Having popped along to Islington last week for the Country Living Christmas Fair, I have found a real sense of festive spirit creeping in to the month a little earlier than we usually allow. But having seen so many great gift ideas it seems a shame not to share our top picks in time for everyone who is embarking on present shopping.
This was my first visit to Spirit of Christmas. Being advertised as having Christmas all wrapped up at the UK's biggest high-end Christmas shopping event - and returning to Olympia for its 16th year - it certainly was impressive.
When my son came in this evening asking if he could eat the last slice of our homemade apple pie I did a double take. He loves raw apples and he is partial to pastry but when combined he is less than keen. But Monks Farm apples from Marks & Spencer make the grade, it seems!
This is the fourth year I have attended the Cake and Bake Show in London. It has moved venues over the years but was back at the Excel Centre this weekend. The UK's only live consumer event dedicated to the world of cakes, bakes and the art of baking - it's a date always marked on the calendar.
One of the biggest challenges restaurants face is the constant high turnover of staff. This is an added expense that many restaurant owners give little thought to because they feel it is a natural part of this line of business - unless you work for the Chris and James Tanner.
When Chris Evans teamed up with Jody Scheckter, a former F1 champion and the man who owns Laverstoke Park Farm, the venue for CarFest South was set over four years ago. And this year's CarFest certainly will be a tough act to top. A sell-out audience soaked up the summer sun, a captivating collection of cars, adrenaline-fuelled activities, fabulous food and timeless tunes.
