lifestyle

December, 11 Call: 01326 2133332 LLiiffeeSSttyyllee

welcome Call: 01326 213333 December 12, 2012 33LifeStyle

Finishing touches for the party seasonn EditorPaul ArmstrongTel: 01326 213336email:[email protected]

n AdvertisingCarley SavageTel: 01326 [email protected]

n AddressLifestyleUnit 3, FalmouthBusiness Park,Bickland Water RoadFalmouthTR11 4SZ

Picture: PendennisCastle in the snowPicture: EnglishHeritage

n ContentsWWhhaatt’’ss OOnn4 –Where to see the lights5 –Festive entertainment

RReevviieewwss6 ––Ben EltonFamily history inspires novel

AlbumsDonald FaganAlicia KeysGirls Aloud

GGiiffttss ffoorr hhiimm7 –What men want this Christmas

CCoommppeettiittiioonn9 –Win with Morgans Gifts andHomeware

LLiiffeeSSttyyllee VViieewwss10 – 11Your pictures

FFaasshhiioonn13 –Accessories for the party season

MMoottoorriinngg20 –Porshe 911 Carrera 4

GGaaddggeettss23 –Six of the best for kids

FFoooodd23 –Homemade food gifts

GGaarrddeenniinngg26 –Make your Christmas tree last

WITH just a few days left before Christmas, it istime to put the finishing touches to your festivepreparations – and your LLiiffeeSSttyyllee magazine is here tohelp you once more.From last minute gift ideas for men on page seven

to a guide to the very best kids’ gadgets on themarket on page 23, we are helping make sure youpick up the best presents this year.Meanwhile, although you may have the perfect

outfit ready for the big party this year, but do youhave the right accessories to make sure you dazzle?You can find out for yourself in our special fashionguide on page 13.There is also our guide to what’s on in Falmouth

and Penryn during the festive season, includingdetails of a very special Christmas writingextravaganza set to be held next week.Our book reviews focus on new offerings by some

of Britain’s best-loved authors, while music reviewsinclude the return of some old favourites.Alongside our normal mixture of recipes, motoring

reviews, and gardening hints and tips, as well as ourbeautiful readers’ pictures, there really is somethingfor everyone in this edition.Happy Christmas!

The LLiiffeeSSttyyllee team

what’s on LifeStyle44 December 12, 2012 Call: 01326 213333

Great time to explore TrebahWITH the dark evenings upon us and leavesfallen from the trees it is easy to get cosy andcurl up by the fire and get into the mind set thatthe great out-doors is off-limits until spring. Thisis not so. Be brave, pull on your mittens andput on a hat and head down to Trebah.

Winter is a great time to explore the gardenwithout the crowds, there is still plenty ofMediterranean colour in the garden and as newyear approaches you can start to see theimpressive bare structures of some of thechampion trees, and cheer yourself with thesight of winter flowering camellias. The giantrhubarb (Gunnera) is felled creating an eeriepre-historic landscape that is fun to explore onmisty days.

From early December visitors to Trebah canexperience the magic of the garden by follow-

ing Father Christmas’ sleigh trail. Navigate thegarden and discover giant magical silhouettescreated by the elves in their hidden workshop.

The stunning hand crafted hydrangea displaywill return to the visitor centre throughoutDecember providing the perfect backdrop toconvenient “stress free!” Christmas shopping.

Festivities intensify as the month goes onwith carol singing evenings, flower and wreathmaking workshops, as well as traditionalChristmas lunches available in the café.

Once the Children have broken up fromschool the Yuletide activities get into full swingin the few days before Christmas when Santamakes his yearly visit to Trebah. This year theelves have been busy and have created a cosycabin for Father Christmas in their village along-side their workshop where visitors can make

their own decoration. The ever-popular Tarquinballoon bender extraordinaire will also be enter-taining the crowds in the village square onthese days.

To find Father Christmas youngsters followhis Sleigh trail to find the Elves Village. Theirworkshop will be open and Father Christmaswill be in his cabin ready to hear your everyChristmas wish from Friday, December 21 toSunday, December 23 between 10.30am and3.30pm. Normal entry prices apply to adultswith £3 for children under 15 years, whichincludes entry to the garden, sleigh trail, visitingFather Christmas and a fantastic gift.

You can also follow the sleigh trail everydaythroughout December even when FatherChristmas isn’t visiting for just £2, whichincludes a fabulous festive prize!

nn AA CChhrriissttmmaass ggoooossee aanndd TTrreebbaahh eellvveess ffrroomm tthhee FFaatthheerr CChhrriissttmmaass ttrraaiill

Author to co-hostwriting workshop

A stylish family businessnn MMoorrggaannss ooffffeerr aa wwiiddee rraannggee ooff ggiiffttss aass wweellll aass bbaarriissttaa mmaaddee ccooffffeeee

AFTER trading in numerous shopsin Helston, St Ives and Falmouth,Morgans Gifts and Homewaresmoved to much larger premises inSt Agnes in August 2011.

Now run by founder WendyMorgan, husband Den, theirdaughter Rhalina and her husbandTom, Morgans can now be foundon the outskirts of St Agnes villagein what was formerly PresingollBarns. Set in a complex of barnswith a large car park and cafe,Morgans is now a great shoppingdestination.

On entering the main barn there

are a wide range of gifts andhomeware, from cards and station-ary, jewellery, soft toys, and gifts forthe whole family, to soft furnishingsand unusual furniture pieces.

Across the courtyard there is the“Cornish Roots” barn, filled withgifts made or designed in Cornwall,local preserves and fudge, qualityCornish candles and of course atthis time of year, Christmas decora-tions.

In the centre of the courtyard is“Wendy’s Coffee Barn” where youcan relax with friends, enjoy awholesome lunch, homemade

cakes and “Origin” coffee servedby barista trained staff. There isalso a separate coffee snug openall day and available to reserve freeof charge for small groups, perfectfor mums, dads and little ones.

When the sun is shining there isplenty of courtyard seating, a largepicnic area where Tom has built aliving willow dome, and with coastalwalks nearby, Morgans is an idealplace to visit.

Only 2.5 miles from the A30Morgans is open Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm and Sun 10am-4.30pm.

CHILDREN in Cornwall are beingoffered a spectacular festive writingopportunity, as best-selling novelistEmily Barr and children’s authorand scriptwriter Craig Green teamup to host a Christmas writingextravaganza in Falmouth onDecember 22nd.

Emily Barr is the well-knownauthor of 11 novels and a formerGuardian journalist. Craig Greenhas written scripts for Rik Mayall,Stephen Fry and Catherine Tate,among others, and is the author ofthe award-winning Clickety Booksseries for children. Together, Emilyand Craig offer children the oppor-tunity to try out many differentforms of writing and to gain aninsight into what life is really like asa professional writer.

‘We are both enormously enthu-siastic about sharing our passionfor writing,’ says Emily. ‘We offerthese workshops to show childrenthe joy of creative writing, as anantidote to the National Curriculumand its associated box-ticking.’

Craig adds: ‘We are constantlyamazed by the enthusiasm andoften surreal inventiveness the chil-dren bring to their writing.Christmas is a wonderful time to letcreativity run riot and we can’t waitto see the results.’

This workshop is the latest proj-ect from the Barrington Green cre-ative writing school, which Emilyand Craig set up to offer coursesfor children and adults. TheChristmas Extravaganza follows ahighly successful week-long sum-mer school last August, which was

described by the students as‘amazing’, ‘inspiring’ and ‘the high-light of the holidays’, and whichwas attended by children from farbeyond the local area. Future plansinclude week-long courses atEaster and summer 2013, andworkshops at various festivals.

