Until Saturday 24th December 2011!
Families can expect a day filled with festive farm fun this Christmas when they visit Santa in his Spectacular Grotto at Willows Farm Village, near St Albans, between 23rd November and Christmas Eve.
Children can enjoy a magical journey leading up to Santa’s Grotto with sparkling festive scenes, before meeting Santa and receiving a golden key that unlocks the door to his Toy Shop. Once inside, they can choose any gift from the selection of toys suitable for all ages.
Children can also stop off at the Elves’ House to send Santa a letter filled with their Christmas wishes.
After visiting the Grotto, children can help Santa by taking part in a special hunt to find his missing reindeer.
Those who find all nine missing reindeer cut outs from around the farm will receive a box of Reindeer Dust – a magical mixture of reindeer food and glitter that will help guide Santa and his reindeer to their house.
Families can also visit Santa’s real reindeer that are resting at Willows before their big night on Christmas Eve.
Willows farmer Anna Wolfe says: “We’re never short of Christmas cheer at Willows, but we’re particularly excited this year as it’s Star the reindeer’s first Christmas with us. She’s still too young to help the older reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve, but she’s looking forward to showing off her growing antlers to our guests in the run up to Christmas!”
Later, families can get their skates on and enjoy the Willows Magical Ice Rink, which returns for a second year. Thanks to the synthetic ice surface, children can stay warm and dry while gliding around.
Each day, the nativity story will be brought to life in Woolly’s Showtime Theatre and there is a tractor ride through the Festive Woods where visitors can get into the Christmas spirit thanks to twinkling lights and carol singing.
In addition to the special Christmas events, there will be all the usual fun activities to enjoy including farmyard animals and – if it gets chilly! – plenty of indoor play in Woolly Jumpers and Captain Chicken’s Egg Dodge.
To top off their visit, families can also browse Willows Farm Shop’s selection of British and locally-produced Christmas fare.
Santa is at Willows from to 24 December 2011, 10am to 5.30pm (closes 4pm Christmas Eve).
For more information please visit www.willowsfarmvillage.com or call 0870 129 9718.
Thursday 22 December 2011
Sam Faiers carves the ultimate Christmas bird
Essex beauty learns festive tips from the top
With Christmas just around the corner, Essex beauty Sam Faiers is taking the gravy bull by the horns and putting an end to dodgy Christmas Carving. After receiving the ultimate lesson from two expert Colman’s Butchers, Sam uncovers the secrets behind the perfect Christmas bird, ensuring roast dinner disasters are a thing of Christmas past.
Despite 72% of UK mums slogging away for up to six hours (87%) in the kitchen on Christmas Day, carving the turkey is firmly dad’s domain - with 63% self-appointing themselves as the carving master. It’s therefore not surprising that dodgy carving skills are high on the list of Christmas arguments with nearly half of dads (44%) admitting they actually don’t have a clue what they are doing.
Sam says: “Carving the Christmas turkey is one of those jobs everyone wants to have a go at do but nobody really knows how. I know my mum gets annoyed when her beautiful cooking is ruined by bad carving - this has definitely caused more than a couple of arguments in our house over the years! I must admit I didn’t have a clue how to do it properly until Colman’s showed me how. I hope the video helps Brits avoid at least one Christmas bust up!”
To give men a helping hand this year, top butchers, James and Mike Rutland, members of the official Colman’s Butchers Board, have compiled the ultimate top 10 tips to carving the perfect Christmas bird. To prove just how easy it can be, watch saucy Sam learn how it’s done in the Colman’s Christmas Carving Masterclass.
Colman’s top 10 tips for carving the perfect Christmas turkey
1. Once you’ve carefully prepared your turkey, leave it to stand for 20 minutes before you carve
2. Put the turkey on a solid, clean chopping board and make sure you have a sharp carving knife and meat fork
3. Cut the kitchen twine off the legs and discard – try not to get your Christmas best’s dirty as the twine can often spring off when cut!
4. Remove each leg by cutting through the joint where the leg attaches to the body
5. Separate the drumstick and thigh by cutting each leg through the joint (wiggle the leg to locate the joint)
6. Don’t rush to remove the wings just yet - this will make the turkey very unstable for the rest of the caving – the wings act as stabilisers!
7. Run your fingers along the thigh and shred the meat from the bone – look out for the ultimate turkey gem – the Oyster, this is usually the butchers favourite
8. Using a knife and your fingers, loosen and remove the wishbone (this makes it easier to cut off the breast meat), and to make your wishes come true this Christmas pull the wishbone with your friends and family!
