THE MESSIAH: Jack Watkins on the enduring magic of Handel’s Messiah.
PUPPET MASTER: War Horse supremo Mervyn Millar tells Katy Birchall his secrets.
ICE SCULPTURE: Fairy kingdoms and ice curtains: Jane Wheatley discovers the ephemeral world of ice sculpture.
SALMON: Tom Parker Bowles tucks in to succulent smoked salmon.
HOW TO CARVE MEAT: Carving meat is an art worth knowing, says Nick Hammond.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS: Debora Robertson salutes the redemption of Brussels sprouts.
CHOCOLATES: British chocolate is on top of the taste world, says Sophie Caldecott.
MADEIRA WINE: Harry Eyres toasts the tipple.
TIPTREE JAM: Nick Hammond tours the forward-looking Tiptree factory.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS: Hetty Lintell finds goodies for all.
NATURE AND GAINSBOROUGHL: Matthew Dennison explores the natural world in Gainsborough’s art.
MY FAVOURITE PAINTING:Luke Edward Hall, interior designer. chooses a powerful Colourist portrait.
THE HOUSES OF M.R. JAMES: Jeremy Musson is chilled by the haunted houses of architectural aficionado M. R. James’s tales.
CHRISTMAS CARDS: Nothing cheers like a Christmas card arriving, says Ben Lerwill.
GEESE: Ian Morton investigates the odd history of the barnacle goose.
INTERIORS: The return of the tablescape.
CANDLES: Fragranced candles are firmly in vogue, believes Julie Harding.
LUXURY: Silhouettes and William Sitwell. Not necessarily in that order.
CIGARS: Bolivar puffs on a new vitola.
FLOWERS: Sofie Paton-Smith’s foraged and grown floral decorations.
FOOD: Kitchen garden cook Melanie Johnson on clementines.
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: Misty, water-coloured memories from John Lewis-Stempel in the fog.
