Recent replies by Sheepface

I was surprised by this question till I realised a water butt will set you back about 50 quid. The best deal I can find is this one (http://amzn.to/JfW4Tg) - calls itself a water tank rather than a rain butt but does the same job for £30. If you can scavenge a plastic dustbin for nothing, all you'll need is the drainpipe diverter, which is about a tenner, and you'll have an inelegant but perfectly effective solution!

The party things I remember most fondly from my own youth were dressing up parties with a simple theme (that and indoor fireworks, which you can't get any more). Try pirates, Harry Potter, faeries or fairies, monsters (always a good one), animals, ocean, your child's favourite film or even favourite colour - something the children will have a vague grasp of and isn't too hard for the parents to invent. A novelty cake (http://bit.ly/IJLXrh for abebooks search) is a nice idea if you've got the time. Magicians are great but expensive.

Then the only thing you need to worry about is games! Pass the parcel, with a small prize in the middle and a sweet in between each layer, or musical bumps (also known as statues - because chairs are a little awkward, small kids can either fall to the floor or freeze when the music stops). To be honest they'll probably invent their own games of violence and destruction if you take your eyes off them for a minute.

Party bags are ethically questionable - being as they are spoiling tools for other people's children. But I guess you have to do whatever your own kid expects in that area. Good luck!

Have you tried Uhuru on the Cowley Road? They definitely have things like spirulina. It might also be worth trying Jing Jing (opposite Red Star, also on the Cowley Road): they have all sorts of interesting oils. Eastern Continental Stores (Cowley Road again! Corner of Crown Street) are really, really helpful and will usually order stuff in for you if they don't have it that day. Good luck!

Do you mean Christmas Eve (24th) or the evening of Christmas Day (25th)?

Shotover, in East Oxford, is pretty good when it's slightly damp, because the trees keep you dryish and everything smells fabulous. Can be very muddy if you go the wrong way though. If it were me, I'd either go somewhere liberally provided with pubs (Port Meadow), or somewhere sheltered and close to everywhere else (Headington Hill Park, University Parks). Or give up on the outside and go to one of Oxford's fabulous museums.

My driving instructor was absolutely brilliant - Bob Brown, 01235 532676. He does Oxford and Abingdon, and is the gentlest, most patient, relaxed teacher imaginable: really good at building up your confidence as well as your skills. I passed first time. Good luck!

I had very good service from Royal Cars (777333) recently - an 8 seater from Oxford to a venue on the outskirts of Haddenham cost us £45 each way. The driver even brought my purse, which I'd left in the cab, back to our house that night before I even realised I'd lost it!