Give the chocoholic in your life the ultimate Christmas gift

Yes, you can give the chocoholic in your life the ultimate Christmas gift, this year.

If you have been  spending ages tracking down the best Christmas present ever for the chocolate lover that's close to your heart, look no further, because you have found that special present in the very appealing shape of Chocolate Ecstasy Tours www.chocolateecstasytours.com.

Chocolate Ecstasy Tours provide guided chocolate tours around London and Brighton.

These acclaimed walking tours take the chocolate lover on a tour the likes of which they might not even have imagined, visiting gorgeous chocolate boutiques, sampling the chocolates in the company of chocolateries who are at the height of their profession.

Tours cost from surprisingly modest  £33. They will include the Mayfair Chocolate Tour for samples beloved of the Queen and of the late Roald Dahl; the connoisseur’s tour of Chelsea’s top chocolateries; an ultra-caffeinated Coffee and Chocolate Tour in Notting Hill; a perfect date Evening Tour that finishes with a cocktail in a secret bar; and the brand new seaside Chocolate Tour in Brighton.

Talented guides 'walk the walk and talk the talk' when it comes to chocolate. They love taking the small groups of tour guests to exquisite chocolatiers to sample the divine creations and interspersing these delights with fascinating local history.  VIP discounts on chocolate purchases are also included for those who wish to top-up their gift with extra chocolate!

Chocolate Ecstasy Tours has a Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence and is one of the top 30 activities to do in London. Tours and Golden Ticket gift certificates can be bought online. Gift vouchers can also be printed from home, perfect for those last-minute purchases!

Visit www.chocolateecstasytours.com to buy the perfect gift. Want to talk about a private booking? Then give them a call on 0203 4321 306 or email info@chocolateecstasytours.com.  

Celebrate Christmas in West Park hotel style

Harrogate's West Park hotel, restaurant and bar will be the place to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

This season residents and guests will be enjoying two very exciting Christmas cocktails, created specially for the West Park Hotel by Mark Young, the bar manager at West Park Hotel, Harrogate’s latest destination bar and luxury boutique hotel.

West Park Cinnamon Berry Fizz

Enjoy a little yuletide cheer with this delicious cinnamon berry fizz cocktail to help keep spirits high this festive season.


Ingredients for one cocktail:

15ml Chambord

15ml Crème de Peche

15ml Cinnamon Gomme

15ml Bronte Blackberry Sloe Liqueur

7.5ml Cranberry Juice

100ml Prosecco

Holly Leaf for garnish

Method:

Combine the first five ingredients in a mixing glass and shake with ice then strain into a chilled flute.

Add crushed ice and top up the flute with Prosecco.

Finish with a crushed ice crown and holly leaf for garnish.









West Park Smoky Gingerbread Manhattan

Create a talking point this Christmas by offering guests this wonderfully smoky festive drink, complimented perfectly with the traditional taste of Christmas gingerbread men.

Ingredients for one cocktail:

30ml Whisky

30ml Pain d’Epices Gingerbread Liqueur

15ml Vermouth

15ml Apple Juice

Gingerbread men to garnish

Method:

Place all ingredients into a mixing glass.

Shake with ice then stir until combined and strain into a carafe.

Add a 1 inch cube of food grade dry ice* to the carafe, leave to ‘smoke’ for one minute then strain into a chilled martini glass (with ice ball).

Serve with freshly baked gingerbread men


*NB Follow safety precautions when handling dry ice. Do not add directly to the drink and do not consume.

Credit: http://www.thewestparkhotel.com

(That's Christmas would like to thank Mark Young, the West Park hotel and Eve Tindall for assisting us in the preparation of this article.)

These biscuits really are Jule's Finest

There are certain Christmas traditions that every family indulges in. Stilton and Port, Sherry and mince pies and some fancy biscuits.

This year you should make your biscuit selection to be Jule's Finest.

Jules Destrooper is the top biscuit baker in all of Belgium and has been for nearly 130 years.

And Jules' Finest Selection Box is a stunningly tasty collection of seven biscuits that are, it has to be said, amongst the Rolls Royces  of speciality biscuits.

Each one is baked to perfection, using a secret recipe, with craftsman-blended spices. Chocolate, nutty, buttery, crunchy caramel, there's something for everyone this Christmas.

Luxury Belgian biscuits at a non-Luxury price of a very reasonable £4.99, available from Tesco stores.

Best by twice the amount you are planning on, because they will be gone well before Christmas if the family see them!

Boris and the Dumb Skulls

What can one say about the latest book by author Frank Hinks' Ramion series?

It tells the story of Boris who used to be a punk rocker with a huge safety pin through his nose, but he doesn't have a safety pin any longer. Well, truth to tell, he hasn't got a nose any more, or a body for that matter, because Boris is a skull. A singing skull. And a special, faithful companion to Griselda the witch. The evil witch.

Sadly Griselda has been imbibing of a little too much of the hard stuff, the really hard stuff, evil spirits, which has encouraged her to bully Boris and the dwarves who decide to launch a punk band, with Boris as the head, sorry, lead singer.

