A Christmas shopping trip turns into a chance to catch up on pony gossip for Tessa Waugh , who is on the back foot as far as present buying is concerned but replete with tales of happy new homes

Alex Roddie takes his snowshoes from Scotland to the Austrian Tyrol – and finds out just how far he can push them

While Tessa Waugh can never predict whether she’ll turn into a misanthrope or hostess with the mostest at her home meet, the day is a roaring success – with sausage rolls, sunshine and smiles

Whether winter-faded ferns, the spindly harvestman or the tyrannical stare of an irate chicken, through-lines from the prehistoric to our modern age are all around us in November, says John Lewis-Stempel

PEOPLE in Scotland love to talk about the weather, which isn’t all that surprising when you think we frequently experience four seasons in one day! Weather – especially bad weather – is our favourite

FITZWILLIAM (MILTON) 5 November Edited by Catherine Austen ...