The online source for all things Christmas
Friday, 25 September 2026
That's Food and Drink: This Is a 10-Year-Old Whisky. And Compass Box Can ...
That's Food and Drink: This Is a 10-Year-Old Whisky. And Compass Box Can ...: A whisky called This Is a 10-Year-Old Whisky might sound like it’s stating the obvious. But Compass Box has chosen that name for a reason: ...
Have a Cracking Christmas with Bonne Maman
A charming little festive celebration of flavour and tradition, wrapped up in Bonne Maman's signature charm, the Crackers are ideal as stocking fillers, festive table settings or thoughtful gifts for jam lovers and foodies alike.
Each beautifully crafted Cracker contains four 30g mini jars of fruit conserves, marmalade and indulgent spread – Mixed Berries Jam, White Fig Jam, Sweet Orange, Mandarin and Passion Fruit Marmalade plus Milk Caramel with Dark Chocolate Spread.
The new, limited edition Bonne Maman Crackers are arriving at Ocado and Fenwicks from mid-November at rrp £6.50.
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
That's Food and Drink: Limoncello by Tea Towel: Possibly the Most Enterta...
That's Food and Drink: Limoncello by Tea Towel: Possibly the Most Enterta...: Recipes can turn up in the strangest places. My wife recently found this rather splendid tea towel bearing a recipe for homemade Limoncello....
Sunday, 20 September 2026
Is September Too Early to Start Preparing for Christmas?
So, naturally, some of us are starting to think about Christmas.
But is September simply far too early?
There are broadly two schools of thought. The first can probably be summed up by the wonderfully uncompromising philosophy: “If you can’t get Christmas things done in one day, they don't need to be done.”
Buy the presents, put up the decorations, purchase the food and get on with it. Preferably sometime around 23 December.
For people in this camp, seeing Christmas cards, wrapping paper and decorations appearing in the shops during September can provoke something approaching horror.
And, actually, there’s something rather appealing about their approach. Christmas shouldn’t become a four-month endurance event.
But here at That’s Christmas 365, we think there’s another way of looking at it.
Starting preparations in September doesn’t mean putting the tree up or serving mince pies for breakfast. It can simply mean spreading the workload, and the cost.
September is an excellent time to start making a Christmas present list. If you spot the perfect gift for somebody now, why wait until December to buy it?
It’s also a good opportunity to start looking for unusual presents from independent retailers, craft fairs, charity shops and small businesses. Leaving everything until the last minute often means settling for whatever happens to be available.
Early preparation is particularly useful if you make your own presents. Homemade jams, chutneys, knitted gifts, Christmas cakes, infused drinks, crafts and personalised decorations all take time.
There’s a financial argument, too. Buying a few presents during September, October and November can be much easier on the household budget than attempting to pay for Christmas almost entirely from December’s income.
You can also begin quietly putting aside non-perishable food and drink when you see genuine bargains.
However, we’d draw the line at allowing Christmas preparation to become a source of stress.
If your ideal Christmas really can be organised in one day, excellent. If you enjoy spending months planning presents, making decorations, preparing food and hunting for bargains, that’s excellent too.
Christmas should fit you – you shouldn’t have to fit Christmas.
So is September too early?
For putting the turkey in the oven, definitely.
For putting up the tree? We’ll let you argue about that one.
But for making lists, spreading the cost, finding interesting presents and enjoying a little anticipation?
We reckon September is just about perfect.
What about you? Are you already preparing for Christmas, or do you refuse to even think about it until December?
Thursday, 17 September 2026
Give a Young Music Fan the Popstar Treatment This Christmas
Toys, gadgets and clothes are soon forgotten, but an exciting experience can create memories that last for years.
For young music fans aged from seven to 16, a recording session with CoverStar Experiences in Liverpool could make a wonderfully unusual Christmas gift.
Based at Prohibition Recording Studios in Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter, CoverStar Kids Parties allow young people to experience what it is like to become a pop star for the day. Instead of visiting another soft play centre or trampoline park, the recipient and their friends can walk along a VIP red carpet before entering a genuine fully-equipped professional recording studio.
Inside the soundproof vocal booth, the young performers wear professional studio headphones and record their favourite chart hits with the help of an experienced sound engineer. Children do not need to be accomplished singers: the emphasis is on having fun, gaining confidence and enjoying an unforgettable celebration with friends.