They antagonise Griselda by performing their favourite punk anthem, Pretty Vacant and after she puts a curse on them this spurs them on to form their own punk band.

Besides Boris, Griselda her evil, yet dead ancestors, you'll meet victims of the guillotine who refused to die (yet kept on fighting and/or dancing), a music shop in Sevenoaks, a dancing dad, a body collector, a cat, a set of vampires, The Polhill Arms pub and much, much more besides.

What of Griselda's plans to take Boris as a bridegroom, providing she can get his body back? 

Will the band be a success? What will The Gardener make if it all?

Written and illustrated (with some pretty seriously fantastic colourful drawings) by Frank Hinks, the story is either charmingly alarming, or alarmingly charming, I'm not sure which.

However,  what I do know is that any child who gets this book for Christmas will be in for a real treat and it's a more than OK way to get into the Ramion series of books by Frank Hinks.

It's a hardback book and reportedly ideal for helping children who find getting  into reading a bit of a chore somewhat more fun and inviting.

It costs a very reasonable £7.99 and is the 16th book in the Ramion series and it is published  by Perronet Press, ISBN 97809 5470 4698.

www.ramion-books.com.

EDITOR: Picture taken from front cover of the book.)

Bring a touch of the Summer to your Christmas fayre

As a long-time fan of Crabbie's Alcoholic Ginger Beer, I would not have thought that you could improve on perfection.

I am happy to say that I was proven to be wrong, when I tried Crabbie's Strawberry and Lime flavoured Ginger Beer.

Yes, there's the traditional warming ginger flavour we have come to know and love. But! There's now so much more to enjoy with Crabbie's Strawberry and Lime flavoured Ginger Beer.

There's also now a subtle hint of zesty lime and also a strong, yet not overpowering, taste of real strawberries.

Serve chilled and over ice this is the ideal drink for just chilling with your friends and family during the Christmas and New Year holidays or even as an interesting replacement for the more traditional wines to accompany your Christmas Dinner.

And the Raspberry Ginger Beer is equally tasty and just as satisfying in its own unique way.

Here is a cocktail you can try
Crabbie’s Moscow Mule

50ml vodka

25ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

20ml sugar syrup

Crabbie’s Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer

Plenty of crushed ice

GLASS: A long Collins

METHOD:

Add the vodka, fruit juices juice and syrup to a cocktail shaker.

Shake well and strain into a glass filled crammed with ice.

Add a generous measure of Crabbie’s Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer, or use the Strawberry and Lime or Raspberry versions, to be a little adventurous.

GARNISH with a wheel of fresh lemon

Gin lovers, Whitley Neill Gin will make your Christmas

Although I am not, in the ordinary run of things, a gin aficionado, I can report that  Whitley Neill Gin will make your Christmas, if you are a gin lover or not.

It is a superbly produced example of the art of the true handcrafter of small batch gins.

We were supposed to be using Whitley Neill Gin to develop some new Christmas cocktails, but my wife, who is a true gin aficionado, would not hear of such sacrilege.

"You are not going to mess around with my gin, by adding other things to it!" she told me and so this Christmas there will be no gin cocktails. Well, certainly none that are to be made with Whitley Neill Gin!

What does it taste like? What makes it so special. so unique?

It's warming, so is an ideal stiffener after a bracing Christmas walk through the frosty countryside.

And when you taste it (sip, by glorious sip!) you know you are in the presence of pure gin making genius.

I couldn't quite get my head around the intoxicating mixture of flavours. It's gin, but like no other gin I have ever tried before.

My wife, who is knowledgeable about such matters, said: "It's because it's produced using African flavours, plus more traditional botanicals. It's the Baobab tree fruit and Cape Gooseberries, really. That's what makes it different and that's why you aren't adding anything to it!"

So, that's me told!

http://www.whitleyneill.com  will tell you all you need to know, including the fact that they have been small batch producing gin in an antique copper still for well over 250 years.

I think, when nobody is looking, I might try to make at least one gin cocktail. Actually, no. I've just had another sip and I'll take my wife's advice and enjoy Whitley Neill Gin as it comes!

Happy Christmas comes no happier, I think, than with Whitley Neill Gin and some organic mince pies!

Celebrate Christmas and New Year with a "Gold Standard" glass of bubbly!

This Christmas and New Year, why not really push the boat out and treat yourself, your family, friends and guests to a real "Gold Standard" experience, with a very special bottle of genuine 22 carat gold flake  Blue Nun Gold Edition Sparkling wine?

True, it's not champagne, but it has a good, clean fruity taste, with a warming, biscuity finish and the gold flakes really do dance and shimmer in the bubbles in the glass.

It's ideal for sharing over Christmas dinner, for drinking round a cosy real fire with some Stollen or some mine pies, or for welcoming in the New Year.

It's a truly luxury drink, but it does not come at anything near a luxury price, as it's available for just under £10, far less if you shop around.

Our taste ten panel declared it "delicious" but have asked me to remind you that it is best severed chilled or at least, slightly chilled.

