Have Yourself a Merry Local Christmas: Discover Delicious Food, Drink & Gifts at Hampshire Fare's Christmas Chalet

Hampshire Fare, the county food, drink and craft group, is running its popular 'Shop Local' Chalet from Monday 4th to Thursday, 21st December, at Winchester Cathedral's Christmas Market. 

The Hampshire Fare Chalet showcases a continually changing choice of quality local produce, perfect for Christmas feasting and gifting, while providing artisan producers with the opportunity to have a presence at one of the best Christmas markets in the country.

Natasha Dochniak, Commercial Manager, Hampshire Fare, says: “The Hampshire Fare Christmas Chalet is a really great example of what Hampshire Fare does, by providing support and opportunities for food, drink and craft producers to grow their businesses. Many of our producers return to the Hampshire Fare Chalet year on year, while others, encouraged by the success of a one-day pop-up, have gone on to run their own stalls at the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market.”

The Hampshire Fare Chalet has a rota of 19 different local producers popping up and taking over the Chalet for one day. A wide range of local produce includes ales, alpaca coats, apple liqueurs, cheese souffles, cider, coffees, fudge, gins, meads, non-alcoholic cocktails, rums, smoked trout fillets and pâtés, and Hampshire sparkling wine, of course. Producers come from across the county, including Andover, Basingstoke, Bordon, Meon Valley, New Forest, Petersfield, Portsmouth, Southampton, Test Valley and Winchester.

Natasha continues: “The Hampshire Fare Chalet is very popular with visitors as buying food and gifts that have been made locally is part of the Christmas Market experience. At Hampshire Fare we have seen a growing interest in conscious consumerism, and local produce is increasingly sought out as one of the greenest and most sustainable options. By shopping local at the Hampshire Fare Christmas Chalet, visitors are also helping to support local businesses and communities, and making a difference while enjoying a wonderful seasonal experience at Winchester Cathedral's Christmas Market.”

The Hampshire Fare Christmas Chalet for 2023 includes exciting new members and returning favourites:

Monday 4th December:

Watership Alpacas, Thruxton: alpaca wool coats

Tuesday 5th December:

Portsmouth Distillery: award-winning rum and gin

Wednesday 6th December:

Growling Gibbon, Hursley: craft beer

Thursday 7th December:

Blackmoor Estate, Selborne: Gospel Green sparkling cider

Friday 8th December:

River Coffee, Winchester: speciality coffee

Saturday 9th December:

Longdog Brewery, Basingstoke: handcrafted real ales

Sunday 10th December:

Fordingbridge Fudge, New Forest: homemade all-butter fudge

Monday 11th December:

Red Fox Cheese Souffles, Broughton: souffles to bake at home

Tuesday 12th December:

Hogmoor Distillery, Bordon: small batch gin and rum

Wednesday 13th December:

Forest Edge Roasting, New Forest: locally roasted coffee

Thursday 14th December:

The Flower Pots Brewery, Cheriton: cask ales and beers

Friday 15th December:

Hambledon Vineyard, Hambledon: fine English fizz

Saturday 16th December:

ChalkStream, Romsey: fresh and smoked trout

Sunday 17th December:

Gorilla Spirits, Upton Grey: award-winning craft spirits

Monday 18th December:

Kimpton Apple Press, Kimpton, near Andover: apple liqueur

Tuesday 19th December:

Big Hand Little Hand, Southampton: ethically sourced coffee

Wednesday 20th December:

Mavrik Drinks, Winchester: non-alcoholic cocktails

Thursday 21st December:

Butler Country Estates, Winchester: smoked trout fillets, pâtés and gravadlax

You will find the Hampshire Fare Christmas Chalet at No59, Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market. To find out more about shopping local visit www.hampshirefare.co.uk.

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Fill their stockings with Readly magazines this Christmas: an affordable gift all the family will use!

With the Christmas countdown on, it’s time to choose a gift that really does go the extra mile and will be used well beyond the festive season.  

A subscription to Readly, the digital magazine and newspaper app, is the perfect choice this Christmas. It’s guaranteed to inspire and entertain loved ones, environmentally friendly and kind on purse strings too. Win, win!

With a Readly subscription, you can browse and read 7,500  digital magazines and newspapers whenever you wish. Plus the subscription also includes regional newspapers, podcasts and a portfolio of Disney comics and magazines.  There’s something for all the family wrapped up in one app to read on your tablet or mobile wherever you may be. 

