The Westfield gift card takes the stress out of last minute Christmas shopping

With just 4 days until Christmas, British shopping centres and high streets are awash people trying to find the perfect last minute gift. If this sounds like you, then don’t panic! Westfield’s gift card has arrived to take the stress out of this year’s Christmas shopping.

The Westfield gift card can be purchased right up until Christmas Eve, so it removes the need for the pre-Christmas rush. It can be used at Westfield’s designer and high street stores and the Vue cinemas at Westfield London or Westfield Stratford City. This means loved ones can buy something they really want for Christmas.

Gift cards are available now, from: http://uk.westfield.com/uk/news/westfield-gift-card and are accepted at all Westfield UK centres including: Westfield Stratford City and Westfield London, Westfield Derby and Merry Hill in the West Midlands. They are redeemable against all purchases, including sale goods, at all stores within Westfield centres. 
Shoppers can choose from a variety of card designs (including a special edition Christmas snowflake design) and delivery options to make sure they receive their orders in time for Christmas day.

Westfield Gift cards can be spent at Westfield London, Westfield Stratford City, Westfield Derby, Merry Hill, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, The Friary, Guildford and CastleCourt, Belfast.

The Westfield Prepaid Maestro Gift Card is issued by Newcastle Building Society (NBS) pursuant to licence from MasterCard International or its Affiliates. NBS is authorised and regulated by the FSA (Registration 156058).

There is an activation fee of £2 charged per Westfield gift card at the time of issue.
Online purchased gift cards require activation after delivery and expires 12 months from the date it was issued.
Visit the concierge or westfield.com/ukcentres for full Westfield gift card terms & conditions.

To ensure that their online order arrives at their account address in time for Christmas customers should be aware of the suggested last online order dates:

To beat the Christmas rush, make sure you order before the recommended last ordering date.

- Special Delivery (£8.49)
Last date for purchase 21st December AM – recommended last ordering date before Christmas

- Overnight courier service (£19.99)
Last date for purchase 22nd December AM – recommended last ordering date before Christmas

Don't condemn £1.1bn of unwanted Christmas gifts to the scrapheap!

Recent research commissioned by the British Video Association shows £1.1 billion worth of unwanted gadget gifts could be destined for the scrap heap by the New Year. A staggering sum which aligns with RentMyItems.com commissioned research which showed £2.9 billion had been spent on unused or little used items in the last twelve months.

So... what are you going to do with those unwanted Christmas presents that family and friends have very kindly given you, but you simply have no interest in and will never, or rarely, use them? You feel guilty about giving them away and so they sit in your home gathering dust, or at the back of a cupboard, until one day you find a use for them, dispense of them, or simply forget about them.

The simple www.RentMyItems.com solution to this is to rent them out and give yourself an additional source of much needed income as you start the New Year. With online listings free for all users until the end of March 2012 – there is literally nothing to lose.

So whether it’s a digital organiser, a bread maker, an electronic sudoku machine, a foot spa or a digital photo frame why not visit RentMyItems.com, register as a Rentor for FREE, list your unwanted items for FREE – and make a little bit of extra money to pay for those bills in the New Year!

RentMyItems.com enables you to do this and you can list your items for free until the end of March 2012. The website launched on 19th September, and is seeing its membership and listings grow weekly as it sees the effects that the £2.9bn that was wasted on rarely used items in the UK in the last 12 months* is having on personal finances and the environment. The burgeoning market of Collaborative Consumption is, and will continue to, influence our thinking on renting rather than buying.

Warren Heal, Founder of RentMyItems.com, said, “Most of us feel the pinch after the holiday season and, for this reason, RentMyItems.com is continuing to give users the opportunity to earn some extra cash by renting out presents and household items that they are either not going to use at all or will rarely use. With our online Listings currently free there literally is nothing to lose, plus users might find something on our site that you may have a temporary use for and can save yourself money by not purchasing your own. We are proud that RentMyItems.com has recently been named as one of the 40 best new websites that save you money (WebUser Magazine, December 2011), as it proves our concept helps personal finances in these difficult times”.

3 in 4 men can’t remember what gift they received last Christmas

Can you remember what presents you received last Christmas? A new survey has revealed 78% of men can’t remember what gift their partner bought them just one year ago.

Women fare slightly better, but 63% still struggle to recall what they received from their other half.

Over 500 people took part in the survey from experience day company Best Experience Days, and they were asked them what Christmas presents they received over the last two years. Even worse, only 7% of people could remember any presents they received two Christmases ago.

With an estimated £17 billion to be spent by Britons on Christmas presents this year, this means over £12 billion worth of gifts will be forgotten about in just 12 months.

Sarah Firmin from www.bestexperience.co.uk commissioned the survey: ‘Rather than spending money on gifts that no-one will remember, a real experience will live with people for ages. We’ve found unusual experience days ranging from fighting zombies to hovercraft racing. If you fight zombies for three hours and then can’t remember it, there’s something wrong with you!’

The survey also found that price didn’t directly affect how memorable a gift was. Of the people who could remember their gifts, almost a quarter received experience day gifts, but only 14% remembered an expensive or luxury gift such as jewellery.

