Christmas Gift Ideas
Here is a selection of Christmas Gift ideas. Each item has a link back to the Amazon.co.uk shop where you can find more information and, if you wish, buy the item.
Books
Videos
Pop Music
Classical Music
Gifts and Gadgets
Books
A History of Britain 2 by Simon Schama
The first volume in this history of Britain tells the story of Britain from 1603 to 1790
The Beatles Anthology
by The Beatles
This anthology contains recollections, from Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon, about their early lives, their rise to fame and the time up to the break up in 1970. Also included are the memories of associates such as road manager Neil Aspinall and producer George Martin.
Harry Potter Box Set (first 3 titles) by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's house, which he thinks is normal for someone like him whose parents have been killed in a "car crash". He is rescued into a world where magic lessons are the order of the day. The first three books - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - are included in this paperback set. There is also a hardback set which includes the fourth book The Goblet of Fire as well.
The Rough Guide to the Internet 2001 by Angus J. Kennedy
The Internet moves at lightening speed and if you are new to the online world it can be a touch intimidating. However, as Angus Kennedy makes clear in The Rough Guide to the Internet 2001, you don't need to know much before you can find your way around all the different sites. The first half of this pocket-sized book covers the basics, with step-by-step instructions on everything you will need to know from choosing an Internet service provider to building your own Web site and the second part is a condensed listing of Web sites to get you going.
Guinness Book of World Records: 2001 by Tim Footman (Editor)
This is not so much a book as an institution. It's not only the trivia buff's Bible, it even has its own TV show. The fans can be assured: beneath the garish purple cover, the world's most famous reference book is better than ever, with startling pictures, snappy text, and an awesome range of records.
Appetite by Nigel Slater
In his radical new book, Nigel Slater argues that we should not be slavishly following recipes, but following our instincts. Appetite shows us how to break the rules, experiment with recipes and satisfy our appetite. This guide takes 100 simple classics and casts aside the insecurities of normal recipes. Ingredients are listed, followed by a suggestion of how much you might need. It includes a helpful section on where to get hold of everything worth eating.
How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson
This reassuring and mouthwatering cookbook demonstrates that it's not actually hard to bake a tray of muffins, or a sponge layer cake, but that the appreciation and satisfaction they bring are disproportionately high.
How to Eat by Nigella Lawson
"How to Eat" puts the British culinary renaissance into a more useful and realistic context. It takes cooking out of the hands of food professionals and makes good cooking a normal activity by explaining how to cook and enjoy food.
Jane Clarke's Bodyfoods Cookbook by Jane Clarke
Jane Clarke believes that food can be fun, wholesome and an effective solution to many of modern life's health problems. In this book, she shows how to bring this philosophy into the kitchen by providing ideas for simple meals that can be adapted for individual needs.
Videos
ChickenRun2000
Trapped behind barbed wire, fearing for their very lives, Ginger, Bunty, Babs and Fowler are chickens with a mission. Ginger and her fellow flock are determined to make a break for freedom but every escape goes "fowl" when they are caught by the evil Mrs. Tweedy and her oafish husband who want to turn them into chicken pies. When an all-American rooster named Rocky lands in the farm, Ginger sees her chance - these chickens won't cross the road; they'll fly the coop. Together they prove that chickens are anything but, as they escape in a daring and spectacular escape.
Gladiator
Forced in to slavery by the corrupt heir to the throne, Roman general Maximus becomes a gladiator. His prowess in the arena will eventually lead him to Rome, the Colosseum and a vengful showdown with the new Emperor.
Blackadder - Back and Forth
This film was made for The Dome. It's New Years Eve 1999 and Lord Blackadder and friends are gathered to celebrate the Millenium. As conversation turns to the future, Blackadder discloses that he has built a time machine-and to prove it works he purposes a wager of #10,000.00 to anyone who cares to name an historical object for him to collect on his journey through time.
Blackadder bids his friends farewell and steps into the time machine and he and Baldrick set upon a journey spanning centuries. Will they make it back to see in the year 2000,and what sort of world will they find on their return.
French and Saunders Live
Absolutely Fabulous - Comedy at it's best!
If you didn't manage to catch French and Saunders on tour - then what can I say, you missed out. Thankfully though they've brought out this video, which should have any French and Saunder's fan rolling on the floor with laughter!
American Beauty
American Beauty...look closer
...look closer at the most talked about film of the year. A funny, shocking and moving journey through life in suburban America.
...look closer at forty-something ad man Lester Burnham and his status seeking wife, Carolyn, as their marriage and lives slowly unravel. Lester's wife hates him, his daughter Jane regards him with contempt, and his boss is positioning him for the axe.
