Top Trumps for a Top Christmas

Because Top Trumps has it covered this Christmas!

Top Trumps has been a very strong, firm family favourite card game for over 40 years and has always been infamous for it's car titles.

Here are some of their latest packs...

007 James Bond Vehicles & Gadgets Top Trumps

Familiarise yourself with thirty vehicles and gadgets that are closely associated with the double-O agent known as James Bond. Pick from iconic weapons and tools like the wrist dart gun, Dentonite explosives and the Parker pen, as well as vehicles like the Q Boat and the Aston Martin Vanquish. 

This pack of Top Trumps Limited Editions celebrates some of Q Branch's most incredible gadgets, Bond's spontaneity and resourcefulness when it comes to their usage, and some of 007's foes’ most fiendish devices. 

Find out which car has the best Technology rating, which gadget is the best disguised, and which is Bond’s most recent piece of kit.

RRP £10

Available on Amazon

Super Cars Top Trumps

Strap yourself in and put your foot down on the accelerator - it’s time to take to the racetracks with this extraordinary new edition of Top Trumps: Supercars! 

Get to grips with 30 of the world’s fiercest, fastest and most powerful vehicles as you race for the title of Top Trump. Pick from iconic cars including the 2018 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, the 2018 McLaren Senna, the 2019 Bugatti Chiron and the 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder. Discover each car’s power, top speed, acceleration speed and total produced as you battle it out to pick your best stat from each card and defeat your opponents. 

Each card comes with high quality imagery and a custom bio that tells you everything you need to know about these incredible feats of engineering: find out which car uses separate electric motors for each wheel, which debuted as the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix safety car, and which car offers a steampunk interior! Time to start your engines and compete for first place, with Top Trumps: Supercars.

RRP £6

Also available on Amazon

Sports Cars Top Trumps

Learn about the biggest and fastest sports car road legends of all time: from the stylish NSX and the brutal F40, to the glamorous Veyron and the ground-breaking Huayra, they are all in this Sports Cars edition of Top Trumps. Find out the top speed of the Pagani Huayra, engine size of LaFerrari and the year Bac Mono was launched.

RRP £6

Available on Amazon, too.

Check out Top Trumps at https://toptrumps.com.

Get in the Christmas Spirit With New Gift Sets from in the Welsh Wind

Top award-winning distillery In The Welsh Wind has launched its first series of gift sets in time for Christmas 2022, featuring its prized gins, new vodka and a dark rum.

The Cardigan-based spirits producer has the perfect Christmas solutions with its new trio of 'miniature' offerings with price points at £15, £20, and £25.

Featuring Masters and Gold winning spirits, options include its Signature Gin duo, or try one of the two combinations from its Eccentric Spirits range, which features six gins, a dark rum and also its newly-launched vanilla and coconut infused vodka, which has already won over the judges.

The Welsh Wind Collection Gift Box

Enjoy a taste of Christmas with the award-winning In The Welsh Wind Signature Style gin and limited-edition Palo Cortado gin. The gift box features a 5cl bottle of each spirit.

Price: £15

Buy online: https://inthewelshwind.co.uk/collections/gift-boxes/products/the-welsh-wind-collection-signature-style-and-palo-cortado-gin-miniatures-gift-box

Eccentric Collection Gift Box

This gift box features four 5cl bottles of spirits all with a Welsh theme.

Dewi Sant, Cardiff Dry, Pembrokeshire Pinky and the new Cardi Bay Vodka. Each gift box also comes with a signature Eccentric Spirits Co dog tag.

The Eccentric collection is a quirky and alluring assortment of spirits with such an incredible array of botanicals across the range.

Price: £20

Buy online: https://inthewelshwind.co.uk/collections/gift-boxes/products/the-eccentric-collection-eccentric-gin-miniatures

Mavericks Collection Gift Box

This gift box features four 5cl bottles of the premium spirits from the Eccentric Collection. It includes Young Tom (Master award winner at the 2022 Global Gin Awards), Limbeck, Madam Geneva and Black Batch Rum. Each gift box also comes with a signature Eccentric Spirits Co dog tag.