“It just goes to show that you don’t need to fork out a fortune”, continues Sarah Firmin. “However there were some notable exceptions. One lady told us that her husband bought her a brand new Ferrari. That’s obviously better than an experience day, so if you can afford a Ferrari, just buy them a Ferrari!”

The team at www.bestexperience.co.uk compare and review the best experience days in the UK. The site is famous for impartial reviews and ratings, and information on all the UK’s biggest experience day providers.

“Hard to buy for” Gift Recipients? Not Any More, Courtesy of Nelson & Forbes

It’s one of life’s inevitabilities that as the shopping days left to Christmas quickly countdown, the most difficult people to buy for are still left on everyone’s lists.

Nelson & Forbes has the solution for those people that everyone struggles to buy for, particularly those who have a habit of seeing something they like and buying it for themselves – the week before Christmas.

Nelson & Forbes create exclusively designed bronze sculptures, in strictly limited editions, using British artisan craftsmanship techniques. These sculptures make a high quality, unusual and thoughtful gift for the person who has everything.

Most women are keen followers of fashion, which can make keeping up with their constantly evolving wish-lists an impossible challenge. Solve this problem with Sue Maclaurin’s Listening Hare £160.00; the timeless heritage trend echoed in this piece is one she is sure to never tire of.

For the man who has everything, Jonathan Sanders’ graceful Running Cheetah £210.00, in a worldwide limited edition of just 250 may be the perfect gift. Sleek, powerful, athletic and dangerous; many men may think they have much in common with this wild animal.

For cat-lovers who prefer the household variety, then present them with a beautifully intelligent Seated Cat £115.00. One of three cat sculptures by Sue Maclaurin in the 2011/12 collection, this one is sure to melt the heart of anyone who is fond of their feline friend.

Grandfathers are notoriously tricky to buy for, unless of course they really do love Cliff Richard or need new socks. If he is a bastion of good taste and loves the outdoor life, Sue MacLaurin’s Large Pig Head Left £115.00 could be the obvious choice.

Buying for these difficult to choose for people can be a recurring problem year after year. However, many collectors of bronze sculpture start their hobby after receiving their first piece as a gift, so a Nelson & Forbes piece for Christmas could signal the end of this struggle.

Nelson & Forbes bronzes are designed exclusively for the company by sought-after British sculptors Jonathan Sanders and Sue Maclaurin. Every piece is hand cast in a limited edition in the UK and comes in a sumptuous gift box, handmade in the Midlands, complete with a certificate of authenticity, hand printed from a copper engraving plate and signed by the artist.

Every piece made by Nelson & Forbes is created in bronze using the ancient art of lost wax casting, which can be traced back over 6000 years and remains largely unchanged from its original form. It is the same process that was used to create famous sculptures across the globe including the Trafalgar Square Lions and the doors of the Bank of England. This process allows every intricate detail of a sculptor’s original but often fragile work to be perfectly recreated in a beautiful material and ensures that their sculpture will last a lifetime.

These sculptures are just a small selection of 37 exclusive pieces in the Nelson & Forbes 2011/12 collection. Available in galleries nationwide, they can also be bought from www.nelsonandforbes.co.uk. The final order date for Christmas 2011 is Monday 19th December. Prices range from £60 - £2,000. For stockist information please call 01442 256290.

Toys place at the top of Christmas lists threatened by tech: What kids want for Christmas

What children really want for Christmas

Toy’s place at the top of children’s Christmas lists is being threatened by iPads and video games.

Those are the findings of research featured in the latest issue of toy industry publication Toy News. The research was carried out for the magazine by youth research specialists, Dubit to provide insight into what children across the UK will be asking Santa for this year.

Presents

Dubit asked the children to pick five types of presents to make up their imaginary Christmas list. The kids chose electronic devices the most (chosen by 59 per cent), followed by video games (53 per cent), money (44 per cent), and toys (39 per cent).

As the children get older, the most popular gifts change considerably. Those aged seven to eight favour toys (63 per cent), while nine to ten year-olds prefer electronic items (60 per cent). Gadgets are also top of 11-12 year-old’s lists but at that age girls favour clothes over any other present.

The least popular Christmas presents with children are novelty items, jewellery, and grooming. Unsurprisingly, 11-12 year-old girls buck this trend as they begin to take an interest in beauty products.

Toys

The children were also asked which types of toys they wanted to find beneath the tree – a toy was regarded as popular if it ranked in the top three.

For this, the toys were divided into nine categories, such as board games, action figures, and blocks.

Board games are the most popular toy - placing in the top three 124 times, followed by vehicles (105), pet animals (96), blocks (88) and puzzles (83).

Despite the prominence of video games in older children’s’ playtime, board games are popular with kids aged 9-10 and 11-12, as are puzzles such as jigsaws and Rubix Cubes.

Action figures and dolls only made the top three of 78 children’s lists, with just 14 boys putting them near the top compared to 64 girls.

Brands

Finally, the children were asked to pick three items for their Christmas list – three from the toys list and three for the sectors list (gadgets, money, toys, etc.)

The most popular words used were associated with technology brands, like Nintendo DS, Xbox, and iPhone.

Lego was the most popular toy brand to be mentioned by the children. This was helped by Lego’s move into video games and partnering with brands like Harry Potter and Star Wars. Other toy brands chosen by the children included Hello Kitty, Barbie and Harry Potter.

