With Funkin you have the makings of some excellent Christmas cocktails!

Most people have had a truly wonderful cocktail, perhaps the barman at a hotel in Spain produced the perfect Mojito for you and, ever since, you have tried to capture that taste, but to no avail.

So-called cocktail bars that sell you what their menu describes as for example- a Mojito but which has the nasty, bitter taste of supermarket value range spirits with a hint of cheap mouthwash. And which they charge you £10 for a small glass!

And mixing cocktails at home can be a bit of an ordeal. “Just muddle three ice cubes, six grains of sugar and...” Really? Life's too short for that!

What you need is something that will help you produce excellent cocktails time after time. What you need is the Funkin range.

Funkin cocktail mixers are 100% natural and 100% authentic. And they can be mixed in about ten seconds!

And the great thing is that with a high quality lemonade they make really great mocktails so designated drivers, for example, can also have a good time at your next party!

Funkin come in the following varieties: 750ml consisting of Funkin Brazilian, Strawberry Daiquiri and Mojito (EDITOR: My favourite and a silver medal winner, too!) which should cost you £2.99 each.

There's also the 1 litre range of: Brazilian, Strawberry Daiquiri, Mojito, Sour Mix, Cosmopolitan, Strawberry Woo Woo and Margarita. These cost £3.99 each.

There are also some cocktail mixers available in handy single serve 120g pouches, inlcuding Belini, Bramble, Cosmopolitan, Margarita, Mojito, Pina Colada, Raspbery Mojito, Strawberry Daiquiri and Strawberry Woo Woo. These cost 99p each.

The full range of Funkin mixers is available at Sainsbury's, Asda, Waitrose, Co-op, Ocada, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Majestic Wines, Harrods, Amazon and at www.funkin.co.uk.

Here's a special Christmas number you might like to try!

Funkin Christmas Daiquiri

50ml Spiced Rum

30ml Funkin Mixed Berry purée

15ml Funkin Pure Pour Lime

10ml Funkin Vanilla Syrup

1 pinch ground cinnamon

Orange peel for garnish

Fill a martini glass with ice and leave to cool the glass. Fill a cocktail shaker with the spiced rum, the Funkin Mixed Berry purée, the Funkin Pure Pour Lime, Funkin Vanilla Syrup and the ground cinnamon and shake to mix up. Pour the mixture into the glass and top with the orange peel garnish. And then serve yourself and your guests with a perfect Funkin Christmas Daiquiri!

An ideal Christmas gift for the young history buffs in your family The Lttle Book of Monarchs

The hardback book the Little Book of Monarchs by Tony Boullemier is jam-packed with interesting historical snippets about the men and women who have ruled England since The time of the Normans right down to the present day.

With some amusing illustrations by Adrian Teal this book takes an entertaining gallop through the 947 years of the various monarchs, kings, queens, empresses and other rulers who have ruled England, some well and wisely, others not so.

Read about Matilda and the 'great Anarchy' the fate of Richard I, how King John caused a war with France, how Richard II died, learn who presided over the 1705 Act of Parliamentary Union, find out about the longest-serving monarch and many other fascinating facts.

The Little Book of Monarchs is a fascinating book of 120 pages and will make at excellent and well-informed stocking filler at a remarkably good price of £7.99.

It's published in hardback by Matador and the ISBN is 9781783060856

Give your children the magic of the rainbow for Christmas

The truly wondrous My Very Own Rainbow from Brainstorm is the perfect way to light up your child’s Christmas.

Everyone loves catching a glimpse of a rainbow and now you can treat your child to a rainbow every day. The enchanting My Very Own Rainbow (RRP £24.99) light projector transforms any room using multi-coloured LEDs to display a rainbow coloured arc on walls and ceilings in a darkened room. It’s perfect for parties and sleepovers and also makes a soothing night light to help your child drift off and have sweet dreams.

The Rainbow comes complete with two modes, one which turns the whole multicoloured light show on at once and the other which fades the rainbow in and out. It also features an auto shut-off mechanism to help preserve battery life. Now that kids grow out of toys earlier and earlier, My Very Own Rainbow will also appeal to kids well into their tween and teen years.

The My Very Own Rainbow can also be brought to life during the day as it comes with a stunning  sunlight rainbow crystal. Simply hang the crystal on a sunny window and watch sunlight make natural rainbows dance around your room.

As well as entertaining children, all Brainstorm toys educate in a fun and engaging way. The projector comes with a fascinating, colourful education booklet about the phenomenon that is rainbows. 