The Eccentric collection is a quirky and alluring assortment of spirits with such an incredible array of botanicals across the range.

Price: £25

Buy online: https://inthewelshwind.co.uk/collections/gift-boxes/products/eccentric-gift-box

Tasting notes:

Welsh Wind Collection

Signature Style: a botanical profile inspired by cargoes imported into New Quay and flavours synonymous with Wales – oranges, cinnamon, clove, ginger and tea-soaked currants

Palo Cortado: A beautiful marriage of our award-winning Signature Style, rested in Palo Cortado barrels. Almonds, dried stone fruit and wood spice from the cask perfectly complement the underlying warmth of the original gin's botanical profile.

Eccentric Gift Box

Dewi Sant: A sea spray inspired, coastal infusion of aromatic rich herbs, fennel and spritzy citrus.

Cardiff Dry: This dry gin offers juniper with big citrus character, best served with mint and black pepper. 

Pembrokeshire Pinky: Named after the Pink Thrift, the flower of Pembrokeshire, it is a blend of cherry and lemongrass creating a crisp, refreshing flavour with a beautifully smooth finish. 

Cardi Bay Vodka: This deliciously smooth vodka is infused with hints of vanilla and coconut.

Maverick Gift Box

Young Tom: Sweet, floral and malty rich flavours from this distilled IPA, then rested for six weeks with fennel, sunflower root and star anise. 

Limbeck: A gorgeously heady mix of blue ginger, citrus and tarragon, Seville orange and orris. It is rested in French burgundy casks leaving the gin a subtle peach colour. 

Madam Geneva: A real classic London Dry Gin. A combination of angelica, wild sunflower and a range of fresh citrus. 

Black Batch Rum: Black Batch takes its colour from a heavily charred cask of American oak. Lightly spiced with orange, cinnamon & cloves, it celebrates natural colours and flavours.

That's Christmas would like to suggest that you buy two of these gifts, one for your lucky recipient and one for yourself. That way you will both have a very good Christmas indeed!

And as my Welsh grandmother (who also came from Pembrokeshire) would say: "Nadolig Llawen!"

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Free LEGO Foil Pack Set

The Minifigure Store are giving away a free LEGO foil pack set for the first 500 customers who claim their LEGO gift.

This October The Minifigure Store are giving away a free LEGO foil pack set for the first 500 customers who claim their LEGO gift. Simply visit the link below to claim your free LEGO set.

Many of us are currently feeling the pinch with the increasing cost of everything, The Minifigure Store are here to add a little extra joy into your life.

Just add 1 of the selected LEGO sets to your cart, use the promotion code: FREELEGO at the cart or checkout and you will only have to pay for postage!

Free LEGO gifts available with this promotion

Select your preferred free LEGO foil pack set from the 5 below:

- DC Super Heroes Robin Copter Minifigure 212221

- Ninjago Kai Minifigure 892177

- Star Wars AT-AT 912282

- Jurassic World Raptor with Nest 122221

- City Diver Minifigure and Crab 952107

Click here to claim your free LEGO set

Standard UK postage costs for this promotion is just £0.99. This offer is open worldwide and you only have to cover the applicable postage charge for your order.

Fancy adding some extra LEGO to your collection? Spend over £20 and receive free UK delivery as standard.

The Minifigure Store is rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot, offering an unbeatable shopping experience. 

A little bit about The Minifigure Store:

The Minifigure Store is a partnership between Ramon, Adam, Martin and their wonderful team! Starting in 2017 with LEGO Minifigures, they have expanded to stock a huge range of new, rare + retired LEGO sets, promos + individual pieces. As one of LEGO’s fastest-growing independent retailers, The Minifigure Store is a haven for all lovers of LEGO!