Samantha Loveday, editor of ToyNews magazine commented: “Although consumer electronics seem to be grabbing the attention of older kids, the more traditional toys are still firm favourites with younger children.

“It’s interesting to see that the toy suppliers that have made a move into video games – and video game suppliers which have launched into the toy space – seem to be higher on the agenda when talking to kids about brands. It appears that a mix of digital and traditional is a key combination for keeping kid’s interested as they grow up. However, it is nice to see that the good old board game is still top of the Christmas list where toys are concerned.”

Personalised Photo Calendars - A beautiful excuse to get your photos off the computer

Calendarwizards simple solution to Photos stored on your hard drive.

Do you have tons of digital photos stored on your computer that you’re mean to print and frame, but you don’t have the time or motivation do anything with them? Let me introduce calendarwizard . An online photo gift company that offer a number of modern and creative gift ideas for all family member and best of all it simply and quick

Simply choose your photo gift, upload your digital photos and order. It really that easy!

There are lots of other unique products too. We love the idea of giving a personalized photo diary to mum and while photo calendars are always a hit with grandparents, we also print photo notebooks which are always handy for those little memos and make great stocking fillers for the kids!

Free P&P* on all orders using code 251210 at basket

*Not available in conjunction with any other offer

Firebox announces its Top 10 ‘WTF?!’ Gifts: Pure opulence with a price tag to match for billionaires

Christmas gifts for the Glitterati?

Ever fantasised about what you’d buy if you won the lottery? Perhaps you need a bit of inspiration? Firebox, the world’s greatest retailer, has - for the first time ever - developed a Top 10 WTF?! (What The Firebox?!) gift list aimed at the mega-rich and the incredibly famous.

Curated by Firebox from its super high-end WTF?! range, this Top 10 gob-smacking list is the defining wish list of what to ask for this Christmas if money was no object.

Ben Fowler, WTF?! Curator at Firebox, said: “Firebox is well known for its crazy, fun and entertaining gifts and gadgets but we wanted to bring attention to our most ridiculous, fantastical products that would make your eyes pop. Earlier this year we launched the WTF?! range – a range of Firebox products but gonzo. More insane, more quirky, more expensive and more unique, they will make you to cry out WTF?!”

Continuing, Ben said: “If I were rich and famous these are the kind of products I’d want for Christmas – they’re amazing, astounding and brilliant fun.”

Surveying Firebox’s Facebook Fans it was discovered that if money was no object its customers would opt for an island, world peace or never ending happiness. But perhaps they’ll settle for one of these instead?

1 DeLorean DMCEV - £70,000
What do you mean we’re going Back to the Future? The DeLorean, made famous in “that” movie is back and this time it’s electric. Retaining the unique gull-wing design and silver exterior, the word ‘iconic’ doesn’t even do it justice.

2 Triumph Bonneville Steve McQueen Edition – £7,700
Based on the classic T100 and inspired by the Trophy TR6 McQueen rode during the stunt scene from The Great Escape, the Triumph Bonneville T100 is limited to just 1,100 bikes, and features a super cool matt khaki green paint job and the late actor's signature on the side covers – it also arrives individually numbered, with a plaque on the handlebar clamp and a certificate of authenticity. Now that’s cool!

3 Project Utopia - £100m+
You want a man-made island-like cruise liner? Done. How about one that is almost identical to Stromberg’s Atlantis hideout in the classic Bond film, The Spy Who Loved Me? Done. Spanning eleven decks yet still coming with full climate control, this is an architectural maritime masterpiece.

4 Caran D’Ache 1010 Diamonds Fountain Pen - £850,000
In white gold with more than 850 exceptionally pure diamonds (totalling approximately 24.61 carats) this dazzling writing instrument brings together the Swiss expertise of leading jewellers, goldsmiths and master craftsmen and is in fact the world’s most expensive pen, ever. This Pen is certainly mightier than the sword.

5 Blue Forest Tree House - from £20,000
If you want a tree house then why not go all out – Blue Forest will design amazing houses ranging from fantasy to functional just for you, high up in the canopy of your trees. Or, in your office; wherever you like really.

6 One Degree of Turntable - 1£00,000
It’s gold, it’s beautiful, it’s a record turntable and it is for the biggest audiophiles of audiophiles. NASA engineers designed it, Firebox loves it.

7 F5 Custom Luxury Golf Cart - £20,500
For the seasoned golfer, looking the part is as important as the playing handicap. You drove a Ferrari to the club, you wanna drive a Ferrari in ‘da club too. Behold the F5 Italian Sports Car Custom Golf Cart. Complete with headlights, turn signals, electric horn and 15” wheel rims this awe inspiring luxury vehicle looks every bit the real deal, albeit in miniature form. And with a top speed of almost 20mph, it is sure to burn off every other cart on the course.

8 Agility Saietta R Bike - £13,750
Designed for urban living, the Agility Saietta R Bike combines powerful performance with Hollywood looks. As the specs show, this isn’t simply an exercise in style. Thanks to the Saietta R’s electric motor, the engineers have stripped out all of the bulk that once dictated how a bike should look – letting the design evolve beyond the traditional petrol-driven motorbike shape.

