South Wales Echo

It's Panto Time ... Oh, Yes It Is! ; Here's Our Guide to a Few of the Entertaining Annual Family Extravaganzas to Be Held Around Southwales This Christmas

Sleeping Beauty Traditional family entertainment this festive season at Swansea's Grand Theatre is that perennial Christmas favourite, the magical fairytale Sleeping Beauty. Emmerdale actress and I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here favourite,Malandra Burrows, stars alongside Andrew Agnew (known to thousands of children and parents as the lovable PC Plum from Balamory), Helen Fraser, (Bad Girls), the gorgeous finalist of 'Any DreamWill Do', Lewis Bradley, playing the handsome prince, and back b...

Making Sure Your Celebrations Go with a Bang

It was a simple, but accidental invention that has stood the test of time - the Christmas cracker - that now forms part of our festive celebrations. In 1847, Tom Smith came up with the idea of a small cardboard tube covered in a coloured twist of paper.

You Enjoyed the Party, but Now You Have to Face ...

The hangover is an affliction that affects some people more often than others. But for even themost sensible and restrained person there will come a time when self-discipline gives way to overexcitement, and willpower - and dignity - vanish without trace.

The Proof Is in the Christmas Pudding

It's easy to make your own traditional pud - but prepare well ahead for the best taste Serves 16 people H If any of the dried fruits you are using are too large, chop them into smaller pieces. H Put the mixed fruit, citrus rinds and juices, and brandy or sherry in a large bowl, stir and cover with a tea towel; leave for 2-4 days, stirring occasionally. H Preheat the oven to 160C/Gas 3; for a fan oven cook from cold at 140C. Butter two 1.2 litre/2 pint pudding basins and line the bases with a ...

Dinners Around the World

Turkey is often regarded as the usual Christmas meal but didn't appear on the menu until about 1650, after European colonisation of North America. It was introduced to Europe by Sebastian Cabot on his return from the New World. The bird got its name after merchants from Turkey made it a popular dish. Prior to this swan, goose, peacock or boar were associated with the Christmas feast.

Your Six-Point Guide to Organising a Xmas Party

Organising the office Christmas party can be a tricky business. Get it right, and you could earn precious brownie points from the boss and the back-slapping praise of your colleagues. Get it wrong, and the office could suddenly become a very lonely place.

Tree Is an Enduring Symbol of Christmas

Every year you run around the shops in search of a tree to plant in your living room. If you did this at any other time of the year you'd be pronounced bonkers.

Winter Wonderland Right in the Heart of the Capital City

You know the festive season is well and truly under way when the Winter Wonderland arrives on City Hall lawn, and this year the magical seasonal attraction will be thrilling skaters and entertaining crowds from now until January 3. The magical bmibaby Cardiff Winter Wonderland has returned to the capital for the ninth time this year. And the beauty is you don't have to be up to Torvill and Dean's standard to enjoy yourself - whether you're an experienced skater or a complete novice the open-a...

Christmas All-Time Record Breakers ; Do You Know What the Largest Cracker Was? How About How Tall the Largest Christmas Angel Ornament Was? Or the Most Expensive Toy? What Better Time to Set World Records Than During Yuletide?

H The world's largest gift is the Statue of Liberty, given to the US by France in 1886. H The best-selling book at Christmas time and the rest of the year is the Bible. H Every year, the citizens of Gvle, Sweden build the world's largest Christmas goat out of straw. The towering animal is 13 metres tall, 7 metres long and weighs 3 tonnes.

Buy Now to Secure Your New Home in 2010!

AYLOR WIMPEY'S EquinoxdevelopmentinPenylan, TCardiff is proving so popular the housebuilder has already sold out of homes for 2009 and is now taking reservations on properties due for completion in 2010. House hunters have been flocking to Equinox and due to the development's continuing success, the last plot available for a 2009 move in was snapped up earlier this month.

Don't Be a Scrooge When It Comes to Baking Your Traditional Christmas Cake ; Crunchy Nuts, Moist Fruits, Exotic Spices and Your Favourite Tipple - the Only Tricky Thing About Making This Cake Could Be What Ingredients to Leave Out!