The Christmas workshop willtake place in the Council Chamberin Falmouth, and will be divided intotwo three-hour sessions, for chil-dren aged eight to 11, and 12 to16.

For more details, see www.bar-ringtongreen.co.uk or email [email protected]. Placesare limited, and demand is expect-ed to be high, so anyone interestedis advised to book early.

nn EEmmiillyy BBaarrrr aanndd cchhiillddrreenn’’ssaauutthhoorr CCrraaiigg GGrreeeenn wwiillll bbeehhoossttiinngg aa CChhrriissttmmaass wwrriittiinnggeexxttrraavvaaggaannzzaa ffoorr cchhiillddrreenn..

what’s on Call: 01326 213333 December 12, 2012 55LifeStyle

nn GGaabbrriieellllee AApplliinn iiss hheeaaddiinngg ffoorr FFaallmmoouutthh nneexxtt yyeeaarr ffoolllloowwiinngg hheerr ssuucccceessss iinn tthhee cchhaarrttss

The power of a voice

Candlelit carol serviceTHE Princess Pavilion willbe hosting two Christmascarol services commenc-ing with the annualSalvation Army event at4.30pm on Sunday 16thDecember.

The Salvation Armyhave held a Christmascarol service at thePavilion for as long as onecan remember and thepopularity of the event isas high as ever. Come andsing along with many ofyour favourite carols, listento the band & songsterschoir and also the childsingers. The theme for theday will be The Light HasCome. Proceeds from thecarol service will be usedto support this year's cho-sen good causes whichare, The Cardiomyopathy

Association and TheSalvation Army's,Kalimpong Children'sSchool for The Blind inIndia.

And if you can’t makeSunday or fancy doubledose of Christmas carols,then there’s also theCarols by Candlelightevent being hosted in theGarden Room at 7.30pm.The ticket price for thisevent includes a glass ofmulled wine and mince pieor a soft drink and an icecream for children.

Start times: 4.30pm onSunday 16th and 7.30pmon Tuesday 18th. Tickets£3 for each event or £1.50for children - availablefrom the Pavilion boxoffice on 01326 211222.

122 years of experience

All the Fires

WEARNES jewellers established in 1890in Camborne, also in Helston in 1914have opened in Arwenack Street,Falmouth, bringing with them 122 yearsof experience in the jewellery trade.Wearnes is still a family run business,currently headed by fourth generationSarah Corbridge and her husbandAdam.

Sarah is a jewellery designer specialis-ing in bespoke commissions in gold,platinum and diamonds, and is also theinventor of Cornish Tin & Gold (patentpending), a unique 9ct/18ct gold alloycontaining shipwrecked Cornish Tinfrom a ship that sank in 1863.

"By wearing a item of jewellery madefrom my unique Cornish Tin & Gold youwill be carrying a tiny piece of Cornwall

with you, wherever you are in the world.And if you have a love for Cornwall likeme, this means so much." says Sarah.

All wedding rings made from CornishTin & Gold have a map of Cornwalllasered inside, and pendants andbracelets have a map hanging next tothe clasp.

Wearnes design, manufacture andwholesale to over 20 jewellery storesthroughout Cornwall and Devon (see thestockist page on www.cornishtinand-gold.co.uk) , as well as worldwide ontheir website www.wearnes.co.uk.

Adam Corbridge has developed hisown specialist side in the business,offering collectable reconditioned presti-gious watch brands such as Rolex,Omega, Breitling, Cartier, Gucci etc.

Wearnes offer every other service youwould expect to find from a traditionaljeweller, from jewellery/watch repairs,purchase/part exchange of unwantedjewellery and scrap, christening gifts,Trollbeads, Beswick china, Dartington &Royal Brierley glassware as well as localCornish jewellery.

Wearnes will be opening an on-siteworkshop in the new year, where theywill be able to carry out commissions,repairs and ring sizing. They also hopeto involve local silversmiths and design-ers with a base to work from and anopportunity to sell on site.

"The key to our success has beenprioritising customer service, and havinga fantastic team of staff, as well as adeep passion for jewellery!"

THE voice of the John LewisChristmas TV advert, Gabrielle Aplin,currently at the top of the charts isheading back to Cornwall in 2013as part of a UK tour to promote therelease of her debut album and willbe at the Princess Pavilion inFalmouth on Wednesday 27 March.

First seen by Cornish music fanson the main stage at Boardmastersthis summer, English singer song-writer Aplin is currently enjoyingmajor chart success with her no.5single “The Power of Love” (FrankieGoes To Hollywood cover) which is

this year’s John Lewis Christmasadvert.

Aplin started playing guitar at theage of 11 and soon developed astyle influenced by her parentsmusical tastes (Joni Mitchell, BruceSpringsteen, Bob Dylan etc).

She started to develop her fanbase by posting her performanceson You Tube, with covers of thelikes of You Me At Six and KatyPerry she soon became a You Tubesensation…attracting the attentionof record labels.

In 2012 she signed to Parlophone

records and is getting ready forwhat looks like being a busy 2013.

Following on from the success ofher current single she will releaseher debut album in March alongsideher UK tour.

Tickets go on sale this Friday,November 30 at 9am and are avail-able from www.gabrielleaplin.co.uk,seetickets.com or from the venuebox office 01326 211222 – all sub-ject to booking fee (Under 14’saccompanied by adult).

The Storysmithsreturn with a chillJOIN the Scary Little Girls at thePrincess Pavilion as they delightanother audience with their signaturebrand of wordy theatre.

Back by popular demand, ScaryLittle Girls bring you a feast of delec-table thrillers which bring back theVictorian tradition of Gothic horror atChristmas time! These readings, bycelebrated story tellers hidden in thedark grounds of the stunningly

restored Gyllyngdune Gardens, willcreate an intimate and chilling festivenight to remember.

Please note that this is an outdoorevent so please dress appropriatelyfor the season.

Starts 6.30pm. Advance Tickets£5 (includes a mince pie and warm-ing mulled wine in the interval - avail-able from the Pavilion box office on01326 211222.

CHRISTMAS is coming .... andthere are goodies for everyone toenjoy at The Acorn, Penzance,with a supersized selection boxof musical treats and an over-stuffed stocking bulging withgorgeously gift-wrapped theatri-cal treasures.

To kick start the party there issome wonderful regional talenton show. On Saturday,December 8, Falmouth based Allthe Fires will perform with PoliceDog Hogan and on the 20thPenzance's own The AscensionPlan who promise “the end ofthe world as we know it”

reviews LifeStyle

CCrraacckkaallaacckkaaBBoooomm -- ffrreeee oonniiTTuunneess aannddGGooooggllee PPllaayy

FROM Nando's,the purveyor offine chicken, thisYuletide app isa riot.

Pull a virtualon-screen crack-er with a swipe ofyour finger andit'll offer up plentyof fun and gags.

You can alsouse the interac-tive photo boothto dress up pic-tures of you andyour mates withlots of seasonalaccessories -then, of course,share your snapon Facebook andTwitter.

Album reviews

AAlliicciiaa KKeeyyss -- GGiirrll OOnn FFiirree

"It's been a while, I'm not who I wasbefore...it's a brand new kind of me," singsAlicia Keys, 14-time Grammy Award-winningsinger, songwriter and producer on Brand NewMe, penned by Emeli Sande. Three years onfrom 2009's The Element Of Freedom, the 31-year-old's fifthalbum has beeninspired by hermarriage to pro-ducer Swizz-Beatz (KasseemDean) and first-time motherhood,with the couple'stwo-year-old sonEgypt evencameoing onWhen It's All Over. From the opening chords ofpiano intro De Novo Adagio to the closingbeats of 101, Girl On Fire shows Keys remainsat the top of her game and is definitely on"fiyah". Each track sounds gloriously different:the reggae-infused New Day, Inferno version ofthe title single with rapper Nicki Minaj, jazzysoulful ballad Fire We Make with Maxwell, deli-cate One Thing (co-written by Frank Ocean)and Motown-like Tears Always Win.

