The Royal Geographical Society has a Gift Membership that could be just the thing for keen geographers and travellers in your life!

They are a registered charity in the UK (no 208791) and the UK’s “learned society and professional body for geography”.   

Founded back in 1830 to advance geographical science, it welcomes everyone who loves geography, travel and exploration.  You can connect with like-minded people and there opportunities for lifelong learning.  It’s also a chance to discover more about the world and contribute to the work the Society does – you can help support the next generation of geographers!

Find out more about the Royal Geographical Society

You can go to Monday night lectures or watch them livestream or recordings of them online.  There’s Geographical magazine, and talks, exhibitions and events across the UK.   You can receive regular Society Updates and use the Members' Room and the Foyle Reading Room, as well as the RGS library of maps, books and guides, and have access to the historic Collections

Gift Membership is from £179.00 a year and there are different categories to choose from:  Membership and Student Membership.

Find out more here

If you're looking for something for people who love chocolate and who love to try something that's a bit different, you could take a look at the Chocolate Trading Company.

The Chocolate Trading Company specialises in chocolates from all over the world, so they offer chocolate lovers a great chance to try chocolates such as Zotter, Bonnat, Chocolat Madagascar, Valrhona, Pralus, Amedei, Booja Booja, Callebaut, Chocolarder, Charbonnel et Walker, and the Chocolate Tree.

They've got chocolate boxes, chocolate bars, chocolate gift hampers, novelty chocolates and even the chance to create your own gift hamper!   

The code covers gift hampers from the Chocolate Trading Company as well! 

Indulge in a special chocolatey offer!

And great news!  They've got a special offer for you - 10% off until the 30th June 2025!  The code is site wide, too (it does exclude Sale or Trade/Bulk items).   Just use the code 

CHOCO10Q225

This offer is site wide, so it includes chocolate gift hampers!  Chocolate and champagne (what a combination!), chocolate and prosecco (wonderful!), or you could choose chocolates and red wine, chocolates and white wine,  and some of the hampers have dark chocolate, or white chocolate or milk chocolate - there's plenty to choose from!

Visit the Chocolate Trading Co here.

Please note that you need to keep chocolate goodies away from dogs - please don't put chocolate decorations where they can reach them (or have a good go at reaching them).  If you want to get your dog chocolate goodies, get chocolate made for dogs, not people.  You could look at Lily's Kitchen or Viovet who have Forthglade Christmas Turkey & Cranberry Natural Soft Bites Dog Treats.

It’s time for RHS Chelsea Flower Show from 20th to 24^th May 2025.  It will be full of beautiful gardens, lots of ideas, tips and advice and plenty of shopping, as well as chances to eat and drink!

And if you can’t get there – don’t panic, the BBC is covering the show!

Coverage starts on Sunday 18^th May 2024 at 6:00 on BBC1 with “Countdown to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, when Sophie Raworth and Adam Frost present a look at the show.  

Thereafter on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, there are two programmes a day at 2pm and 8pm.   There are plenty of tips to be gained, inspiration too, and you can find out all about the power of gardening.   Monty Don, Nicky Chapman, Angellica Bell, Chris Bavin, Carol Klein and Ant Andersen have lots to share with you, with garden tips, the winners, the best plants to attract bees, the health benefits of gardening, His Majesty The King's stumpery at Highgrove House, the secrets to growing prize-winning herbs and, of course the BBC RHS People's Choice Award.  

Seagrass is making its first appearance at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
with the Seawilding garden.
Find out all about it here. 
Image copyright RHS

Project Giving Back is funding a series of gardens to raise awareness of a range of amazing causes, including the Wildlife Trusts British Rainforest Garden, Hospice UK, Seawilding (who have the first seagrass garden at Chelsea), and the SongBird Survival Garden which reminds us how vulnerable birds are.   

The RHS has announced the ‘Catherine’s Rose’ to celebrate The Princess of Wales’ work to highlight the healing power of nature.  You can see it here - it's just beautiful!  

It's not too late to buy tickets – and don’t’ forget that there are other RHS Flower Shows during the year.  And remember, Members get reduced price tickets!

There are tips on how to make the most of your visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show here. 

The themes in 2025 are aiming to show that great design and sustainability can go hand in hand, using water wisely, and the joy of gardens and how we can attract a younger and more diverse audience to gardenin

Find out more about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Visit the BBC's programme website here

Visit the RHS here

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is to make myself some Twinnings Earl Grey Tea.   I've got a fine bone china mug I love to drink it from (so pretty, from Dunoon) - a friend and I were talking about our morning Twinnings tea and we both agreed you have to drink it out of a fine bone china mug!

Twinnings are known for their teas, and they have an incredible range of flavours to choose from.  They've got teas to see you through the day, from English Breakfast to your afternoon tea, and then something to see you off to sleep in the evening zzzzz

They've also got Wellbeing teas, for sleep, unwind, digestive health, feel good, good energy, pause and unwind and more.  

And they've got Matcha tea - and in case you haven't tried that before, they've got a Matcha Starter Kit  with everything you need to start making delicious Matcha beverages!  

There's a Twinnings Matcha Starter Kit Gift Box for £28.00

And as you can imagine, they've got lots of biscuits & confectionary, fudge, marmelades and prseserves, and plenty of tableware - mugs, KeekpCups and tea accessories. 

They've also got gift hampers, Twinnings Collection Selection Boxes, Christmas confectionery, Christmas boxed gift sets and Christmas Advent calendars. 

This is the Monty Bojangles Truffle Collection Tube - yummy!
£8.49

This is the Peace on Earth Gift Box for £23.00

Their ranges give you a great chance to try out different teas, so they're great for anyone who loves trying different tastes, and they've even got a Tea Masterclass in their flagship store in the Strand in London,  so you can buy a loved one a voucher for that (£45.00).   

Visit Twinnings here