And they add a note of caution, do be careful when you take the top off as it can be a bit lively!

The That's Christmas advice? You really can't go wrong with some Blue Nun Gold Edition Sparkling Wine.

New Christmas Cocktails

These new Christmas Cocktails are new, specially designed and tested by the team at That's Christmas.

All drinks used are available from all good quality wine and spirit merchants and most top end supermarkets.


Tequila Rose Christmas gift Cocktail
Two shots of Tequila rose in a tumbler, add two to three teaspoons of Cinnamon sugar, mix well and serve with a sprig of mint as garnish, if desired.

Lamb’s Navy Rum Present
Two shots of Lamb’s Navy Rum, a dash of orange liquor and two teaspoons of ginger sugar, mix well and serve, with ice.

Bootlegger White Grain Spirit Fruity shooter
Take a shot glass filled with Bootlegger White Grain Spirit and then add two good size squirts of Robinson’s Squashed Orange and Peach highly concentrated soft drink.
The fact that it is low calorie is good news, as is the fact that the delicious flavour is brought to the drink with no risk of diluting the alcohol content of the drink as would happen with other mixers. There are a range of other Squashed flavours, so why not experiment and give them a try, this Christmas?

Lambs’ Tale
Incidentally, adding Squashed to Lamb’s Spiced Rum creates a taste that combines the best vanilla ice cream you ever tried and an explosion of fruit flavours in the mouth! For a super enhanced drink, try Lambs’ Spiced Rum with Vimto Squeezy super concentrate. It’s delicious!

 Spiced and niced
Requires Lamb’s Spiced Rum and Southern Comfort.
2 parts Lamb’s Spice Rum and 1 part Southern Comfort and stir.
To add a bit of sparkle stir in one or two teaspoonfuls of Cinnamon Sugar and stir well.
If desired, serve with ice.

(Oh, yes, drink responsibly, blah, blah, blah)

New series of books make ideal educational gifts for children

A new series of educational books aimed at teaching children about the world of work is now available and will make absolutely perfect Christmas presents.

They present the information in a form that is both easy to read yet is not in any way patronising.

There are two books in the series, both written by Mairi McLellen. The series is called "What do the grown ups do?"

The initial books are called Fiona the Doctor and Richard the Vet.

They are in a paperback format and cost a very reasonable £7.99 each and are published by Matador imprint www.kidseducationalbooks.com.

Fiona is an MD and shows the equipment in her doctor's bag and explains what they are used for and how she treats people.

It explains the differences between a GP and a specialist and some basic facts, including why some people get smelly feet, whilst others don't.

It touches on a number of issues from basic hygiene to the amount of hours a doctor can be expected to work.

In Richard the Vet we learn about Richard's work as a large animal vet who specialises in equine medicine, which is the treatment of horses.

Richard also works with farmers to treat farm animals like cattle and sheep and explains how he deals with horse's teeth, the different breeds of sheep he works with and how he works to keep large animals in top health!

The wonderful thing is that Richard and Fiona are family to the author and this does come across in the books and makes them or the more enjoyable.

They make great books for children to read by themselves or with their parents.

Incidentally, other books in the series include Joe the Fisherman, Papa the Stock Farmer, Sean the Actor and Gordon the Wildlife Film Maker.  

Philips RQ1100 Series Sensotouch 2D dry/wet razor. The ideal Christmas gift for the shaver in your life

The Philips RQ1100 Series Sensotouch 2D dry/wet razor makes an excellent Christmas (or birthday) present for the shaver in your life.

One morning when we were on our way out my wife asked me why I had neglected to have a shave. I told her that I had shaved and she touched my stubbled face and said: "It's time you got a new razor!"

My razor was a Panasonic wet/dry razor which was about 18 months old and which could no longer cut the mustard, or my beard, sad to say.

So I bought a safety razor which, with the number of nicks and gouges on my face that I managed to inflict upon myself, plus the large amounts of random bits of toilet tissue I had to plaster my face with in a sometimes vein (sic) attempt to stem the sometimes copious flow of blood before I departed for the office, I realised that the term "safety" in this context was a somewhat relative term.

Eventually my wife's patience (which to be fair is never exactly plentiful!) ran out and she said: "That's enough! It's time we got you a new electric razor! I'm not having you leaving this house covered in blood and bits of toilet paper!"

And so we visited a large branch of boots and eventually selected a Philips RQ1100 series Sensortouch 2D razor kit which was available at a slightly discounted price.

After following the instructions for setting the razor up (initial charge, etc) I had my first shave with it.

The joy of having a shave that produced the smoothness of a safety razor shave without needing to reach for large amounts of toilet tissue cannot be underestimated.

Basic cleaning it is easy, the interchangeable head is easy to clean with some water and the provided brush.

It also comes complete with a special high tech jet clean module that is electrically powered and which uses a bottle of -provided- jet clean solution. (Which has a pleasant scent.)

Although the razor comes with a user manual with pictograms I was only fully able to understand how to use the jet stream cleaning module that comes with the razor by watching an instructional video that I was able to find on Youtube. There are also other videos that are useful as they provide some excellent hints and tips on cleaning and using the razor to its best advantage.

