In journalism, Christmas starts in August, so it is with great difficulty that I push aside advent calendars and Christmas gins to bring you a list of products which are seasonally appropriate. So pull on your second office jumper and spend two minutes of your 20 minute lunch break going over a list of things which you do not need, but should probably buy anyway. Maybe.
For special somethings...or for cold medication
Lovingly made out of hand-dyed sweetgrass & sisal in Rwanda by Indego Africa, this basket is perfect for neatly storing all those little things which clutter up a workspace...including packets of tissues and strepsils.
The beautiful baskets are created by a talented women's co-operative, working tirelessly to develop the business skills and education of women in rural Rwanda.
Beehive basket, now £42 from Qäsa Qäsa, www.qasaqasa.co.uk
Unfortunately, this is now fairly essential
If you were caught in the rain on Tuesday (and then spent the entire working day with wet shoes), you'd know that it's away with the cute cardigans and on with the waterproofs. If the trusty navy number in the back of your cupboard is a the little worse for the wear and the better for the holes, it may be time for an upgrade.
Barbour have partnered with Europe's largest conservation charity to produce something which will protect you as you explore our beautiful wildlife - and at least £25,000 of sales from this collection will be donated to support the National Trust's conservation work.
Barbour National Trust Tarp jacket in ochre, £229 from John Lewis & Partners, www.johnlewis.com
More cheese, you say?
It's increasingly unsurprising that Paxton & Whitfield have held their royal warrant since 1850. Settle in for the winter and order yourself a delicious hamper of the finest cheese in London - or be generous and gift it to a friend.
The Mayfair hamper, £500 from Paxton & Whitfield, www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk
Cheer up your hat
It may be rainy but you can still keep a hint of summer about you - and if you're a gent, fear not. They do pocket squares, too.
Finches silks prices start from £30, visit www.onlinepictureproof.com/gemmawebsterphotography
A magical book for an incredible price
Incredible indeed – although given how special Harry, Ron and Hermione are to the British public, it isn't entirely unsurprising that a first edition of their first adventures sold for £27,500 at Chiswick Auctions yesterday.
Adorably terrifying
Much like toddlers who have learnt how to ask to share your food, Voffi the Pyropet is a mixture of terribly cute and terribly frightening.
Burning down from an adorable wax dog to a metal skeleton (with teeth), this is the perfect Halloween party present - or something for a quirky house warming. Just warn the kids first.
Voffi The Pyropet Candle (Mint/Berry), £27.00 from 54Celsius.com
And finally... why not escape altogether
Recreate Tom Kerridge’s American Feast culinary road-trip through Colorado, visiting Denver, Gunnison, Dunton Hot Springs, Telluride, Durango and Grand Junction. Eat spectacular food, see spectacular sights, and all in all forget that summer is over and it's over a month to Halloween.
Bon Voyage Travel, partnered with British Airways, have also put together trips for California and Pittsburg.
12-night itinerary from £2995 per person, including return flights to Denver with AA, car hire, 12 nights’ accommodation (in 4-star hotels), including two nights in the all-inclusive Dunton Hotel Springs Resort. For more information, visit Bon Voyage Travel, www.bon-voyage.co.uk.
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The Utterly Inessential Marathon Shopping List: The ulitmate survival kit, headphones to drown out the pain and a marathon where one can run with wine
This week on Utterly Inessential, we admire those who take part in one of the world's biggest fundraising events as
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Whisky is coming, a hat to blow you away and shuttlecock swim shorts
Welcome back to our friendly neighbourhood round-up of the best wine, furnishings and completely, utterly inessential products available now.
The utterly inessential Glyndebourne shopping list: A rug, a picnic basket and a £26,000 bangle...
We've rounded up all the utterly inessential products that you absolutely do not need (top hats for Ascot aside) to
The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Scarves aplenty, whisky candles and some charitable cushions
In a world infested with 'must-have', 'don't miss' and 'buy now', one list stands alone as the voice of reason:
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Boat Race boots, beautiful benches and better-late-than-never bouquets
Whether you're Oxford or Cambridge, white or dark chocolate, or flowers or champagne (always both), you're sure to find something
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Solid chocolate ice cream, a trackable passport cover and a £7,000 silver ice bucket
In this week's round up of utterly inessential items to amaze and beguile, Alexandra Fraser takes a look at a
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Brockfield Hall, the great Yorkshire house that's gone from Regency mansion to modern family homeBrockfield Hall in North Yorkshire is the family home of Charlie Wood and Hatta Byng, editor of House & Garden, who have transformed it since they came here in 2020, winning multiple awards in the process. John Martin Robinson reports on the restoration project that revived this compact Regency house as a modern family home. Photographs by Paul Highnam for Country Life.
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Barbour’s heritage jackets get a floral makeover courtesy of ErdemUtilitarian outwear has taken the fashion world by storm and now Britain's world-famous wax jackets are getting in on the act, inspired by some of our greatest countryside icons.
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Seven perfect Christmas gifts for people who just love beautiful, functional thingsWilliam Morris famously said to have nothing in your house that you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. These things do their best to hit both targets.
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Christmas gift ideas for menFrom fathers to brothers to lovers, we run through some smart ideas for Christmas presents for the men in your life.
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Perfect Father’s Day gifts for dads who deserve itThere are many ways to show your dad that you love and appreciate him. There's breakfast in bed, an offer to mow the lawn, a big hug and the offer of the last biscuit. Or you could just buy him something that he definitely doesn't need, but we're pretty sure he'll want.
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The Utterly Inessential Wimbledon Shopping ListWe've rounded up all the utterly inessential products — posh tennis gear, in other words — that you absolutely do not need to enjoy Wimbledon, but would probably fancy having anyway.
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The Utterly Inessential Mother's Day list: 16 gifts guaranteed to either surprise or delightIs your mum the sort who's happiest with what she knows — or one who loves a surprise?
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The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Supercharged home Wi-Fi, smart headphones and a mobile phone literally anyone can useOur Utterly Inessential Shopping List returns with some technology that is far cleverer than we are.
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The best weekend bags and finest holdalls that (rather a lot of) money can buyGoing somewhere nice? You might be soon, so here's Hetty Lintell with her pick of the finest holdalls and best weekend bags you can buy.
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Best smart speakers for non-techie people: What to expect, what you'll love and what doesn't workSmart speakers are no longer the preserve of tech geeks and millennials — these handy speakers are, and (as we'll discover) particularly handy for those living in the countryside. We've looked at some of the main contenders to see which one comes out on top: Google Nest Audio, Amazon Echo Studio, the Apple HomePod Mini, and the Audio Pro G10.
