Following on from Milly Adams’ previous post about The Gin Foundry’s Ginvent Calendar, I was invited to pop down to Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour to meet the two gents behind the desirable item.

Brothers Olivier and Emile Ward (pictured) have been interested in gin for many years and know more or less everything there is to know about the intoxicating liquid. For instance, did you know the largest consumer of gin in the world is The Philippines? Spain is second, the USA is third. The UK staggers in at fourth place. Surely, we can do better – and that’s one reason behind the Ginvent Calendar.

All twenty-four, yes, twenty-four (count them!) gins have been chosen by the brothers after much research and careful thought – this year’s selection being mainly from the UK and Europe. One is the award-winning Napue from Finland – it won the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s 2015 Spirits Award against 150 competitors.

Another is Sharish, which, to keep it unscientific, turns from blue to pink when the tonic is added simply because magic is involved… or, perhaps, it’s to do with the plant essence reacting with the quinine which means that – no, it’s simpler to say it’s magic.

The Calendar has a different gin for each day and, if you can restrain yourself, there will be a live Twitter Tasting (@GinFoundry) each evening at 7.30pm (UK time) so everyone can share their thoughts about that day’s tipple.

But – hang on – it’s not just gin. What about the tonic? I asked Emile and he said that his preferred choice would be Fever Tree (other tonics are available), but urged experimentation with tonic as with gin. Which is the very essence of what Ginvent is about: exploring new tastes and widening one’s horizons.

Fancy giving it a try? It may seem on the pricey side, but what you get is expertise and dedication from a couple of gin-lovers who don’t take gin lightly. They even infuse their own gins, experimenting all the time. Apparently, good gin can be created in four hours! Crikey. But if you’ve got the taste for it and a little patience (twenty-four days to be exact), you can enjoy gin throughout December – finishing just in time for Christmas Day.

If all that seems too much to take in, I think you should visit The Gin Foundry’s Pop-Up shop on the 16th/17th/18th December, at the Vinyl Factory in Soho, London. Information about this, the Ginvent Calendar, and more, is all at http://www.ginfoundry.com/ginvent/

Oh. Just in case you were wondering which was my favourite gin from the evening? The City of London Christopher Wren Gin.

Whoops, caught me red-handed… So, one for the road?

www.ginfoundry.com

www.ginkiosk.com

This season, The London Tea Company launch their new limited edition Winter Wondermint Tea which does have a most refreshing mint flavour. Made from a blend of peppermint leaves and natural peppermint oils it creates a refreshing blast of Winter Wondermint. I thoroughly approve, it was great.

Whether you need an afternoon pick me up, or maybe you’ve indulged a little too much during the seasonal festivities – and who doesn’t, this works really well. Buy it for yourself, or give it as a gift. There are other flavours too, so you could put together a hamper?

www.londontea.co.uk/shop/winter-wondermint/ £2.90

So, for the inner girl or boy – mint tea, and what for the outer? Well, having just been to see Strictly Come Dancing in Blackpool, how about:

Glow Luxury Tan Gift Set. With the glow this set will give you, or the person to whom you gift it, you’ll be well set up for the party season. Or for strutting your stuff in Strictly, of course.

This Vitaliberata product creates a natural base tan with the self tanning lotion, to be finished with Body Blur Instant HD Skin Finish. This particular product includes a limited edition rose gold gift bag, which elevates the whole thing, and there’s also a tanning mitt for an even application. I know a certain fifteen year old who would be over the moon to receive this.

The Vitaliberata Glow Luxury Tan Gift Set: £29.95

For other products and details. www.vitaliberata.co.uk

So, we’ve done the inner and outer person, which just leaves the mind, so how about a book?

I’ve been reading after Isabella, by Rosie Fiore. I was tempted because I have a little girl called Rosie. Well, a cockerpoo called Rosie if we’re being strictly accurate. But I’m glad I didn’t resist because I think you’ll enjoy it enough to turn the pages carefully and then give it to someone else.

Fiore addresses the question: can the ties of friendship ever be as strong as family? It’s a question I mull, as I’m sure others do.

So does Fiore bring it off? Indeed she does, with this thought provoking novel. It is structurally sound, delicately written and the author weaves the threads of Esther, and Sally’s lives with aplomb, some humour, and a dollop of thought provoking poignancy. There’s more than a little tension too, as Esther is forced to consider friendship and trust. Do the two always go together? Ah, well, read it and see. Great jacket too.

after Isabella. Allen & Unwin £12.99

Reviewed by Jan Speedie, and Frances Colville

Jan says: Donna Douglas’s latest story in her Nightingale series is set during the Second World War. Bethnal Green has suffered in the blitz with air raids destroying houses and communities but not the spirit of the East End residents. By 1944 everyone is longing for war to end.

Life for Dora Riley is a struggle, her husband is away fighting and she is left to keep the family together and work long hours as a staff nurse at the Nightingale Hospital. Her life is made harder when she is put in charge of a ward caring for German POW’s. Many of the hospital staff cannot accept or overcome their prejudices against the German POW’s and the arrogant Officer. Dora, Kitty and VAD Miss Sloan must put their feelings aside and care for these wounded young men. Struggling to cope at times Dora’s life is made harder when on Christmas day a telegram arrives with news of her husband Nick. Can life get any more complicated for the nursing staff? Well yes, perhaps, as it seems Kitty is getting too fond of one POW.

Donna has carefully researched her latest novel about the care of POW’s during the war. and woven a story about people who understand they must do their duty to help others and those who are not prepared to help.

Frances Colville, has added her thoughts on the novel: Donna Douglas writes with a lightness of touch which makes this book a quick and enjoyable read, but at the same time deals with some big issues with an empathy and understanding which gives the reader pause for thought.

This is the first Nightingale Nurses book I have read and I did feel I would have benefitted from reading the earlier books and knowing more of the background of the main characters. But that is something which can be easily and enjoyably remedied. And at the same time it does also work as a stand-alone book. A must for fans of Call the Midwife or for anyone who enjoys stories set on the home-front in WW2.

……………

Donna Douglas became a Sunday Times bestselling author in 2014 with her Nightingale series. Donna lives in York with her husband and grown up daughter. As well as writing novels she is a freelance journalist writing features for the Daily Mail.

Published by Arrow in paperback: £5.99

Also available as an eBook

I was sent some gorgeous treats for my besties, Rosie, Polly and for their friend Scout who is staying with us. They offered to do a photo shoot, for a reward, of course.

It was only afterwards I said they’d have to wait, because Santa has only lent these scrummy goodies for today, but on Christmas Day they’d materialize under the tree. They were allowed to be tasters, of course, and would have eaten the lot, so not a long wrong, and everything right, with the goodies.

So, here they are, made at the Four Legged Fancies, which is a dog bakery on the outskirts of Bath that specializes in handmade, natural, wheat-free treats for dogs.

Honestly, they look good enough for granny to eat, not just the four legged guys.

There’s a treat filled bauble for the tree. Choose from Peanut butter, chicken or cheese (£4.50)

Santa’s Sack – Cute little sacks filled with bags of treats or treats and toys (£17)

Doggy Christmas Crackers – Each cracker contains a bag of biscuits, a Christmas collar charm and a hat. No bang. Customer chooses from chicken or cheese (£5.50)

Four legged Fancies personalized birthday cakes for dogs, and all sorts of accessories including tweed collars and leads, handmade tweed dickie bows, edible wrapping paper, toys and more. Be still my beating heart. They are writing their Christmas list as we speak.

Find out more: fourleggedfancies.co.uk

Social media: @4leggedfancies