Tag: Christmas

Treat your dog to a ‘pawsome’ Christmas!

The festive season is a time for family, so when you’re getting ready for party season this year don’t forget to make it a ‘yappy Christmas’ for your dog too!

Pets are very much part of the family, but at a busy time of year they can be faced with many new situations and people. Here, Company of Animals, leading dog training and behaviour experts, share some tips on how to treat your dog this December to some TLC to get them looking – and feeling – their best.

Paws to admire

‘Tis the season to be joyful, but it’s also the season of cold, wet and icy weather. During the colder months dogs can get dirty and sore paws.

To combat this issue here are a few easy solutions:

  • Regularly clean your dog’s paws to ensure grit doesn’t get stuck and cause irritation.
  • Keep an eye on your dog and their paws. If they have been on a long walk on a cold day, be mindful they may have sore feet just like you.
  • Treat them with Pet Head Oatmeal Paw Butter, which soothes and nourishes dry and cracked paws. By massaging into your dog’s paws, you are not only supporting their comfort, but also giving them a lovely massage to boot. Paw Butter also works really well for a dog’s nose in the winter if they are getting a bit dry or sore.

Wonderful winter coat

While your dog is reliant on having a coat to keep warm in the winter months, being out in the cold and exposed to the elements everyday can leave their skin feeling sensitive and their fur in need of a bit of care.

To keep your dog feeling comfortable and looking great this festive season be sure to groom them regularly. By brushing your dog, you will give them some much loved attention, and also get rid of any irritating hair or bits that may have got caught in their coat.

Dog owners can also shampoo their dog to keep their skin clean and their fur smelling great. Use Pet Head Life’s an Itch shampoo, which is packed with natural ingredients to soothe sensitive skin.

Looking good

Your dog is always out and about, but over the December months they may be exposed to new people and new places. To make sure they look – and smell – their best, even when you don’t have much time, we have a quick fix for you.

Try giving your dog a quick spritz of Pet Head Dry Clean Shampoo, followed by a quick brush to catch any fly away fur. The spray on non-rinsing shampoo cleanses the coat without water and is perfect when your pet needs a quick fix.

If you would like more information on Pet Head, visit: www.companyofanimals.co.uk

Hibernian players spread festive cheer at Edinburgh Sick Kids

 

Children and young people were treated to a surprise visit from some famous footballing faces when players from Hibernian FC made an unexpected appearance at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Head Coach Jack Ross and his squad spread some festive joy by making their way around the wards to meet with young patients and their families and hand out Christmas gifts.

The visit is organised by Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC), which supports and complements the RHSC and works hard to make Christmas magical for those visiting the hospital.

Jack Ross said: “I’ve only recently joined the club but I was made aware very quickly what a special date this is in the calendar for everyone involved and we were only too happy to come along.

“While Christmas is obviously a special time of the year it can also be a difficult period for so many so we’ll do anything we can do put a few smiles on faces.

“The players enjoyed meeting the kids and I’d like to thank Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity for helping to make Christmas magical and the staff at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children for the work that they do on a daily basis.

“They’re an inspiration to us all.”

ECHC runs a living advent calendar throughout December, which sees a different door in the hospital opened each day to reveal something special. Some of the other entertainment in store over the Christmas period includes visits from a live pipe band, the Scottish Rugby squad and a performance from the Scottish ballet.

Fiona O’Sullivan, Arts Programme Manager at ECHC, said: “The football team visits to the hospital are always a huge hit with the children and young people. Some of the kids are massive football fans and avid supporters of Hibs so it really makes their day to meet their favourite players.

“Christmas is a very special time of year and we work hard to ensure no child or young person misses out on the joy and magic of the festive season. It’s the generosity of our supporters, like the Hibs players, that enables us to do this.”

Lonely this Christmas

One of Edinburgh’s leading care and support providers, Social Care Alba are working hard to address the public health crisis of loneliness this festive season by ensuring that all of their service users receive as much support as possible as well as a visit from their carer on Christmas Day. Continue reading Lonely this Christmas

Shock as charity reveals the Brussels sprout is not Scotland’s favourite Christmas side dish!

Mary’s Meals has revealed that Scotland’s favourite Christmas side dish is not the Brussels sprout!