RRaattiinngg:: 99//1100

DDoonnaalldd FFaaggeenn -- SSuunnkkeenn CCoonnddooss

Being a fan of Donald Fagen's work requiresa large degree of patience, because the for-mer Steely Dan mainstay is anything butprolific. In the near three decades sinceSteely Dan were intheir pomp, the64-year-old hasmanaged to pro-duce four soloalbums, the first ofthose being1982's classic TheNightfly. Fagenhas always been agreat songwriter who meticulously putstogether his albums and Sunken Condos isno exception to that rule. Beautifully playedthroughout with the groove-filled openerSlinky Thing setting the tone, other high-lights are the heartfelt I'm Not The SameWithout You and a cover of Isaac Hayes'sOut Of The Ghetto, all done with Fagen'scustomary good taste and panache.


GGiirrllss AAlloouudd -- TTeenn

It's been 10 years since Kimberley Walsh,Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts, Nadine Coyleand Sarah Harding found fame on TV showPopstars: The Rivals. From the off, they wereblessed withsome of thebest-crafted poptunes of the 21stcentury, thanksto hitmakersXenomaniatopped with thegirls' own sprin-kling of popmagic. FromSound Of TheUnderground to No 2 single Something New,this greatest hits collection displays what haskept loyal fans listening and waiting for theirreturn after a three-year hiatus. The four newtracks prove Girls Aloud have still got it inspades, with ballad Beautiful 'Cause You LoveMe showing a fragility not usually seen from thefeisty fivesome. On The Metro, co-written byRoberts, remains faithful to the girls' signaturesound, while Every Now And Then is classicmelancholic Xenomania. The pop queens areback and long may they reign.


66 December 12, 2012 Call: 01326 213333

Family history inspires new novel

AApppp ooff tthhee wweeeekk

WWRRIITTEERR aanndd ccoommeeddiiaann BBeenn EEllttoonn ttaallkkss ttooHHaannnnaahh SStteepphheennssoonn ttaallkkss aabboouutt hhiiss llaatteessttnnoovveell TTwwoo BBrrootthheerrss,, aa ddiissttuurrbbiinngg ttaallee ooffNNaazzii ppeerrsseeccuuttiioonn iinnssppiirreedd bbyy hhiiss oowwnnffaammiillyy hhiissttoorryy,, wwhhiicchh ssaaww hhiiss GGeerrmmaannJJeewwiisshh ffaatthheerr fflleeee ttoo BBrriittaaiinn aafftteerr HHiittlleerr''ssrriissee ttoo ppoowweerr wwhhiillee oonnee aaddoopptteedd mmeemmbbeerrooff tthhee ffaammiillyy eennddeedd uupp ffiigghhttiinngg ffoorr tthheeGGeerrmmaannss..

It sounds like an unlikely plot in the prel-ude to the Second World War - German'twins' end up on opposing sides, one aGerman officer and the other fighting forthe British army.

But that is the basis of writer andcomedian Ben Elton's latest novel, TwoBrothers, a fictional tale inspired byElton's own family history which saw hisJewish father's adopted cousin fight inthe Wehrmacht during the Second WorldWar while his uncle was fighting for theBritish Army.

With 13 best-selling novels and four hitmusicals to his name, the 53-year-oldmulti-millionaire co-creator of Blackadderis keen that we don't talk solely about hisfamily history, even though he concedesit's fascinating.

Elton's father, Ludwig Ehrenburg, wasborn in Germany into a secular family ofJewish descent. With his parents andolder brother Gottfried, he came to Britainin 1939 via Czechoslovakia, where hisfather worked as a professor of ancienthistory at Prague University.

The two boys had experienced anti-semitism in the Thirties, before the warbegan, Elton explains.

“In the German schools they went Nazibefore Hitler came in. They (his father anduncle) were insulted by Nazi teachers andwitnessed the confusion of the so-calledMischling (the German term used duringthe Third Reich to denote personsdeemed to have only partial Aryan ances-try).

“My father's best friend was halfJewish and, on being given a chance,elected to sit with the Jews. He did notsurvive the war."

Through his academic connections,Ludwig's father secured a research posi-tion in London and the family escapedPrague in 1939, a month before Hitleroccupied the city.

Their adopted cousin, Heinz, who, to

use the Nazis' own term, was of pure'Aryan' blood, decided to stay to be afarmer, but was soon drafted into theWehrmacht.

"People think, does that mean you hada Nazi in the family? Well, no, of coursenot," Elton reflects. "Heinz was an ordi-nary German who became a farmercaught up in a geo-political situation likemany other people and was drafted intothe Wehrmacht and, short of allowinghimself to be shot, he didn't really havemuch choice."

When Gottfried enlisted in the BritishArmy he was told to anglicise his name incase of capture by the Germans so hebecame Geoffrey Elton while Ludwigbecame Lewis Elton.

Later, it turned out that Heinz andGeoffrey actually came quite close toeach other while fighting on oppositesides.

"The fact that both cousins survived

and were able to be friends afterwards isthe best part of the story," says Elton.

Only his father's side of the family areof Jewish descent, he points out, butsome of them died during the war,including his grandmother's sister, whowas shot accompanying a group ofJewish children being transported east.The children were also killed on arrival inLithuania.

Elton has known about the family his-tory for a long time but has been reluc-tant to ask too many questions.

"My experience of people who've livedthrough difficult times is they're not asanxious to talk about it as those who'vebeen lucky enough not to live in difficulttimes are to hear about it," he explains.

He feels uncomfortable talking aboutHeinz, who is still alive and whom he metas a boy through occasional family holi-days.

"I know him as a wonderful, kind,

robust farmer and three or four times wehad holidays on his farm. My father anduncle were very close to him. Whetherthey ever discussed what it was like tofight for an army that was activelyinvolved in wanting to kill us I don't know.I've never asked. I believe Heinz neverspoke about it.

"I remember once finding an old steelGerman helmet at his farm in a wood. Iwas 10 and terribly excited about it, wentback and had it on my head and pre-tended to do a Nazi salute, utterlyunaware of the significance. I rememberthe sadness on his face and my mumtelling me not to make that symbol."

While the novel follows the story of twobabies born in Berlin in 1920 - oneJewish, the other adopted, but bothraised as twins unaware of the adoption -it is clear from the outset that under Nazirule the truth will lead to very differentfates for each boy.

nn TTwwoo BBrrootthheerrss tthhee nneeww nnoovveell bbyy ccoommeeddiiaann aanndd wwrriitteerr BBee EEllttoonn

Books: What’s new?AA WWeeeekk IInn WWiinntteerr bbyy MMaaeevvee BBiinncchhyyA WEEK in Winter will be a bittersweet read forfans of best-selling Irish author Maeve Binchy, whodied in July this year aged 72 after a short illness.

Binchy's final novel does not disappoint. It is fullof her trademark humour and realistic observa-tions. Through the lives and emotions of her char-acters, she shows thatwhat is often seen on thesurface is not actually whatlies beneath.

Chicky Ryan lives inStoneybridge, a beautifulbut wet and wild paradiseon the west coast ofIreland. She falls in love andmoves to New York. Yearslater, she surprises every-one when she returns tohelp Queenie Sheedy con-vert her cliff-top home,Stone House, from a place of disrepair into a wel-coming hotel with a big kitchen.

