What floats my boat.....

[Alexikokopops]

Getting my TiVo and 30 meg broadband sorted

[davieG]

A Formula One fan has had his wish of a new bionic hand fulfilled after a plucky letter to boss of the Mercedes GP Petronas team, Ross Brawn.

Matthew James, a 14-year-old from Wokingham in Berkshire, was born without a left hand.

He was fitted with a bionic version which he described as "like a claw".

His dream was for a more sophisticated device, but they cost tens of thousands of pounds and are not available on the NHS.

Matthew had his eye on an i-Limb Pulse from Touch Bionics, a firm in Scotland. His family had raised some money, but nowhere near the £30,000 needed.

He decided to ask Ross Brawn for help after the F1 boss visited Reading School.

In a letter, Matthew offered to have his hand sponsored by Mercedes in exchange for help.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Unfortunately there's one downside to it, I'm having to do more chores”

Matthew JamesMatthew was invited for a tour round the Mercedes factory, while a member of the F1 team got in touch with Touch Bionics.

The two organisations agreed to share technology which is used in both the cars and the bionic arm. As part of the deal, the £25,000 fee to fit the hand and train Matthew to use it was waived. Mercedes is helping to fund-raise the rest.

Matthew said his old hand was "a simple open and close mechanism, like a claw" while the new one "has five individual motors in each finger and therefore each finger can move individually".

The arm was fitted on Friday and he is still getting used to it, but can already open jars and carry cups of tea.

"Unfortunately there's one downside to it, I'm having to do more chores," he said.

Ross Brawn said: "Matthew's letter to the team was very touching.

"Meeting Matthew, and hearing first hand how the new device would improve his quality of life, was a pleasure and I am delighted that our initial contact has now led to such a positive conclusion."

[Trav Le Bleu]

This does, big time! It's brilliant!

Can I have that on my house please?

[Matt]

Getting paid double time.

Getting pay for 27 hours over 2 days.

[FoxyPV]

Getting a full night's sleep.

Foxy Jr has been ill for the past couple of days resulting in my total hours of sleep each night equalling less than 4.

[FoxyPV]

Being born in Western Europe

[AoWW]

That I'm gonna get to see my other half tomorrow after several weeks of being too busy to see each other.

[ajthefox]

costco and having a brilliant night out but not getting that hungover because you didn't drink stupid amounts

[Corky]

Scoring a glorious right-foot volley across the keeper, into the top corner dipping just under the bar.

My word, what a strike from the young man, as Ray Wilkins might say.

Edited 23 September 2011 by Corky

[purpleronnie]

Pearl jam releasing a documentary and their continue release of lots of vinyl goodies.

[Finnegan]

Scoring a glorious right-foot volley across the keeper, into the top corner dipping just under the bar.

My word, what a strike from the young man, as Ray Wilkins might say.

You know you're taking FIFA too seriously when...

[Haydos]

All dayers involving pub, fifa and a club!

[lavrentis]

Youve got to love PDANet. Jesus what an app.

[purpleronnie]

Youve got to love PDANet. Jesus what an app.

I understand none of that.

[lavrentis]

I understand none of that.

It basically allows you to use your mobile phones 3G wireless internet on your computer using your phone as a modem.

[purpleronnie]

Oh cool, I've never bought a mobile phone before so I'm easily confused.

[FoxyPV]

Glazed doughnuts

[The Doctor]

No lectures 'till 4pm today,

[Wymsey]

No lectures 'till 4pm today,

Had two so far today, one from 9:00-11:00 and the other12:00-13:00, and also got one later at 18:00 until 19:00.

Knackered with all this walking , all lectures on top floors - 8 and 9. Don't have priority to use the lift.

Edited 26 September 2011 by Wymeswold fox

[The Doctor]

You of all people haven't got lift priority wymsey?

I would have thought your family would be bank-rolling the university.

Edit:

Sausage Sarnies are absolutely beaut.

Edited 26 September 2011 by LargeAl

[Saxondale]

Stilton.

[Saxondale]

Mr Muscle drain unblocking gel.

One of the only high street cleaning products that actually does what it's supposed to.

[The Doctor]

Mr Muscle drain unblocking gel.

One of the only high street cleaning products that actually does what it's supposed to.

Surely it would be sinking your boat as your kitchen/bathroom becomes less flooded?

[Saxondale]

Surely it would be sinking your boat as your kitchen/bathroom becomes less flooded?

Fair point. If my bathroom was a boat, i would indeed want all the holes to remain blocked.

Thankfully it is, in this case, a proverbial boat only.

[Houdini Logic]

The smell of an unlit cigarette.