9. Carve the breasts across the grain. Cut only what you think you’ll need for the initial round of servings, leaving the rest of the meat on the carcass. The meat loses moisture once it’s sliced
10. Serve with lashings of Colman’s Instant Gravy!
“Carving the Christmas turkey can often be daunting, but hopefully with the help from the Colman’s top ten tips we can ensure dads remain on top and that the only thing they need to worry about this Christmas is what presents to buy everyone!” said James Rutland, of Rutland's Butchers of North Norfolk and the Colman’s Butchers Board.
The poll also reveals that ‘dad’s dodgy carving’ is in the top five causes for Christmas arguments, with families also squabbling over who has the biggest gravy serving. Dodgy carving proves to be a top niggle for mums, with one in ten (9%) citing it as their biggest Christmas bugbear –proving even more annoying than the kids squabbling (6%).
Top festive arguments
1.When nobody helps with the clearing up
2.When nobody can agree what to watch on TV
3.Who has the biggest portion at the dinner table
4.Who gets the most gravy
5.When dad ruins the dinner with his dodgy carving skills
With Christmas just around the corner, Essex beauty Sam Faiers is taking the gravy bull by the horns and putting an end to dodgy Christmas Carving. After receiving the ultimate lesson from two expert Colman’s Butchers, Sam uncovers the secrets behind the perfect Christmas bird, ensuring roast dinner disasters are a thing of Christmas past.
Despite 72% of UK mums slogging away for up to six hours (87%) in the kitchen on Christmas Day, carving the turkey is firmly dad’s domain - with 63% self-appointing themselves as the carving master. It’s therefore not surprising that dodgy carving skills are high on the list of Christmas arguments with nearly half of dads (44%) admitting they actually don’t have a clue what they are doing.
Sam says: “Carving the Christmas turkey is one of those jobs everyone wants to have a go at do but nobody really knows how. I know my mum gets annoyed when her beautiful cooking is ruined by bad carving - this has definitely caused more than a couple of arguments in our house over the years! I must admit I didn’t have a clue how to do it properly until Colman’s showed me how. I hope the video helps Brits avoid at least one Christmas bust up!”
To give men a helping hand this year, top butchers, James and Mike Rutland, members of the official Colman’s Butchers Board, have compiled the ultimate top 10 tips to carving the perfect Christmas bird. To prove just how easy it can be, watch saucy Sam learn how it’s done in the Colman’s Christmas Carving Masterclass.
Colman’s top 10 tips for carving the perfect Christmas turkey
1. Once you’ve carefully prepared your turkey, leave it to stand for 20 minutes before you carve
2. Put the turkey on a solid, clean chopping board and make sure you have a sharp carving knife and meat fork
3. Cut the kitchen twine off the legs and discard – try not to get your Christmas best’s dirty as the twine can often spring off when cut!
4. Remove each leg by cutting through the joint where the leg attaches to the body
5. Separate the drumstick and thigh by cutting each leg through the joint (wiggle the leg to locate the joint)
6. Don’t rush to remove the wings just yet - this will make the turkey very unstable for the rest of the caving – the wings act as stabilisers!
7. Run your fingers along the thigh and shred the meat from the bone – look out for the ultimate turkey gem – the Oyster, this is usually the butchers favourite
8. Using a knife and your fingers, loosen and remove the wishbone (this makes it easier to cut off the breast meat), and to make your wishes come true this Christmas pull the wishbone with your friends and family!
9. Carve the breasts across the grain. Cut only what you think you’ll need for the initial round of servings, leaving the rest of the meat on the carcass. The meat loses moisture once it’s sliced
10. Serve with lashings of Colman’s Instant Gravy!
“Carving the Christmas turkey can often be daunting, but hopefully with the help from the Colman’s top ten tips we can ensure dads remain on top and that the only thing they need to worry about this Christmas is what presents to buy everyone!” said James Rutland, of Rutland's Butchers of North Norfolk and the Colman’s Butchers Board.
The poll also reveals that ‘dad’s dodgy carving’ is in the top five causes for Christmas arguments, with families also squabbling over who has the biggest gravy serving. Dodgy carving proves to be a top niggle for mums, with one in ten (9%) citing it as their biggest Christmas bugbear –proving even more annoying than the kids squabbling (6%).
