What's On 24 Dec

Ellie Smith
December 24, 2023

Dear Reader,

One sleep left! It always gets to this point when almost everyone I know feels a sense of exhaustion yet has to present as fully festive – baubles with bags under the eyes I call it. So, it’s the aftermath of the frenetic present buying, panettone eating and goose fat roasting that feels like the really special time (sorry, Jesus). There’s no urgency to be anywhere or do anything – which is so rare in our over time-tabled lives. The ability to just potter is the greatest gift that post 25th December brings to me. Pottering is akin to mindfulness – and we could all do with more of that.

Have a great week.

WHAT’S EXCITING ME THIS WEEK

Dry January

I managed eight months off the booze last year. It definitely did wonders for my sleep, so as we slip into Dry January, I’ll be checking out a new wave of non-alcoholic wines to see if they’ve improved from the Ribena-like confections of yore.

BBC/Oxford Film and Television

The Royals

From this year’s hardest working royal (I’m sure you can guess who that is) to a new documentary that goes behind the scenes of the King’s Coronation, I’d say the slimmed-down family have ridden the waves of fortune and misfortune well. And I’m personally loving Catherine’s glammed-up new look.

TikTok’s Biggest Food Trends

What do butter candles, tinned fish and ‘girl dinner’ all have in common? They’re all viral on Tiktok, of course. Our favourite Chinese app has the power to make the ridiculous into the sublime.

FIVE THINGS NOT TO MISS

In charge of cooking the roast tomorrow? A chef shares his top tips for mastering the Christmas lunch.

From food bank donations to volunteering, these are some ways to help those in need during the winter season.

Catch up on the TV you missed this year – here are the best box sets to binge during Twixmas.

Pick up some fresh Devon produce at The Black Farmer’s new flagship store in Brixton Village.

Give yourself something to book forward to in January by booking tickets to Wilderness Reserve’s food festival, YOXMAN.

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