The My Very Own Rainbow is available from Amazon, Hamleys, Harrods and selected Toymaster stores.

It's the Christmas Gift with a Difference! Have you kids grow Aqua Dragons!

Looking for a really different and utterly unique Christmas gift for your little animal lovers? Aqua Dragons from Brainstorm are a brilliant present guaranteed to keep children entertained long past Boxing Day.

The award-winning Aqua Dragons allow kids to hatch, grow and care for their own prehistoric pets. Aqua Dragons have lived on Earth for millions of years making them around at the same time as the dinosaurs roamed the Earth – and that’s cool in any kids book!

Each Aqua Dragons kit contains live eggs that hatch into real live aquatic creatures. Just add water to their special tank and they miraculously hatch in just 2-3 days and grow to up to 2cm long. The Deluxe Aqua Dragons Kit (RRP £19.99) also features beautiful blue LED lights in the base of the tank and a magnifier to observe your hatchlings. The illuminated Aqua Dragons tank makes a really funky room decoration and children can watch as the Aqua Dragons swim while bathed with light (Batteries included). They are fascinating to watch as they swim and play graciously in their aquatic underwater world

If you are looking for a stocking filler, children can experience looking after Aqua Dragons with the Aqua Dragons Underwater World Kit (RRP £11.99). As well as looking after the Aqua Dragons, children can learn all about these unusual creatures who’s scientific name is Artemia Salinas.

From the crustacea family, Aqua Dragons look like tiny three eyed, long tailed, hairy headed dragons that grow up to 2cm long.  Their eggs have an amazing capacity called cryptobiosis which means they can dry out and stay alive only to hatch many years later. Tests have found eggs kept in air sealed containers for up to 20 years still hatched when they were returned to water.

Aqua Dragons are available from Smyths, Amazon, Hamleys, Harrods and selected Toymaster stores.

Brainstorm has an ideal Christmas gift for your budding astronomers

Want a meaningful but awesomely fun Christmas gift for your future astronomers? Then you need look no further than the wonderful range of Space inspired toys from Brainstorm.

Children are fascinated by the planets and the Remote Controlled Illuminated Solar System (RRP £34.99) will answer all the questions you can’t answer. Children can explore the wonders of the Slar System from the comfort of their own bedrooms.

The illuminated, motorised solar system features eight rotating planets and a full Sun. Not only does it teach them about the solar system in a fun, engaging way but the coloured planets actually rotate on three independent orbits.

So this makes it what has to be the coolest Night Light ever! Mount it to your child’s bedroom ceiling with the enclosed fixings and watch as the illuminated Sun adds a comforting glow to the room. It also features auto shut-off to save battery life.

The Solar System also comes with a colour booklet to teach children all about the different planets – mums and dads will love this too.

The 2-in-1 Globe Earth & Constellations (£39.99) is an amazing way to educate your children about our planet and the constellations in Space. Inspire your own budding astronomer or mini explorer! The 22.8cm daylight Earth globe clearly shows political boundaries, natural features such as lakes and rivers, capitals and major cities but at night it really comes to life!

The illuminated night globe shows key stars and constellations with their Latin and common names.
Place in your child’s bedroom on Christmas Day and its advanced light sensor automatically turns on the LED illumination whenever the ambient light in the room reaches a trigger level of darkness. There is also an on/off switch which allows you to turn off the night-time view conserving battery power. Each box contains a specification to enable you to purchase an adaptor so you can also power it from the mains.

This is more than your average globe and the perfect gift for inquisitive minds and those you want to inspire. It sits on a sturdy, stylish silver base and as well as being a unique learning tool, it’s a great addition to any child’s bedroom.

The 2-in-1  Globe Earth & Constellations is available from Amazon, Hamleys, Harrods and selected Toymaster stores.

The RC Illuminated Solar System is available from Smyths, Hamleys, Amazon, Harrods and selected Toymaster stores.

Brainstorm has Christmas gifts for your budding astronomers

Want a meaningful but awesomely fun Christmas gift for your future astronomers? Then you need look no further than the wonderful range of Space inspired toys from Brainstorm.

Children are fascinated by the planets and the Remote Controlled Illuminated Solar System (RRP £34.99) will answer all the questions you can’t answer. Children can explore the wonders of the Slar System from the comfort of their own bedrooms.

The illuminated, motorised solar system features eight rotating planets and a full Sun. Not only does it teach them about the solar system in a fun, engaging way but the coloured planets actually rotate on three independent orbits.

