1 Head lamp
Quite apart from being utterly adorable, the adjustable, dog-like Waaf table lamp from Cities will allow you to shine light wherever you need it most — perfect for your favourite reading spot. It stands 35cm tall and is made from aluminium and wood harvested from sustainably managed forests.
• Waaf lamp, Dh995, Cities, Galleria Mall, Dubai
2 Clean cooking
This could be one of the most useful gadgets we have ever come across: a device that will clean your barbecue for you. All you have to do is place it onto your dirty grill and push the start button. Twenty-three centimetres wide and 10cm high, the Grillbot is operated by three rechargeable motors, with removable brushes that can be popped straight into the dishwasher once all the hard work is done.
• Grillbot, Dh441, www.ahalife.com
3 Scrubs up nicely
Samsung’s new AddWash front-loading washing machine comes with a handy feature — an extra hatch on the upper part of the main door that can be opened mid-cycle, allowing you to add any forgotten items of clothing, or extra detergent and fabric softener. Select models from the AddWash range can also be linked with your smartphone, allowing you to monitor the progress of your wash or be alerted before the start of a new cycle. The machines are fitted with Samsung’s patented Ecobubble technology, which pre-mixes detergent with air and water, then fills the drum with bubbles that penetrate the fabric 40 times faster than the normal mix of water and soap would.
• Samsung AddWash, from Dh4,366, Samsung stores and selected retailers across the UAE
4 Book yourself in
Take a break from all digital distractions with this old-school journal from Virgin Megastore. The 164-page, full-colour diary features 70 meditative quotes that might just inspire your own musings.
• Inner-Truth journal, Dh69, Virgin Megastores across the UAE
5 BBQ 2 GO
Staying on the outdoor eating theme (’tis the season, after all), this mini-suitcase-style portable barbecue will hold you in good stead wherever you roam. Even if you just want to keep it in the garden, with its minuscule size and fun, vintage-style case, emblazoned with the words “The adventure begins”, it will be far less of an eyesore than traditional grills.
• Portable barbecue, Dh265, www.annabeljames.co.uk
