Taming the Cable Chaos

Like many people, I had accumulated far too many charging cables and power adaptors over the years. Drawers were crammed with outdated connectors, duplicate chargers, and cables of every shape and size—many of them long obsolete. Eventually, I’d had enough. I decided it was time to bring some order to the chaos. The results have been transformative.

The first step was a thorough purge. I disposed of old chargers, duplicate cables, and anything I couldn’t immediately identify. All of these were taken to the “small electricals” section at our local recycling centre—an environmentally responsible way to say goodbye to tech clutter. Letting go of these items was surprisingly satisfying and a great way to reclaim space.

Brother E560BT

With the clutter cleared, I turned to organisation. I invested in a Brother E560BT label maker—a professional-grade machine that’s probably overkill for home use, but it’s a fantastic piece of kit and has proven invaluable. I used it to label every cable and charger in one of two ways:

• Flag labels for cables that might be swapped or used in different locations
• Wrap-around labels for cables that stay in one place or are used frequently

Labelling has made it easy to identify cables at a glance, especially when travelling or repacking. No more mystery wires or unnecessary guesswork.

Lamicall Cable Wraps

To keep cables tidy, I standardised on Lamicall silicone cable ties, which work well across various cable thicknesses. I’d grown frustrated with Velcro wraps—useful at first, but prone to sticking together and creating a new kind of mess. Silicone ties avoid this problem and are easier to manage. Those with silicone allergies should, of course, choose an alternative.

Really Useful Box

All of my labelled and wrapped cables are now stored neatly in a 3-litre “Really Useful Box”. The box is organised by frequency of use: less commonly used cables at the bottom, most frequently used ones on top. This simple system means I always know where to look and what’s available.

One of the best outcomes has been how easy it is to pack for travel. Whether we’re heading away in the motorhome or on a house sit, I can quickly grab just the cables we need. Everything goes back in the box when we return, keeping the system intact.

This method has not only reduced clutter—it has also saved me time, stress, and frustration. I now know exactly what I have, where it is, and which cables are worth keeping. It’s a small but meaningful step toward a more streamlined and less wasteful tech life. If you’re struggling with your own cable chaos, I highly recommend giving this approach a try. It really has been worth it.

Cookson Of Meldon

Isaac Cookson of Meldon (1776-1851)

Isaac Cookson, third son of Isaac Cookson (1745-1831) of Whitehill, married at Alnwick 17 January 1805 Jane, daughter of Edward Cook of Togston, par. Warkworth, Northumberland. In the middle of the 17th century the family of Cook had acquired the estate of Amble New-hall and lands in Togston by marriage.

John Cook (d. 1763) of Togston had a younger brother, Edward, who in 1760, having entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, William Otley of Warkworth, and Joseph Baron to trade under the business name of Otley, Cook and Baron at Baltimore, Maryland. Cook took with him to America a pointer dog, which he lost one day while shooting in the woods near Baltimore. Some time afterwards his brother, John, who was still living at Togston, was awakened at hearing a dog in the night. It was admitted into the house and found to be the same his brother had taken with him to America. The dog lived until his master returned home, when they mutually recognised each other. They were never able to trace by what vessel the dog had left America or in what part of England it had been landed.

Preserved amongst the Cookson of Meldon’s family papers is an interesting group of ten letters written by Edward Cook in Baltimore to his brother, John, at Togston describing the state of agriculture in Maryland with a letter of advice from John. There are also surviving some trading accounts for 1760 but the merchandise is not specified. In 1772 the partnership in Baltimore was dissolved, Otley owing Edward Cook £700. Cook and Otley owned jointly a tract of land called Eslington Northstead and Buck Range, about 1,400 acres, seven miles from Baltimore; this was divided between them on 11 July 1772. Otley died in the following December and his widow and sister sold their share of the land to Cook to pay the debt due to him. At the outbreak of war Edward Cook’s land was confiscated.

John Cook died 5 February 1763 and his son, Edward Cook, went to America in 1786 in an unsuccessful attempt to recover the land. Edward Cook died intestate in November 1786 leaving an infant daughter, Jane, then only three years old. This Jane was her father’s heiress and became wife of Isaac Cookson. Between 1806 and 1812, and again in 1821, Isaac made great efforts to recover the American lands, but the attempts failed. The Chancellor of the State of Maryland set aside the claim on the grounds that the lands had been legally purchased during the War of Independence.

Isaac Cookson sold his wife’s property at Togston in 1832 and Amble New Hall in 1833. About this time he was living at Gateshead Park House. Somewhat later he purchased the estate of Meldon Park, which until recently was still owned by his descendants.