Top festive arguments
1.When nobody helps with the clearing up
2.When nobody can agree what to watch on TV
3.Who has the biggest portion at the dinner table
4.Who gets the most gravy
5.When dad ruins the dinner with his dodgy carving skills
Ungrateful this Christmas?
Men are the most ungrateful gender at Christmas, according to statistics released today by www.musicMagpie.co.uk, the leading cash for CDs, DVDs and games website, who saw 1.45million entertainment gifts traded in the two weeks following Christmas last year from embarrassed sons, brothers and dads.
The research also shows age plays a factor in the rise of ungratefulness at Christmas across the country. Middle age is when unappreciative tendencies kick in, with over 850,000 entertainment gifts traded in post Christmas by those in their 30s. Plus, if you’ve ever wondered where the CD you bought your Gran has disappeared to, musicMagpie reports that over 400,000 items were traded in after 25 December by those aged over 50 with pensioners living in the South East the worst culprits.
Regional breakdown also shows that Londoners top the list as the most ungrateful, with the next four most ungrateful places being Birmingham, Brighton, Manchester and Leeds.
Eren Ozagir, Chief Marketing Officer of musicMagpie says: “People selling their items on Christmas Day and Boxing Day is our busiest time of the year, as people flock to sell their unwanted entertainment presents. Most people have experienced a time when they’ve opened an unwanted present, especially a CD or DVD that you’re just not into or already have. musicMagpie provides the solution without that awkward moment of asking your family member for the receipt.”
“We are expecting even more customers this year, as people not only trade in unwanted presents after Christmas, but also attempt to salvage some of their Christmas spending excesses in preparation for the tough January ahead.”
Just how ungrateful are we?
Males are more ungrateful than females, trading in 1.45million CDs, DVDs and games in the two weeks following Christmas 2010
30-39 is when our ruthless streak kicks in and we get rid of the most presents! Over 850,000 items traded came from this age group alone
People in London are far more likely to get rid of presents than any other region. Nearly 600,000 items came from the Big Smoke
Females over 50 in the South of England traded in over 400,000 items last Christmas. Maybe your Gran doesn’t like her gift after all!
musicMagpie customers can make anywhere from £10 to £1,000 just from selling unwanted entertainment items from around the home using the 100% free service (including postage). The website has also introduced a Smartphone app, enabling customers to scan in products to earn cash quicker than ever before.
musicMagpie has recently launched a new initiative which allows customers to choose to receive M&S vouchers instead of cash.
The research also shows age plays a factor in the rise of ungratefulness at Christmas across the country. Middle age is when unappreciative tendencies kick in, with over 850,000 entertainment gifts traded in post Christmas by those in their 30s. Plus, if you’ve ever wondered where the CD you bought your Gran has disappeared to, musicMagpie reports that over 400,000 items were traded in after 25 December by those aged over 50 with pensioners living in the South East the worst culprits.
Regional breakdown also shows that Londoners top the list as the most ungrateful, with the next four most ungrateful places being Birmingham, Brighton, Manchester and Leeds.
Eren Ozagir, Chief Marketing Officer of musicMagpie says: “People selling their items on Christmas Day and Boxing Day is our busiest time of the year, as people flock to sell their unwanted entertainment presents. Most people have experienced a time when they’ve opened an unwanted present, especially a CD or DVD that you’re just not into or already have. musicMagpie provides the solution without that awkward moment of asking your family member for the receipt.”
“We are expecting even more customers this year, as people not only trade in unwanted presents after Christmas, but also attempt to salvage some of their Christmas spending excesses in preparation for the tough January ahead.”
Just how ungrateful are we?
Males are more ungrateful than females, trading in 1.45million CDs, DVDs and games in the two weeks following Christmas 2010
30-39 is when our ruthless streak kicks in and we get rid of the most presents! Over 850,000 items traded came from this age group alone
People in London are far more likely to get rid of presents than any other region. Nearly 600,000 items came from the Big Smoke
Females over 50 in the South of England traded in over 400,000 items last Christmas. Maybe your Gran doesn’t like her gift after all!
musicMagpie customers can make anywhere from £10 to £1,000 just from selling unwanted entertainment items from around the home using the 100% free service (including postage). The website has also introduced a Smartphone app, enabling customers to scan in products to earn cash quicker than ever before.
musicMagpie has recently launched a new initiative which allows customers to choose to receive M&S vouchers instead of cash.
GOLD SPIRITS at Christmas!
