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  1.  

    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!
    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
    .

     



  2. It’s time for RHS Chelsea Flower Show from 20th to 24th 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 18th 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
    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

     

  3.  

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

    This is the Peace on Earth Gift Box
    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

     

  4. Did you know that it’s Afternoon Tea Week from the 12th to 18th August?

    It’s a chance to celebrate this wonderful tradition.  For there’s nothing like sharing a cup of tea or coffee with a loved one, whether they’re a good friend or family member.   It’s a chance to sit and chat, to catch up and share a moment.

    There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life
    Lin Yutang

    Perhaps it is while drinking tea that I most of all enjoy the sense of leisure.
    George Gissing, The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft, 1903

    Virgin Experience Days have LOTS of afternoon teas all over the country, including of course, Afternoon Teas in London.    In fact, if you’re looking to treat someone to an Afternoon Tea in London, you could look at their blog, called 18 of the Best Afternoon Teas in London, to help you decide which afternoon tea you’d like to treat someone to. 

    Tea time is a chance to slow down, pull back and appreciate our surroundings.
    Letitia Baldrige

    They’ve got Afternoon Teas at Fortnum and Mason, The Petersham in Covent Garden, which offers a sanctuary from the crazy world that’s London, The Stage at The Londoner, the Ochre at the National Gallery, SUSHISAMBA, where Asian flavours meet British classics, and a Jurassic Afternoon Tea for Two Adults at The Ampersand Hotel.  There’s also a Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at the 5* Rubens at The Palace Hotel.

    A cup of tea is an excuse to share great thoughts with great minds.
    Cristina Re

    Take a look too at the Free-Flowing Bubbles Afternoon Tea for Two at The County Hall Hotel and a MAP Maison Tapas Style Afternoon Tea with Free Flowing Cocktails for Two.

    Don’t forget The Langham and The Lanesborough, the Melody Restaurant, and The Washington Hotel, as well as the TĪNG Restaurant on the 35th Floor of The View from The Shard., and Harrods which has a number of different options.

    And Virgin Experience Days also has a number of Afternoon Teas in London under £75.00.  Taking tea is a great way to escape the pace of life in London or anywhere else!

    Tea:  a moment of peace from the constant battles of life.
    Terri Guillemets

    There’s also a wide choice of Traditional Cream Teas, Gin Afternoon Teas, Spa Days and Afternoon Teas, Vegan Afternoon Teas and Afternoon Teas exclusive to Virgin.  With over 450 experiences to choose from, you won’t be short of choice.  

    For garden lovers, there's a Visit to Kew Gardens with Prosecco Afternoon Tea at The Botanical for Two

    For garden lovers, there's a Visit to Kew Gardens with Prosecco Afternoon Tea at The Botanical for Two
    in Richmond. 

    And there are lots of options if you want Tea for Two under £50 with lots of geographical locations to choose from. 

    How about a Piglets Pantry Afternoon Tea at Home for Two?
    How about a Piglets Pantry Afternoon Tea at Home for Two?
    See more Hamper ideas here.

    Afternoon, a time for reflection, a time for calmness, a time for renewal.
    Lailah Gifty Akita

    Some of them offer a bit of a theme – for example for big cat lovers, how about giving them a Paul Hollywood themed Afternoon Tea in Kent – you can sip your tea and tuck in whilst looking at some amazing big cats at the Big Cat Sanctuary!

    No matter where you are in the world, you are at home when tea is served.
    Earlene Grey

    There are Afternoon Teas (and Cream Teas) you can enjoy together with a visit to somewhere such as Bletchley Park, Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent, Kew Gardens, Blackpool Tower Ballroom, and the Swinton Estate.   Or you could combine it with an activity such as a spa day, a walk with alpacas or llamas, or a creative activity.  So there’s plenty to browse!

    In Yorkshire, there's a Traditional Afternoon Tea for Two at The Swinton Estate
    In Yorkshire, there's a Traditional Afternoon Tea for Two at The Swinton Estate

    The cup of tea on arrival at a country house is a thing which, as a rule, I particularly enjoy. I like the crackling logs, the shaded lights, the scent of buttered toast, the general atmosphere of leisured cosiness. P.G. Wodehouse, "The Code of the Woosters," 1938

    Head off to Virgin Experience Days to browse their Afternoon Teas!