9 JetLev Flyer - £115,000
Messing about on the water is great fun, but jetting about above the water is like, totally awesome, especially when you’re strapped to the jaw-droppingly impressive JetLev Flyer. The result of years of painstaking R&D, the precision-made design allows you to achieve stable, controlled flight as you soar 10 metres above the water at speeds of up to 30 mph.

10 Marchi Mobile EleMMent RV - £1.9 Million
Littlest Hobo syndrome? The EleMMent RV has its own roof terrace, expanding living space, a rainfall shower and of course a bar. This really is a mansion on wheels.

And, if all this looks a bit pricey for you, Firebox has created a budget Top 10 stocking filler gift list for those with smaller purses than the average billionnaire.

For this Christmas, say it with words with Art on Tiles

 Art on Tiles – the bespoke hand painted tile company – is offering a chance for homeowners to express their individuality with a service offering hand painted tiles featuring the wording, layout and even the font of the client’s choosing.

Jonathan Waights, principal artist and founder says: “People can come up with whatever they like - it is a chance to be completely individual, witty or romantic, to quote someone else or make something up. Quotes about food and eating are very popular for the tiles above the stove. Quotes for the bathroom tend to be more romantic – or even a bit naughty.’

The Art on Tiles standard hand painted 5 inch tiles with one letter per tile can be ordered for £10 each and blank matching tiles are also available for £1.20 each. The brick shaped tiles shown here are £12 painted and £2.20 plain, with a moulded border available for an additional £4 each.

This range and others can be seen and ordered from www.artontiles.co.uk or readers can contact Jonathan direct on 01243 552346.

Examples of past commissions:

http://www.artontiles.co.uk/tile-info-Herbs-112

http://www.artontiles.co.uk/tile-info-Words-147

http://www.artontiles.co.uk/tile-info-Aga-tile-panel-words-253

(EDITOR: This will make a Christmas present that will last, in effect, for ever. What a wonderful gift!) 

What would your dog tell you, this Christmas?

Apart from: "I love you," that is?

"I’ve got a bone to pick with you…. I’m sick of squeaky toys. I’m bored of bones. And that woolly doggy jumper you got me last year, well that is not making an outing this year let me tell you!! This year I want to get my paws on the doggy-licious collars and leads from www.luxuryhound.com

I’ve heard through the dog-vine that, this season, purple is THE colour to be seen in around the park. My wish list to Santa “Paws” therefore includes a must-have purple suede collar and lead. I just know that it would give me a new leash of life!

I know exactly where you can find these one-of-a-kind dog collars. Luxuryhound - a Scottish boutique with luxurious leads and a variety of doggy accessories is the best for a pampered pooch like me! Don’t I deserve better than those scratchy collars and tight leads?

I want to strut my stuff this New Year without getting lost in the crowd. With my very own inscribed dog tag proudly around my neck showing off my fine, furry chest and an extra D-ring handily located at the back, I will make all the other dogs jealous. Whether one is a pocket sized pooch or a Great Dane, any dog can look as glam as me and of course I can be colour co-ordinated with your latest dog walking outfit so we can be a pair of fashionistas!

Also, whilst I’m lolled out by the fire under your feet wearing my brand new collar, we can both relax in the knowledge that we have helped other pooches that are not as lucky as me. Luxuryhound donates 5% of the profits from every product sold straight to dog charities so less fortunate hounds can be looked after or helped to find happy homes.

So, if you don’t want me hounding you this Christmas, just please get me a gorgeous bespoke Luxuryhound collar and lead. Otherwise, it will be you in the doghouse on Boxing Day…. woof woof!"

OK, you heard it from the horse's, sorry, the doggies mouth!

FACTFILE:

Luxuryhound is a wonderful doggy boutique based in Scotland that specialises in luxury leads and collars for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Luxuryhound was set up in 2008 by Mirren Fischer, who works with a variety of quality artisans and craftsmen, top-notch suppliers, and patient dog models to get designs, prints, and stitching just right. Luxuryhound products are also environmentally friendly as their tweeds are bought from local small weavers and organic farms; their leathers progress from well-treated herds to tanneries that use vegetable dyes and control their emissions tightly. 

To see the full range of products please visit www.luxuryhound.com

Cookery School Vouchers for the Beach Bistro at the Gallivant Hotel, Rye

The perfect gift for food lovers as the vouchers can be redeemed against a number of different courses throughout the year, including ‘Boat to Plate’ ‘Field to plate’ ‘Shoot to Plate’ and most recently ‘Festive Cooking’.

The Beach Bistro Cookery School offers simple, seasonal cookery that you can do at home. Courses are perfect for anyone who can boil an egg to enthusiastic home cooks with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.

The Gallivant Hotel, New Lydd Road, Rye, East Sussex, W: www.thegallivanthotel.com T:  +44(0) 1797 225 057 E: enquiries@thegallivanthotel.com

Excellent deal from Sports Direct

Whether it’s golf shoes for dad, skateboards for your brother or snow boots for mum; whatever you’re buying from SportsDirect.com, this week the sportswear giants are offering free delivery on everything!

With so many offers available, plus the free delivery, now is the ideal time to being that Christmas shopping list online. Avoid the high street hustle and bustle and get everything from BMX bikes through to Table Tennis Tables delivered to your door- for free this week! You can currently purchase the ever- popular Muddyfox Chaos BMX bike for only £69! Reduced from £149.99 and available for free delivery.