The newly refreshed experience also includes a stylish party room for rehearsals, festival-style glitter make-up and a photo booth prop session. Every child receives a personalised “Vinyl Style” keepsake CD, giving them a lasting souvenir of their moment in the spotlight.
“Our popstar parties have always been about creating core memories, building confidence and delivering a genuinely special celebration for children and their best friends,” Graham Mac of CoverStar Experiences told That's Christmas 365.
“Whether a child is an aspiring singer or just wants to laugh and celebrate with friends, our sound engineers and hosts ensure everyone feels like a VIP star.”
Established in 2013, CoverStar Experiences is a ten-time TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award winner, supported by hundreds of five-star reviews from parents. Its recording experiences are also available for hen parties, corporate events and adult music enthusiasts.
Gold, Platinum and Ultimate children’s party packages are offered, with options capable of accommodating as many as 50 guests. Upgraded studio amenities and bar facilities are available for accompanying parents.
The studio is open seven days a week, with sessions offered from 9am until 9pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 10am until 6pm on Sundays. Its new website also allows families to check the availability of dates instantly.
A CoverStar experience could be revealed on Christmas morning with a homemade backstage pass, microphone or decorated gift box. It is a particularly appealing present for a budding singer, or any youngster who has ever dreamed of hearing their voice recorded in a professional studio.
For prices, packages and date availability, visit coverstarkidsparties.co.uk or telephone 0800 689 7827.
Want to organise something similar for older teens or adults? They have you covered, too! https://www.coverstarexperiences.co.uk
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
The Christmas Bouquet: Bring Fresh Festive Magic Straight to the Door with 123 Flowers
This Christmas, the UK’s leading online florist, 123 Flowers is encouraging shoppers to embrace fresh blooms as part of their festive decorating.
From snowy winter textures and rich seasonal reds to romantic roses and vibrant statement stems, the collection offers something for every Christmas mood, whether you're dressing the dinner table, sending a thoughtful gift or simply making your own home feel that little bit more special.
A touch of winter wonderland: Winter Snow
For those dreaming of a white Christmas, Winter Snow brings the beauty of the season indoors. Featuring chrysanthemums and carnations, finished with lush foliage, cinnamon and pine-cone picks, the arrangement captures the cosy essence of winter. An ideal yet affordable finishing touch for a hallway, dining table or festive gathering, as well as a thoughtful way to send a little seasonal cheer to someone special.
Step Into Christmas with full festive glamour
When only a proper Christmas bouquet will do, Step Into Christmas delivers seasonal drama. Created by artisan florists, the bouquet combines Stargazer lilies and roses with Pistacia and festive Hypericum for a rich, celebratory arrangement designed to make an impression. It’s a standout choice for sending to family and friends - or for taking centre stage in the home throughout the festivities.
A timeless Christmas charm: Winter Rose and Tulips
Nothing captures the spirit of Christmas quite like a classic arrangement of rich red blooms. Winter Rose and Tulips combines velvety Red Rhodos Roses with elegant red tulips and seasonal greenery, creating a beautifully traditional bouquet with instant festive appeal. Perfect for sending heartfelt winter wishes, it’s a timeless choice for anyone who loves the classic charm and warmth of Christmas.
A colourful Christmas surprise: Peruvian Lily & Rose
The Peruvian Lily & Rose bouquet is a best-seller offering a brighter take on festive flowers. Combining White Belle Roses with Peruvian lilies in cerise, pink, white and yellow, with a seven-day freshness guarantee, it's a gift designed to keep bringing a splash of colour to the Christmas period.
The Peruvian Lily & Rose bouquet is available with free next-day delivery across the UK and Northern Ireland, from www.123-flowers.co.uk. RRP: £24.99 – £34.99
Alex Biggart, Head of Brand at 123 Flowers, told That's Christmas 365: “Christmas is all about bringing warmth, colour and personality into our homes and festive flowers are becoming a must-have for seasonal styling.
“From traditional reds and soft winter whites to colourful statement blooms and elegant arrangements, there’s a bouquet to suit every style.
“We’re also seeing a growing demand for more thoughtful choices, so at 123 Flowers, our blooms are sourced from British growers and Fairtrade farms and arranged by local florists – and are proud to be the first UK online florist to introduce fully recyclable packaging for all our fresh flowers and gifts.