Terms & Conditions of this offer:

This offer is open to customers worldwide

Claim your free LEGO set and only pay for postage

Use promo code: FREELEGO at the cart or checkout to receive you’re selected LEGO set for free

Only 1 free LEGO set per household (multiple purchases will be cancelled and refunded)

Free LEGO set can be ordered alone or purchased along with other items in an order

This offer is limited to 500 free LEGO foil packs (5 to choose from, 100 of each choice available)

Offer expires 31st October 2022 23:59

All orders containing the free LEGO foil pack will be despatched before 4th November 2022

Select your preferred free LEGO foil pack set from the 5 below:

DC Super Heroes Robin Copter Minifigure 212221, Ninjago Kai Minifigure 892177, Star Wars AT-AT 912282, Jurassic World Raptor with Nest 122221, City Diver Minifigure and Crab 952107

Click here to claim your free LEGO set https://www.theminifigurestore.uk/shop/free-lego-foil-pack-lego-set-promotion/

An ideal extra gift for the Lego fan in your life!

Cards For Good Causes charity opens 100 Christmas pop-up shops in October

Cards For Good Causes are opening 100 pop-up shops around the UK, 20 more than last year, starting this October.

Christmas pop-up shops throughout the UK aim to raise £500,000 for charity.

Christmas isn’t Christmas without receiving a card or gift from Cards For Good Causes! 

This Christmas, Cards For Good Causes are delighted to announce that they’ll be opening up even more shops around the country for your festive needs this year!

Cards For Good Causes are opening 100 pop-up shops around the UK, 20 more than last year, starting this October. Doors will open at 10am on Saturday 8th October at the first shop in Chelsea, London, and this will be followed by the opening of pop-up shops all over the country throughout the rest of the month. The Chelsea shop's doors will be open every Monday - Sunday until 22nd December. Cards For Good Causes are hoping to raise over £500,000 for charities through their pop-ups this year.

Every year, in what is now becoming a Christmas tradition of its very own after raising some £40 million in the last ten years, Cards For Good Causes open shops across the country, selling a wide range of Christmas cards and gifts, all of which raise money for local and national charities. Buzzing with festive good cheer, the pop-up shops invite local residents, visitors, and tourists to shop for good causes and explore the selection of cards, beautiful seasonal gifts, stocking fillers, wrap, decorations and tableware.

Their card selection this year features an amazing mix of traditional religious cards, gorgeous old masters, beautiful landscapes, as well as festive favourites and cute animals, there’s something for everyone! The full list of pop-up shops can be found here: https://www.cardsforcharity.co.uk/look-for-a-card-shop With the help of supporters, the festive shops aim to raise 500,000 pounds this Christmas season in aid of over 70 local and national charities. They’re the cards and gifts that give back!

Cards For Good Causes is a charity, operating for over 60 years with a sole aim of raising funds for other UK charities by being a one-stop-shop for gifts and cards. In the last 10 years alone over £40 million has been raised for charitable causes. Some of the charities Cards for Good Causes will be supporting this year include: Diabetes UK, RNLI, British Heart Foundation, Alzheimer's Society, Epilepsy Action, and MS Society UK, along with many more local charities.

Jeremy Lune, CEO Cards For Good Causes says: “We can’t wait to meet everyone this year in our shops! Please come volunteer with us, or come and get your Christmas gifts whilst supporting the charities of your choice. I wish everyone a very festive Christmas and hope to see you soon!”

cardsforcharity.co.uk

(Image courtesy of lu_lettering and Pixabay)

Dark Chocolate & Marmalade Truffles

Using Cottage Delight Bucks Fizz Thin Cut Marmalade

Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 5 minutes Servings: 30

Ingredients

• 150ml double cream

• 200g dark chocolate chips

• 25g unsalted butter

• 1 zest of an orange

• 1 x 340g jar Cottage Delight Bucks Fizz Thin Cut Marmalade (5 tbsp)

• 1tbsp light brown sugar

For the toppings:

• Bucks Fizz Marmalade

• 15g cocoa powder, sifted

• 100g roasted, chopped hazelnuts

Method 

• In a small saucepan, bring the cream, butter and sugar to just below boiling point, stirring over a gentle heat. Add Bucks Fizz Marmalade and stir through until melted. Zest the orange into the mixture.

• Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate chips and stir gently until melted and smooth. Pour into a shallow dish or tray to cool, then cover and chill in the fridge for at least 3 hours, or until firmed up.

• Put the marmalade, cocoa powder, and hazelnuts in separate bowls. 

• Remove truffle mixture from the fridge. Using a spoon, scrape from the dish, then use your hands to shape the chocolate into small balls.