Another extreme sports favourite is the No Fear Deluxe Skateboard. Available in five different designs, this classic skateboard has been reduced from £29.99 to just £6! These deals are certainly not to be missed and are available only whilst stocks last.

If it’s clothing you’re looking for, the winter essentials sale is still on too! With everything you’ll need for this winter all at incredibly low prices; there’s wellies from £6, fun winter hats from £3 and even waterproof Regatta jackets from only £18. With free delivery, shopping this winter will certainly be easier!

The free delivery offer is available from now until midnight Wednesday 2nd November 2011 and applies to mainland UK standard shipping only. For full details of all the offers currently available log on to www.sportsdirect.com where you can sign up for offer related e-mails. You can also stay on top of the latest discounts and offers by liking the Facebook page or following SportsDirectUK on Twitter.

Do something great this Christmas. Amaze your kids!

Who says knowledge is boring? Or that frivolity and fun should be eschewed for learning? Only those unfortunate people who have never found the joys of Maps Toys!

This year Maps Toys are inviting you to make Christmas one big, fun and exciting experiment for your children and their friends! (If they want to share the fun, that is!)

For this year Map Toys have some fun and funky toys and games that are sure to puzzle and excite both children and adults this Christmas!

There's something for the mucky pup in us all, called Yuck (should cost about £17.99) a gigantic tub that contains a whole host of top secret formulas to create some tremendously icky stuff. Create snot that looks disgustingly real, and something that looks like... vomit? As well as making disgusting treats, your children can learn how to grow their own bacteria farms using a real petri dish! Yuck! This is suitable for children from age 8 and upwards and for adults who do not have ticklish stomachs!

But, to coin a phrase, there's more!

Why not create some awesomely fun towering geysers, with the  Great Geysers present. (You can expect to pay something in the order of £14.99 for this.

The kit gives you all you require to make a gigantic fountain with fizzy pop and some Mentos sweeties! (So if you get your video camera out, you and your kids can put their efforts up on You Tube, just like the professionals!) But there's a serious point behind all this frivolity and fun, children will be able to perform 12 serious and informative scientific experiments with the kit.

There's also some rather more sedate yet equally fun experiments to be undertaken with the Lab in a Bag, which contains enough experiments to last through the entire year. There are four in the range which include Newton's Antics, Come to Your Senses, Test Tube Wonders and Test Tube Adventures. They should cost £14.99 each. They come complete with a handy plastic carry case.

Children can learn some fun tricks like how to balance six nails on the head of one nail with Newton's Antics to discovering why they might hate vegetables with Come to Your Senses!

Many parts of the UK were fortunate enough to have a real White Christmas last year, the first in many years. But it's unlikely we will be lucky enough to have a White Christmas two years on the trot, so if you want to give your children a taste of a White Christmas, why not buy them some Amazing Snow Grow? It's so simply to use! All you do is get your special Insta-Snow powder, sprinkle it on a dish, add just a splash of water and before you can say White Christmas, you will have an eruption of snow! Insta-Snow looks so realistic it can fool people into thinking it is real. Especially as it even feels cold to the touch!

To find out more just visit www.mapstoys.co.uk

From You to me! A teddy to eat, a teddy to keep!

From You to Me have come up with the perfect Chirstmas gift this year: Two Tatty Teddy's in a box. One made from exquisite Belgian chocolate, the other a delightfully cuddly Tatty Teddy that you can keep for ever!

Both bears feature the special blue nose beloved of Tatty Teddy fans the world over and they come in a delightful presentation pack with an illustration of Tatty Teddy with a Christmas stocking! It's unbearably cute! (Sorry!)

The special presentation packs are priced at a modest £6.99 and are available from selected Morrison stores, nationwide.

It makes an ideal present for a mum, a daughter, a sister or a dear friend. It's certainly something that will be a beloved and treasured gift for many, many years to come. Because everyone loves Tatty Teddy!

Gift giving gets easier as new website launches

With Christmas on the way, quickly, the time is on us to start thinking about what we are going to buy our loved ones to celebrate the festive period. But present buying is fraught with dangers, just what do you get them? You don’t want to waste money buying presents they won’t like. Equally, it can be difficult to hide disappointment behind a fake smile, and you’re never sure if you’ll get caught out returning an unwanted gift. And let’s face it; we all hate those awkward ‘So, what do you want?’ conversations.

Isn’t it time we made life easier for one another? Just in time, GiftList.co.uk has launched to change the way you let loved ones know exactly want you want, whatever the special occasion.

Perfect for any gift giving celebration, GiftList.co.uk is free to set up, easy to create and simple to share with family and friends. Lists can also be swiftly and securely added to social media websites Facebook and Twitter. Equally family and friends lists can be easily found on the website, ensuring that every gift is wanted and appreciated.

The website features millions of gift ideas from hundreds of respected UK retailers. With GiftList.co.uk there need never be an unwanted gift given again. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, births, examination passes, Christmas, christenings, whatever the occasion; stop guessing and start sharing your gift list today.

