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Wishing you a very happy New Year!

Oh, I love moments like this! After standing in the local post office queue for ages waiting to send an urgent special delivery, I decided to buy a ‘surprise!’ book that a relative had hinted they fancied for Christmas.

Now, this is no ordinary book. It’s been written by Mike Brooke, (pictured above) who sailed around Britain on a 19-foot boat called Theo’s Future, to raise money for crucial research that might help his blind godson, Theo, to gain his sight.

So, there I was standing in yet another long queue in a different part of the post office, asking the assistant for Theo’s Future when, a tall gentleman right behind me said: “I’m the author…would you like me to sign it?”. Well, talk about serendipity. How lovely.

I now have a signed book, wrapped and under the Christmas tree and, having flicked through the first few pages, I have to say that I’m very keen to read it too.

The book is priced £12.95 and more details are available by browsing www.theosfuture.org

Check out this great Christmas gift idea – courtesy of bubbly homeowner Vicky Booker.

Vicky, who I interviewed for an interiors feature a couple of years ago, has recently launched an exciting business offering a full range of image and style services with her own special coaching twist.

She says: “I love what I do and seeing the difference that it’s making to people’s lives is so rewarding. It is fantastic to see clients gaining more confidence about the way they dress, look and feel, within a very short space of time.”

With services as diverse as colour and style consultations, makeup application/lessons, wardrobe reviews, personal shopping, group workshops, image coaching and personal performance coaching there really is something for everyone.

Prices start from just £10. For more information, view www.vickybooker.com or call Vicky on either 01243 586731 or 07973 234764. Vicky’s Facebook page details are www.facebook.com/vickybookercoachandstyle and she’s on Twitter at @vixbooker

Looking forward to popping into Handmade Happiness over the weekend to say hi to creative homeowner Jenny Stacy and have a leisurely browse for some special gifts for family and friends.

This delightful shop in Dragon Street, Petersfield, Hampshire, boasts a wonderful selection of local makers’ work, ideal for unique presents including handmade glass kaleidoscopes, silver jewellery, porcelain decorations, knitted cats, colourful handmade buttons and plenty more.

Handmade Happiness is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and throughout Christmas week.

Just two weeks until Christmas Day and it’s cold, bright and crisp here – ideal for a shoot at a stunning home that’s brimming with warmth, personality and delightful festive touches.

If your house also lends itself particularly well to Christmas and you’d love to see it on the pages of a national magazine, drop me a line at mail@janetmcmeekin.co.uk or call 01243 792379 to chat about a seasonal shoot.

Morning all…I wonder if you’d be kind enough to promote this Christmas present idea – one that’s rather close to my heart!

A couple of months ago, my daughter Louisa (right of the picture below) and her school friends were frantically trying to come up with an idea for their Young Enterprise challenge.

After loads of brainstorming, energy, enthusiasm and considerable effort, the team called Spark, has come up with Let’s Make Bunting, a bunting kit with a difference.

Each colourful kit, costing £7.50, comprises two metres of bunting, eight flags made from recycled material, 15 buttons, and instructions – all in one handy box.

I think these young people deserve a little support so, if you know of anyone who’d love a Let’s Make Bunting kit then email o.tunmore@hotmail.com. For more information check out Spark’s Twitter feed @EnterpriseSpark and Instagram @SparkEnterprise.

Please feel free to share, Retweet, follow and so on…thanks very much. 🙂

Happy Friday! Many thanks for all the new Facebook likes and Twitter follows, particularly during this hectic run up to Christmas – what a great start to the day.

With Christmas in mind, I’ve just snapped up a super book for a certain young nephew that’s been written by Christopher Joyce – a talented author who is based not far from me, in Chichester, West Sussex.

This is Christopher’s second book in the Creatures of Chichester series and I reckon it’s going to be a hit with both nephew and parents alike!

For more information view www.creaturesofchichester.com or pop over to Christopher’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/creaturesofchichester.