It is winter when the hotel opens and Chickyand her staff welcome their first guests. Theyinclude a librarian; an American who arrived inimpulse having missed his flight; a Swedishaccountant; Nurse Winnie, who's with Lillian, thecompanion from hell; and troubled doctors Henryand Nicola. Both staff and guests have greatexpectations for that week's break...

As with her previous works, Binchy has theuncanny ability to capture the drama of everydaylife so wonderfully and that is what will be greatlymissed.

10/10 (Review by Laura Wurzal)

SSttaannddiinngg IInn AAnnootthheerr MMaann''ss GGrraavvee bbyy IIaann RRaannkkiinnCantankerous Edinburgh detective John Rebusreturns to the fold after five years, thanks to achange in Scottish employment law which hasopened an opportunity for the cop who retired at60 to weave his way back as a civilian in a coldcase unit.

It's the 18th Rebus novel for Ian Rankin, thebeer-swilling, heavy-smok-ing maverick puts his col-leagues' backs up when hebefriends a woman whosedaughter has been missingfor 10 years after disappear-ing off the A9, and who hasmade a connection with therecent disappearance of a15-year-old girl off the samestretch of road. More prob-ing reveals other missingperson cases along that route.

While colleagues on the unit have dismissed thecase, Rebus pursues it, which fuels the anger ofboth old and new adversaries, including the tee-total, sober and serious internal affairs investigatorMalcolm Fox, the hero of Rankin's two mostrecent police novels, The Complaints and TheImpossible Dead.

It's 25 years since Rebus first appeared on thescene, and as Rankin writes in real time, it's clearthat age has made his anti-hero more cynical andpessimistic about the world.

8/10

(Review by Hannah Stephenson)

gifts Call: 01326 213333 December 12, 2012 77LifeStyle

What men really want for Chrismas this yearSSoocckkss aanndd sslliippppeerrss aarree aallll wweellll aanndd ggoooodd,, bbuutt wwhhyy nnoott ttrreeaatt tthhee mmeenn iinn yyoouurr ffaammiillyy ttoo oonnee ooff tthheessee CChhrriissttmmaass ggiiffttss??

n MMuussiicc ttoo hhiiss eeaarrss

Blow his mind, rather than his ear drums, with this beautifully designed digitalaudio docking system. Complete with tweeters, woofers and all sorts of things tomake his spine tingle.

MMaarrlleeyy FFrreeeeddoomm CCoolllleeccttiioonn GGeett UUpp SSttaanndd UUpp DDiiggiittaall AAuuddiioo SSyysstteemm,, ££229977..5500,,AAmmaazzoonn ((wwwwww..aammaazzoonn..ccoo..uukk))

n TTooaassttiinngg CChhrriissttmmaass

No festive feast would be complete withoutthis stylish set of liqueur glasses. Just add abottle of port for the perfect pressie.

Seven Piece Ribbon Liqueur Set, £28.95,Ziggiziggi (01923 268849;www.ziggiziggi.com)

nn HHeeaadd ffoorr hhaattss

Keep him warm and snugly on wintry days with this cosy bob-ble hat.

CChhuunnkkyy SSttrriippee BBeeaanniiee PPoomm PPoomm HHaatt,, ££2200,, FFaatt FFaaccee ((aavvaaiillaabblleeffrroomm wwwwww..ffaattffaaccee..ccoomm aanndd ssttoorreess nnaattiioonnwwiiddee))

n DDrraamm ddeeaadd ggoorrggeeoouuss

Everyone loves a drop of the good stuff after a turkeydinner, and a bottle of Jura Superstition is believed tobring all receivers the gift of good fortune, as well asa lovely tipple.

JJuurraa SSuuppeerrssttiittiioonn,, ££2255,, AAssddaa ((aallssoo aavvaaiillaabblleeffrroomm wwwwww..iisslleeooffjjuurraa..ccoomm//sshhoopp aanndd ggooooddwwhhiisskkyy rreettaaiilleerrss nnaattiioonnwwiiddee))

n BBooxx ooff bbrriilllliiaannccee

For the foodie who has everything, a Carluccio's box bursting withgoodies is bound to get the thumbs up. La Collezione hamper con-tains 15 favourites, including a delicious bottle of Chianti, richNeapolitan coffee and Antonio Carluccio:

TThhee CCoolllleeccttiioonn ccooookkbbooookk.. LLaa CCoolllleezziioonnee,, ££110000,, CCaarrlluucccciioo''ss ((aavvaaiillaabblleeffrroomm wwwwww..ccaarrlluucccciiooss..ccoomm ffrroomm eeaarrllyy NNoovveemmbbeerr aanndd iinn ssttoorreess nnaattiioonn--wwiiddee ffrroomm tthhee eenndd ooff OOccttoobbeerr))

nn PPuukkkkaa uupp

Jamie Oliver is a favourite among most men, and the TV chef's newbook means you might even get a delicious dinner cooked for you in15 fast minutes. Mmmm!

JJaammiiee''ss 1155--MMiinnuuttee MMeeaallss bbyy JJaammiiee OOlliivveerr,, ££1122,, AAmmaazzoonn ((wwwwww..aammaa--zzoonn..ccoo..uukk))

nn WWiinntteerr wwaarrmm--uupp

A warm cup of coffee on a cold winter's day is hard to beat, especiallywhen you're nowhere near a kettle. This 500ml Flying Scotsman flaskwill raise a smile on a frosty morning.

FFllyyiinngg SSccoottssmmaann FFllaasskk,, ££1155,, NNaattiioonnaall RRaaiillwwaayy MMuusseeuumm((wwwwww..nnrrmmsshhoopp..ccoo..uukk))

December 11, 2012 Call: 01326 2133338 LLiiffeeSSttyyllee

Myths and legends Call: 01326 213333 December 12, 2012 99LifeStyle

Win a £30 gift voucher tospend at Morgans onlineMORGANS Gifts and Homewares is a family run business which wasstarted 23 years ago as “Off The Rails” in Helston by the late WendyMorgan.In this time there were ten gift stores including one located at St

Agnes in a converted barn complex, formerly known as Presingoll Barns.The gift store is now run byWendy’s husband Den Morgan, his daughterRhalina and her husband Tom.In the main barn you will find a huge range of gifts including cards

and stationery, jewellery, tableware, pottery, soft toys, furniture, clocks,and lots more for all occasions.In the second barn, “Cornish Roots”, visitors can choose from Cornish

candles, fudge, biscuits and preserves to local artist’s jewellery, textilesand ceramics.Why not make a day of it and have brunch, lunch or afternoon tea in

our cafe, ‘Wendy’s Coffee Barn’, which is situated in the middle of oursunny courtyard with indoor and outdoor seating.There is a large free car park, picnic area (with living willow dome)

and are pram and wheelchair friendly. Morgans is open Monday toSaturday from 10am to 5.30pm and on Sunday from 10am to 4.30pm.

Wendy’s coffee barnFresh, locally sourced foods is offered atWendy’s coffee barn.We use

a wide range of Cornish produce to make our wholesome light lunches,and in our cafe’sopen kitchen youcan see your mealbeing lovingly pre-pared by our pas-sionate staff.Cakes, scones,quiches and lotsmore all cooked onsite.Morgans only

use the finestbeans from OriginCoffee Roasters in

Helston, less than 20 miles away. The current house blend is Farmer30,and when made by the trained baristas this makes an amazing coffee.The store also has a lovely range of Clipper organic and fruit teas, softdrinks and treats to enjoy.Fancy a quiet coffee with friends or family, or need a venue for a small

meeting? Why not try out our Coffee Snug? In addition to our cafe, theSnug seats about 12 in leather sofas and tub chairs. Reservations arefree of charge, just give us a bell.For further information call 01872 553 007.

n For your chance to win a £30 gift voucher, to be used only on ourwebsite and cannot be used any other offer we have running at the time,just answer this simple question:What night are we open until 8pm over theChristmas period?To find the answer visit the Late Night Christmas Shopping section of

of the website, www.morgans-online.comEmail your entries to Carley Savage at carley.savage

@packetseries.co.uk. The competition closes on December 19.The winner of last week’s Natural Health Spa treatment at Budock

Vean Hotel is Angela Laud of Penryn.

