Only 161 days until Christmas!!!!

It will be the season to ex-ter-mi-nate

Sorry to the bearer of bad news, but there really are only 161 days until Christmas. Though most of us would prefer to ignore this fact, as most of us are still looking forward to our summer vacations, especially those venturing south for a fabulous Devon Fishing Holiday; the toy stores have other ideas!

Hamleys has already compiled a list of the products that will be top of our children's wishlists this year. First is a Dalek voice-changing helmet from the Doctor Who range, guaranteed to make even the sweetest child sound like a murderous robot for £39.99. The very little ones are expected to hanker after a high-tech version of the Teletubbies doll, which was a top-seller ten years ago. The £39.99 'Dance With Me' Teletubbies blink, giggle, dance and make a'parp' sound when knocked over and a happy 'whee' sound when picked up.

Quite an expensive headache if you ask me, and joy of joy more plastic to break, trip over, clutter up the lounge & worst of all the constant pleads for yet more batteries to make the damn things work! Why as a nation do we do this to ourselves? And what's more over and over again each year!

So why not break the mould this year? A little peace would be a worthy reward. For those with children , boys and girls alike - a fishing rod & reel with some fancy looking floats would make a great gift with some pre-paid day tickets for your local coarse fishery and for those in the Southwest where better than Newbarn Farm, a prime place for Fishing in Devon. A new hobby which can be fulfilled with spending very little and what's more just think of the fresh air the children would be taking.

For those who have let go of the magic inspired by Father Christmas - a holiday in a one of Newbarn Farm's luxury four star self catering cottages (& fishing) over the Christmas holidays could just be the ticket.

And for us grown-ups, why we don't need an exuse - do we? A great gift for a loved one - a short break or a full week's holiday. Just wrap up one of our brochures and place it under the tree - they'll be delighted not to recieve yet another pair of slippers or a perfume from the shelves of that corner pharmacists just down the road!

And if Christmas really does seem a lifetime away - too far away to start making plans and drawing up copious lists, there's no harm in treating yourself and your loved ones with a short Devon Fishing Holiday in one of luxurious self catering cottages & fishing. Go on spoil yourself.