There are times in a year when you have to get something really special for a dear one or a family present.  It can be so difficult when you know that the recipient is a bit awkward to buy for.  I’m thinking here of the Dad that seems to have absolutely everything – nice watch, […]

I have been on my travels recently and because I booked my tickets via broker, got a particularly good deal on my return trip to Texas.  It involved more than just two direct flights but I figured that the odd stop over would make for more interest.  The outward flight was from T5, and did […]

Knowing how to get the most from a foreign holiday is a subject close to my heart.  A few years ago my immediate family only ever had caravanning holidays in this country – my partner was of the opinion that it was a great waste of scarce resources and time to be taking ferries or […]

In these uncertain days – political gamesmanship to the fore and all that, it is really difficiult to predict anything at all about how retail stores and businesses are going to fare after brexit.  It’s impossible to get a straight answer to any question about importing or exporting;  On the news yesterday a think tank […]

I suscribe to a magazine website that allows me access to a wide choice of publications.  It’s rather like going into a large supermarket wanting just breakfast cereal – my word, there are both sides of one aisle dedicated to the massive choice we have available today.   There are the sugary ones that children have […]

I can be fairly described representing the bah humbug side towards the Christmas lunacy – I know several families who spend an inordinate amount of money on the childrens’ presents and on themselves;  money they simply can’t afford.  They justify it by suggesting their offspring will somehow be blighted if they don’t show ownership of […]

There are rarely shopping forays for me more exciting than buying a holiday, and then buying stuff for that holiday!  I do of course buy lots of gifts for family – when I really have to, but most of my relatives are either older and retired, awash with plenty of spendable cash.  The other side […]

It’s that tricky time of year again – heading towards the christmas present buying frenzy.  It catches some of us every year.  I have always been a bah humbug when it comes to buying presents for those who seem to have absolutely everything already!  I do look back to the early days of my schooling […]

Gosh there’s a huge lot of problems on the horizon with the brexit negotiations taking ever less positive turns.    I can well remember my parents being able to buy all kinds of things from every country that ever traded.  Toys came direct from Japan and Taiwan and HongKong, especially small transistor and motor activated ones.  […]

When my wife packs a holiday suit case, there are the inevitable linen trousers, linen dresses, long line tunic tops to go over her ‘problem area’ – bottom to you and me  There are never any good honest jeans.  Denim is an absolute necessity in my life – not a gift.  I cannot live without […]