It is very hard to know whether or not we are going to have a hard winter this year or not. The weather has certainly been an even bigger conversation topic around here lately. Last week I bought a 10kg bag of Rock salt specially designed for use on paths and driveways. It was easy as I was in the supermarket and there was a huge display. Even if it does not get used this year it will keep. I learned recently that the ‘grit’ that is scattered on the roads by the council contains molasses. Fancy that! They are stroring plenty in their depots, to make sure that they are not caught unawares by the weather again. Make sure you buy a proper bag of Rock Salt for pathways, though. Otherwise you could pay dearly if your husband is anything like mine. He used my expensive 500g bag of gourmet rock salt to sprinkle outside the back door!

It is so important to treat your paths, steps and driveways as the danger of a nasty fracture is much higher at this time of year. Have your bag of rock salt handy and use it on all the access pathways of your home if snow is predicteed this year. You can put it down as soon as the bad weather starts.

Dolce Gabbana Scarf for Christmas

These luxury gifts are bestsellers at my-wardrobe. Get them delivered in 48 hours

These small gifts will make a big impact on any woman this Christmas and they are selling fast at my-wardrobe, the online quality fashion retailer. The top six gifts this season are:

1. D&G Large Maxi Ocelot Scarf at £230.00 The superb layers of silk and wool ocelot printed luxury in  Dolce & Gabbana’s signature print make this scarf a must have.  This Ocelot print wool and silk mix long rectangular maxi scarf measures  70 cm x 240 cm so you can drape it in dozens of different ways. Composition 50% Wool, 50% silk. This scarf is the perfect way to add a little D&G to every look this season.

2. Anton Heunis Wire Setting And Strass Earrings £133. Stand out from the crowd in futuristic feel, Swarovski smattered mega jewels. The designer, Anton Heunis looked to the film Barbarella to inspire this collection and while these look like heavy metal, the wire frame is very light making them easy to wear.  Brass wire cage earring with set Swarovski stones and brass tassel. Anton Heunis earrings are for pierced ears only and have a 13 cm drop.

3. Diane Von Furstenberg Lytton Metallic Leather Clutch £273.  The Lytton clutch is a signature piece from the Diane Von Furstenberg collection. DvF is the choice of many famous faces this year – why? Well, it has a timeless appeal and the ability to reinvent its look every season.  The results are breathtaking. This bag is fashioned in textured light-reflecting copper making it the perfect glitzy evening accessory and it will take you through all the parties you can go to.

4. Anton Heunis Big Disc Crystal Brooch Necklace £295.00 Inspired by Charlie’s Angels, this is Heunis’ stamp on vintage 70s feel pieces with a twist.  This striking necklace will  lift simple looks and plain tee shirts. Green malachite disc necklace with large Swarovski crystal brooch detail and crystal trim. Anton Heunis necklace fastens with a T-bar clasp and has a 30 cm drop.

5. Anya Hindmarch Valorie Blue Glitter Clutch £350 Go for all out, high octane glam at Christmas with Anya Hindmarch’s signature Valorie clutch. It is a  perfect size to balance with cocktails with plenty of space inside for essentials.  This leather envelope clutch is finished in Midnight blue glitter with signature gold and black turn lock fastening. The Anya Hindmarch bag has a navy metallic and neutral suede lining and one slip pocket. Measurements 23cm x 16cm x 1cm.

6. Camilla Skovgaard Peeptoe Platform Buckle Metallic Sandal £332.00 Men and women alike adore the iconic look of these metallic Skovgaard mega heels. Mud metal metallic platform ankle strap sandals with a rubber platform sole that is the trademark of the Danish designer.  This adaptable style is equally fab with skinny jeans and dresses alike. These Camilla Skovgaard shoes fasten with a buckle and have a 15 cm high heel and 4 cm sole. Leather upper, lining and sole.

Who said Christmas shopping was hard?  Any woman would be happy to receive (at least) one of these beautiful fashion gifts and in the unlikely event that you wanted to exchange it, you can relax.  my-wardrobe offers speedy delivery and Free returns.

When I worked in a big organisation, many years ago, I made great use of translation agencies to produce written material for our publicity campaigns. Even though there are numerous websites and free downloads promising to translate copy instantly, there is none the less still a strong demand for quality professional translation companies. The reason for this is simple – quality. Do it yourself translations are a very unwise course of action, risking huge misunderstandings and offence if you happen to use the wrong phrase.  To the uninitiated there is a potential minefield every time you write or speak to a foreign audience.  Think of President Kennedy, who rarely made a public slip.  However, when he visited Berlin his ill-advised speech climax was ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’.  To a novice that might look as if he identified with the people of that city.  But no! Inserting the pronoun ‘ein’ produced the meaning – ‘I am a doughnut’.  German grammar is an involved subject and this is not a language where you can feel your way through: you are either right or wrong.  So if you want to avoid egg on the face, make sure you use a reliable translation service for all your language needs.