Although it can be used wet or dry (shaving in the shower is on suggestion) I have only ever used it "dry" so far.

The full list price is £160, but can be bought for a substantial discount on Amazon for about £124 and may still be available on sale terms in Chemists such as Boots. Those making their purchase in Boots will also receive points, if they have an Advantage card.

In closing, this razor makes an excellent Christmas or birthday present for someone who is important in your life.

And they'll probably get the best dry shave they've ever had!

A recipe for homemade Mince Pies by Fiona Burrell

The recipe was developed by Fiona Burrell, principal of The Edinburgh New Town Cookery School (http://www.entcs.co.uk/about-entcs).

Fiona is an expert in life skills cookery and she contributed to numerous publications including Leith Baking Bible, Leiths Vegetarian Bible, Leith Book of Cakes, Leiths Cookery Bible and Leiths Complete Christmas. In 2009 she opened doors of The Edinburgh New Town Cookery School; the school offers professionals and amateurs the opportunity to study a number of courses including three-month certificate and sex-month diploma courses, as well as short themed courses.

Fiona comments on this recipe “Homemade mincemeat is absolutely delicious and this version is very quick and simple to make. The mincemeat and pastry recipe can also be used to make a large tart, which works very well as a Christmas dessert served with ginger ice cream or brandy flavoured crème anglaise.”

Homemade Mince Pies

For the pastry:

225g/8oz plain flour
140g/5oz butter, cut into cubes
Pinch of salt

For the mincemeat:

1 apple
85g/3oz sultanas
85g/3oz raisins
45g/1½ oz currants
85g/3oz dried cranberries
45g/1½ oz flaked almonds
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Grated zest ½ orange
1 ½ tsp mixed spice
2 tbsp whisky or brandy
55g/2oz melted butter
1 ripe banana

To serve:

Icing sugar

Make the pastry by sifting the flour into a large bowl. Add the butter and salt and rub in until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.  Add approximately 5 tablespoons of ice cold water. Bring together to a ball of dough adding a little more water if necessary. Flatten into a circle and wrap in cling film. Chill for 15-20 minutes.

Wash and grate the apple, including the skin. Put into a bowl and add the sultanas, raisins, cranberries, almonds, lemon zest, orange zest, mixed spice, whisky and melted butter. Mash the banana and add to the mincemeat.

Roll out two thirds of the pastry and cut into medium sized circles using a pastry cutter. Line a 12 hole patty tin with the pastry. Place a spoonful of mincemeat into each pastry case. Roll out the rest of the pastry and cut into stars. Top each open pie with a star lid. Chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 190˚C/Fan oven 170˚C/gas mark 5.
Bake in the centre of the preheated oven for 15-20.
Cool slightly and remove carefully from the tin. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

(That's Christmas acknowledges the invaluable help of Fiona Burrell and Svetlana Hirst in bringing this recipe to the readers of That's Christmas.)

Godmister is Christmas

To provide the quintessential British Christmas for your family and friends, then you need some Godminster in your festive plans.

Treat them all (and yourself too, of course!)  to some truly delicious handmade organic British Brie from Godminster.

Godminster is based near Bruton, Somerset cheesemaker.

They  produce three types of creamy, organic Bries. They come as traditional, hand-rolled in crushed peppercorns and infused with garlic and chives.

Each individual cheese is lovingly created over a seven day period using only the ancient, traditional methods.

And for those who are concerned about such things, the Godminster milk is ‘set’ using vegetarian rennet.

The soft curds are hand-cut before being placed in individual moulds, which are, of course,  hand-turned.

Finally the Bries are taken into the drying rooms for just under a week, allowing them to have a bit of a rest, as the delicious flavour and creamy textures develop. And to cap it all, they are properly hand wrapped, too.

The Bries will be available this Christmas online (www.godminster.com) as the Godminster Organic Brie Gift Selection priced at £18.50 including postage and packing.

Perhaps you don't like brie, or want to provide even more festive merriment for your cheese lovers this Christmas? Then why not buy some of the other very special cheeses from the Godminster Heart Cheese Selection, too?

There are two other award winning cheeses besides the handmade traditional organic Brie. Be tempted by the Vintage Organic Cheddar 400g heart, Vintage Organic Oak Smoked Cheddar (200g).

This gift selection is priced at £23.95 including postage and packing and is will also be available online from www.godminster.com.

And there are other Christmas gifts available from Godminster, like the Bloody Mary Gift Pack £32 incl. P&P, The Classic Port £90 incl. p&p, The Heart Party Pack £32.95 incl. p&p,  or the Godminster Vintage Organic 400g or the Heart and Fruit Cake £26 incl. p&p.

George Pub in Frant to Host World Sloe Gin Championships

The George pub in Frant, East Sussex will yet again host the Sloe Gin World Championships on Wednesday 10th December from 1.00pm onwards.

Craftsmen and women from all over the world will meet at The George to vie for the undoubted honour of being declared Sloe Ginster World Champion of 2014.