...look closer as Lester decides to make a few changes in his life; the freer he gets, the happier he gets. But Lester is about to learn that the ultimate freedom comes at the ultimate price.
...look closer at an acclaimed cast led by Kevin Spacey as Lester and Annete Bening as Carolyn.
...look closer at a "flat-out masterpiece"
Simon Schama - A History Of Britain (Box Set 1)
What do you get when you combine the resources and ethos of the BBC with the literary panache of one of the world's best narrative historians? The answer is Simon Schama's History of Britain television series, which is accompanied by a tie-in book of the same name. One of Britain's foremost historians presents an investigation into British history from civil war to world war. He also discusses what shapes a nation and what can be learnt from the past. Contains sixteen episodes taken from the television series. (Book also featured in book section above).
Pop Music
1
Beatles The Beatles
In selecting the tracks for 1, EMI Records together with Capitol Records in the USA chose the songs that were either No.1 in the Record Retailer chart in the UK (the only independently-audited UK chart throughout the sixties) or in the Billboard chart in the USA. The Beatles achieved 17 No.1 hits on the Record Retailer singles chart between May 1963 and July 1969. In the USA, The Beatles had a total of 20 No.1 singles between February 1964 and June 1970.
Sing When You're Winning Robbie Williams
Having spent the majority of his first two albums bitterly attacking his boy band years, it seems Robbie Williams has finally got Take That out of his system. Which means that for most of Sing When You're Winning, he is either ecstatically happy, in cheeky party mood--as with disco single "Rock DJ"--or reminding all just what a huge star he is, as with the self-appreciating/depreciating mock arrogance of his Kylie duet "Kids": he raps with a nod and a wink "I'm an honourary Sean Connery/single handedly raising the economy/ain't no chance of the record company dropping me".
Music Madonna
The new millennium saw a change in Madonna as, ever at the forefront of popular music trends, she took the earth mother vibes of Ray Of Light and transposed them to the heart of the dancefloor. The end product, Music, is a wondrous mixture of the familiar and the audaciously new--tracks like "Amazing" and "Runaway Lover" would have slotted nicely into the more uptempo sections of Ray Of Light, whereas tracks like "Impressive Instant" and the title track "Music" take Madonna closer to the sound of the dancefloor underground.
Now That's What I Call Music Vol.47
It's a testament to the success of the Now That's What I Call Music series that this is the 47th instalment in the ever-popular series. Its combination of all that makes the British pop charts great is its winning formula, and one that it certainly doesn't stray from here. On the pure pop front there are scene leaders Robbie Williams ("Rock DJ"), Ronan Keating ("Life Is A Rollercoaster"), Steps ("Stomp") and Britney Spears ("Lucky"); and keeping the rock flag flying are U2 ("Beautiful Day"), David Gray ("Babylon") and Bon Jovi ("It's My Life"). The two leading lights of the dance scene--2-Step and trance--are well represented with Architects ("Body Groove") and Craig David ("7 Days") on a 2-Step trip and trance masters Storm ("Time To Burn") and Darude ("Feel The Beat") There is also a smattering of R&B thrown in for good measure courtesy of Sisqo ("Unleash The Dragon") and Melanie B ("Tell Me"). In fact there is something of a plethora of Spice Girls present--Posh and Melanies C and B all have solo work featured, and they all team up with Emma for "Holler". In a world where the Number One single seems to change every week, Now 47 proves that there is life in the pop charts yet.
The Greatest Hits Texas
Scotland's Texas were in danger of becoming one-hit wonders following their failure to capitalise on their Top Ten debut single--1989's "I Don't Want A Lover"--through the early Nineties. Faced with a career crisis, Sharleen Spiteri and writing partner Johnny McElhone began tinkering with their sound and employing modern technology. Cue 1996's massively successful White On Blonde album and a rush of hit songs. "I Don't Want A Lover", with its tired slide riff hasn't worn well, nor have the other pre-watershed songs here like "Everyday Now", "So Called Friend" and "Prayer For You". Nevertheless there are a dozen prime examples of stylised, updated Motown ("Say What You Want", "Black Eyed Boy", "When We Are Together") showcasing the band's song-writing rebirth. Add a pair of fresh numbers co-written with Dallas Austin (the sweet shuffle of "In Demand") and Greg Alexander (the lipglossed "Inner Smile") and The Greatest Hits becomes a weighty pop collection.
Coast to Coast Westlife
At the time of Coast To Coast's release, Westlife could do no wrong. With a staggering record of every one of their seven singles hitting the top spot of the British charts, they were really at the peak of their game. This is the sound of Westlife at the peak of their career.
