Problem Presents

All those who know me know I love my food: cooking it, reading about it, tracking new food down, cooking for friends, cooking for myself, just food generally. And I love finding great foodie gifts and presents. Not some prepackaged nonsense that no one will ever use, but great stuff that is food enhancing, that makes you an even better cook, or just have more fun doing it.

So I’ve decided to create a new blog that is just dedicated to all things foodie that I find. It’s called The Foodie Gift Hunter, so kind of does what it says on the tin. I’d love it if you stopped by, tell me what you think, what you’re loving, what you’re looking for.

Come on over, see what’s on the menu!

Just a quick one to say Joules have a fabulous offer on, with 3 for 2 on everything starting from today. So great time to get new wellies in time for Glasto, and you could even get a chair and a picnic basket, never mind great clothes!

And for a very rock’n'roll look, then it’s got to be All Saints. There’s 30% off selected items from today through to midnight on Wednesday 24 June. So not long to act, so get in quick!

Worthwhile hunting for great fashion style, for him, for her, even for the little ones!

So, you’re sat there, enjoying a quiet Saturday afternoon. Depending on where you are, it might be sunny so you’re reading the paper outdoors. Or, if you’re in Manchester, it’s raining and you’re inside. Whatever it’s like, you’re very comfy and you’re certainly not going shopping. Because you’re all sorted for Father’s Day.

What do you mean, why did no one warn you it was Father’s Day??

Just before you hare down to the bus stop or get the car out, here’s a few suggestions for things you can still do for a great Dad, pretty much from the comfort of your own home, or at least the local shop or garage without it looking like a garage present!

1. If in doubt, bake. You don’t need anything complicated (flour, sugar, butter and eggs, hunt round the cupboards). There is nothing to beat a homemade sponge, and unless Dad is allergic to any of the contents he will be thrilled.

2. Click on over to iTunes or your favourite download provider and make a CD up for Dad. All those tunes he misses (come on, everyone has a secret bad music need, my Dad would probably go for some nice Roger Whittaker if he thought no one would hear) can be his again with a few clicks.

3. Try Great Magazines who have a great selection of subscriptions, plus a downloadable card. If you want to make this really good, dash to the Spar and buy up this month’s edition of whatever you’re buying him and present it with the card.

4. Send him on a trip and buy the tickets. Not necessarily cheap but certainly guaranteed to keep you out of the doghouse. With the age of the e-ticket firmly with us for pretty much all air travel, then printing one of these out has to be acceptable. You could add in a few images from Google Images perhaps of the destination, and maybe an IOU for a guide book. Or, if you’ve got some blank CDs, then you can now download walking tours and cultural guides to different locations.

5. In a similar vein, concert or theatre tickets can be done in the same way, and you can even go back to the download idea to add something else to this.

6. Buy lottery tickets. Of course, buying a winning one for tonight’s rollover would be perfect, but failing that buy Dad several weeks worth of hope, for at least several minutes, that it could be him!

7. Save a fight over the remote by organising a year’s subscription to LoveFILM with stuff Dad would love to see.

8. If you’ve got kids of the right age, get them drawing, painting, sticking, playing with Plasticine….under about the age of 10 any effort from them will be amazing for Dads and Grandads.

9. Be charitable. Many sites like Practical Presents allow you to choose the gift, and then create an eCard for the recipient. How about sending him the Seeds of Life gift, seems appropriate.

10. Do it the old fashioned way and take him breakfast in bed, then up to the pub for a pre-lunch pint. Just talk to him. Time is still the best gift. Keep telling him that!

Good luck. And just remember next year to be a little better organised!! Or see you back here to work through the rest of the list!

So most of us are thinking about our holidays, and sunshine. Which is why fashion retailers are thinking about…autumn clothes! L K Bennett even have an autumn winter preview (I’m having a Sydney).

All of this can only mean one thing - sale time! These sales have now kicked off, so happy Summer shopping!

Warehouse - many items up to 50% off

Myla - fabulous lingerie, swim wear and accessories with up to 50% off

Oasis - sale now on, on clothing, footwear, jewellery and accessories

French Connection - savings across mens and womens

Jones - great shoes, great savings

Coast - great savings on clothing, footwear, jewellery and accessories

Wallis - sale now on with up to 50% off

Evans - big discounts now on with up to 50% off

Matches - fabulous designer fashion now with up to 50% off

Kurt Geiger - amazing shoes with great discounts

And if you need a lie down after all that, the Heals sale is now on, so get a new bed or chair!

Quick follow on from yesterday’s 8 offers, here’s a couple more offers for those of you who have not yet got a gift sorted for all the dads in your life!

1. Mankind are offering £2.50 off orders of £25 or more, with code SUPERDAD, and £5 off orders over £50 with TOPDAD. Can’t be redeemed on Philips, Stop or GHD, but you could treat him to a starter kit from Anthony Logistics for great skincare, or perhaps Miller Harris Feuilles de Tabac, a great guy fragrance. Valid until 21 June

2. The House of Fraser sale starts tomorrow, and there are discounts across the store, so you may be able to stretch your budget further than you imagined. And you don’t have to sleep outside on the pavement all night to get the best bargains!

3. Don’t forget the Buyagift promotion of 15% off orders of Father’s Day gifts totalling over £75 started today, so plenty to go at there with code bag15.

4. We love Montezuma’s chocolate (and elasticated waists on things) and we love their offer of three free mini bars with orders before Wednesday this week. Enter code 923 to qualify, and they will be with you in good time for the day!