“GiftList.co.uk will revolutionise the way we shop for gifts, taking all the hassle and guesswork that plagued the traditional gift shopping experience,” explains Dave Mason, spokesperson for GiftList.co.uk, adding; “GiftList.co.uk will ensure that the perfect present is given and enjoyed every time.”

FACTFILE:

Launched in 2011, GiftList.co.uk is a simple, free to use website that is suitable for any special occasion, whether birthdays, weddings, baby showers, or Christmas.

Users can quickly create a list, while browsing through millions of gift ideas and products from hundreds of respected UK retailers. The finished list can then be easily and securely shared with friends and family, via social media websites like Facebook and Twitter or by searching on the website.

Gift givers can quickly access a list and buy in confidence direct from the retailer.

GiftList.co.uk is owned and operated by Really Good Presents Ltd, a sister company of Really Good Domains Ltd. Really Good Domains was established in 1999 and is the leading online marketing company for the UK automotive industry.

How it works: GiftList.co.uk can be used for any occasion where people need to buy presents.

GiftList.co.uk is completely free to use. When someone buys a gift through the site, the affiliate partner pays Really Good Presents Ltd a small commission on that item.

GiftList.co.uk does not sell any products directly; instead visitors buy a gift from the affiliate retailer. For example, if a present on GiftList.co.uk is supplied by Argos, the item is purchased directly from Argos via their secure servers.

Prices remain competitive on GiftList.co.uk as users have a choice of which retailer to purchase from.

Fireman Sam Spin and Rescue Game

The fireman Sam Spin and Rescue Game is a game that will be a sure hit with all fans of the hero of the Welsh Fire Service, Fireman Sam.

Sam and his fellow fire officers are responsible for fire and rescue services in the fictional Welsh coastal town of Pontypandy, where there is always plenty of action for Fireman Sam and his colleagues.

The Fireman Sam Game consists of a Fireman Sam figure, the special electronic spinner the spinner base (actually, a sort of spinning arena) 20 Rescue Cards (broken down into 5 Fireman Sam cards, 5 Tom cards, 5 penny cards and 5 Elvis cards. There are also the hero markers, too.

The object of the game is deceptively simple. You must be the first player to collect all five rescue cards that belong to your hero.

Before the game play can commence, an adult should unscrew the lid on the top of the spinner and put in two AAA batteries (these are sometimes called LR03 batteries) in the battery compartment, ensuring they are the right way round. Close the lid, tighten the screw and place the Fireman Sam figure on the top of it.

Position the spinner base on a flat surface (a table is perfect) then turn the electronic spinner on with the switch on the side and you are ready for action!

The rules are that the youngest player will start the game by taking a hero marker, the player to their left does the same. You can chose any hero you like. You must then slide your marker into one of the slots on the spinner base in front of you.

The game is simple but exciting. The youngest player gives Fireman Sam as powerful a spin as they can. A fire station bell rings! Players must wait until Sam finishes spinning and watch carefully to see who Sam is pointing at. If he stops by your marker, you need to pay particular attention to what he says to you.

He will say one of several phrases which will tell you what you need to do. Can you collect all five hero cards? Go on! It's fun to find out!

The game is loud and exciting and will surely be a hit with confirmed and new Fireman Sam fans! It can be played with 2 to 3 players or with 2 to 4 players.

It will make An ideal Christmas present for fans of a variety of ages!

The Fireman Sam Spin and Rescue Game is available from Argos, Tesco, Toys R Us, The Entertainer, Amazon, Play.com priced at £9.99 RRP.

Buy the cook in your life a set of Salter Colourweigh Scales this Christmas!

It seems that cookery programmes are becoming still more popular, so what better present for the dedicated amateur chef in your life than a set of Salter Colourweigh Scales this Chirstmas?

Colourweigh Kitchen Scale (£20)

In funky Lime and striking Raspberry, these ultra-slim and easy to store Salter Colourweigh Kitchen Scales pack a lot of efficient features into its slinky frame.

Key features include:

Ultra slim design for easy storage.

Easy-clean stainless steel platform – you can weigh directly on the platform and clean afterwards or with your own bowl. Suitable for use with most bowls or containers.

Add and weigh ‘zero’ function – for measuring multiple ingredients in the same bowl. You can just re-set the scale to zero whenever you add a new ingredient.

Easy to read LCD display.

Aquatronic™ function for measuring liquids.

Choice of metric or imperial measures – switch easily between ounces and grams, millilitres and fluid ounces.

A weight maximum of 5kg/11lbs/5l/175 fl oz.

Available in Lime and Raspberry.

The Colour Weigh Kitchen Scale RRP: £20 and available at Independent Cookshops, Steamer Trading, Department Stores and www.salterhousewares.com.

And do not forget the NEW Salter Induction Hob RRP £69.99

 The new Salter Induction Hob gives you precise control making it perfect for all types of cooking.  It gives you six pre-programmed settings which range from simmer through to boil reaching a maximum of 280° and a clear, easy to read digital display with touch controls. 

The Microcrystal glass top gives a premium high quality finish that is very easy to clean and the smooth edge design means no dirt traps. As heat is only generated in the base of the pan itself, the cooking surface remains cool in operation making this a very safe appliance to use. As soon as the pan is removed, the flow of heat stops immediately.  A child proof lock is also added for peace of mind.  