LifeStyle1100 December 11, 2012 Call: 01326 213333

LifeStyle views Send your pictures for publication to: [email protected]

nn SShhiippss oonn tthhee RRiivveerr FFaallPicture:DAVID BARNICOAT

Lifestyle Call: 01326 213333 December 11, 2012 1111LifeStyle

LifeStyle views Send your pictures for publication to: [email protected]

nn TThhiiss ssttuunnnniinngg ppiiccttuurree ooff aa rraaiinnbbooww wwaass ttaakkeenn bbyy rreeaaddeerrHHeennrryy WWaarrddhttp://www.henryward-design.com/general-photography.html

Win Your Wedding 2013 LifeStyle1122 December 12, 2012 Call: 01326 213333

n TThhee wwiinnnniinngg ccoouuppllee wwiillll bbee mmaarrrriieedd aatt tthhee ssttuunnnniinngg FFaallmmoouutthh HHootteell wwiitthh pphhoottooggrraapphhss oonn tthhee ddaayybbeeiinngg ttaakkeenn bbyy BBeenn SSeellwwaayy PPhhoottooggrraapphhyy Picture: BEN SELWAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Now time to enterWin Your Wedding

TTHHEE ccoouunnttddoowwnn ttoo tthhee 22001133 WWiinn YYoouurr WWeeddddiinngg ccoommppeettiittiioonn hhaassssttaarrtteedd,, ssoo mmaakkee ssuurree yyoouu ggeett yyoouurr eennttrriieess iinn bbeeffoorree JJaannuuaarryy 66..Packet Newspapers and The Falmouth Hotel are again looking for their perfect

couple to marry at the venue on April 26, 2014.Everything will be provided, including the venue, the rings, the dress, the morning suit, the car,

entertainment, flowers, food; even an event for the stag and hen is included from thesponsors listed below.

This fabulous package includes:

Wedding breakfast, civil ceremony and evening venue at The Falmouth HotelFlowers from Celtic FlowersChair covers from Simply LovelyClassic 30s car from Treverbyn CarsPhotography from Ben Salway PhotographyRings for bride and groom from Roy Doble JewellersSuits from Moss Bros Suit HireInvites and stationery (up to 100) from Quayside Design & PrintDJ from Perfect PartyCake from Blossom BakeryProfessional video from Mitchell ProductionsMake-up by Cinnabar and hair by Waves of FalmouthWedding breakfast acoustic entertainment by Cobalt RootsLive music from Karenza & the DriftwoodsStag event courtesy of BF AdventureHen event at the Greenbank Hotel

To be in with a chance of winning this once in a lifetime prize, just complete the coupon at the bottom ofthis page and send it along with a photo of the couple, either print or disc, to:Win Your Wedding, Packet Newspapers, Falmouth Business Park, Bickland Water Road, Falmouth

TR11 4SZ.Alternatively you can email it as a jpeg to [email protected] for entries is 4pm on January 6, 2013. You can nominate yourself or a happy couple you know.Entrants MUST live and work in Cornwall. The couple MUST be legally eligible for marriage. The couple

MUST be able to attend the Falmouth Hotel Wedding Fair on April 7, 2013.The couple MUST be available to marry on April 26, 2014. You MUST read and accept the full terms

and conditions of the competition.Check the box on the coupon to confirm you have read and agree to the terms and conditions which

can be found at thepacket.co.uk/winyourwedding where you can also download the entry form whichshould be sent with a jpeg picture to [email protected] see details of all of the services available from all our sponsors go to thepacket.co.uk/winyourwed-

ding

fashionLifeStyle December 12, 2012 Call: 01326 213333 1133

Accessories are just the icing on the cakeUUPPDDAATTEE llaasstt yyeeaarr''ss ddrreessss wwiitthh aa ssttaatteemmeenntt aacccceessssoorryy..LLiissaa HHaayynneess llooookkss aatt wwaayyss ttoo ddeeccoorraattee yyoouurr oouuttffiitt..

AS Christmas trees and festive lights go up, so does thepressure to decorate yourself with a dazzling partyensemble.

If you have invitations aplenty but only one fail-safeparty frock, don't fret.

Accessories have the power to switch up your lookwith a single statement piece.

They're the festive trimmings that you can't overlookwhen you're planning your killer outfit.

The key to finding your transformative accessory is allabout balance. If your dress is all-singing, all-dancingthen keep your extras pared down, and vice-versa.

Time to make your party dress disappear into thebackground. These statement accessories are the equiv-alent of the star on top of the Christmas tree.

LLBBDD lliittttllee eexxttrraassIf the little (or long) black dress is your trusty party piece

then you can seriously go to town on decor to counteractyour low-key outfit.

The gold baroque look is both big and bling. What'smore, it's made to team with black, so choose uber-ornate accessories to go overboard with this trend.

Try a jewelled clutch, embellished headband or stand-out swinging necklace that will give your look somedazzling Gothic charm. Lavishly layer up variousaccessories for maximum impact.

When your LBD has been worn to death, you need agame-changer of an accessory.

Your shoulders are the area that will be exposedstylishly in all those festive party photographs, so try astatement feather cape or bejewelled collar to reallytransform the look of a once-plain party frock.

SSeeqquuiinn ssuupppplleemmeennttssOutfits with built-in bling require careful thought when it

comes to accessorising. Often the frock will do all thetalking minus any trimmings.

The same goes for metallic looks if you're channelling

a golden goddess or silver screen siren. Forget jewelleryand focus on your feet with dancing shoes. Keep yoursequins cool and edgy with a pair of ankle boots to keepthe look fresh and modern. Experiment with a clash oftextures by opting for a plush velvet material.

Pointy toe courts are instant leg lengtheners. Ditchblack and bring out your chosen metal with jewel-coloured heels in blue, red or purple for added drama.

There's just one clause: make sure your heels aredance-worthy for when you're pulling out your bestmoves.

BBrriigghhtt eemmbbeelllliisshhmmeennttssWhether it's a dress, top or suiting,

partywear in kaleidoscopic rich jewelshades is always a festive winner.

Your accessories need to comple-ment the shade of your chosen blockcolour bright.

Delicate jewellery will fade into thebackground so bring out your partyhue with statement gem-laden pieces.If you want to look like you're drippingin precious stones, get your magpie fixwith costume jewellery that resemblesfamily heirlooms.

Either go metallic or try a clashingcoloured gemstone, like emeraldagainst an amethyst dress for example.If in doubt, be all the colours of the rain-bow in a multi-hued assortment.

Whether it's necklace, earrings, cuffor cocktail ring, keep your piece super-sized so that it makes as big animpression as the Crown Jewels.

PPrriinntt aaddoorrnnmmeennttssFrom bold geometric to winter flo-

rals, statement prints are big news thisparty season. Whether you're going forthis season's two-piece suit or dress,you need an accessory that isn't goingto compete with your busy look.

Scan your outfit and look for one colour that's repeat-ed in your print. It might be a subtle accent or bold mainfeature, but use that tone to find a complementary clutchbag. Your chosen shape and texture is down to you - bow,envelope or oversized, you can try amatte, sparkly or shinybag as long as it sits seamlessly against your print.

