It's been a funny month. In England we were told about lockdown on Halloween, and locked down on Firework Night. Ireland, Wales and Scotland had moved before us, so the whole UK were not quite doing it as we usually do. It worked though. 

We had a Halloween sweet hunt, and an online zoom pumpkin carving challenge with our big uni kids, and we'll never forget those moments. They wouldn't have happened without COVID. Yes it stops us from doing what we expected, but it doesn't have to stop us from 'doing'. We can still make memories, have fun, and create smiles. 

A huge thank you to everyone who shared their smiles with us on Instagram this month. Anyone is welcome to join in, just use the hashtag #tbcsmiles on any smile. Some of them are very hard won, and every one precious. 

It's lovely to see lots of adults, people carrying on with their lives. We also have lots of children with old and new traditions, and a socially-distanced mix of the two. We can all do this.... 

Christmas is all a bit of an unknown at the moment, we are unlikely to be able to do all of those things we usually do. Any of us might have loved ones who we won't see in person, and Moonpig are ideal for our seasonal messages. They really don't just deliver cards and flowers, they sell a HUGE range of gifts, and they've sent me a selection to review, plus a voucher to do some shopping of my own... 

I've got 4 grown up children now at University, and the nearest relatives are 80 miles away, so online gifts delivered to their door are ideal for us. Moonpig wrap everything individually in really quite attractive, yet totally recyclable card. You get to open all of your presents, just the same as you would ordinarily. 

The cardboard packaging has tear off strips, so it's easy to open, and any packing aside from card is also biodegradable. I love the message "Delivery for someone very special." Having these parcels to open DOES make me feel very special.  Who doesn't love presents through the post? And it's my birthday this week.... as chance would have it... 

Hedgeways is a wooden strategy game which we were sent to review earlier this Autumn by Sprout & Gherkin. Designed for 2 players (although we have played a version with more), and recommended for anyone aged around 7-99+, it's fun to play, and a beautiful game which comes in the most amazing wooden box... 

Hedgeways is from the same people who make another gorgeous wooden tile game, Sproutword, and it's just as clever. There is no plastic packaging, in fact no plastic at all, and the box itself is part of the joy - created mainly from a single piece of wood, carefully cut to bend over and clip shut. That'll impress the Grandads...