• Starting with the marmalade, then the cocoa powder and lastly the hazelnuts, roll the truffles in the different toppings until evenly coated. Chill again to firm up. Pop into mini paper cases, if you like.

To learn more and for extra recipes visit https://www.cottagedelight.co.uk.

ILLUMINATURE - fall under nature's spell at London's unique light trail this Christmas

Live within reach of Barnes, south-west London and want to do something different for the Christmas period?

From next month, November, until early January, why not wrap up warm and come and experience the wonder of wildlife at night at the award-winning WWT London Wetland Centre in Barnes, which is in south-west London?

On Fridays to Sundays from 18th November 2022 until 8th January 2023 between 4.30pm and 9.00pm, ILLUMINATURE offers visitors an immersive and unique seasonal experience under the stars. 

Hot chocolate in hand, visitors can follow the twinkling lights and celebrate nature in an immersive light trail of glowing larger-than-life sculptures and stunning installations. 

They can enjoy glimpses of real animal magic through night vision goggles, spotting several species of birds and beautiful plant life. They can also visit the resident family of otters tucked up in bed, while also learning about phases of the moon and how they impact our environment.

Hosted by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) and Lumagica, this captivating experience is a real seasonal treat for all ages to spend an hour or so reconnecting with nature beneath the moonlight.

Lisa Woodward, Centre Manager at London Wetland Centre, said: “2022 will be ILLUMINATURE’s second year at WWT and we are very excited to showcase our amazing wildlife in a unique way, once again. Following last year’s success, the trail has new installations and the addition of the new Twilight Tweatery, full of treats and space to stop and catch up with your loved ones.

“We’re particularly excited to offer visitors the chance not just to delight in the wonderful light show but also discover the London Wetland Centre at night, and see some of the wildlife, including through our new night vision binoculars.

“We hope to welcome both old and new faces into the Centre this year, create excitement surrounding the light trail and encourage visitors to learn more about how special the London Wetland Centre is and the importance of wetlands to our planet.”

Tickets for the enchanting experience are now on sale, priced at GBP18.50 for adults, GBP14.50 for children (under 4s free), with family tickets at GBP60.00. They can be purchased at http://www.wwt.org.uk/illuminature.

The London Wetland Centre has plenty of car parking and is served by local bus services.

Let's go Nintendo this Christmas

Nintendo, even though it's not just for Christmas, Nintendo is really very good for Christmas presents for people of all ages, from young to the not-so-young!

Nintendo Switch OLED – RRP: £309.99 (also available in White)

The newest addition to the Nintendo Switch family of consoles featuring a 7-inch vibrant OLED screen.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en_gb/nintendo-switch-oled-model-neon-blueneon-red-000000000010007457.html

Nintendo Switch Lite – RRP: £199.99 (available in Coral, Blue, Turquoise, Yellow, Grey)

The console for gamers on the go, the Nintendo Switch Lite is a compact, lightweight addition to the Nintendo Switch family, with integrated controls.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/nintendo-switch-lite-coral-000000000010004132

Nintendo Switch Sports – RRP: £39.99 

Combining gaming and sports, Nintendo Switch Sports allows the whole family to release their inner sports star as the much-loved successor to Wii Sports.

Link: https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-games/Nintendo-Switch-Sports-2168292.html

 

Mario Strikers: Battle League Football – RRP: £49.99

For anyone who is a football fan but tired of all the rules, Mario Strikers is the perfect game to entertain the whole family with no rules, no referee and no fouls, anything goes!