The Bayswater Heritage Satchel lined in matching soft suede

The Bayswater Heritage Satchel lined in matching soft suede

Mulberry have really used plenty of retro chic in the design of the latest stunning Bayswater iconic bag. the Heritage Bayswater satchel.  Shown here in rich Conker Brown, this covetable bag has Poacher style straps plus a cross-body strap making it totally adaptable for the coming autumn-winter season. In cold weather you can switch to a cross-body satchel and dig your hands deep in your pockets.  Other days your Bayswater becomes a classic shoulder bag again.

Manufactured in Conker brown high pebbled matt leather, the satchel bag has two top handles encircling a flap top, plus gold-tone hardware and a Postman’s Lock closure. There is also a hidden padlock in a patent leather hanging pouch. Also in patent are the contrasting leather Poacher-style straps with stud closures. In typical Mulberry style, the bag has a brushed leather interior with a zipped pocket and two internal slip pockets. Inside, the internal buckled belt straps to enable you to widening the bag when you need more space. Mulberry have included metal feet on the base to protect the soft leather of your Mulberry Bayswater Heritage. Bag measures 36cm x 26.5cm x 15.5cm.

The buttery soft leather on this Bayswater bag is perfect for this season’s heritage-inspired trend. You don’t need reminding that the iconic Bayswater is a timeless classic and this Heritage version adds further to the style, drawing on the Mulberry archives for the cross-body and Poacher style straps.

Bayswater heritage satchel-Mulberry

Mulberry's latest Bayswater offering in Conker Leather

This beautiful designer bag by Mulberry is already sold out at the Mulberry site, but there are a few left at My-Wardrobe. The price is £950, and remember this bag will just apprecaite as it matures – grab yours quickly.

This is new kind of bag for me to recommend, from the amazing Joe Browns label. The Objet Trouve Bag is really handy little Parisian style bag for the winter, cosy and cuddly and in lovely colours.  The outer is 100% Wool, with a cotton lining: The bag measures 26cm x 35.5cm and it will be your favourite buy this season – without breaking the bank.

Joe Browns Objet Trouve Bag

Are you the same age as me, where you remember Griff Rhys Jones as quite a young tasty guy playing satirical comedy sketches with Mel Smith? Or maybe he just looked better playing a double act with an ugly guy. Well, those shows were made over thirty years ago and now he has moved on to portray a kind of good-looking professional eccentric in the TV medical drama named House. Here, he plays a senior hospital consultant and he is looking pretty sexy in his green scrubs strutting around the wards with a group of adoring medical students in tow.
I have to admit – if this kind of look is part of your fantasy (or your man’s) then you can buy a similar outfit at http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/ and bring it home! It would not look as good on  the portly Mel Smith, I’m afraid – but  maybe that’s why he always got all the funniest lines ………..

Kate Middleton's Mulberry Polly Push Lock Bag

Kate Middleton's Mulberry Polly Push Lock Bag

The Duchess of Cambridge wore some lovely outfits while touring Canada, and flies the flag for British fashion.  Here she is carrying a Mulberry Polly Push Lock bag in Navy. I saw this bag in the Mulberry shop last week – trust Kate to pick up on Mulberry’s hottest new design.  The Polly Bag could eventually overtake the Bayswater in my opinion.  I prefer its structured look, as a development of last year’s Mulberry hit bag, the Neely. Beautifully updated for the new season, the Polly Push Lock has a fab new fastening and a comes in a superb shade of midnight blue. Perfect for any Princess, and you can grab Kate Middleton’s bag for just £850.

Midnight shiny grain leather satchel bag with structured tan leather top handle, cross body strap and large signature push lock fastening. The Mulberry Polly Push Lock has an external rear zip pocket with push lock zip fob, one internal zip pocket, one internal slip pocket, is fully lined in signature fabric and navy suede. Size 30cm x 34 cm x 14 cm. Remember, a Mulberry bag is an investment purchase and a lifelong treasure.  Kate is a wise shopper, comnbining high end designer fashion with high street, that is a style worth copying.

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Next month I have to renew my car insurance and even though I am a middle aged woman living in a small town with a low crime rate I am expecting a big rise in the cost. Of course I will shop around as there seems to be no reward for loyalty with most motor insurance companies. The last time I told my insurance company I had moved house they tried to levy a huge extra premium, and they could not explain why. I have been with the same insurer for two years but I am likely to change for 2011.

An Antipodean friend of mine uses Car Insurance Australia, and she has been very happy with The Buzz, her current insurer.They offer agreed value insurance, meaning you can choose the value you want to insure your car for.  This can give you a considerable saving on your premium, so look out for this when you buy car onsurance.