G Ragu Review

Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about a colleague who travelled a long way to check on me after the 2015 Chennai floods, guided me as I drove out through knee-deep water, and rode with me part of the way to my home town. I have rewritten it into advice on helping colleagues during a disaster.

I was packing to escape the floods when the doorbell rang. It was a colleague who had travelled a long distance to see how I was. It was a huge relief. I told him I planned to drive through the knee-deep water to leave Chennai, and he offered to guide me through it and come along if he could. With his help I had the confidence to drive out. It was smoother than I feared, and within seconds I was through. After three days, I felt free. He rode with me part of the way and got off at a bus stop near his home.

Why does checking on colleagues matter?

People living alone can be cut off for days, with no power or signal. A visit or a message from a colleague may be the only contact they have. Many companies now run check-in lists during disasters for this reason.

How can you help a colleague safely?

• Do not put yourself at risk: travel only on routes known to be safe.
• Bring basics: water, food, a charged power bank.
• Help them decide: whether to stay or leave, based on local conditions.
• Tell someone where you are going: and when you expect to return.

What can teams do before a flood season?

Keep a list of who lives alone and where, agree a check-in routine, and share emergency contacts. Managers can confirm that everyone is safe before asking about work.

How do you thank someone for help like that?

Tell them directly, and tell their manager. Returning the help when they need it is the best thanks.

What stayed with me?

Not the water or the drive, but that a colleague chose to come. That is the part of 2015 I remember best.

Keep reading

• When Your Only Teammate Leaves: How to Cope and Plan
• Helping Your Old Team? Tell Your Manager First
• Assigned to a New Team Overnight: First Steps

Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote about deciding whether to replace my four-year-old iPhone 6, which had a new battery, with the iPhone XS, tempted by the camera and a relative travelling to the US who could buy it for less. I have rewritten it into a guide to timing a phone upgrade.

My iPhone 6 was four years old and had a new battery under Apple's replacement programme. The new iPhone was due on 12 September 2018, and the rumoured features did not excite me the way earlier iPhones had. The camera and the iPhone 6's ageing design were the only reasons to upgrade, while the high price and yearly model changes argued against. My uncle was also travelling to the US later that year, so I could buy the new phone for less and sooner. I was torn.

When is the best time to upgrade a phone?

• When software support ends: the clearest signal.
• When a feature you use daily is missing: such as camera quality or 5G.
• Just after a new model launches: older models often drop in price.

Is buying an iPhone abroad worth it?

It can be cheaper, but check the details. Customs duty may apply above the duty-free allowance when bringing it into India. Warranty service may be limited to the country of purchase. Some US models use eSIM only, with no physical SIM tray, so check that your Indian carrier supports eSIM before buying.

How much is a camera upgrade worth?

If you take a lot of photos, a newer camera can be a real improvement. Compare sample photos in low light, which is where older phones fall behind most.

What does waiting cost?

Very little while the phone is supported and works well. Each extra year of use lowers the yearly cost of the phone you already own.

What should you do with the old phone?

Back it up, sign out of your accounts, erase it, and then sell, trade in or recycle it.

Keep reading

• Last Year's Apple Watch or Wait? How to Decide
• iCloud+ on an Old Mac: What Works on a 2012 MacBook
• Forgot the Coupon at Checkout? Sale Buying Tips