Crapwrap™ A Crap Idea

Hats off to Firebox.com for thinking outside the box (geddit...) with their new Crapwrap™ gift wrapping option which you can choose instead of the prissy alternatives clearly preferred by Daily Mail readers.
The idea of hairy arsed fork lift truck drivers helping out in the warehouse with brown tape and wrapping paper doing the best they can is a mental image which brings a smile to my face as a hand pick crap presents for my least favourite nephews, nieces and in-laws.
Firebox are also to be congratulated for coming up with a service I didn't even know I needed! Now you can try Crapwrap™ for free using Firebox voucher code WRAP-12 at the checkout.

Why CD Compilations Make Great Gifts...

Back when vinyl was the way to give music gifts compilation albums where usually cover artists and definitely uncool gifts - perfect for you granny but that's about it. Somewhere along the way record companies realised compilations were a great way to get more out of their artists and they started to allow the original tracks from the original artists to be included.

The first compilation albums were "Top 20", "Top 30" collections until some bright spark realised music could be themed into genres and niches and that's when music compilations started appealing to a wider audience and now compilation albums dominate the music charts and supermarket shelves where most CDs are sold today.

I tend to download music onto my computer via iTunes but it's still cheaper to buy music compilation CDs and copy them to iTunes than buying the tracks separately online but this is changing. iTunes now features previews and exclusive collections for all the popular music festivals and events and they're a great way to get in the mood for, and relive, music festival memories.

CD compilations make great gifts. I you know the musical taste of the recipient you can choose something suitable otherwise you can play safe and order Now That's What I Call Music 70 CD compilation and there's bound to be something on the CD they'll like - ideal for Secret Santa, Lucky Dips and emergency last minute gifts!

You can find bargain CD compilations at BillyBargain.co.uk which is a lot quicker than visiting each store in turn to compare CD prices. I'm always amazed how much the prices vary but with BillyBargain it's easy to pick the best bargains.

Gift Experience Idea: Cookery Lessons

How about a day out in rural Suffolk at the The Cooking Experience where local celebrity chefs will relax you around the dining table, make introductions and talk you though the dishes you'll be cooking and eating throughout the day. It's hard to believe you'll get through all the dishes in your course notes but you will and you'll have oodles of fun along the way.

There's a great selection of cookery courses on offer including Mediterranean Cooking, Middle Eastern and North African Cooking, Vegetable Extravaganza, Italian Cooking, Mixed Oriental Cooking, Fine Pastries and Deserts, French Provincial Cooking and Seafood Extravaganza which is the course we're reviewing here.

Celebrity Chef and owner Mark David started us off sharpening our knives on the high street kerb outside then explaining the basics and then we set about making the best Prawn Toast I've ever tasted.

Your chef will steer you effortlessly through the dishes and before long we'd created Oriental Salmon Fishcakes, Goujons of Cod with the most delicate sweet and sour sauce along with a selection of breads based on a single simple dough recipe. Since the course I've made my own Rosemany Focaccia bread at home from the course notes.

Tasting and talking about food is all part of the cooking experience ethos and the weather was perfect so we could sit outside on their patio with a glass of wine and get to know each other while sampling the food we'd cooked.

We then headed back into the kitchen and cooked Smoked Haddock Gratinée, Baked Cod Fillet with Herb Crust, A Parcel of Fish with Hollandaise Sauce and a Pecan and Black Treacle Tart.

Once again we retired to the patio and enjoyed eating all the food we'd cooked together before heading off home to share our cooking skills and memories of a great day out. With such a variety of courses it won't be long before you're booking your next course. We've been several times since and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves every time.

Joe Connor