The shocking news comes after people in Scotland were asked what side they prefer with their Christmas dinner. Roast potatoes claimed victory with almost a third of the vote, pigs in blankets came second (23 per cent) and the seasonal sprout scraped in at third place (20 per cent). Continue reading Shock as charity reveals the Brussels sprout is not Scotland’s favourite Christmas side dish!

All you want for Christmas at Waverley Mall

Waverley Mall is treating its customers to a fabulous array of festive treats, FREE entertainment, competitions and more this Christmas.

They have kicked off the season’s celebrations with the installation of their giant illuminated star on the centre’s roof from 12th November. The star, which proved an incredibly popular attraction with visitors throughout its debut last festive season, provides the perfect photo opportunity for couples, families and friends visiting the city centre.

To add to the festive cheer, Waverley Mall will be giving shoppers the chance to win a £200 gift card to spend in a store of their choice at Waverley Mall, when they break into festive song under the star.

To enter, participants simply need to sing their rendition of their favourite Christmas song under the giant star and film it, before uploading the video to Facebook or Instagram along with #starunderthewaverleystar.

The competition runs until 15th December 2019 with a winner being chosen in time to enjoy their prize for Christmas.

This will be followed by the first of two festive editions of their popular monthly live music event, ‘The Waverley Sessions’ in partnership with The Youth Radio Network, which will see dozens of young and aspiring musicians taking to the stage across the weekend of 30th November and 1st December.

The second event will take place across the weekend of 21st and 22nd December, with customers promised a variety of festive merriment across both weekends.

In a move to spread festive cheer and good will even further, Waverley Mall has offered a variety of local schools, choirs, charities and community groups the opportunity to use space within the centre for carol singing and festive performances to raise funds for a cause of their choice.

Organisations that have jumped at the opportunity include Edinburgh based mental health charity – Health in Mind who will be carol singing in the centre between 4.30pm and 6.30pm on Thursday 5th and Wednesday 11th December and award-winning women’s barbershop and a cappella chorus ‘Forth Valley Chorus’ who will perform at 30 minute intervals from 1pm – 3.30pm on the afternoon of Sunday 8th December to raise funds for cancer care charity ‘Maggies Centre’.

On Friday 13th December, the centre will welcome a group from Broughton High School to raise funds for their musical and on Saturday 14th, Armdale Academy will be raising funds for their school show.

On Sunday 15th December, Dunedin Wind Band will be playing to raise funds for Crisis – the national charity for homeless people. More groups are yet to be added to this fabulous line up.

Visitors to the city centre are encouraged to come down to Waverley Mall and show their support for these fantastic groups as they soak up the festive atmosphere.

As an extra special treat this year, Waverley Mall will be dishing out a variety of free treats throughout the festive season – customers should keep an eye on the centre’s social media channels to find out about the latest freebies and where and when to find them. 

Jacquelyn Stewart, General Manager, Waverley Mall says: “We wanted to make Christmas a little bit special this year, full of the anticipation, fun and surprises of the festive season, while raising awareness of those less fortunate and doing a little bit to help.

“As well as offering a little ‘thank you’ to our customers by way of a few free treats.”

BBC announces Christmas schedules

Once again, the BBC brings viewers a bumper box of yuletide treats featuring a whole host of much-loved performers and presenters which will delight and enchant audiences this Christmas.

Charlotte Moore, Director, BBC Content, says: “The BBC has assembled a sensational range of programmes to give viewers a festive season filled with Christmas crackers. We are bringing back some classic favourites with the likes of Gavin & Stacey, Miranda, Scrooge and Dracula!

“As well as introducing original new shows too. Whether you’re a fan of drama, comedy, entertainment or simply want to wallow in the beauty of the natural world, there really is no better place to be than watching the BBC this Christmas.”

Making a welcome return to BBC One on Christmas Day is Gavin & Stacey, from Ruth Jones and James Corden, in which the nation will discover what has been happening to the Shipmans and the Wests in the last ten years, as they all gather in Barry where Uncle Bryn is cooking Christmas dinner for over thirteen people.