5. I Want One of Those will give you free delivery if you spend over £45. If we’re going to have a hot summer, and Dad’s going to be at the BBQ, he’ll need a GrillSlinger!

Still not sure? Well, there are ideas over on the main site or, if you leave it way too late, you’ll need our guide to very last minute presents! It was written with Christmas in mind but you can apply it to any occasion.

That could be you, if you haven’t thought about Dad before now, but also quite a few retailers. The main page has some great ideas for gifts for all kinds of dads, from new dads on their first Father’s Day, through to older dads who’ve seen it all before. So get a great idea, then make the most of these fab bargains.

But do it quick!! You only have till next Saturday to get it delivered!

1. Have a look today, and then order on Monday, over at Buyagift, as they have 15% off orders over £75 from Monday through to Sunday 21st June. Great selection of activity days, Dr T did the Extreme Landrover at Silverstone and loved it. Code bag15 will work from Monday.

2. If Dad needs smartening up, Boden are offering 15% off everything with free delivery and returns between now and 21st June. Kit him out in linen in case the fab weather lasts!

3. If he’s a designer dude, then treat him to anything from the menswear range at my-wardrobe, and get a free Clarins skincare gift to go with his new threads.

4. If he is a man of sophisticated tastes and likes his whisky, then TheDrinkShop are currently offering up to 25% off all USA and world whiskies.

5. Give him a bit of pampering/resurfacing work with Elemis. If you buy any collection from the men’s range, then not only do you get free delivery but also a free Body & Bath Trio worth £12. Enter code FDTRIO09 at checkout, finishes 21st June.

6. For a gift for a foodie dad, or a chocolate loving one, then check out the Chocolate Trading Co, who are offering 8% off everything with code CTC14987, and get a free Father’s Day card too. We love the chocolate cigars!

7. For the personal approach, check out The Gift Experience who have some great personalised gifts, to show him he really is one in a million. That said, needn’t cost a million, as they have 15% off all spends over £35, and 10% off under this amount, from the Father’s Day selection with codes FATHERSGIFT and GIFT respectively. Valid until 30 June.

8. For a taste of the country life, you can get 15% off at Joules. That could be for Dad, or maybe you just need to sneak in a bit of shopping for all the mums out there too! Finishes today though, so be quick!

We know some dads are difficult to buy gifts for, but the later you leave it, the more difficult it gets! So get your fingers clicking, time is only just still on your side!

Who would have thought, it was 50 years ago today since the first hovercraft, err, hovered over the water. If you turn up in Southampton most days, you can still marvel at this strange hybrid thing.

And lets face it, they look a lot of fun to drive! Now, if you don’t want to go the whole hog of buying your own, then there are several activity days you could book to give it a go. It must feel a bit like flying, and I would bet you spend most of the time laughing like a 3 year old!

That sounds like a few quid well spent in my book! Might be a good gift option for a dad who is difficult to buy for, what with Father’s Day being imminent!

I’ve just finished writing new pages for honeymoon gifts, with individual pages for the bride and the groom. This seems like a relatively new area in some ways, but I think there has always been a tendency to have little treats and surprises for your new husband or wife.

And don’t think these have to be hugely expensive or big things. I really like the Under New Management t shirt, which is £12.90, or even the Mr & Mrs Mugs which are £15.95 for the two. If I could choose one slightly more expensive thing, then I would pick the Sky Lanterns. These look amazing when they go off into the sky, and you can make some beautiful wishes together.

Then I spotted this apron, which I am not sure if it’s appropriate for a honeymoon gift, but it did make me smile! It would certainly make a great 2nd wedding anniversary present, which on the traditional list is cotton. Otherwise, I would think it was a great gift to buy if either of you seem to be heading into post-honeymoon blues. That and a large bottle of bubbly.

If you’re getting married this summer, I wish you a fabulous day, a beautiful honeymoon and the ability to know when to say you’re wrong!

The 21st is hurtling towards us, so it really is time to get your thinking cap on, not to mention pressing the buy button! Have a look at Photobox, one of my favourite sites, as they can do you some great personalised gifts for Dad, and they’ve got some offers running too.

If Dad is a big tea or coffee drinker, then how about a personalised mug? You could go retro with a photo from childhood, his or yours, or a more recent favourite pic. Whichever you choose, this will be a one off! You can still get free delivery on these with code FDMUGPOST through till midnight on 13 June. That’ll save you £2.49, enough to buy Dad at least half a pint on the big day!

And, if you’ve never ordered from Photobox before, then you can get £5 off your order if it’s over £20. Just enter code SAVE5FIRST to qualify. You’ve still just about got time to put together a hardbook book (these are stunning, Dad will cry), a few more days for soft photobooks, and about a week for a photo collage.

What are you waiting for??

So, in just under two and a half hours, there’ll be silence here for the series finale of Ashes to Ashes. I have that sense of loss again, as I consider Monday evenings without Gene’s witticisms.

I think this is a moment that therefore needs to be marked. Now, if it was a Life on Mars finale, the choice for dinner would be easy. Berni Inn for the posh types, hoops for those of us eating at home. Not so easy for Ashes, not been any definite foodie connections, so could go for something that might be served at Luigi’s (penne Alfredo I think). I’m going for one of those foods I associate with the ’80s, so it’s Chicken Kiev here tonight.

I’ll be popping up to don some blue eyeliner, whilst listening to some ABC and Duran Duran. Then trying to decide which Gene Hunt t shirt to wear! Whilst Chargrilled have made a good Fire Up the Quattro attempt, the team at Shot Dead in the Head still have this market cornered!

So, chilling the Bolly, don’t ring between 9pm and 10pm!