Let us introduce you to GOLD SPIRITS, a range of exquisite spirits enhanced with 22 carat Gold Flakes!
Gold Cuvee is a sparkling pinot with edible 22 carat Gold Flakes in it! Bubbly, fun Gold Cuvee is a good way to end the year in style!
And to start the year, try their flavoured sparkling vodkas enhanced with real 22 carats Gold Flakes
Pink V : Produced from premium vodka and enhanced with a dash of liqueur, the Pink V brings a unique taste and more: a subtle sweetness matched with elegance to special moments. (20% alcohol)
Gold V : This flavoured Gold Vodka is perfect to make subtle and surprising cocktails! (20% alcohol)
Offers are currently running on GOLD SPIRITS product, please find more information at the following link :
New Year Party News from Eventbrite
Partygoers can indulge in some glamour with the Ultimate James Bond party, go back to the roaring twenties with a Prohibition party or bring in the New Year Roman-style with a toga party, to name a few. If they’re looking for a family experience, Eventbrite has events like the King’s Arms party, aimed at all ages.
With a price to suit every budget, from a Cabaret night for only £5.95 to an all-inclusive extravaganza at Flute London for £110, revellers from London and across the UK can use Eventbrite to find the best way to see in 2012. And do have a look through yourself for parties that take your fancy.
With a price to suit every budget, from a Cabaret night for only £5.95 to an all-inclusive extravaganza at Flute London for £110, revellers from London and across the UK can use Eventbrite to find the best way to see in 2012. And do have a look through yourself for parties that take your fancy.
Eventbrite has also recently launched its first ever attendee focused app, offering paperless ticketing and event information – just in time to organise New Year’s Eve parties.
· is a free iOS application that gets attendees to their events, and through check-in, more easily than ever before
· allows attendees to access upcoming event details, share info with friends, pull up the tickets they’ve ordered, view maps and directions to the event location and contact the event organiser with any last-minute questions with a single click
· creates mobile tickets that can easily be scanned by Eventbrite’s Entry Manager mobile application (which is available on Android and iOS) for a quick check-in upon arrival
· is a simple, intuitive application that helps frequent event-goers manage their tickets and their scheduling details, while staying paperless
· collects and lists all events attendees have been to so they can review their buying history
Bah Humbug at Christmas?
Almost two thirds (63%) of us admit they’ve stopped sending Christmas cards now, with almost half (48%) preferring to send a Merry Christmas text in their place, according to new research by mobile phone experts, Recombu.com.
However, this festive gesture is not appreciated by everyone – the survey which polled 2,000 people reveals that a third (33%) of us despise the impersonal ‘round robin’ Christmas texts. And it’s hardly surprising, with more than one in ten of us (11%) receiving one of these texts from someone we don’t even know.
Christmas Calling Behaviour
Despite the fact that one in five (19%) of us view talking to relatives on the phone as a Christmas Day tradition, the research reveals that we do it begrudgingly. 14% of us feel pressured to talk to family members and one in ten (10%) have ignored their calls so they don’t have to force conversation. However, perhaps mean spirited Brits should make more of this festive time of year, as 11% admit that Christmas is the only time they speak to certain members of their family.
Hannah Bouckley, editor of Recombu.com, comments: “When texting friends and family on Christmas Day, it’s clearly key to keep the messages personal otherwise they may come across as systematic and thoughtless. The research shows that round-robin texts don’t go down well at all so they should be avoided at all costs!”
For more information about Recombu please visit the website www.recombu.com.
However, this festive gesture is not appreciated by everyone – the survey which polled 2,000 people reveals that a third (33%) of us despise the impersonal ‘round robin’ Christmas texts. And it’s hardly surprising, with more than one in ten of us (11%) receiving one of these texts from someone we don’t even know.
Christmas Calling Behaviour
Despite the fact that one in five (19%) of us view talking to relatives on the phone as a Christmas Day tradition, the research reveals that we do it begrudgingly. 14% of us feel pressured to talk to family members and one in ten (10%) have ignored their calls so they don’t have to force conversation. However, perhaps mean spirited Brits should make more of this festive time of year, as 11% admit that Christmas is the only time they speak to certain members of their family.
Hannah Bouckley, editor of Recombu.com, comments: “When texting friends and family on Christmas Day, it’s clearly key to keep the messages personal otherwise they may come across as systematic and thoughtless. The research shows that round-robin texts don’t go down well at all so they should be avoided at all costs!”
For more information about Recombu please visit the website www.recombu.com.
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