In 1826 a bye-election became necessary in Northumberland owing to the death of Charles John Brandling, the sitting Member of Parliament. The contending candidates for the vacancy were Matthew Bell of Woolsington and the hon. H. T. Liddell of Eslington. Isaac Cookson, junior, esquire, of Gateshead Park voted in respect of his freehold at Togston, his vote being given for Liddell. His brother, Christopher Cookson, was Mr. Liddell’s legal counsel for the election.

Isaac Cookson purchased the farm of Quarry House, Westgate, on the western outskirts of Newcastle, and in 1827 laid out John Street, Edward Street, William Street and Arthur’s Hill, naming them after four of his sons. This early building development may have been carried out entirely for financial reasons, but there may also have been political considerations. The creation of small independant leaseholds or freeholds was a good way of obtaining parliamentary votes and these could easily be directed according to the wishes of the ground landlord.

Isaac Cookson was sheriff of Northumberland in 1838 and died 8 October 1851. He had twelve children whose dates of birth are recorded on a memorandum amongst the Cookson family papers as:

1. Elizabeth; b. 11 May 1806; (she d. unm. 5 October 1879)
2. Isaac; b. 26 June 1807; d. of small-pox 19 December 1807
3. John; b. 11 September 1808; (he was living at Benwell House in 1838 but was later of Meldon Park; for his descendants see the pedigree)
4. Edward; b. 12 January 1810; bap. St. Nicholas (11 April 1810) being born in the Mansion House (whilst his father was mayor)
5. Emma Donna; b. 13 February 1811; (m. Gateshead parish church 31 August 1836 rev. Joint Shadwell)
6. William Isaac; b. 10 May 1812; (of whom more later)
7. Arthur James; b. Forest Hall 24 August 1813; (d. at sea 14 July 1841)
8. Isaac; b. Forest Hall 11 July 1817; d. 25 December 1817 “of inflimation on the Lungs”
9. Fanny Isabella; b. in Westgate Street 21 November 1819; d. 10 March 1835; bur. Meldon
10. Sarah Jane; b. Gateshead Park 15 January 1821; (m. firstly 12 September 1839 Sidney Robert Streatfield, major 52nd Regt; m. secondly 5 August 1852 capt. Henry Francis Cockayne Cust)
11. Mary (twin with Sarah Jane; m. Meldon 10 June 1840 William Cuthbert of Beaufront Castle)
12. Emily Lutwidge; b. Gateshead Park 9 January 1825; (m. firstly Maximilian, count Lerchewfeld; m. secondly Marcus Lowther, rear admiral R.N.)

William Isaac Cookson (1812-1888), fourth son of Isaac Cookson (d. 1851) by his wife, Jane Cook, was living at 6 Eldon Square, Newcastle, in 1838, but later moved to Benwell Tower. In 1856 he purchased lead works at Willington, Northumberland, from the Howden Smelting Company, and these works are still carried on by his descendants.

William Isaac Cookson married firstly, 16 July 1839, Jane Anne, daughter of William Cuthbert of Beaufront Castle. The sons of this marriage were William Bryan Cookson (1841-1859), Norman Charles Cookson (1841-1909), George John Cookson (1845-1913), Freville Cookson (1851-1909) and Henry Theodore Cookson (1859-1920).

The eldest son was named Bryan on account of the mistaken belief that the Cooksons of Whitehill were descended from a family of the same name living at Settle, Yorks., and later at Leeds. These Yorkshire Cooksons were said to have had the same paternal inheritance for upwards of 300 years, by the alternate names of Brian and Robert.

William Bryan Cookson was drowned in the Isis 31 October 1859 at the age of 18. The descendants of his brothers are shown in the pedigree. After the death of his first wife on 10 February 1862, William Isaac Cookson married 13 February 1866 Emma Marian, daughter of the rev. Charles Wingfield. By her he had another son, his sixth, William Reginald Cookson (1866-1905), and two daughters. (See pedigree).

William Isaac Cookson died 1 November 1888.

Setting Up a CNICK Payment Ring with FIDESMO Pay and CURVE

CNICK Ring

Recently, I explored the exciting world of wearable payment technology by setting up a CNICK payment ring. I chose this path for several compelling reasons:

Why I Chose a Payment Ring:

1. Enhanced Security of Transactions:
   One of my primary motivations was to enhance transaction security by minimising exposure of my actual credit card numbers. When connecting a payment card to a wearable device via FIDESMO Pay, the actual card number is not used. Instead, a secure reference, known as a token, is generated. It is this token that facilitates transactions, effectively protecting my real card details from potential fraud or theft.

2. Personal Item Security:
   Modern smartphones are increasingly costly and a frequent target for theft, which not only represents a loss of valuable hardware but poses risks to personal data security. By using a payment ring, I significantly reduce the need to publicly display or handle my phone, thus decreasing the likelihood of theft and unauthorised access to sensitive banking information. Unlocked phones are a theft target which may expose critical information.