If you're struggling to colour match, you can't gowrong with classic black. Fashion mavericks can alwaysprint clash their shoes or bag with their outfit. In this case,all matchy-matchy rules were made to be broken.

nn CClluuttcchh bbaaggss aanndd jjeewweelllleerryy ffrroomm aa sseelleeccttiioonn aatt AAcccceessssoorriizzee

nn KKiittsscchh CCoouuttrree aatt BBaannkk GGiinnaa gglliitttteerr hheeeellss,, ££3355((bbaannkkooffffaasshhiioonn..ccoo..uukk))

nn BBooddeenn ppaarrttyy nneecckkllaaccee,, ££4499,, bbooddeenn..ccoo..uukk

LLiiffeeSSttyyllee Call: 01326 213333 December 11, 2012 15

Myths and legends Call: 01326 213333 December 12, 2012 1199LifeStyle

Understanding the mythand legend of ChristmasWITH Christmas just around the corner we’re spoilt forchoice when selecting a myth or legend associated withthis magical time of the year, says Kenny Roberts ofRibticklers.It’s well known that the Christian festival was

purposefully overlapped with an existing Pagan festivaland therefore so many of the traditions of Christmas findtheir roots in Celtic folklore.The Winter Solstice takes place on December 21, a

time that the Cornish pagans believed the sun died, sincethis was the shortest day of the year and the new sunwas born on December 22, as every day afterwards wasnotably longer. To celebrate this good fortune in manyparts of Cornwall a “sea of fire” would be created bydancers wearing masks, known as Guise Dancers, carry-ing lanterns or candles through their towns. The dancingculminated with the “Chalking of the Mock”. A Mock is aCornish version of the Yule Log and is sometimes calledthe Stock of the Mock.A member of the procession is chosen to draw a stick

man on the Mock. The stick man represents “Old FatherTime” and the death of the old year. The Mock is burnt ona beacon as a celebration of the birth of the New Yearand the new light of the world.A similar festival has been revived in Penzance over the

past few years as an interpretation of the original MontolEve celebrations.One of the season’s most beloved traditions has to be

the hanging of mistletoe over doorways. Although theactual legend is set in Nordic history the Cornish Druidshad long used mistletoe in their rituals.A gold sickle would be used to cut the mistletoe

branches to ensure purity. Branches were given out totowns’ people and everyone who received some wouldbe blessed with good health and luck for the followingyear. Sprigs were originally hung over doorways to wardoff evil spirits not for kissing under.Another favourite linked to this time of the year is holly.

Christian tradition connects the sharp prickly leaves with

the crown of thorns worn by Jesus and the red berrieswith the drops of blood that he shed.However in Cornish mythology there is an existence of

a Holly King, who is said to rule over the half of the yearfrom the summer through to the winter solstice, at whichpoint the Oak King arrives to rule until the following sum-mer solstice. The Holly King is described as being a giantcovered in holly leaves and branches, wielding a hollybush as a club. This description is close to that of theGreen Man, a symbol that can be seen in many places inCornwall, including churches, parks and official buildings.The Holly King also features in the Arthurian legend,although this time as the Green Knight who challenged SirGawain at the Round Table’s Christmas celebrations.Where better to finish our Cornish Christmas myths,

than the origins of Stargazy Pie. A pie that is made frombaked pilchards and potatoes, covered with a heavy thickcrust. The heads of the pilchards poke through the crust,so they appear to be gazing at the stars.The dish originated and is still served in the village of

Mousehole. It is believed by many to have been started inorder celebrate the bravery of Tom Bawcock, a local fish-erman. The village was facing starvation in the lead up toChristmas since no boats could make it out of port due toa massive storm. Tom bravely took his boat out andreturned with enough fish to feed the entire village. Thefish were baked whole in a pie with the heads poking outto prove that there was indeed fish in the pie.The people of Mousehole celebrate this festival on

December 23 known locally as Tom Bawcock’s Eve. Thepie is served in the village pub and the following song isroared out by all:

Merry place you may believe, Tiz Mouzel 'pon Tom Bawcock's eveTo be there then who wouldn't wesh, to sup o' sibm soorts o' fishWhen morgy brath had cleared the path, Comed lances for a fry

And then us had a bit o' scad an' Starry-gazie pieAs aich we'd clunk, E's health we drunk, in bumpers bremmen high,And when up caame Tom Bawcock's name, We'd prais'd 'un to the sky

Merry Christmas to All.

motoring LifeStyle2200 December 12, 2012 Call: 01326 213333

FFiirrsstt ddrriivvee:: PPoorrsscchhee 991111 CCaarrrreerraa 44SSEVERYTHING happens for a reason, writes Matt Joy, ifyour belief system lies somewhere between the fatalistand the determinist.

You could argue of course that this notion merelyhelps the human brain cope with the completely ran-domness of the universe but putting the philosophyaside for one moment, it is true that a chance occur-rence can help you make sense of something previouslyconfusing.

This idea perfectly describes the existence of thePorsche 911 Carrera 4. Whether you plump for thestandard 4 or the 4S, you are paying a premium overthe two-wheel-drive Carrera 2 and 2S that also nets yousubtly different rear bodywork (including a unique lightarrangement and a wider track) and the inevitable gainsin traction that an extra pair of driven wheels brings.

But the question mark comes simply because thetwo-wheel drive Carrera is a devastatingly effectivemachine already. If there's one thing it's not lacking thatis traction, the rear-engined arrangement maximising theavailable grip when powering out of a bend. Not forget-ting of course that your new 911 comes with the hugelyeffective Porsche Active Stability Management (PASM)system to help you out in a tight spot. So why wouldyou choose a Carrera 4 then?

Well unlike previous Carrera 4s, the 991-generation is

a lot closer visually to the two-wheel-drive version. In thepast the extra width at the rear has been known tounbalance the overall shape a little and leave it lookinglike it was carrying a little too much Christmas indul-gence around its behind. But now it's been perfectlyjudged, and it carries a little more muscle to arguablymake it more visually appealing than the Carrera 2. Andthat rear light signature might seem like a small thing butit catches the eye and makes you wonder why every911 doesn't have it.

Mechanically the differences between the 4 and the 2are straightforward. You get the same sonorous 3.4- or3.8-litre flat six engine with two outputs (standard and Smodel) with a choice of seven-speed manual or seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox. A further trick up itssleeve is a double de-clutch facility which can beswitched on or off; essentially in manual-equipped carsit will blip the throttle for you on downchanges to matchthe revs to the wheel speed, thereby avoiding any nastylocking of wheels when really pressing on.

But the majority of this is under the skin, so you climbaboard the 911 and are greeted by the same appealingcabin, much improved over the outgoing car in bothergonomics and material quality. Pinching several bitsfrom the Cayenne and Panamera give it a more grownup feel and make it much easier to live with, and the

reassuring snap and click of the switches gives theimpression that it will last as long as the bulletproofmechanicals.

There's nothing to indicate that this 911 is four-wheel-drive as you pull away. In fact the Carrera 4 diverts mostor all of the power to the rear unless it detects a loss ofgrip, so you have the four-wheel drive only when youneed it. That means that for much of the time it drivesexactly how you would want it; namely just like a two-wheel-drive 911.

You sacrifice nothing in terms of the slickness, sensi-tivity and accuracy in the way that the car responds toyour inputs. You don't feel any additional weight, northat the car is compromised as a result. Sure, there is amodest weight penalty but that's offset by the increasedtraction. Where you really feel the benefit is when condi-tions aren't ideal - namely most of the time - and thereassurance of four-wheel-drive gives greater confi-dence.

You can exploit the Carrera 4S's mighty flat-six moreof the time, hear that distinctive engine note rise and fallbut accelerate harder and sooner out of the bends. Onthe higher-powered S version you get torque vectoringas standard, which can switch power between wheelson the same axle as well as front to back. It's fiendishlyclever but all you really need to know is that it punts you

out of a corner with as much traction as it can possiblymuster.