This one-off special also stars Alison Steadman, Larry Lamb, Rob Brydon, Mathew Horne, Joanna Page, Julia Davis and Adrian Scarborough. And Miranda Hart also returns for a one-off special, Miranda: My Such Fun Celebration, filmed at the London Palladium in which the cast and crew take a fond look back at some of their favourite memories from the past ten years.

The nuns of Nonnatus House return for a Call The Midwife Christmas Special; and the residents of Albert Square have to cope with secrets and lies in what promises to be an explosive festive episode of EastEnders.

Brand new dramas being shown on BBC One over the festive season include A Christmas Carol with Guy Pearce as Scrooge, and also starring Stephen Graham, Charlotte Riley and Andy Serkis, in a new adaptation from the creator of Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight; Dracula will be brought to life from the pen of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, with award-winning Danish actor Claes Bang in the title role; The Trial Of Christine Keeler, starring James Norton, Ellie Bamber and Emilia Fox, takes a fresh look at one of the biggest political stories of the 20th Century; and the charming The Snail And The Whale, an adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s book, is voiced by Dame Diana Rigg, Sally Hawkins, Cariad Lloyd and Rob Brydon.

There will also be a special animated adaptation of Sir Michael Morpurgo’s children’s book Mimi And The Mountain Dragon, with an original score from Oscar winning composer Rachel Portman.

Michael McIntyre’s Big Christmas Show, recorded at the London Palladium, will see global superstar Sharon Osbourne bravely hand over her phone for Send To All and Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood awoken in the middle of the night for a special edition of Midnight Gameshow; and everyone’s favourite Irish mammy will be back for two festive specials in Finglas of Mrs Brown’s Boys in A Wonderful Mammy and Orange Is The New Mammy

From the Mischief Theatre comes The Goes Wrong Show: The Spirit Of Christmas, in which Santa and his elves try to bring happiness to a sad little girl; and Mackenzie Crook writes, directs and stars in a new adaptation of children’s favourite Worzel Gummidge, also starring Zoe Wannamaker, Sir Michael Palin, and Vicki Pepperdine as Aunt Sally.

 

Doctor Who, starring Jodie Whittaker in the title role alongside Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole, returns with a bang for a 12th series of new monsters and a fantastic line up of guest stars.

Mary Berry caters for a very special party for charity volunteers in A Berry Royal Christmas; and following another glittering series, the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special returns for an all-star episode as six of the most-loved Strictly stars – Debbie McGee, Chizzy Akudolu, Gemma Atkinson, Joe Sugg, Mark Wright and Richard Arnold take to the dancefloor in a one-off spectacular hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman; and Bradley Walsh and Holly Willoughby give members of their audience a chance to win a trip of a lifetime to Lapland in a brand new one off special, Take Off With Bradley And Holly.

During Advent, Songs Of Praise will broadcast two special programmes: in the first, Rev. Kate Bottley will celebrate the Nativity from a Christian-run farm in Devon, and the second will showcase the Christmas Big Sing. The Queen’s Christmas Message will once again be a highlight on BBC One on Christmas Day. On New Year’s Day, The Archbishop of Canterbury’s New Year’s Message will look at the year ahead, and the importance of connecting with people.

 

Lovers of wildlife programming also have much to look forward to over the festive season, with Liz Bonnin introducing a cast of charismatic animals in Winter Animals (w/t), detailing some of the remarkable strategies they use just to survive, and there will be a special compilation programme of the best bits from Seven Worlds, One Planet. Animal Park will return to Longleat safari park, where the team are hoping there have been enough donations of odd socks to keep the creatures cosy and warm this Christmas.

Mark De-Lisser will explore our modern day crisis in communication in Meet The Street At Christmas; and The Repair Shop At Christmas will use the team’s craft skills to restore some much loved family treasures in time for the festive season.

Dame Edna Rules The Waves, filmed in front of a live studio audience, features special guests Robert Rinder, with music from Niles Rodgers and Chic.

In addition, BBC One will host Christmas specials from some of its best-loved entertainment programmes, including Not Going Out; Still Open All Hours; A Question Of Sport; Celebrity Mastermind; Pointless Celebrities; Would I Lie To You?; The Graham Norton Show; Top Of The Pops; and The Hit List Celebrity Special.