3. Rapid Cancellation:
   Another significant advantage is that a payment ring can be swiftly deactivated if lost or stolen, preventing fraudulent use instantly. This provides peace of mind not afforded by conventional payment methods.

4. Convenience:
   Lastly, the convenience factor cannot be overstated. The payment ring eliminates the hassle of searching for wallets, cards, or phones. A simple tap at a contactless terminal is all that is needed.

5. No Charging:
   I didn’t want the hassle of charging a ring, as is required with some of the “smart” rings. I wanted to be able to use it without being concerned about whether it was charged and without having my phone with me.

Selecting a Payment Ring

After some research, I opted for a CNICK ring. CNICK rings have received positive reviews and are particularly recommended for compatibility with FIDESMO Pay. Furthermore, CNICK offers an appealing variety of wearables, catering to different styles and preferences.

Once I had placed my order I was a bit disappointed when I received the shipping notification to learn that the ring was having to be shipped from Tbilisi in Georgia, I had wrongly assumed that the ring would be shipped from the UK. The concern I have with this is around how long it might take to resolve issues, should I encounter any.

Very early in this process I dismissed the idea of “preloaded” card options, preferring instead a system that allowed me to dynamically switch between multiple cards. The solution was straightforward: CURVE.

Preloaded cards have their place and may be the best choice in certain situations but I definitely wanted the flexibility of being able to use the ring to pay for items from several cards and I didn’t want the hassle of having to check a card balance and to keep having to reload a card.

Integrating CURVE for Versatile Card Management

I chose a CURVE account because it allows me to link several debit and credit cards under one single debit card number. I’m currently using the free version of CURVE, which allows me to select which of my cards is charged by default at any given moment. This selection is easily adjustable through the CURVE application.

It’s important to note that transactions made using CURVE are not protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This limitation isn’t an issue for me, as I primarily use my ring for daily expenditures like food, groceries, and coffee, saving larger purchases requiring consumer protection for other direct payment methods.

Understanding App Requirements

Initially, I was uncertain about the necessity of downloading the CNICK app, as the information seemed somewhat confusing. Upon contacting CNICK, they informed me that their app was currently undergoing updates and recommended using FIDESMO Pay instead to ensure seamless setup and connectivity.

Further assistance came from Johan Ekelund at FIDESMO who was extremely helpful. He clarified that the FIDESMO app alone was sufficient, simplifying the overall setup process significantly. I have not downloaded the CNICK application and I do not intend to do so.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide:

Here is a simplified step-by-step summary of the exact process I followed:

1. Sign up for a free CURVE account.

2. Add your preferred cards to the CURVE account. (Initially, I added the two cards I regularly use.)

3. Purchase your wearable (ring or alternative device) from CNICK, or elsewhere.

4. Download the FIDESMO application.

5. Connect the CNICK ring to the FIDESMO app following the app’s instructions.

6. Select your CURVE digital card within the FIDESMO app.

7. Set your preferred primary card within the CURVE app (this can easily be changed anytime).

8. Your CNICK ring is now ready for contactless payments, automatically charging whichever card is set as primary in the CURVE app.

Although the initial impression might suggest complexity, the entire process is straightforward and user-friendly once you know precisely what you need and how the different services integrate.

My CNICK ring finally arrived and I added it to the FIDESMO application which links it to the CURVE digital card. Adding the ring in the FIDESMO application was simple, just following the prompts within the application, it took just a couple of minutes.

With the CNICK ring added to the FIDESMO application and the CURVE card also added to the FIDESMO application I couldn’t wait to go to the shops and try it!

I was delighted with the performance of the CNICK ring in Sainsbury’s, my local supermarket. It was just like magic holding it up to the payment terminal, listening for the beep and away I went. No fishing for cards or mobile phone and no expensive technology (phone, watch, etc.) on view to be snatched.

Payment terminals are a target for snatch thefts because frequently a phone can be stolen unlocked.

I think this payment approach is going to just make things even more convenient and also of course more secure. Definitely a positive development which I am going to extend further.

One negative that I feel that I must mention was the very extended delivery time of the CNICK ring from Tbilisi in Georgia. Had I known about this beforehand I would have ordered from elsewhere, probably a TAPSTER (Swedish based) wearable, the setup process would have been identical.

I hope this guide makes your transition to a convenient, secure, wearable, payments system smooth and enjoyable!

Update: 30th April 2025:

I have now been using the CNICK Ring - FIDESMO - CURVE combination for pretty much all of my payments for a month or so. There has not been a single failed payment and the entire system has been convenient, quick and secure. There is no doubt that I will be continuing to use this setup into the future and the days of paying with my phone, with all the security implications of so doing, are behind me - the phone now sits securely in my bag or in an internal zipped pocket. The only downside is that my wife now wants me to set one up for her ;-)