“Whether dressing the home, setting the Christmas table or sending a beautiful bouquet straight to someone’s door, flowers are an effortless way to add a final flourish of festive magic and say ‘thinking of you’, ‘thank you’ or simply ‘Merry Christmas’.”
Known for its hand-tied bouquets, signature hatbox arrangements and thoughtful gifting collections, 123 Flowers is one of the UK’s leading online florists. Offering free next-day delivery across the UK and Northern Ireland, seven days a week, the brand combines quality, convenience and value with responsibly sourced blooms.
123 Flowers’ full Christmas collection is available online at https://www.123-flowers.co.uk.
That's Christmas 365 has Found Wonderful Christmas Gifts for You!
Featuring fur with a special extra-fluffy feel, the Biscuit Bear Family includes mother Elena, baby Noa and father Lloyd the architect who has some exciting plans for the village! He's got all the tools he needs for the job, plus a miniature model house and car.
RRP: £39.99
Age : 3+
Stockist: www.sylvanianfamilies.co.uk
The newest stall at the amusement park! Pop the fruit in, watch it tumble down, and pour the juice into a cup! With six types of toppings in cute animal shapes, there are 24 different juice combinations to make! Also transforms into a vehicle!
RRP: £26.99
Age : 3+
Stockist: www.sylvanianfamilies.co.uk
Aquabeads Ice Cream Party Craft Studio
RRP £29.99
Age: 4+
Stockist: Amazon, Smyths, Hamleys and our own online affiliate shop, https://link.amazon/B0fKm4uHN
These portable, handheld, arcade-style games fit neatly in your pocket.
There are six games to collect in each series including Marble Mazes; Jump and Seesaw Games where you must move the coin from one side to the other; and Skill Shot games with a pinball.
RRP £4.49
Age: 4+
POSCA 5M Portrait Colours 8 Pack
Create your best and most authentic portraits yet with this pack of POSCAs in a selection of eight skin tones. Blend and layer to create warmth, depth and natural expression via smooth non-bleeding ink that works on almost any surface.
RRP: £25
Age: 10+ years
Stockist: Hobbycraft
Uncap creativity wherever you go with this versatile set. POSCA’s fade-proof, water-based acrylic is designed to work on most surfaces, making it easy to customise everyday items from windows to trainers! Includes 11x 5M medium markers in standard colours, 1x 7M bold black paint marker and handy pouch.
RRP: £32.99
Age: 10+ years
Stockist: Hobbycraft, The Range
The POSCA Marker Pen and Bottle Set puts personalisation in your hands! This innovative set includes four fine and four medium tip paint markers in a selection of vibrant colours, which can be used to customise the water bottle.
Using a variety of techniques, including controlled, detailed painting, lettering and illustration, decorate the water bottle to make it completely unique to you.
Water resistant and fade resistant, the acid-free paint is quick-drying, blendable, and layerable, allowing for smooth coverage and creative freedom. A great gift for school age children or arty friends and family.
RRP £39.99
Age: 10+ years
Stockist: Hobbycraft, Ryman, Cass Art
Each blind box 7" bear has its own unique streetwear style, inspired by music, art, and urban fashion.
With a weighted freestanding base to stand upright for display, there are 12 unique bears to collect with interchangeable outfits and accessorie to mix, match, and style your own custom crew.
RRP £9.99
Age: 3+
Stockist: Smyths
Fill your sweet treat with the scent pod provided. Give their ear a squeeze to light up their cheeks and release a soft, visible mist that magically floats into the air, filling the space with the special, signature scent.
Six treats to collect, each with their own distinct character and fragrance.
RRP £14.99
Age: 4+
Stockist: Smyths
Celebrate 30 years of Tamagotchi with the iconic virtual pet that started it all. This timeless collectible is packed with retro charm and nostalgic appeal; fans can feed, nurture and care for their digital companion wherever they go.
RRP £19.99
Age: 8+
Stockist: Amazon or our own online affiliate shop https://link.amazon/B0hQTjwpb
Littlest Pet Shop Pet Pairs
Collectible, colourful and full of personality,the Pet Pairs feature two adorable bobblin’ pets, themed accessories and a collector card revealing their unique traits.
With four duos to discover, they’re perfect for imaginative play, collecting and gifting.
RRP £7.99
Age: 4+
Stockist: Smyths, Amazon or our own online affiilate shop https://link.amazon/B0cNwBWao
That's Christmas 365 thinks there's definitely something for everyone, there. Including adults who had a Tamagotchi back in the day!