Whether you’re into interior design, travel, Pilates, tech, music, fashion, sport or gardening or enjoy reading business features, news or researching recipes, DIY tricks or looking for something to entertain the kids this Christmas, there’s a title for every occasion - all the latest issues and back issues too!

If you want to curl up on the sofa or read in a snowy log cabin or whilst travelling, you can download up to 500 titles and read in the offline mode too. 

And as Readly gives five profiles per household, the whole family can be entertained and inspired with the subscription. It’s unlimited reading of all your favourite titles and many more in a climate-friendly way,  wherever you may be!

Five reasons why Readly should be on every list this Christmas:

Inspire a new hobby: Support family and friends to fulfil their dreams and support a hobby or read about a new travel destination with the huge range of titles available! Whether mainstream lifestyle or niche, there’s a title for you.

Easy reading at home or on the go: as Readly can be read anywhere, anytime, friends and family can use their gift when travelling, cooking, sitting on the sofa, working out, commuting or in the garden. It’s perfect for every occasion!

With newspapers and podcasts as well as magazines - Readly has so many of the leading national, international and regional newspapers as well as magazines to read. Or tune in to listen to a podcast, it’s all there.

A sustainable way to read - Reading a digital magazine on Readly results in 86 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions than reading the printed equivalent. 

You can read too!- a Readly subscription gives users five profiles per household so if you’re lucky enough to live with the person you’re giving the gift to, you can read too!

A subscription is just £9.99 a month and there is a range of Christmas GiftCards available for 3, 6 and 12 months, starting at £28.47. Visit www.readly.com for more information.

Tired eyes, baby's skin, teeth care? Some really practical Christmas presents

TheraTears Screen Eyes. TheraTears have launched TheraTears Screen Eyes, a first-of-its-kind product developed to treat computer and gaming eye strain. This innovative “one-stop drop” refreshes and hydrates dry, red or irritated eyes. 

Developed with clinical experts, TheraTears® Screen Eyes contains naturally derived ingredients including hyaluronic acid 0.1% to provide a lasting soothing effect by replenishing eye moisture, as well as Euphrasia, a natural plant extract that whitens eyes.

Did you know eye strain is the no.1 health complaint of gamers and computer users? So why not gift your gamer computer using friend or child some sweet relief this Christmas? Available at Boots, £5.99

Sudocrem Naturals – For those eco mammas out there, Sudocrem Naturals Nappy Cream formulation is 96% naturally derived, dermatologically tested with no synthetic fragrances or artificial colours, and suitable for normal, sensitive, and dry skin. It also comes in a recyclable, PICEA™ wood tube made from 95% renewable resources (recycled wood shavings) so it’s as good on the outside as it is on the inside! Available at Boots, £5.99.

Mum&You 100% Biodegradable wipes - Baby Wipes are a genuine parenting must, whether it is changing a nappy or wiping up a spill, they are always great to have on hand wherever you and little one go. 

With Mum&You’s 100% Biodegradable Baby wipes you can wipe with confidence knowing you are using wipes that don’t wipe out the planet! Available in Tesco,

DenTek’s Eco Flosser range - DenTek are using a bio-resin made from sugar cane plants to manufacture their Eco Cross Flosser, Triple Clean and Triple Clean floss pick products. Using this renewable material reduces carbon emissions by up to 80% when compared to plastic creation, and all outer packaging across the eco range is 100% recyclable. Available at Boots, Varying prices dependant on product. 

The world of self-care has taught us to take time and focus on our wellbeing. While this includes many aspects of our physical, emotional and mental health, one area that's often easily overlooked is eye care. And yet it impacts on all those other areas of life, from work and recreation to a good night’s sleep and our self-confidence. 

Wake up with refreshed and restored eyes with TheraTears® Dry Or Tired Overnight Restore eye drops. Using advanced cross-linked hyaluronic acid technology, they repair, restore and protect your eye’s surface while you sleep. TheraTears® Dry Or Tired Overnight Restore eye drops work through the night to restore any lost moisture to your eyes. With this one-stop drop, you can start each day feeling bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Available in Boots, £10.99.

UK Money Bloggers have a unique idea for Christmas gifting this year which will help children

Not everybody is easy to buy for, and every year, a large number of unwanted gifts are wasted and can even end up discarded and end up in landfills. 

Also, the cost of living crisis continues to grip the nation’s wallets, so many will be looking for ways to avoid wasting money.