So this makes it what has to be the coolest Night Light ever! Mount it to your child’s bedroom ceiling with the enclosed fixings and watch as the illuminated Sun adds a comforting glow to the room. It also features auto shut-off to save battery life.

The Solar System also comes with a colour booklet to teach children all about the different planets – mums and dads will love this too.

The 2-in-1 Globe Earth & Constellations (£39.99) is an amazing way to educate your children about our planet and the constellations in Space. Inspire your own budding astronomer or mini explorer! The 22.8cm daylight Earth globe clearly shows political boundaries, natural features such as lakes and rivers, capitals and major cities but at night it really comes to life!

The illuminated night globe shows key stars and constellations with their Latin and common names.
Place in your child’s bedroom on Christmas Day and its advanced light sensor automatically turns on the LED illumination whenever the ambient light in the room reaches a trigger level of darkness. There is also an on/off switch which allows you to turn off the night-time view conserving battery power. Each box contains a specification to enable you to purchase an adaptor so you can also power it from the mains.

This is more than your average globe and the perfect gift for inquisitive minds and those you want to inspire. It sits on a sturdy, stylish silver base and as well as being a unique learning tool, it’s a great addition to any child’s bedroom.

The 2-in-1  Globe Earth & Constellations is available from Amazon, Hamleys, Harrods and selected Toymaster stores.

The RC Illuminated Solar System is available from Smyths, Hamleys, Amazon, Harrods and selected Toymaster stores.

Toast Christmas with Tanqueray Gin

An enduring classic, Tanqueray® London Dry Gin is loved by cocktail lovers and gin aficionados across the globe. With a truly extra smooth taste, it has an elegance that sets it apart from the rest and a flavour that shines in sophisticated cocktails and vibrant gin and tonics.

Tanqueray is made with the finest botanicals including refreshing juniper, peppery coriander, aromatic angelica and sweet liquorice and its smooth yet bold flavour means it has become one of the world’s most awarded gins, making a luxurious and classic gift.

 

There’s no better way to enjoy Tanqueray than with tonic, fresh lime and lots of ice in one of the signature green stem and black base copa glasses. This oversize copa glass evokes the golden age of gin cocktails and its shape allows for the aromas of Tanqueray’s key botanicals to circulate for full appreciation of the drink’s flavour.

 

Tanqueray London Dry Gin comes in a striking and iconic green bottle inspired by the traditional three-piece cocktail shaker. Stockist suggestions: Tanqueray London Dry Gin £26.60 (1L bottle) at Waitrose or £22.50 (70cl bottle) gift boxed at Alexander and James Tanqueray Copa Glass £12.00 at Alexander and James.

(EDITOR: My wife will not allow Tanqueray Gin to be used in cocktails. “Too precious for that,” she tells me!)

Give them a Christmas gift that's 1,050 metres long!

Gear up for a Christmas gift to remember at Capital Karts – the UK’s longest Go Karting track!

With a track of 1,050m, three times the length of a regular karting track experience speeds of up to 45mph on the 80m straight along the track and be the first in the country to drive RIMO Alpha Go Karts, the premium brand used at Michael Schumacher‘s centres in Germany.

A great gift for the whole family – with Go Karts for everyone – from single adult karts through to two seater Go Karts for beginners or those with less confidence, or the disabled, this truly is a gift which everyone can enjoy.

Compete against friends and family to find out who will earn bragging rights by celebrating on top of the podium.

Only 15 minutes from central London, Capital Karts is easy to get to for anyone based in the capital, or outside.

Prices start from £32.99 per person for 30 minutes of driving.

PRICE LIST:

Individual
Twinsprint - 30 minutes (2 x 15mins) = £32.99 per person (weekdays before 4.30pm)
Twinsprint - 30 minutes (2x 15mins) = £42.99 (weekdays after 4.30pm and weekends)
Grand Prix -50 minutes (10 mins qualifying and 40 mins race) = £54.99

Team Event
Le Mans Team event (2-4 drivers per kart) - 100 mins race = £99.99 per kart (weekdays)
Le Mans Team event (2-4 drivers per kart) - 100 mins race = £129.99 per kart (weekend)

Group
Exclusive track hire -
1 hour track hire (16-50 drivers) £57.60 per driver
2 hour track hire (51 - 75 drivers) £51.60 per driver
3 hour track hire (76 - 100 drivers) £47.99 per driver

To book and for more information visit: www.capitalkarts.com