If ever a month-to-view family calendar comes into its own then it’s during December. Okay, so the 25th is non-negotiable and covered, but the rest of the month is subject to plenty of debate as conflicts arise. Whether that be parents’ evenings, nativities, work dos, friends’ gatherings, your partner’s friends’ gatherings, nights out, nights in, New Year’s Eve, Boxing Day, Christmas Eve, the last day of work nights out, birthdays and even weddings, it’s a crowded timetable. Yes, you can do some prioritising, compromising and reshuffling, but the fact is, December is one long party! And this issue is all about the party, from canapes and nibbles on page 12, party ideas on a gluten-free diet on page 30, great new products on page 70 to festive drinks on page 93 – we have your backs.
We also have a bumper last-minute Christmas recipe section starting on page 33, that covers all the classics from the turkey roast through to mince pies and puddings, just what you need to get the party started!