Model Railways, Cats and Parrots: Can They Live Together?
Our recent That’s Christmas 365 article about buying model railway gifts prompted a rather important thought in our own household.
We have an African Grey parrot and a very large Maine Coon cat.
Would introducing a model railway into that combination be brave, or completely foolish?
Fortunately, pet ownership doesn't necessarily mean abandoning dreams of miniature steam trains or classic vintage diesel locomotives winding through beautifully detailed countryside. However, some sensible precautions are definitely required.
The railway may look like a giant cat's toy
Cats and model railways aren't necessarily natural companions.
A locomotive moving around a layout could prove irresistible, while delicate trees, signals, telegraph poles and buildings aren't designed to withstand a large cat deciding to walk across them, or spend an afternoon catnapping on them.
Then there are tunnels.
What self-respecting cat wouldn't investigate something repeatedly disappearing into a hole or coming out again?
Rather than hoping your cat simply loses interest, it's better to design the railway on the assumption that curiosity will eventually win.
And don't underestimate a parrot!
African Greys are extraordinarily intelligent and inquisitive birds, equipped with a remarkably powerful beak.
Small model railway accessories could be picked up or chewed, while exposed electrical cables present an obvious hazard.
For households with parrots, wiring should therefore be properly enclosed and inaccessible. We'd also disconnect the railway from its power supply when it wasn't being used.
Tiny detachable scenery and accessories shouldn't be accessible to either cats or birds.
Consider a railway in a cabinet
One particularly attractive solution is building a layout into a cabinet.
Transparent acrylic doors or panels could allow everyone in the family, including the pets, to watch the trains while preventing paws and beaks from reaching the railway.
A folding layout offers another possibility. A compact OO, N or 009 layout could be brought out for an evening's railway operation before being folded or stored safely away.
A railway room?
If you're fortunate enough to have a spare bedroom, box room or other suitable space, turning it into a dedicated model railway room could solve most of the problem.
Simply keeping the door closed when you're not there provides an extremely effective first line of defence.
For larger homes, garages, lofts and suitable outbuildings can offer other possibilities, although temperature, humidity and security need considering.
What about a garden railway?
Going bigger could be another answer.
Garden railway equipment is generally much more substantial than its indoor cousins, and constructing a railway amongst real plants can become a fascinating hobby in itself.
However, cats may still regard the railway as part of their territory, while pet birds obviously shouldn't be allowed outdoors unsupervised.
Pets don't mean giving up the railway dream
Perhaps that's the important point.
If somebody in your family receives a model railway for Christmas, the presence of cats, parrots or other inquisitive pets doesn't mean trains and animals can't coexist.
It simply means thinking about where the railway will live, how it will be protected and how its electrical equipment and small components will be secured.
In fact, designing a pet-proof railway could become an interesting modelling challenge in its own right.
In our household, a substantial cabinet layout with clear protective doors sounds increasingly attractive.
After all, a model railway is supposed to provide relaxation and enjoyment.
Watching your lovingly constructed signal box disappear beneath the paws of an enthusiastic Maine Coon probably doesn't qualify.
And as for an African Grey parrot presented with dozens of miniature trees, buildings and telegraph poles to dismantle?
We suspect the parrot might regard that as the best Christmas present of all.
Merry Christmas, and happy (pet-proof) modelling from That’s Christmas 365!
Seasonal Living by SJ Axelby. A Book for Christmas and Every Season
Christmas might be our particular passion, but part of its magic comes from its place within the rhythm of the year, the darkening evenings, autumn giving way to winter, fires being lit and homes becoming warmer and more welcoming.
That makes Seasonal Living: The Almanac for Home and Garden by artist SJ Axelby a particularly appropriate book to discover as we head towards Christmas.
Published by Pavilion in August 2026, this beautifully illustrated 176-page hardback takes the traditional idea of the almanac and gives it a contemporary twist. Rather than rushing from one occasion to another, Seasonal Living encourages us to notice, enjoy and celebrate what each part of the year has to offer.
SJ Axelby is an interior portrait artist with a background in textile design and a particular love of pattern, colour and interiors. She also created the Room Portrait Club, and her work has appeared in publications including The World of Interiors, Architectural Digest and Elle Decoration.
From spring flowers to Christmas cocktails
The book travels through all four seasons, combining Axelby’s illustrations and reflections with contributions from designers, gardeners, food enthusiasts and other creative figures. Contributors include Lulu Guinness, Clodagh McKenna and Butter Wakefield.