Ragdale Hall's Christmas Gift Guide

With Christmas fast approaching, it's time to start thinking about present buying, if you haven't already! With a wide range of gifts for everyone from girlfriends to husbands to mothers, Ragdale Hall are here to do what they do so very well, take the stress out of your Christmas shopping.

Most of the gifts listed in their Christmas Gift Guide are available to purchase from their online shop and so are a mere  few clicks away.

Choose RED… but stay in the BLACK this Christmas!

As the economic climate shows no sign of a thaw just how do we spread Christmas cheer without breaking the bank? How about spending less than £10 on a Christmas gift that is fully personalised, unique and delivered directly to your friends and relatives?

Father Christmas in his traditional red outfit is just one of the Personalised Xmas Tree Decorations available from the new Truly for You website, where it's easy to order fully personalised Christmas Tree Decoration keepsake gifts.

With over 20 Christmas combinations to choose from every member of the family and friends can be catered for. But what makes them really special is the personalised hand written message using your words with any name - whatever the spelling.

Of course there will always be a place for a little black number at Christmas; and Truly for You’s Bah Humbug! Snowman certainly fits the bill whilst bringing a smile to even the grumpiest amongst us! Check them out at Truly for You

Also available:

“Truly for You” Lovespoon Keepsake gifts - Traditionally in Wales a hand-carved wooden spoon would be given to a loved one as a love token. “Truly for You” has taken this delightful idea and given it a softer, more feminine appeal. Available in colours to suit all celebrations including Anniversaries, Valentines, Mother’s Day, Birthdays etc.

These personalised keepsakes are available in two designs: Love and Cariad (which means 'love' and so much more in Welsh), and in 15 colour choices including Holly and Snowflake Christmas designs, with jingle bells and snowflake charms.

“Truly for You” Loveheart Keepsake – A contemporary design, suitable for any occasion when you want someone special to know just how much you care, an ideal alternative to the Lovespoon Keepsake. They are available in 12 colour choices.

Keepsake gifts are priced at £9.95 each which includes UK mainland P&P. When you order at www.trulyforyou.co.uk it’s easy to request direct delivery to the gift recipient saving you time and money. Keepsake gifts are beautifully presented in a crystal clear display box. For just £1.95 extra, top quality gorgeous silver sparkly wrap is added with matching gift tag and curling ribbon in a colour to complement the keepsake.

Spread Christmas cheer without breaking the bank! Check out a unique range of personalised gifts at www.trulyforyou.co.uk

Yellow gold jewellery in abundance at Goldsmiths' Fair

Innovative yellow gold jewellery by designer-makers in abundance at Goldsmiths’ Fair 2011

At Goldsmiths’ Hall
Week One - Monday, September 26 to Sunday, October 2
Week Two - Tuesday, October 4 to Sunday, October 9

A visit to Goldsmiths’ Fair 2011 at Goldsmiths’ Hall in the City of London which opens on Monday September 26 will leave you in no doubt that gold, particularly yellow gold, remains a firm favourite with jewellers. In fact Goldsmiths’ Fair is the place to go if you are looking for stylish, innovative and original gold jewellery.

Not only has gold been hitting the headlines recently with its rise in price, it has also been making a come-back on the fashion runways and yellow gold jewellery is back in vogue as the ultimate luxury accessory.

Several jewellers at Goldsmiths’ Fair make no excuses for working purely in rich yellow gold. First time exhibitor Sheila Teague of jewellery duo Wright and Teague, says: “I try not to be inhibited by the cost and think only in terms of the sculptural beauty, tactility and versatility that gold allows.”

Other jewellers who share her viewpoint are Polly Gasston who works exclusively in 22 carat gold to create her bold strong confident jewellery which is influenced by ancient goldsmiths but still totally contemporary and relevant in style.

Disa Allsopp, whose latest collection is dominated by yellow gold jewellery said: “I am finding that my clients regard gold as an investment. They admire the precious quality of the material and find it even more desirable when combined with innovative design and craftsmanship.”

David Lamb, Managing Director, Jewellery at the World Gold Council, commented: "{{The upcoming Goldsmiths Fair will highlight how the craftsman's oldest and most precious metal is continuing to inspire the jewellers of today and tomorrow. Gold's unique properties enable innovative jewellery design and the goldsmiths who will be showing at the Fair this year, will demonstrate that high manufacturing standards and craftsmanship are alive and well."

In fact the World Gold Council has recently observed various trends in yellow gold jewellery, many of which are much in evidence at Goldsmiths’ Fair. Texture and colour for example play a key part. The former can be achieved through various techniques such as hammering, forging and reticulation. Tina Engell for instance uses the ancient technique of cuttlefish bone casting to create rings which are left with a rich grainy finish made by the mould which she feels accentuates the natural beauty and warmth of the gold.

In contrast braided gold wire is taken to extraordinary lengths in the hands of Catherine Martin who has adapted traditional Japanese silk braiding textile techniques which she learnt in Japan to make her exquisite jewellery. Each of her jewels is meticulously hand-braided using the finest gold wire. Catherine sometimes weaves platinum wire in with the gold and occasionally incorporates tiny twinkling diamonds to heighten the effect. Likewise Andrew Lamb uses precious gold and silver wires in his jewellery, creating pieces by layering, twisting and overlapping these ‘threads’ to create rippling textures and subtle colour variations, playfully drawing in the viewer and creating a moment of surprise.