Christmas 2014 marks the sixth year of this highly successful event.

Why did it all start? Regulars in the pub had started to debate the best traditional sloe gin recipe.

The pub dates back to the early 1750s, and it’s still the quintessential traditional English pub with hand pulled beers and home cooked food.

So, for the uninitiated, what exactly is Sloe gin?

It is a gorgeously hued red liqueur flavoured with sloe (blackthorn) drupes. It’s related to the plum, though somewhat smaller in size.

Usually the alcohol content is roughly between 15% and 30%.

It’s normally produced by placing the drupes in ordinary gin and allowing the sloe juices to transmigrate into the gin.

Although commercially made sloe gins are available and taste pretty good, in general, you really can’t beat a good bit of hand crafted sloe gin.

Landlord of The George, Gary Elliot said: "Hand crafted sloe gins are generally superior to commercially produced sloe gin, as they are generally produced by flavouring cheaper neutral grain spirits, producing an inferior flavour, rather like a fruit cordial taste."

Sloe gin is made from ripe sloes, which traditionally must be picked only after the first of the winter frosts.

The drupes must be hand pricked with a thorn taken from the blackthorn bush on which it grew. Some purists argue that if a metal fork or pin is employed, then it must be only one made of real silver.

All proceeds of the event will be donated to the MS Society which supports people with Multiple Sclerosis www.mssociety.org.uk.


Local folks wanting tips on where the best places for foraging for wild sloes can visit the Moondown website www.moondown.co.uk.  This East Sussex-based firm teaches traditional county crafts, such as making Christmas wreaths and hosts wild mushroom foraging courses.


How do I make Sloe Gin?

Fill a wide-necked jar half way with pricked drupes and add 4 ounces (110 g) of sugar for each 1 imperial pint (570 ml) of sloes.

Fill the jar with gin, seal and turn several times to mix, then stored in a cool, dark place.

Turn every day for the first two weeks, then weekly, for at least three months. The gin develops a deep ruby colour.

The liqueur is poured off and the drupes removed. Some sloe ginsters reuse the berries infused in white wine or cider, made into jam, as a basis for a chutney, or a filling for liqueur pudding or chocolates.

The liqueur is then filtered into clean bottle or and left to stand for another week. The sweetness can be adjusted to taste at the end of the process by addition of more sugar.

Allowing the drupes sufficient time to ensure full extraction, the gin develops an almond-like essence and aromatic flavour from the sloes' stones.

In some recipes, the process is accelerated with the inclusion a few drops of almond essence, cloves and a cinnamon stick of cinnamon.

The George Inn
36 High Street, Frant, Tunbridge Wells TN3 9DU
T: 01892 730350

www.frant.info/home/community/directory/accommodation-and-food/the-george-inn.html.

Christmas is coming!

I am sorry to have to tell you this, but the fact is, Christmas is on the way!

In fact, it's just a little over four months away.

So, between now and December 25th, That's Christmas will be bringing you news of what new and traditional gifts are available for you and also what festive foods and drinks will be on the market for you to tempt and please your family members and dear friends and relations with.

There will also be some very interesting recipes for you to try out for yourself.

Please just bookmark this page, set it as a favourite and keep on coming back for more!

Merry Christmas to all our readers!

Happy Christmas to all readers of That's Christmas!

And a Happy and joyous New Year!

Don't Panic at Christmas! Keep your cool in the face of disaster!

Don't Panic at Christmas! Keep your cool in the face of disaster! How?

Let's imagine that it is now fairly late on Christmas Eve and that it is now certain that the one present that you really cannot afford to be missing from under the Christmas tree will be missing.

It might be a present for your spouse, your significant other, a parent or grandparent and due to bad weather, bad luck, a problem with the delivery firm, the retailer or the manufacturer, it will not be there for Christmas Day.

How to you get around this? Using Publisher, Word, Open Office, etc., you can create them a gift certificate for the missing item which you can then place with the other presents so they will not feel they are missing out.

You can also go to retailers with an online presence and download and print out a gift certificate for the love of your life!

That's Books: The Elephant Tree

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Explore Electricity an ideal Christmas present for ages 6 to 9

Explore Electricity is a book written by Carmella Van Vleet. It is published by Nomad Press.

It helps children explore electricity, how it is made, what it is and how it can be used.

It has a fascinating timeline from the earliest understanding of electricity in 600BC, right through to tpday.

It helps children learn ans also explore with 25 projects that they can enjoy, safely.

It encourages children to make and keep their own scientific journal, how to make a simple circuit, how to build your own working switch with a paperclip, how to build your own nightlight and so on.

It also covers the concept of 'green' electricity, what electromagnetism is, how to make a compass move and much more, besides.

It's a paperback book and is priced at $13.95 or £8.61.

It is available through Amazon at a reduced price.

The ISBN is 978 1 61930 180 1.

New book from doctor is ideal stocking filler!

A new autobiographical book from retired doctor, 88 year-old Dr. G. Alan Rose is called 'Sex & Alcohol in Retirement.'