And when you do get caught out by an unseenchange of surface or even something as dramatic as anunhelpful spillage on the road, the Carrera 4 can switchthe power from front to rear or vice versa in 100 mil-liseconds. You still have complete awareness of what'sgoing on beneath you - there's just a little more happen-ing to help you out.

It's for this precise reason that the four-wheel-driveversion makes the 911 even more of a practical, every-day supercar. Not that the standard Carrera 2 is untrust-worthy of course, but with the Carrera 4 you can savourits power, precision and sublime chassis all-year round.

FFaaccttss aatt aa ggllaannccee

PPoorrsscchhee 991111 CCaarrrreerraa 44SS,, ££8877,,995599EEnnggiinnee:: 33..88--lliittrree ppeettrrooll pprroodduucciinngg 440000bbhhpp aanndd

332244llbb..fftt ooff ttoorrqquueeTTrraannssmmiissssiioonn:: SSeevveenn--ssppeeeedd mmaannuuaall ggeeaarrbbooxx ddrriivviinngg

aallll ffoouurr wwhheeeellssPPeerrffoorrmmaannccee:: TToopp ssppeeeedd 118855mmpphh,, 00--6622mmpphh iinn 44..55

sseeccoonnddssEEccoonnoommyy:: 2288..55mmppgg ccoommbbiinneeddEEmmiissssiioonnss:: 223344gg//kkmm ooff CCOO22

PPEETTEERR JJeennkkiinnssoonn llooookkss aatt tthhee ssiixx bbeessttggaaddggeettss aanndd ggiizzmmooss oonn aa tthheemmee.. TThhiiss wweeeekk::SSiixx ooff tthhee bbeesstt ggaaddggeettss ffoorr ssttyylliisshh tteecchhiieessWith an ever-increasing number of children

now taking ownership of gadgetry such asmobiles, consoles and computers, what canbe done by the toy industry to pry their interestaway from digital entertainment?Well, the answer is plenty!Toy companies have retaliated impressively

over the past couple of years, but thisChristmas is perhaps the year where they willregain the upper hand.Here's our pick of the hottest high-tech toys

for 2012 - suitable for kidults too, of course.

MMoottoorr HHeeaadd -- LLeeggoo TTeecchhnniicc 44xx44CCrraawwlleerr -- ££112299 ffrroomm ppiixxmmaanniiaa..ccoo..uukkWe're almost certain that there isn't a per-

son on the planet who doesn't love Lego, andanyone who isn't induced into a grin by aremote control plaything could be an equallyrare discovery. So this infrared-controlled buildshould be near the top of any Christmas list.You can rebuild the 4x4 crawler, which fea-tures extreme suspension, into a tough off-road truck - so that's two toys for the price ofone.

SSttiicckkyy FFiinnggeerrss -- KKuurriioo 77 TTaabblleett --££114499..9999 ffrroomm ssmmyytthhssttooyyss..ccoommThere is a plethora of kid-focused tablets on

the market this year, but the Kurio is one ofthe best around. Packed with the biggest appgaming titles, it has a selection of parentalcontrols - time management and web filtering- as well as Wi-Fi for access to a range ofeducational content that'll persuade parents totake the plunge. It comes complete with front-and rear-facing cameras and a decent seven-inch display too.

HHeelllloo AAggaaiinn -- FFuurrbbyy -- ££5577..9999 ffrroommssmmyytthhssttooyyss..ccoommIn the 1990s, these creatures caused chaos

as parents struggled to find them on retailers'Christmas shelves, and this updated versionlooks set to top plenty of wishlists again, so

the same scramble cannot be ruled out thisyear. This interactive companion develops itsmoods in tune with how it is treated. Startingwith its own "Furbish" chatter, it learns yourlanguage over time.To understand more, you can download an

app which will translate its chatter in real time,plus you can customise your Furby's favouritemeal - clever stuff, but it's only available oniOS devices.

RRoobboott WWaarrss -- CCoommbbaatt CCrreeaattuurreeAAttttaacckknniidd -- ££6622..9999 ffrroommssmmyytthhssttooyyss..ccoommThis remote control robot kit is from a new

range called Combat Creatures - and theylook like they're about to lead an invasion ofwallets across the nation.This six-legged machine has a turret on top

with dissector discs that you fire upon otherAttacknids, causing their leg armour to fall off.Alternatively, you can strike the battle brain ofyour opposition three times and it'll shut downall its systems. You can have up to 40 of thesein action at any one time - you'll be able tohear the melee from miles around!

EExxttrraa DDiimmeennssiioonn -- AAppppBBllaasstteerr vv22..00 --££2244..9955 ffrroomm rreedd55..ccoo..uukkWorking in harmony with Android and iOS

devices, the AppBlaster is part of a new waveof gaming that's sure to enhance you appexperiences.Download the Alien Attack app, stick your

smartphone in the cradle, and wander aroundyour room to take out the creatures that appearto invade your real-world space. Other appsinclude Skeet Shooter, Duck Hunter and Overkill.

AAeerriiaall EExxcciitteemmeenntt -- AAiirr HHooggss BBaattttlleeTTrraacckkeerr -- ££9999..9999 ffrroomm tteessccoo..ccoomm//ddiirreeccttRemote control choppers can now come

with built-in water pistols, working winchesand cameras - and they're easier than ever tofly. But this set-up from Spin Master takes in-flight play to another level.Set the base unit in battle mode and it'll

track you while you fly, trying to knock you outof the air as you attempt to shut down thesystem with direct hits on its turret.

gadgets/food Call: 01326 213333 December 12, 2012 2233LifeStyle

Six of the best kids’ gadgets and gizmos

Homemade gifts will earn you Brownie points

nn CCoommbbaatt CCrreeaattuurree AAttttaacckknniidd nn KKuurriioo 77 ttaabblleett

nn LLeeggoo TTeecchhnniicc 44XX44 CCrraawwlleerr

nn EExxttrraa DDiimmeennssiioonn --AAppppBBllaasstteerrvv22..00

nn AAiirr HHooggssBBaattttllee TTrraacckkeerr

nn HHeelllloo AAggaaiinn --FFuurrbbyy

IINN kkeeeeppiinngg wwiitthh BBrriittaaiinn’’ss rreecceenntt bbaakkiinnggbboooomm,, ssppeenndd aa wweeeekkeenndd iinn yyoouurr kkiittcchheennwwhhiippppiinngg uupp tthheessee ssiimmppllee yyeett ddeelliicciioouusshhoommeemmaaddee ggooooddiieess.. TThheeyy''llll mmaakkee ggrreeaatt --aanndd iimmpprreessssiivvee -- ggiiffttss ffoorr ffaammiillyy aanndd ffrriieennddss,,writes Diane Pilkington..THEY say it's the thought that counts, andwhat could be more thoughtful than goingto the trouble of making your ownChristmas gifts this year? Not only will itsave you some cash, you'll earn lots ofBrownie points from your appreciative lovedones in the process.

PPEEAANNUUTT BBRRIITTTTLLEE(Makes enough to cover 30 square

centimetres before it is broken into pieces)200g caster sugar60ml water2tbsp strongly flavoured honey150g golden syrup150g salted peanuts1½tsp vanilla extract1tsp ground cinnamon25g soft butter1¼tsp bicarbonate of sodaTake out a large sheet of baking

parchment and set it beside the stove readyto receive the brittle once it is ready to pour.

Add the sugar, water, honey and syrup toa pan and gently bring to the boil. Turn upthe heat and let it boil seriously for tenminutes. It will be smoking by then so bewarned! (Stand over it all the time to makesure it does not catch.) Be very careful as

the sugar will be seriouslyhot.