 

On BBC Two, the Christmas story begins with the lone voice of a chorister singing Once in Royal David’s City, in Carols From King’s.

A new documentary, Hugh Grant: A Life On Screen, will showcase Hugh’s work and interview the man himself about his career; Inside The Christmas Factory will take a look at how the nation’s favourite party food is produced; and Gareth Malone’s Christmas Concert will put on a choral concert with some of the staff, patients and their families of Watford General Hospital.

There are treats in store for music lovers, with special programming from INXS with Live Baby Live; Liam Gallagher: As it Was; and Dolly Parton: HERE I AM, as well as the ever popular Jools’ Annual Hootenanny 2019 and the traditional musical start to the year with New Year’s Day Concert From Vienna. And there will be a cinematic reimagining of Romeo And Juliet: Beyond Words, filmed on location with members of The Royal Ballet.

There are more programmes on BBC Two for fans of natural history programming, with Snow Cats & Me, in which Gordon Buchanan travels to Russia to help rescue and rehabilitate lynx back to the wild; and Earth’s Tropical Islands will bring a welcome relief from the cold weather, showing the beauty of Madagascar, Borneo and Hawaii.

A Merry Tudor Christmas With Lucy Worsley will take a look back at how Christmas was celebrated during the reign of Henry VIII; whilst Frankie Boyle will reflect on the more recent events of 2019 in Frankie Boyle’s New World Order; Rhys Thomas will take an irreverent journey through 2019 in A Year In The Life Of A Year and Philomena Cunk also looks at the major events of 2019 in Cunk And Other Humans On 2019.

 

The boys from Top Gear will be back, setting out on an extremely tough road-trip, travelling from Kathmandu in Nepal to the Forbidden City of Lo Manthang. In the latest The Christmas Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan, the intrepid presenter will be in the Sahara desert battling heat of 50 degrees Celsius.

Challenged by Giles Coren to recreate an extraordinary tasting menu from 2001 from his restaurant The Fat Duck, Heston Blumenthal will reunite with original staff members in Eat The Years (w/t), looking at how he and his food shaped and mirrored recent British history.

One of the nation’s favourite children’s books, Paddington, is to be the subject of a special heart-warming programme on BBC Two. A Bear Called Paddington & A Man Called Michael (w/t) will take a look at how author Michael Bond created an international phenomenon with a little bear from Peru. And to sit alongside BBC One’s Dracula, BBC Two presents a one-off documentary with Mark Gatiss, In Search Of Dracula (w/t), which explores the Count’s transition from page to screen.

There will also be festive episodes of some of BBC Two’s best-loved entertainment programmes, including Only Connect; Live At The Apollo; QI; and University Challenge.

 

Over on BBC Four, there will be another haunting ghost story for Christmas – Martin’s Close, based on M.R. James short story of the same name and starring Peter Capaldi.

For lovers of Scandi noir, there will be a brand new Norwegian drama, Wisting, starring Carrie-Ann Moss and Sven Nordin. And another programme set in stunning landscape is The Last Igloo, a feature length documentary that follows a typical day in the life of an Innuit hunter.

The Magic Flute is one of the world’s most popular operas, and this version, specially filmed for the BBC audience, is from Glyndebourne Festival 2019. And for lovers of country music, BBC Four will be showing CMA Country Christmas, featuring festive classics and one-off collaborations from artists including Trish Yearwood and Lady Antebellum.

In a series of three lectures broadcast from the Royal Institution’s world famous theatre, Hannah Fry will show us how to decode life’s hidden numbers, helping us all to make better choices, separate news from fake news, and take back some of the control we have lost, in the 2019 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures.

In addition, BBC iPlayer will be bringing the audience a range of classic drama, top notch entertainment and side-splitting comedy.

Ten tips for choosing the best Christmas tree

Ten top tips for choosing the best Christmas tree

 

Still to get your Christmas tree? Here are ten top tips for when it comes to choosing your tree to help ensure it lasts over the festive period.

Plant experts from GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk are encouraging Britons to read up about the differences between firs and spruces to make sure they choose the best tree for them. Continue reading Ten tips for choosing the best Christmas tree