Spring brings ideas for flower arranging, preparing the garden and tablescaping, while summer moves outdoors with picnics, barbecues, afternoon teas and entertaining.
Autumn feels particularly cosy, with preserving and pickling, hearty soups, seasonal walks, pressing leaves, foraging and getting the home ready for winter.
And then, of course, comes winter.
Here Seasonal Living moves into territory that should particularly appeal to That's Christmas 365 readers, with ideas surrounding festive entertaining, welcoming house guests, making cocktails, designing menus and place cards and, that perennial Christmas challenge, beautifully wrapping presents.
A rather lovely Christmas present
There’s also an obvious second reason for featuring Seasonal Living: the book itself would make a splendid Christmas gift.
It isn't a Christmas book in the conventional sense. Instead, it celebrates the little rituals and pleasures that help distinguish one season from another, something perhaps increasingly valuable in a world where strawberries can be bought in December and Christmas chocolates sometimes appear in the shops before the summer holidays have quite finished.
The hardback has an RRP of £12.99, making it a reasonably priced present for someone interested in gardening, interiors, food, entertaining, nature or simply making a little more of everyday life.
And perhaps that's the idea we like most.
Christmas doesn't exist in isolation. Part of the pleasure is watching it approach: autumn leaves, colder mornings, darker evenings, the first frost, Christmas lights appearing in windows and finally the gathering together of family and friends.
Seasonal Living reminds us that rather than wishing the year away as we wait for Christmas, there is something worth celebrating in every season along the way.
Seasonal Living: The Almanac for Home and Garden by SJ Axelby is published by Pavilion. Hardback, 176 pages, RRP £12.99. ISBN 9780008774509.
And to make things a bit easier for you and to make us a small fee, we've arranged for you to be able to buy the book here at our Amazon-powered shop https://link.amazon/B07yZqjVE
A Beautiful Christmas Gift with a Greener Touch: Belula Beauty Brushes
That’s why beauty and personal-care products can make particularly good gifts, especially when there’s an ethical story behind them.
One brand worth considering this Christmas is Belula, whose range includes hairbrushes and beauty accessories designed to turn an everyday grooming routine into something rather more luxurious.
Of particular interest are Belula’s 100% soft boar bristle brushes.
A traditional approach to hair care
Natural boar bristle brushes have been used for generations. Rather than simply pulling through the hair, the closely packed natural bristles help distribute the scalp’s natural oils along the hair, while providing a gentle brushing experience.
Belula says the boar bristles used for its brushes are ethically sourced, an important consideration for shoppers who want to know more about the origins of animal-derived materials used in the products they buy. The boars are sheared, rather like sheep are sheared for their wool.
The result is a traditional grooming product that feels rather special, exactly the sort of thing that can work well as a Christmas present for someone who enjoys beauty, hair care or a little everyday pampering.
And unlike many novelty Christmas gifts, a good-quality hairbrush is something that can continue being used long after the decorations have returned to the loft.
Buy a brush, plant a tree
There’s another element of the Belula story which caught our attention at That’s Christmas 365: the company plants a tree for every brush sold.
We rather like that idea.
Christmas inevitably involves a great deal of consumption, packaging and gift buying, so initiatives which put something back into the environment are welcome. Planting a tree doesn't remove the environmental impact of manufacturing and delivering a product, of course, but it does add a positive dimension to a purchase.
It also makes the brush an interesting gift to give. You aren't simply handing someone a beauty accessory on Christmas morning, their present is also associated with a newly planted tree somewhere in the world.
A gift that doesn't have to be complicated
Christmas presents don't necessarily need flashing lights, batteries or complicated technology.
Sometimes a beautifully made version of an everyday object can be a much more satisfying present.
A Belula boar bristle brush could be teamed with some favourite shampoo, conditioner or other beauty products to create a personalised hair-care hamper. Add a ribbon, perhaps a few chocolates, and you've got a thoughtful Christmas gift without resorting to another generic gift set.
For someone who appreciates traditional beauty products and would also welcome the tree-planting commitment behind their present, Belula could be well worth putting on the Christmas shopping list this year.
And here at That’s Christmas 365, we think there’s something rather appropriately Christmassy about giving someone a present while helping another tree to take root.
My wife's Belula tree is already ready for planting, which was the inspiration for this post.
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