Take the pan off theheat and, with a woodenspoon, stir in the nuts,followed by the vanilla,cinnamon, butter andbicarbonate of soda. Youwill have a golden, frothy,hot and gooey mix.

Pour this quickly ontothe waiting parchmentand, using an oiledwooden spoon, coax andpull it to make a nut-studded sheet, puddle-shaped rather thanheaped.

Leave it to cool, then break into piecesand store in an airtight container in therefrigerator. Eat within 14 days.

TToopp ttiipp:: Peanut brittle is best presented ineither greaseproof bags or glass jars. Youcan buy glassine bags, which look fabulouswith a printed label topper and ribbonfastening. Glass jars keep the air away fromthe brittle, allowing it to last a little longer.Print a cute “From the kitchen of. . .” labeland fasten with a colourful ribbon for asimple homemade gift.

SSPPIICCEEDD RREEDD CCAABBBBAAGGEE(Makes 3 x 250ml jars)½ red cabbage, thinly sliced10tbsp table salt400ml distilled white vinegar

1tsp white peppercorns1tsp five-spice powder3 whole cloves1tsp light mustard

seedsPlace the red cabbage

in a large bowl, coveringeach layer as you go witha sprinkling of salt. Coverand put to one sideovernight.

The following day, rinsethe cabbage with coldwater until all the salt hasbeen removed. Sterilise

the jars and lids by placing face down in apreheated oven at 140°C/Gas 1 for 20 min-utes. Meanwhile, place the vinegar andspices into a heavy-based saucepan andboil rapidly for about five minutes.

Add the cabbage and stir until fullycovered with the vinegar and heatedthrough.

Spoon the mix into the sterilised jars andmake sure the cabbage is submerged in thespiced vinegar. Never put hot liquid into coldjars or cold liquid into hot jars.

TToopp ttiipp:: Present with a handmade labeland decorative ribbon. Store in the sealedjars for up to a year. Once opened,refrigerate and eat within three months.

CCAANNDDYY VVOODDKKAA(Makes a 250ml bottle)For the vodka:

1 family size bag ofSkittles

35cl bottle of good-quality vodka

For presentation:1 airtight jar250ml presentation

bottleCoffee filter paper or

muslinStart by separating all

the colours of Skittles.You will end up with fivedifferent options for yourcandy vodka. You coulduse both red and purplein the same jar. The moresweets you add thesweeter the vodka willbecome.

If working with a different colour,remember that green leaves a bitter taste sotake those out unless you like a slightly sourtang!

Place the chosen colour Skittles into thebottom of the airtight jar and pour in half thebottle of vodka. Fasten the jar and shakeoccasionally over the next day or two whenthe Skittles will dissolve and leave acrystallised layer of sugar on the top of thevodka. Line a funnel with either coffee filterpaper or muslin and place in the neck of thepresentation bottle. Carefully sift out all ofthe crystals, leaving a coloured but clearcandy vodka.

TToopp ttiipp:: Fasten with adecorative ribbon andlabel: 'Please drinkresponsibly'.

MMUULLLLEEDD WWIINNEESSPPIICCEE BBAAGG

1 cinnamon stick20 whole cloves2tsp mixed peel2 cardamom pods5 whole allspiceAlso required:20cm square of muslinPlace all of the ingredi-

ents into the centre of themuslin square and bring up

two opposite corners.Fasten into a knot and repeat for the

remaining corners.Bring the ends of the first knot over the

second knot and tie again to prevent anyknots from slipping.

TToopp ttiipp:: Add a swing tag with ingredientsand instructions and fasten to neck of a redwine bottle. Do not use died ribbon or stringas the colours will transfer when boiled inthe wine!

n Gifts From Your Kitchen by DeborahNicholas is published by Spring Hill, animprint of How To Books, priced £14.99.Available now.

nn PPeeaannuutt bbrriittttllee

nn SSppiicceedd rreedd ccaabbbbaaggee

gardening LifeStyle2266 December 12, 2012 Call: 01326 213333

Top tips for a longerlasting Christmas tree

Seasonal gifts for the gardenerCHRISTMAS shopping does not haveto be a chore. With products fromForest, the UK’s leading manufacturer ofdecorative garden timber products, youcan be top of your garden-lovingrelatives’ good books this December.With everything from planters, potting

benches, storage solutions andproducts that make gardening moreaccessible, Forest can help tie up all ofyour present woes in one easyshopping trip.For a present that is sure to get a

thumbs up from green-fingered mum,how about giving a raised log planter(RRP £49.99)? The attractive log planteris ideal as a small raised bed for herbs,plants or vegetables and is perfect foradding interest to any garden space.Manufactured from pressure treated

timber and able to hold approximately100 litres of compost, this is a long-lasting and thoughtful gift that is sure toput a big smile on mum’s face.If you are still searching for a fantastic

Christmas gift for dad that is bothoriginal and practical then why notsurprise him with Forest’s potting bench(RRP £49.99)?Made from smooth plane pressure

treated timber, it has a large worksurface and useful shelf underneath,leaving plenty of space for gardeningessentials. It is certain to be a winnerthis winter, making a refreshing andlong-lasting alternative to the traditionalgifts of books or socks.For a garden-loving granny, why not

give a stunning Forest kitchen gardentrough (RRP £129.99)? Perfect for

gardeners who might have a bit oftrouble bending down, the raised heighttrough is easily accessible and creates abeautiful garden or patio feature whenfilled with granny’s favourite vegetablesor plants.To really wrap up Christmas simply

and easily, Forest also provides a homedelivery service, meaning you can shopfor all your seasonal gifts without havingto leave the comfort of your own home.For more information about the itmes

mentioned in this article, or to browseother Forest products, go towww.forestgarden.co.uk, call 0844 2489801 or email [email protected].

n Forest now has a series of useful“how to” videos shown directly on theirYouTube channel. From assemblingproducts from scratch, to how to make

IT is that time of year again, and thefamily tradition (for many) of choosingthe all-important Christmas tree iscoming around. But, when choosingyour tree, what should you look for toensure that it will last at least until theturkey makes it to the table – or untilAuld Lang Syne rings out?Trevena Cross Nurseries, of Breage

near Helston, have been sharing theirtop tips for getting the most from aChristmas tree. They advise thefollowing:

n Make sure you choose a Britishgrown tree. It will be a stronger, betterquality tree than an imported one andwill last that much longer.

n Decide if a cut or potted tree is foryou. A cut tree, if cared for properly, willlast the entire festive season – aroundfour weeks, and a potted one can liveon if you have space to plant it out inthe garden. You can even continue re-potting it as it grows, ready for nextyear. Something to be aware of – apotted tree may struggle indoors forlong periods of time, certainly morethan 12 days, and it may only last a fewyears with continued potting, because itis not naturally suited to on-going potcultivation.

n Measure the space you have foryour tree and only consider buying atree that you know will fit into thisspace. With a range of tree typesavailable from reputable retailers, besure to get advice regarding the righttree for your needs – e.g. a Fraser fir isa great needle retentive tree but oftennot as wide as the popular Nordman fir,

so may be a great choice for a narrowerspace.

n Cut the bottom inch of trunk off acut tree when you get it home andplace it in a sheltered spot outside, in astand or a bucket filled with water.

n Bring the tree – cut or potted –indoors as close to Christmas as youcan and position it in a cool spot, awayfrom direct heat sources such asradiators or fires.

n Make sure that the tree continuesto have a source of water once indoors– a cut one in particular, will drink a lotof water and require daily top-ups.For more advice on Christmas trees

and festive plants over the festiveseason, visit the Trevena CrossNurseries website trevenacross.co.uk.

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