Link: https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-games/Mario-Strikers-Battle-League-Football-2169139.html

 

Nintendo Switch Online Membership (+ Expansion Pass) – RRP: £34.99-£59.99

Enhance your Nintendo Switch gaming experience allowing you to enjoy competitive and co-operative online gaming with friends and rivals from all around the world.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en_gb/nintendo-switch-online-expansion-pack-membership-P00079.html

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + Booster Course Pass – RRP: £49.99 + £22.49

Enjoy the biggest Mario Kart yet and race anytime, anywhere, with anyone in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en_gb/mario-kart-8-deluxe.html

 

Ring Fit Adventure – RRP: £69.99

Real-world movements turn into in-game actions to enable players to explore and battle in the game world using the power of real-world exercise.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en_gb/ring-fit-adventure-000000000010001992.html

 

Mario Party Superstars – RRP: £49.99

Enjoy 5 classic boards from the Nintendo 64 era and 100 minigames from across the series.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en_gb/mario-party-superstars.html

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – RRP: £49.99

New friends, discoveries and opportunities are waiting for you as paradise is what you make it in Animal Crossing: New Horizon

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en_gb/animal-crossing-new-horizons-70010000027620.html

 

Splatoon 3 – RRP: £49.99

The next adventure for the  battle-hardened Inklings and Octolings in brand new desolate environment, the Splatlands.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en_gb/splatoon-3-70010000046396.html

Pokémon Scarlet – RRP: £49.99 and Pokémon Violet – RRP: £49.99 (Released on Friday 18thNovember 2022)

The first open-world RPGs in the Pokémon series allowing you to team up, battle, train and trade Pokémon and fully immerse yourself in a newly evolved adventure.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en_gb/pokemon-scarlet-pokemon-violet.html

LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Mario Starter Course – RRP: £49.99

Fans can begin exploring the fun-packed LEGO Super Mario universe featuring 7 action bricks for different interactives with the LEGO Mario figure.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/lego-super-mario-adventures-with-mario-starter-course-71360-000000000010005366

Super Mario Monopoly – RRP: £34.99

The Super Mario Celebration edition of the Monopoly game offers action-packed excitement along with nostalgia.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/super-mario-monopoly-000000000010005643

Pikachu Aluminium Eco Bottle – RRP: £19.99

Bring your drink everywhere in sustainable style

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/pikachu-aluminium-eco-bottle-000000000010008804

Tom Nook Soft Toy – RRP: £14.99

Take Tom Nook with you on all your adventures.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/tom-nook-soft-toy-000000000010005487

Pokémon Poké Ball Mug – RRP: £7.99

For all the Pokémon fans out there!

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/pokemon-poke-ball-mug-000000000003453666

 

Super Mario Cap – RRP: £14.99

Channel your inner Super Mario with the red Mario cap.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/super-mario-cap-000000000003384466

Mario Soft Toy – RRP: £14.99

Now you can take Mario with you on all of your adventures! With incredible detail that looks like it has jumped right from the Super Mario world, this Mario soft toy is the perfect gift.

Link: https://store.nintendo.co.uk/en/mario-soft-toy-000000000010004185

 

 

 

Double Dutch Premium Quality Mixers

Joyce and Raissa de Haas

No matter the quality of the spirt drinks you have in your Christmas drink cabinet, be they cheap, cheaper, or of high quality, they can all be improved by the addition of Double Dutch premium quality mixers.

Incidentally, Double Dutch mixers go very well with Everleaf non-alcoholic drinks, too.

What mixers are available? Cucumber and Watermelon, Bloody Mary Soda, Cranberry and Ginger, Ginger Ale, Double Lemmon, Ginger Beer, Indian Tonic Water, Skinny Tonic Water, Soda Water, Cucumber Margarita with Chilli Soda and, of course, Cucumber & Watermelon and Pomegranate & Basil.

Incidentally, Double Dutch was founded by Dutch twins, Joyce and Raissa de Haas in 2015 when they launched their first two mixers, Cucumber & Watermelon and Pomegranate & Basil.

What Christmas-related magical drink can you mix up? This is a good one, I find.

Ginger Spice

INGREDIENTS

50ml Spiced Rum

Lime

Blackberries

Double Dutch Cranberry & Ginger Tonic

ACCESSORIES

Long spoon

Highball or rocks glass 

Spirits jigger

METHOD

Fill your glass with ice.

Pour your rum over ice. 

Squeeze in fresh lime juice.

Top with Double Dutch Cranberry & Ginger

Stir carefully until evenly mixed.

Garnish with fresh blackberries. 

To order your own bottles of Double Dutch mixers and to find even more nifty Christmas and New Year cocktails, visit them at https://doubledutchdrinks.com,