It's about what happened to Doctor Rose after his retirement. The alcohol part is about his work as an expert witness in a large number of drink driving cases.

However, if Doctor Rose realised that the client was trying to pull a fast one he gave them the advice to plead guilty. He didn't want to see innocent people railroaded, but then again, neither did he want to see guilty people wrongfully let off.

The sex part of his retirement came about when he helped set up a clinic to help parents determine the sex of their children.

Although this is a somewhat controversial area of medicine it is Doctor Rose's contention that, "Sex selection does not change the balance of the sex ratio if ethical guidelines are followed."

The book is highly amusing and very well-written.

This is a fascinating and well-written book. It is available in print form as a paperback and as an e-book, from Trafford Publishing, the retail price for the print edition is  £9.87 or $16.20, the ISBN is 978-1-42690-051-8. Please note that VAT is applicable to e-books, but not print books.

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Football Director a game for your PC

You can select any one of 320 clubs from football leagues all over Europe plus England and Scotland.

Included are the English Premier, Championship, leagues 1 and 2 plus the Scottish premier division and championship, Other leagues covered are those in Spain, Italy, Holland, France, Germany, Portugal, Austria and Switzerland.

You can buy and sell players, build and train your team and then direct them on match day!

There's an extensive databases of all clubs covered and realistic players. Teams are trainable at squad and individual player levels, it includes the latest vital player stats for the 2013/14 season, there are multiple cup competitions, club and player names are customisable and there are real-time messages from support staff. You'll receive information, back-up and tips from your assistant manager, the coach and other club staff.

You will receive regular updates over the Internet.

For details visit www.excalibur-publishing.com/ep.htm

The game should cost £9.99.

Football Director

You can select any one of 320 clubs from football leagues all over Europe plus England and Scotland.

Included are the English Premier, Championship, leagues 1 and 2 plus the Scottish premier division and championship, Other leagues covered are those in Spain, Italy, Holland, France, Germany, Portugal, Austria and Switzerland.

You can buy and sell players, build and train your team and then direct them on match day!

There's an extensive databases of all clubs covered and realistic players. Teams are trainable at squad and individual player levels, it includes the latest vital player stats for the 2013/14 season, there are multiple cup competitions, club and player names are customisable and there are real-time messages from support staff. You'll receive information, back-up and tips from your assistant manager, the coach and other club staff.

You will receive regular updates over the Internet.

For details visit www.excalibur-publishing.com/ep.htm

The game should cost £9.99.

Saban's Power Rangers make a Christmas visit!

This Christmas get the Power Ranger fan in your family a Zord Builder! It's part of the Power Rangers Megaforce,

Suitable for children aged 4 and over, they can build The Power Rangers Figure Megazord - Gosei Great Megazord.

Who is he? He is the first Megazord employed by the Megaforce Rangers in Power Rangers Megaforce, a combination of the five Mechazords. In effect, he is a 5 Zords Combine.

There are 15 Connections and you can collect and combine.

http://powerrangers.wikia.com/wiki/Gosei_Great_Megazord

http://www.powerrangers.com

Get the Omni-Link Omnitrix for Christmas!

The Ben 10 Omni-Link is the latest in the range of Ben 10 gadgets.

It fits on the wrist, comes complete with special DVD, there are special Ben 10 video games, free Ben 10 Omni-Link web games and it features over 30 dedicated voices and sounds! It features a special vibration and light show sequences, too. Expect to pay £29.99.

To find out more about the Ben 10 Omniverse visit www.bandai.com/ben10omniverse.

What every fashionable girl should have for Christmas, the Harumika Style Studio!

The Harumika Style Studio is the perfect storage carry case for all your Harumika fabrics, tools, belts and stickers. It now comes in a fantastic bright hot pink colour!

Display your favourite dress form design in the window and then take your case with you everywhere! Studio contains one made up dress form and a variety of different sized fabrics and funky accessories, too!

It's available now, expect to pay £29.99

(EDITOR: Our tester declared it as “a very good item to have!”)

Visit www.harumika.eu for more details and products.

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

Festive Recipe Ideas for Luxury Christmas Pâtés from Castle MacLellan

Following a fantastic response last year, Castle MacLellan will once again release its exceptionally tasty seasonal range of delicious limited edition premium pâtés, a must for this year’s Christmas menu.

 

To celebrate the return of the range, which complements its core selection of luxury Scottish pâtés, the company has developed a number of tasty recipes. The collection includes mouth-watering meals and canapés that demonstrate how the much-loved product can be used to make show stopping festive treats, as well as being the perfect topping for oatcakes, crackers and blinis.

 

The recipes include Mini Duck, Port and Plum Chutney Pies with a delicious ham hock and pâté centre encompassed in a golden pastry crust; crispy Chicken Parcels with cranberry sauce; and gourmet Salmon Cakes with a warming pinch of nutmeg.

The convenient Christmas pack is designed to allow the pâté to be easily turned out onto a plate as part of an elegant buffet spread. Made from the finest Scottish ingredients, the seasonal range comes in three delicious varieties:

 

Chicken Pâté with Brandy - soft, indulgent and enriched with butter cream and brandy, delicately finished with hints of thyme and sweet notes from the Galloway Bramley apple jelly.

