Oh dear . . . .

Oh no! You're all waiting for the new delivery of swing-top bottles - which we said would be in this week - and where are they? Still across the Channel because all of the ferries are cancelled due to the storms. Doh! Rosie should have kept quiet . . . they are on the way though. To make it worth waiting we shall be repeating our amazing Buy One, Get One Free offer with a twist - Buy Six Get Six Free. (The boxes take twelve . . . .). I know, I'll never be able to retire if I keep doing things like that but it's only money.

The good news is though that the printer has finally delivered The Jam Maker's Journal which has gone straight onto the website at the introductory price of £8.99 for a while - Trev insisted this time- I argued that I'm already doing a crazy deal on the bottles but he dug his heels in. Hey ho.

Each Journal will end up being unique as there is plenty of room for you to record your own ideas and recipes alongside the useful information we have gathered together. The month by month pages don't have year so the Journal will still be relevant for many years to come. The Journal is in A5 ring binder format so you can easily add extras such as recipes from magazines and there's even a page on different lid sizes with a measurement guage, seasonal recipes, hints and tips, weight and jar conversions - as well as some of our lovely labels that you can use on your own preserves. We think it makes a great Christmas present - especially for you!

Christmas is coming!!!!!

Which I am sure you are all too well aware of!

We have been very busy at Jam Jar Shop finding lots of lovely packaging for you to make your preserves look really special as we know many of you are hard at working making gifts for Christmas. We have some great hampers which come complete with the woodstraw fill in a choice of colours, lovely trugs and crates plus a more modern looking card tray - very exec! And bows. Hundreds of bows. Elegant bows. Again, a great choice of colours, there's our own custom-designed labels plus all the fantastic range of jars and bottles of course.

We are busy making our yummy yummy mincemeat - May has another batch on the go today - I think this year we will use the 12oz Marmalade Jar as it is a very pretty shape and is looks generous without giving too much away, if you know what I mean. ( Note to self, re-name it the 12oz Mincemeat Jar . . . ) I must also tell May that we shall be starting the equally yummy Cranberry Relish any day now. Look out for fresh cranberries in the shops - making the relish couldn't be easier. That needs to go in an 8oz jar as it is the sort of preserve that you tend to open and use the whole jar. If we talk to Trev nicely and feed him chocolate biscuits he might put our secret recipe on the website - just this once ( but you mustn't tell anyone 'cos it's secret.)

Have you seen our bargain Mystery Box on the site as well? Every time I read those words on an order, Toyah Wilcox comes to mind - it's a mystery etc etc, I hate that song . . . I don't know what is in each box as Melanie packed them, but I know they are good value especially if you like surprises!

Best of all news, our own, our very own Jam Maker's Journal will be on site next week - the very best Christmas present ever for any jam or preserve maker. We are just waiting for the ink to dry and then you will be able to order lots and lots of copies at a special price - for a limited time - to get a few more presents ticked off of your list. I must drop a few hints myself, oh, no, - I wrote it. Doh!

They're here!

At last! The new swing top bottles are in - ideal for sloe gin as Christmas presents. We have the popular 250ml size for that, plus 500 ml and 750 ml. The very best news is that the 250ml and 500ml are both on a buy one, get one free offer as a thank you to all of you who have been so patient. So get ordering as soon as to avoid the rush! They are great value, and look good too. We also have tie-on labels and printed Christmas labels which we have had designed for us. They are not expensive but really finish off that hand-made gift.