May in the Rose Garden

Now is the time to visit Hampton Court Palace's glorious Rose Garden. 

A joy - for the exquisite scents permeating the air, combined with the sumptuous sights - abundant in every flower bed.  Colours range from palest cream to deepest burgundy; this gorgeous mid-pink variety has the deepest fragrance and fullest bloom...

Visit soon - entry to the garden, situated close to the West Gate entrance, is free - to experience the sensory delights, at their seasonal best.

Beluga alla Milanese

If the credit crunch is a concern(hmmm!) perhaps you (we) should consider moving to Milan... At least, if you fancy a festive gift of caviar, courtesy of your local council. Poorer members of Milanese society are about to be treated to a jar of the black stuff to enrich their seasonal menu. Along with lentils and pasta - a curious threesome...

40,000€ worth of illegally imported Beluga were seized in the Italian capital recently, so instead of destroying them, authorities decided that less privileged locals deserved a treat. So it seems Bruschette Milanese will feature caviar rather than tomatoes; an élite appetiser to the lentils and pasta that will follow. Imagine that happening in our capital, given a similar set of circumstances... Penso che non! Buon appetito festivo!