HELLO, little one!” Penny Dauntless greeted a robin-redbreast, who cocked his head as she pushed along her trolley of post on the daily round. “How often is there such a perfect mid-December morning?”

TO Jon’s surprise, Mr Pringle agreed to speak to him in the snug. Once they were seated there, Jon spoke quietly. “I’m a stranger here, and I want to keep an open mind. “So it would help if you could

IF there was one thing Glenda Williams had always been proud of, it was her organisational skills. At school, the other girls had always come to her for help when sorting out their revision timetables

HAVE YOUR SAY

THE fire in the great hall burned brightly to welcome Lady Dunstone’s guests to the event of the season, the Dunstone Manor Christmas Ball. The Manor was splendid this year. Snow glittered on the tree

WELCOMING VISITORS TO STAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS OR THROWING A WINTER SOIRÉE? TALLULAH RUSHAYA ASKS THE PROFESSIONALS FOR TIPS ON HOW TO BE THE HOST WITH THE MOST AT THIS JOYFUL TIME OF YEAR