PortaPocket Notebook

Not sure if you heard about this, but the latest apple iWatch and iPhone 14 have a new feature. It's a feature that seems useful, but it's actually creating a new problem unintentionally. While 'smart' electronics often enhance our lives, it seems that in this case it's having an opposite effect.

The issue stems from the new 'crash detection' feature. So when you're on a high speed ride, the sharp movements and drops are seemingly like those one might experience in a car accident. So your apple tech is now summoning the ambulances on your behalf. Oh my! 

This is a fail on multiple fronts as any misguided efforts to assist people who don't need emergency services results in a waste of resources. Dispatching people and equipment to unnecessary missions disallows them to be available for more urgent situations where people actually need help.

Some parks that are now aware of this situation have started installing signage to tell patrons to please turn off their cell phones &/or watches, or leave them off the ride altogether.  The first step in fixing the problem is always awareness.

It's a start. 

We're excited to announce we've added our first neck pillow to our assortment.
It's a super cool innovation called the Tube, created by Donna Cooper of Tubular Travel
in Jacksonville, FL.

The Tube is the only neck pillow you stuff with clothes so you get extra storage space
when you fly, along with a handy device for neck or lumbar support to make your
flight experience more comfortable. 

Check it out here, and be sure to take one along on your next adventure!

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Do you love uncrowded, off-the-beaten-path castles? 
If so, this small castle-like manor house is a MUST DO if you're ever in Edinburgh!

We happened across this Scottish charmer while booking with our airbnb host in Cramond Edinburgh and were very excited to be staying in a place just a few blocks away. This 16th century country house (complete with towers) is in a walkable, residential neighborhood, within 1.5 miles of the turreted Whitehouse Road home of Harry Potter author JK Rowling...and every bit as intriguing to visit.

With high season in mid August and the popular Scottish fringe and tatoo festivals underway, boisterous crowds turned our effort to see Edinburgh Castle into a standing-room affair.  With discomfort a certainty, we happily aborted our mission to the vast landmark and enjoyed a peaceful soujourn to Lauriston, instead.  Its more human-scale and quiet grandeur is a delight and the small group tours (ours was about 8 guests) allow a much more personalized approach, no reservations required. 

On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate this experience a solid 9+ 

Fast facts:

Location: 2A Cramond Road South | Davidson's Mains, Edinburgh EH4 5QD, Scotland

Grounds open daily, 7:30am to 8p

Cost: Adult £8, Concession £6 (under 5 free);
Grounds are Free to explore

Notes: free parking on site; website here

though it's not quite autumn, it looks like we're having an Indian summer...

and it seems they know (some of the ways) how to wear PortaPocket, too! ;)

What a wonderful treat to be part of this very special Expo last weekend. Abilities is a show that celebrates people with all kinds of unique situations and offers resources and tools to make their lives easier and better.

Whether you're able or disabled, we're thrilled to help you have a better way to always know where your cell phone, ID/cards, medical devices & other small essentials are at all times :))  #justWEARit  #pocketsRx 

So nice to be at the ADA Diabetes EXPO at McCormick Place in Chicago over this last weekend! We were able to show how PortaPocket pockets handily fit current models of insulin pumps on the market today, including those from Medtronic, Animas, Dexcom, One Touch, and Tandem Diabetes, among others.

It's often a challenge for people with diabetes, whether Type 1 or Type 2, to find comfortable solutions to wear their vital devices. Especially ones that actually work WELL. 

PortaPocket is thrilled to serve this community, and provides tools for you to wear your pump (and other things) almost ANYwhere on your body. Our versatile system gives you choices in where and how you wear your pump, whether you want to hide it under a dress/skirt, wear it under a pantleg, or around waist/hip, arm or anywhere else. Our comfy neoprene components (and zero plastic or metal parts) mean it's a dream to use when you sleep at night, too.

Why not enjoy better comfort as you go about your day.
Visit portapocket.com
And make your life just a little bit easier.

xox

some helpful info if you're planning to travel abroad... 

 STEP can be a useful tool to know about when you go out of the country.

See more about it, here.