UK Money Bloggers (a network of over 400 personal finance influencers and part of the Smart Money People Group), working with children's charity KidsOut, is encouraging friends, family and colleagues to ‘give’ instead of ‘gift’ this Christmas, as the more socially conscious and environmentally friendly option. KidsOut provides Christmas presents for disadvantaged children in women’s refuges, who otherwise wouldn't receive any gifts for Christmas.

UK Money Bloggers conducted research among UK workers and found that through workplace Secret Santa festivities alone, £60m worth of gifts are wasted every year. Other findings include:

A third (33%) of UK workers will participate in workplace Secret Santa this year, but 30% would prefer not to take part, and 36% will give away the gift they receive.

Almost three-quarters (72%) of UK workers participating in Secret Santa would like to see changes this year due to the rising cost of living, including setting a smaller limit for donations (31%) and preferring to give to charity (22%). Based on last year’s Secret Santa budgets, this could mean an extra £37m in the pockets of UK charities.

Ideal as a Secret Santa alternative, a stocking filler, or as a main present for someone who is difficult to buy for, deciding to ‘give’ instead of ‘gift’ could make this Christmas special for others more in need. 

Founder of UK Money Bloggers, Andy Webb said: “Buying and receiving Secret Santa presents that end up being unwanted can be an awkward and wasteful experience. Giving to charity instead of gifting presents is the ideal way to make a positive impact with your money instead this Christmas.”

https://smartmoneypeople.com

https://www.kidsout.org.uk

A Cracking Tradition: The Fascinating History of Christmas Crackers

Every year, as Christmas approaches, households around the world gather around the dinner table, adorned with festive decorations and a lavish spread of food. Among the traditional elements of the Christmas season, the Christmas cracker holds a special place. 

But have you ever wondered about the origins and history of these festive popping novelties? In this blog post, we'll take a deep dive into the history of Christmas crackers and discover how they became an integral part of the holiday season.

The Birth of a Tradition

Christmas crackers, often simply called "crackers," were first invented in the early 19th century by a London confectioner named Tom Smith. The story goes that Smith was inspired by the French bonbon, a sweet wrapped in a twist of paper. However, the early crackers were not the delightful, explosive novelties we know today. Instead, they contained sweets and small trinkets, but they lacked the characteristic "crack" that makes modern crackers so exciting.

The Crackling Innovation

Tom Smith's breakthrough came during a trip to Paris in 1840, where he witnessed the French custom of wrapping sweets in twisted paper. The idea of incorporating a bang and a small gift into the cracker was sparked by the sound of a log crackling in the fireplace. Upon returning to London, Smith began experimenting with different designs until he finally achieved the desired effect. In 1847, he patented the concept of a cracker that produced a "pop" or "crack" when pulled apart, thanks to a small explosive charge known as a "snap."

The tradition quickly caught on, and Tom Smith's Christmas crackers became a sensation. His sons, Walter and Henry, took over the family business and expanded its production, incorporating new designs and styles to cater to different tastes and budgets. By the late 19th century, Christmas crackers were a staple in many British households.

Cracker Contents

The contents of Christmas crackers have evolved over the years. Originally, they contained sweets and small toys, but as their popularity grew, more elaborate and valuable items were included. These ranged from miniature puzzles and games to jewellery and even tiny tools. Today, it's common to find a paper crown or hat, a joke or riddle, and a small gift or trinket in a typical Christmas cracker.

Christmas Crackers Around the World

While Christmas crackers have a strong association with British Christmas traditions, they have spread to many other parts of the world. In the United States, Canada, and other countries, they are often used as part of festive holiday gatherings, parties, and dinners. Each region may have its unique spin on what goes inside the cracker or the types of jokes and toys included.

Conclusion

Christmas crackers have come a long way from their humble beginnings as a simple sweet wrapped in paper. Thanks to the inventive spirit of Tom Smith and his family, these festive novelties have become an integral part of Christmas celebrations for millions of people around the world. As you gather around the table this holiday season and pull open your Christmas crackers, take a moment to appreciate the history and tradition that has made them a cherished part of the holiday season for well over a century.

Incidentally the Tom Smith company is still producing high quality Christmas crackers today and they hold the Royal Warrant to supply Christmas crackers and Christmas wrapping paper to the Royal family.

https://www.tomsmith-crackers.com

(Image courtesy of 2taol from Pixabay)