Makes a 20cm/18cm/7in square cake 225g (8oz) butter, chopped, plus extra for greasing 300g (10oz) dark muscovado sugar 2x500g bags of luxury mixed dried fruit, finely grated rind and juice of one orange, finely grated rind and juice of one lemon 125ml (4 fl.oz) brandy or sherry 100g packet whole blanched almonds 4 large eggs, lightly beaten 100g packet ground almonds 300g (10oz) plain flour tsp baking powder 1 tsp mixed spice 1 tsp ground cinnamon tsp freshly grated nutmeg. H Put the butter...

Your Stars with Claire Petulengro

Family have been taking advantage of you. They realise this fact, and they're ready to make peace. You just have to agree to put the past behind you for good this time too, Aries. Call now to make the most of this week's fabulous aspects. Finances come under the spotlight. This is a good time to think about ways of getting rid of any debt you have. Saturn, the planet of structure, is ready, willing and able to help you. Call now to move on from those past issues for good.

Give Santa a Run for His Money with Our Great Selection of Christmas Gifts ; Picking the Right Present for Loved Ones at Christmas Can Be a Daunting Task ... But It Needn't Be. Here Are Some Great Gift Ideas to Suit All Tastes and Budgets. From Trendy Fashion Items to Blockbuster Box Sets and the Cutest Toys, There's a Gift for Everyone. So Get Shopping!

La Redoute's winter collection allows you to pick and choose from this season's key trends to create your very own style of affordable, fun and funky high fashion. La Redoute 0844 842 2222 www.laredoute.co.uk Necklace pounds 25 Luigi and his team have been hard at work tracking down, tasting and choosing the most delicious Christmas treats they can find in every corner of Italy. From melt- in-themouth, chocolatecovered figs to the finest Italian wines and balsamic vinegars, all sorts of goodi...

The Strange History of Traditions Around the World

We are all familiar with the vast number of Christmas traditions and customs we observe today; however, hundreds of equally wonderful and bizarre traditions have been lost or corrupted over the ages. An old Victorian tradition was to hide a glass pickle in the Christmas tree the night before Christmas.

Pick of the Day

Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall (8.00pm) A star- studded lineup performs for charity, featuring Take That, Paul McCartney, Shirley Bassey, Lily Allen, Dizzee Rascal, Leona Lewis, Muse, Snow Patrol and Cheryl Cole. Wonderland: Can We Get Married? (9.50pm) A couple with Down's syndrome consider marriage, but need to work out whether married life would be the dream they always imagined or a stress they could do without. Emmerdale (7.00pm) Temptation gets the better of Charity when C...

Kitchen Leak to Design Chic ; Broken Washer Inspired Revamp

IT was a broken down dishwasher which prompted Diane Crawford into transforming the kitchen/breakfast room in her Cardiff home. The location of the integrated machine made it so difficult to get out to repair that instead Diane and her husband decided to renew their whole kitchen.

Redrow's Special Offer for Debut Home Buyers

A NEW concept aimed at first time buyers has been launched at a development near Bridgend. Redrow homes say their Debut scheme at Dl Gorwel in North Cornelly represents an easy way to invest in a new home, built to high quality and featuring contemporary designs.

Remember the Simple Truth About Renovation ; Hammer It Home with Martin Roberts

Martin Roberts, property expert, author and presenter of TV's Homes under the Hammer offers advice and guidance on all things property related MARTIN ROBERTS Continuing from last week with my Top 20 Hints and Tips on renovating shrewdly:Don't compromise on the quality of the workmanship if you are planning to rent out the property. Tenants don't treat properties with the same care and attention as home owners and so wear and tear will take place at a quicker rate. Skimping on the standard of ...

The Home of Modern Design ; Plenty of Colour in This Cardiff Property

BY day Angharad Morris is a young solicitor but by night she is a budding interior designer - if her stunning home is anything to go by. The 26-year-old moved into Acorn Grove in Pontprennau, Cardiff, nearly three years ago with her boyfriend, technology teacher Gareth Davies, also 26. Since then the couple have transformed the interior of their home from plain magnolia into bright contemporary colours.

Leaking Pond Is a Growing Problem ; Property Posers Your Legal Questions Answered by Richard Battrick