Stocking fillers/your ideal guest

Until Austin gets his Bunsen burner going in the shop to start mulling the wine - which should happen about the time he grows another pair of hands - you could do a lot worse than check out Kieran's mulled wine ice cream.

And if you're asking yourself what to buy for the foodie who has everything, here's a gift possibility reported by Decanter.

Who would you like to have around the house at Christmas to give a bit of zip to the conversation, or respite from your nearest and dearest &c. &c.? Controversial old Blogorrah gave a deserved nod to Paul Muldoon recently.