test Tips and Process 2015

I'm planning to share my Life in UK test experience and techniques i used to prepare in this blog.
I used the following material to prepare for the test.

Material

1. Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, 3rd Edition (search Ebay, Amazon for cheaper priced books)
2. Around 50 online practice test available here

Reading Strategy Used 

• I allocated two weeks for preparation as i had few other family commitments as well, if you are single or lesser family commitments probably one week is enough.
• I read the book two times once before two weeks continuously for about 3 days and once quickly skimmed through closer to the test day.  
•  After reading the book I tested my knowledge using the online practice test available here.
• Wrote down important points in a book so that i would be able to remeber better and also to revise later.
• I used Acroynms to remember some key information, for example to remember saints day for all countries and also link it to national flowers of all countries.
• WNES  (read it as Wines) it stands for Wales, Northern Island , England and Scotland
• DPGA ( read it as dapja) David ( st David's day Wales) , Patrick( patrick's day of northern island), George ( st' George, England) and Andrew's(st andrew's Scotland). 
• DSRT (read it as desert) - to remember flowers for all the WNES countries , Daffodils(Wales), Shamrock ( NI) , Rose(England) and Thistle( Scotland).
•  So remebering WNES- DPGA - DSRT gets you two questions, Usually there will be definitely one question on saints day so read it thoroughly

 I found remembering History bit, especially war dates and names ( artist names, authors and inventors ) bit difficult so i only remembered the important ones. I would suggest focusing on the ones you repeatedly get in the practice test.
Practice tests were pretty good. Having said that, it is bit out of date in couple of questions ( ex : Common wealth has 53 in the book but online test shows as 54, same for EU which is 28 now but test shows as 27). Doing the practice test helps you to cover all corners of the book and helps get confidence

Test Process

• Went around 15-20 minutes before test to the test centre.
• Only candidates are allowed, no friends or relatives. 
• Was called to verify my ID and proof of adress. I used my passport and offical statement as proof respectively.
• They checked my details, asked the details in the id and took my signature.
• Then they gave me a locker to keep my belongings and was let it into test centre after that.
• The instructor in test centre logs you in to the machine, the screen will have instructions about how to use navigations and change screen view. 
• Then you get to take 4 practice questions , after that you click 'Next' and then you test begins.
• At the end of the test you click a button to 'end the test' and then you go out of test room.
• After  few minutes you will be told your results. You would need your ID all the time so keep it with you.
• You will get a 'pass notification letter' for clearing the test.

If you are reading this blog, then i know you are taking enough steps to prepare, I'm sure you will pass with flying colours.

GOOD LUCK