Falling in the trend of precious and delicate, new exhibitor to the Fair Beth Gilmour makes highly attractive gold jewellery which is often described as intricate and elegant and it is no surprise that she is influenced by organic leaf patterns and vintage lace.

Gold as the new jewel is also much in evidence at the Fair with many jewellers using yellow gold as a design feature or ornamentation. Katherine Baird for example uses gold detailing in combination with silver to highlight the importance of 'the line' in her work, as do Olivia Schlevogt and Shivani Patel. Award winning jeweller Jacqueline Cullen has developed a unique technique to enable her to add gold granulation to her fabulous jewellery made from inky black Whitby Jet. Her effective use of 18 carat gold granulation emulates the flow of molten gold lava from crevices of a volcano.

The high price of gold has also forced jewellers to become more resourceful and creative in finding new ways of getting the “gold” look but still keeping costs down. For instance Melissa Rigby uses her own technique of fusing fine coloured gold and silver leaf with vitreous enamel (ground glass), while Jane Adam uses an unusual material for some of her pieces – bimetal, which comprises a thick layer of 18 carat gold fused to sterling silver. Like Melissa, Jane has developed her own unique method of scribing through the gold and oxidising the exposed silver lines to create a fascinating, textured surface.

Come and be seduced by the great variety of dazzling gold jewellery on sale at Goldsmiths’ Fair 2011

FACTFILE:

Week One - Monday, September 26 to Sunday, October 2
Week Two - Tuesday, October 4 to Sunday, October 9
Closed Monday October 3 for change over of exhibitors
11am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday (last entry 6.30pm)
10am to 6.00pm Saturday and Sunday (last entry 5.30pm)
Entrance by catalogue purchasable on the door (£7 for one week, £12 for two weeks)

• The 29th annual Goldsmiths’ Fair (first Fair took place in 1983)
• A selling exhibition open to the public and trade.
• 90 exhibitors each week (107 jewellers and 61 silversmiths)
• All the exhibitors are vetted by the Goldsmiths’ Company
• 10 recent graduates have been granted a stand, a loan and a bursary by the Goldsmiths’ Company
• Prices range from £60 upwards to £16,000
• All the silver and precious metal jewellery is hallmarked by one of the four UK Assay Offices.

WHERE?
Goldsmiths’ Hall,
Foster Lane,
London EC2V 6BN
Tel: 020 7606 7010
www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk
Licensed Café on site offering drinks and refreshments throughout the day.

NEAREST UNDERGROUND STATIONS:
St Paul’s, Mansion House, Barbican, Bank
BUSES:
8, 11, 25, 100, 242, 56, 521

www.whoswhoingoldandsilver.com
The Goldsmiths’ Company’s on-line directory for jewellery, silver and works of art enables the public to browse on line to make contact with the maker of their choice. With more than 300 craftsmen, all approved by the Goldsmiths’ Company, the website is the ultimate resource for any requirement in precious metal.

Kids want Gadgets for Christmas!

A new Shopzilla poll reveals what 6-12 year-olds want this Christmas. Santa is not taking austerity measures this Christmas judging by the poll which reveals that electronic pets, laptops, tablets, digital cameras and games consoles are likely to be piled up under the tree this year. On average children in the UK are expecting £167 to be spent on them by their parents, which may not be enough for some of the more costly toys in the list.

£167 is the average amount that 6-12 year olds expect their parents to spend on them in total with more than half anticipating their gifts will cost under £150 in total. The ‘gender pay gap’ may start at a very young age if this Shopzilla survey is any indicator – boys aged 6-12 expect an average of £183 spent on them by their parents this Christmas while the girls are expecting a total of £155 on average – 18% less than the boys. However, Cars 2 toys are just as popular with girls as boys, reaching number five on both male and female Christmas lists.

Kids want to be just like their parents with ‘grown-up’ items such as digital cameras, laptops, iPads and smart phones making the top ten. 14% of the children surveyed no longer play with or use last year’s top gift any more and 12% can’t remember the best gift they received last year.

Neil McCarthy, Sales and Marketing Director at Shopzilla said: “The sheer newness of a must-have item is what attracts many of these young shoppers. It’s not just about getting the right item, it often has to be a certain colour and a particular model. Retailers who anticipate these trends and are able to meet demand will be able to tap into the tech-savvy young market.”

Top 10 most-wanted GIRLS’ toys and gifts:

1. Laptop/tablet
2. Digital camera
3. Nintendo 3DS
4. Electronic Pet
5. Cars 2 Toy
6. A real pet (not a toy)
7. Mobile phone/smartphone
8. Games for a computer console
9. Lego
10. Games Console

Top 10 most-wanted BOYS’ toys and gifts:

1. Laptop/tablet
2. Electronic Pet
3. Nintendo 3DS
4. Digital camera
5. Cars 2 Toy
6. Games for a computer console
7. Lego
8. Mobile phone/smartphone
9. Games Console
10. Moshi Monsters

www.shopzillasolutions.co.uk

(EDITOR: Parents! Just bookmark That's Chirstmas and visit us regularly to check for stories about discounted gifts. I think parents will need all the help they can get, this Christmas!)