Duck Pâté with Port - a smooth, rich, decadent and very “moreish” duck liver pâté with hints of sweet ruby port.

Smoked Salmon Terrine - a luxurious blend of smoked and poached salmon, cream cheese and crème fraiche, delicately flavoured with horseradish and lemon.

Castle MacLellan has been making the finest fresh luxury pâtés since 1982 and is dedicated to sourcing the very best local ingredients from small, independent companies rooted in Scottish heritage and provenance. The company remains an established and trusted brand, working with a number of local suppliers, which include Rannoch Smokery and The Orkney Fisherman’s Society.

 

Castle MacLellan Christmas pâtés range is available in supermarkets and independent stores throughout the UK from the end of November, priced around £2.99.

 

Mini Duck, Port and Plum Chutney Pies

Makes 8 pies

 

Ingredients:

1 Pack of Castle MacLennan Duck Pâté with Port

500g Packet Short Crust Pastry

200g Packet of ham hock

100g of Plum Chutney

Method:

1.    Preheat the oven to 200oC.

2.    Roll out the pastry to the thickness of a pound coin. Cut out 8x9cm circles of pastry for the base and 8x7cm circles for the top of the pie.  

3.    Take a muffin tray and brush the moulds with a little oil. Push the pastry base into the muffin case.

4.    Drop a tablespoon of the ham hock into the base of each pie, you want it to be about ½ full.

5.    Spread a thin layer of the Castle MacLellan Duck Pâté on top using about a tsp on each pie. Then drop the same amount of chutney onto top. 

6.    Brush the outer edge with milk/egg and add a pastry lid. Pinch the sides to seal and make a small hole in the top.

7.    Cook for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

8.    Enjoy.

 

Chicken and Cranberry Parcels

Makes 4 parcels

 

Ingredients:

1 Pack of Castle MacLellan Chicken Pâté with Brandy

4 Sheets of Ready Roll Filo Pastry

20g of Cranberry Sauce

10g of Melted Butter

Flour

 

Method:

1.    Preheat the oven to 200’C

2.    Scoop the pack of Castle MacLellan Chicken Pâté with Brandy into a mixing bowl and stir in the cranberry sauce.

3.    Lay a sheet of filo pastry on a lightly floured surface and brush with melted butter. Work quickly as the pastry will start to dry out.

4.    Place a quarter of the pate mix in the centre and pull the diagonal corner to the middle to form a parcel.

5.     Pinch the pastry in around the pate and let the top fall over.

6.    Brush the parcels with butter again and place in a small muffin tin.

7.    Repeat steps 2-4 until you have used up all the pastry sheets and the pate mix.

8.    Bake the parcels for 10 minutes or until pastry is crispy and golden.

9.     Once removed from the oven place on a piece of kitchen paper to absorb any excess butter.

10.  Serve and enjoy.

Salmon Cakes
Makes 2 Salmon Cakes

 

Ingredients:

1 Pack of Castle MacLellan Smoked Salmon Terrine
1/2 Spring Onion
Pinch of Nutmeg
35g Breadcrumbs
1tbsp of Flour
1tbsp of Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper

Method:

1.    Finely chop the spring onion.

2.    Scoop the pack of Castle MacLellan Smoked Salmon Terrine into a mixing bowl.

3.    Add the spring onion and mix well. 

4.    Drop a pinch of nutmeg and breadcrumbs into the bowl and mix to combine all the ingredients.

5.    Divide mixture into 2 and shape into flat cakes.

6.    Sprinkle with flour and chill the salmon cakes in the fridge for 30 minutes.

7.    Coat bottom of frying pan with olive oil and fry the cakes over a medium/high heat for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.

8.    Serve immediately with lemon wedges and sweet chilli sauce.

Get Funkin Cocktails for your Christmas and New Year Parties!

Fancy a cheeky cocktail? Then the Funkin Cocktail range is just right!

The new 750ml  funkin cocktail mixer range includes funkin Brazilian®, funkin Strawberry Daiquiri and funkin Mojito (RRP £2.99)

The 1l funkin cocktail mixer range comprises funkin Brazilian®, funkin Strawberry Daiquiri, funkin Mojito Funkin Sour Mix, funkin Cosmopolitan, funkin Strawberry Woo Woo and funkin Margarita (RRP £3.99)

Funkin cocktail mixers are also available in a variety of flavours in single serve 120g pouches, including funkin Bellini, funkin Bramble, funkin Cosmopolitan, Funkin Margarita, funkin Mojito, funkin Pina Colada, funkin Raspberry Mojito, funkin Strawberry Daiquiri and funkin Strawberry Woo Woo (RRP £0.99)

The full funkin range is available nationwide at Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, Co-op, Ocado, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Majestic Wine, Harrods, Amazon and www.funkin.co.uk

Keep up to date with the latest party tips and cocktail recipes at www.facebook.com/funkincocktails and www.twitter.com/funkincocktails http://www.twitter.com/funkincocktails

Here's one you can try

Funkin Winter Punch

 25 ml Absolut Vanilla

75 ml Funkin Strawberry Daiquiri cocktail mixer

Sparkling Wine

Orange Peel (to garnish)

Method

Fill a tall glass with ice and leave to cool. Then fill a cocktail shaker with the vodka and Funkin Strawberry Daiquiri cocktail mixer and shake to mix up. Pour the mixture into the glass and top with sparkling wine and orange peel to garnish. Enjoy!