All That You Can't Leave Behind U2
If U2 hadn't used the title already, "A Sort Of Homecoming" might have suited this, their tenth studio album. All That You Can't Leave Behind sounds, at various points, like any or all of U2's previous albums, as if the band are sending postcards back from a protracted ramble through previously conquered territories. The euphoric first single, and opening track, "Beautiful Day", reintroduced Edge's signature delay-laden guitar solos. On the evidence presented here, it's that combination of U2's facility for the epic playing alongside Bono's increasing lyrical interest in intimacy: "Walk On" and "Peace On Earth" are two of the best things he has ever written or sung.
Classical Music
Russell Watson: The Voice
Russell Watson's story is a classic rags-to-riches fairytale: the former welder, after years of singing in pubs and clubs, travelled from Salford, his hometown, to London. He turned up unannounced at the Decca offices and was promptly signed up by one of the most important classical labels in the world. Vocal coaching followed, as did a number of successful live appearances supporting Cliff Richard. Now we have this 14-track CD which explores a wide range of musical styles.
Charlotte Church - Dream a Dream
Everybody's favourite precocious sprite of a soprano has made her third album, Dream a Dream. It has only been two years since Charlotte Church's smash debut, Voice of an Angel, but that's a big chunk of the Welsh singer's life span so far. This latest is basically a Christmas album, so full of festive cheer you'd never guess it was recorded in the summer. Even the glummest of moods will disappear when you hear Charlotte's infectious take on chestnuts such as "Winter Wonderland" and "Little Drummer Boy".
Relax More Classic FM
Composer: Sergey Rachmaninov, Ludwig van Beethoven, et al.
Conductor: André Previn, Paul Daniel, et al.
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Cambridge Trinity College Choir, et al.
Gifts and Gadgets
T-Dog
Tomy UK Ltd
Cute, appealing and faithful, T-Dog is one of the best of the latest litter of electronic pets.
Measuring only about 20cm from nose to tail and about 15cm from head to paw, T-Dog will walk, yap and stand on guard, once the handy off-switch on his belly is switched to "on". Place him on guard outside a youngster's bedroom door, and he will yap and flash his crescent-shaped eyes to warn off potential intruders. Turn him to play mode, and he will flap his ears, wag his tail, bark endearingly and trundle around the room, redirecting himself automatically whenever obstacles get in his way. While not the most intelligent product around (T-Dog can't be trained) T-Dog nevertheless is good value and a low-maintenance way of indulging a child's interest in electronic pets. In characteristic silver with black trim, T-Dog is trim, good looking and easily portable.
QuickCam Web
Logitech
Want to set up your own live Internet show or send a quick pic to grandma with your next e-mail? The Logitech QuickCam Web brings all your video-phone fantasies to life--and it's as easy to use as a regular telephone.
Features -Send video e-mail and make video calls - Broadcast over the Internet, create Web albums - Video monitoring and more!
Webcam Go Plus
Creative Labs
There are plenty of PC video cameras out on store shelves, but none seem quite as flexible as Creative Labs' Webcam Go Plus. Do you want to send relatives overseas a video e-mail or show Mum your new flat without having to invite her over? Whatever the intent, with the Webcam Go Plus it's simple. You can take everything from simple still shots, to video clips. Included are video and still-image editing software, as well as video e-mail, video conferencing, Internet "spycam" and motion detection security software. Where the WebCam Go Plus really distinguishes itself from the pack is as a very basic digital camera; just unhook it from your PC.
Qx3 Computer Microscope
Intel
Intel Play QX3 Computer Microscope makes science and learning more fun than ever before. Children just place objects under this translucent, blue microscope and the images are displayed on their computer's monitor and can be magnified 10, 60 or 200X. A great software package gives children a multitude of creative options. They can add video or audio effects and artwork to their images, e-mail their creations or group slides together to build a cool time-lapse movie.
Features : Collect and view anything interesting close up. Magnify images 10x, 60x, 200x, capture and view creatures. Make time lapse movie. Make a species of your own by combining images.
Game Boy Color - Nintendo
The Game Boy is that small, colourful hand-held video game system clutched by folks playing it everywhere. Popular across a wide age group, including a good number of airport-lounging power executives, the Game Boy has a true hard-core fan base comprised of millions (and millions) of kids around the globe. Nintendo's Game Boy debuted in the late 1980s and has since sold over 60 million units world-wide, far outpacing other hand-held game systems. With a catalogue of over 1,000 games and dozens of add-on peripherals, Game Boy is a monster of a hand-held game system, and a remarkably affordable one at that. Early March 1998 brought the release of the Game Boy Color system, an upgraded version of the original.