Update: avocado hand – should the fruit come with a warning sticker?

Good tip @melmassey! I’m guilty of the knife ‘trick’… I’ve not yet caused myself any harm from this, but will give the gravity method a go. I’ve also seen people use a tea spoon to get the stone out.

Incidentally, I’ve nearly taken a finger off when chopping parsnips – all down to a blunt knife, it’s really important to have a sharp knife that can actually cut and not slip off the veg you’re chopping!

Parsnips, eh? I’ll add those to the list…

I’m disappointed that Betterware does not currently offer a safety parsnip cutter but they do have a sock organiser and a toilet bowl light.

I laughed out loud when reading that, Wavechange. This is the problem with trying to live in an age of austerity – what not to buy next. I neglected to open the last Betterware catalogue so missed these opportunities; the agent was most miffed when he called to collect the orders that the catalogue was pristine and the order form vacant. Perhaps next time.

Wavechange – Without wishing to go too far off topic, or over the edge even, permit me to enquire into the purpose of a ‘toilet bowl light’. And, once again, I need to know if it has a motion sensor.

Thinking of the Japanese electronic public toilets with music to drown out “noises ” John ? but a set time is allowed and the door swung open I never heard if they changed that. Yes it was filled with sensors I cant remember them all, I think an automatic bidet was included.

Sounds like they’re good to nip in and out in a hurry.

Having had a look at the online Betterware catalogue there is the opportunity to add a choice of tools for tackling avocados in relative safety. Maybe Lakeland have taken over marketing items we did not realise we needed. They have silicone lids shaped to store half avocados with the stone in place. Why not have complementary ones for avocado halves minus stones? Or offer sets containing both lids.

I have managed to avoid Betterware agents for years now, although I bought a couple of excellent marker pens for plastic that are still working after probably 20 years.

John will be pleased to know the toilet bowl light has a motion sensor and comes in blue or pink https://www.betterware.co.uk/toilet-bowl-light.html
Whatever next !!!

For Betterware to fail to recognise the opportunity to sell devices for safe handling of avocados is very disappointing. Maybe their should change their name slightly and move into quality clothing.

There are companies that specialise in products for the disabled so maybe there is an opportunity for a small company to identify the safest potato peeler, avocado de-stoner and various other household items.

Let’s trust they don’t get their target audiences confused and start marketing an all-in-one toilet bowl light, parsnip cutter and Mohel set.

Thank you, Alfa.

It had not occurred to me that Betterware had progressed to the internet. I remember in the 1950’s when their agent [or was it the Kleeneze salesman] would regularly press my mother into buying some new-fangled brush for making every part of our home spick and span; no catalogue was required – he came with an enormous suitcase bursting with cloths and polishes, brushes and dusters, and mops that made the lino gleam. He demonstrated the products, took orders and brought them round a few weeks later. I assumed things were still as they were except they leave a catalogue now and pester you for its return.

I’ve got a small tool that would substitute for the latter instrument in an emergency, Ian. It has a scissor-like action and must have been designed as some sort of decapitator.

Another instrument of torture in our kitchen is the 1940’s Spong runner bean slicer that has to be clamped to the counter with a thumbscrew; a handle rotates a circular blade with a cutter that slivers the pliant bean ready for the pan. One can get up quite a speed and push beans in continuously with the left hand while the right is merríly turning the handle. An errant finger pushing a fat bean in the slot would soon be sliced to smithereens. There should be a public amnesty for these things with colour-coded bins outside all police stations.

I note from the link Alfa has given that the Betterware toilet bowl light is indeed “motion activated”; that’s a relief! So long as a bell doesn’t ring as well.

Yes, using blunt knives in the kitchen is considered to be pretty dangerous.

I had a really good can opener bought from the RNIB for a blind parent. When it cuts around the tin it turns the edge under so it isn’t sharp. So there are places for clever implements.

I need one of those because we like grapefruit segments and for some reason, unlike other canned fruits, they generally don’t come in ring-pull cans and our can-opener never seems to complete the circle with a clean edge and a lid without a sharp nib on it.

Look for a can opener that cuts the sides rather than the top of the can, so that there is nothing to restrict removal of the contents. I think the RNIB can opener operates in this way. Another advantage is that the lid cannot fall into the can. I really must replace my old fashioned can opener.

Thanks, Wavechange. . . . . Now, where has that Betterware catalogue gone?

I had hoped that Which? would provide guidance. Maybe if someone produces ones with WiFi we will get some useful reviews. I believe that the side-cutting openers can be used on ring-pull cans, so would be useful to anyone who finds these a challenge.