Buy your smoker a SKYCIG Freedom gift set for Christmas

If you have a smoker in your life, isn't it time they went electronic for the New Year? And what better way to do this then by purchasing them the gift of a SKCIG giftbox this Christmas?

It's designed to simulate the act of smoking but by taking away the nasty cocktail of 4,000 chemicals in the smoke from normal cigarettes! And cleverly only leaving a metered and measured dose of pure nicotine, delivered in water vapour and not clouds of choking smoke!

SKYCIG employs special 'push-to-charge' technology which means more 'smokes' as it has longer-lasting batteries. In fact, the freedom pack from SKYCIG conveniently lets users charge whilst their on the go, and with much more simple charging methods.

SKYCIG has seven great flavours to choose from: Crown Tobacco, Tobacco Gold, Crown Menthol, Vanilla, Crown Cherry, Cinnamon and Classic Tobacco.

SKCYIG e-cigarettes allow them to enjoy the physical act of smoking, without the obvious health implications associated with smoking tobacco, they contain nicotine, delivered in the form of water vapour.

They are said to be the most realistic smoking experience available, and are designed to be enjoyed virtually anywhere they see a ‘no smoking’ sign.

With a range of products now available, from the newly launched White Pack, the original Freedom Pack and the brand new, berry flavoured, nicotine free NRG Pack, there is an e-cigarette to suit their needs.

What’s more,  SKYCIG e-cigarettes costs up to 80% less than traditional cigarettes, leaving them with more money to enjoy the finer things in life!

SKYCIG Freedom are available in three strengths, Bold, Regular and Light.

The SKYCIG Freedom  comes with everything they'll need:

A Rechargeable Case containing 2 batteries on the right and 5 empty slots for cartridges 5 on the left

2 Cigarette Batteries (1 is a spare)

5 Cartridges in assorted flavours (equivalent to more than 7 packs of traditional cigarettes)

A USB battery charger with a Mains Adaptor

The SKYCIG Freedom  is priced at £49.99 and is available to buy on www.skycig.co.uk

Go nuts for Christmas, with Cambrook Nuts

You'd almost think it was the result of an ancient law, the fact that, every Christmas, almost every family in Britain buys a large bag of nuts from the supermarket or the fruit and veg stall and places them on the coffee table or the sideboard... and there they sit, unloved and uneaten due to their musty, stale taste, until someone decides to throw them out for the wild birds. And is it a coincidence that soon after they Christen  the washing on the line? Probably not!

But it doesn't have to be like this! Abandon the stale and the mundane and treat you, your family and your Christmas guests to some really delicious Christmas nuts this year! And they make great presents for foodies, too!

 

Because whether you’re mad about macadamias, crazy for cashews, or passionate about peanuts, artisan nut lovers everywhere will be delighted to find a bag of deliciously moreish caramelised nuts from Cambrook in their stocking this Christmas, or in a bowl on the coffee table or sideboard. But don't expect them to stay there for long!

 

Because, using traditional artisan techniques in Cambrook’s Hampshire factory, each nut is coated in a beautiful fine golden glaze and has a distinctive crunchy texture with a hint of salt, making it the perfect gift for foodie friends or a gloriously luxurious snack when you’re feeling a little bit peckish. Whichever one you choose, each and every bag brings an explosion of honeyed, nutty goodness that is hard to resist.

 

Cambook caramelised nuts are the brainchild of Dormen’s founders Michael Brooks and Angus Cameron, who perfected the recipe in a shed at the bottom of Angus’s garden using a French copper roasting pan. “We borrowed artisan methods used on the Continent and set out to create our own distinctive brand of caramelised nuts, and it seems our recipe of a fine layer of sugar and honey with a pinch of salt has been a great success,” says Angus. “We are delighted to be able to say that we are now stocked in some of the best fine food retailers across the country.”

 

The new Cambrook caramelised nut range includes Cashews, Sesame Peanuts, Macadamias and Mixed Nuts, and costs from £1.79 RRP to £2.99 per 80g bag; available at delis, farm shops and speciality food stores, including Fortnum & Mason, Harvey Nichols and Wholefoods.

 

For further information, visit www.cambrookfoods.co.uk

Christmas is coming!

Yes, Christmas is on the way!

And, as every year for the past decade, That's Christmas will bring you news of what foods and drinks will be available, including for those on special diets, great recipes for you to try and new gifts to suit every budget!

Please check back frequently to learn all you need to learn about how to make your Christmas a great and joyous event. And which might not cost you as much as you feared!

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