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Corking stocking fillers for wine lovers

Clive Platman looks at some ideal festive gifts for wine-lovers.Read

A trip back through time for Christmas gifts

Chris Upton ventures further afield in the second part of his books of the year recommendations.Read

Port is Christmas in a bottle

There is one fortified wine that captures the spirit of Christmas in a glass and it must be port, writes Clive Platman.Read

Dave Hodgson: You plan for your future but you don't know what your future is

Dave Hodgson is under no illusion about what is happening to him as he fights cancer. He tells Richard McComb about fulfilling dreams and coping day by day.Read

Trying to find the JRR Tolkien trail around Birmingham

Graham Young goes in search of the author's inspirations.Read

When Charles Dickens brought his Christmas show to Birmingham

Charles Dickens insisted one of his sold-out 1853 readings in Birmingham should be for the working classes. Diane Parkes looks at how the great author kept his audience spellbound.Read

Books for Christmas: Biographies of Madin, Chamberlain and Bright

Chris Upton picks his favourite books of the year with an eye to the past.Read

Local author's book tells story of Staffordshire's Enigma war hero

The memory of brave Tamworth war hero who played a key role in helping experts crack a key World War II code is being kept alive by a local author.Read

Music, gaming and gadget gifts for Christmas

Top gifts for music fans, gamers and gadget addicts this Christmas.Read

Pagan gods live on in West Midlands place names

As Christianity swept old beliefs aside, the pagan gods lived on in name onlyRead

The Birmingham company which makes cufflinks for the stars

Birmingham's cufflink-maker to the stars is making a belated entrance into the spotlight.Read

Luxe Bridal offers something old for vintage weddings

A pair of entrepreneurs are taking their love of classic styles to a new market, writes Diane ParkesRead

Growing support for Birmingham's Botanical Gardens

As Graham Young finds out, the Birmingham's Botanical Gardens are literally kept alive by the repeat generosity of visitors.Read

Umberto Giannini launches advent calendar with glamorous gifts

Visit the Umberto Giannini advent calendar every day from now until December 25 to see if you have won a gorgeous glam girly gift.Read

How Masterchef's Monica sometimes cracks a smile

She takes few prisoners as a culinary judge on television, but Roz Laws finds Monica Galetti to be charming – even after a trip to the dentist.Read

John Cornfield: Forgotten Romantic poet of the West Midlands

John Cornfield was champion of the poor and a man ahead of his time, yet his life ended so tragically, writes Chris Upton.Read

Rachel Allen has the recipe for success

Celebrity chef Rachel Allen talks to Alison Jones about the perils of live cooking and her love of food.Read

Peter Elliot is Hollywood's primary primate

He is the film industry's go-to gorilla... now animal movement director Peter Elliot is working with a Birmingham theatre group, writes Diane Parkes.Read

Park Lane Garden Centre sowing seeds of hope in Aston

Park Lane Garden Centre in Aston may look like any ordinary nursery from the road but inside its poly tunnels people who have suffered from anxiety or depression are growing a new life.Read

Fashion: Mum's the word

MEET the Midland mums who got a top makeover with style icon Caryn Franklin.Read