Jesus-shaped soap-on-a-rope doesn't wash with Catholic couple

The BHS store in Reading has removed a gift called Jesus Soap-on-a-Rope from it shelves after a Catholic couple said it was ‘deeply offensive’. The novelty bathroom gift depicts Christ with the Sacred Heart.

The item was removed from sale following a complaint from Bryan and Elizabeth Dent. ‘The writing on it, “Wash away your sins” and “Try for Heaven with good clean living”, wasn’t funny, not for a Catholic,’ said Mr Dent, 74, of Tilehurst, Berkshire.

Now, if BHS had thought to sell a Pope Soap-on-a-Rope, they might have had a product with mass appeal on their hands.

Lego Winter Toy Shop

If you're a fan of Lego - and let's face it, who isn't? - then you'll be pleased to know that there is a brand new Christmas themed set out in time for this December 25.












It's the Winter Toy Shop and comes complete with Christmas tree, carol singers and a mini-figure that would appear to be Noel Edmonds, who always used to be on the telly on Christmas Day (although here he appears to be bothering a cat).


To get hold of your Winter Toy Shop, click here.

A personalised Christmas story starring your child and Santa - the perfect Christmas gift?

Being a writer myself, I'm not sure how much I should really be promoting something like this but if you would like to give a Christmas gift this year that your child will remember for years to come, then why not check out www.myadventurebooks.co.uk?

An early Christmas present

A parcel arrived this morning from the good old U S of A, containing a couple of copies of Christmas Miscellany, the American hardback edition of What is Myrrh Anyway? published by Skyhorse Publishing.

Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas will be available to buy from November 1 and you can pre-order your copy here.

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It's a very smart publication too, in full colour throughout and fully illustrated throughout.

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Even if you've already got What is Myrrh Anyway? yourself, Christmas Miscellany would make the perfect stocking filler or under-the-tree-present for a loved one, so pre-order a copy today!

On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me... the top ten Christmas toys!

So now that the dust from the festive season has settled, I bet you're wondering what the Top Ten toys of Christmas 2008 were - aren't you? Well to find out, click here.

What do you give the man who has everything?

How about a manly fragrance with a subtle hint of greasy fast food joint? Yes, that's right - fast food chain Burger King has released a fragrance for men which gives off the scent of cooked meat.

The company hopes the aftershave, called Flame, will be a novelty Christmas bestseller. So far the scent's on sale in New York for a credit-crunching $3.99 (£2.65). But sadly the spray, which apparently incorporates the smell of seduction, is not available in the UK.

And in other news...

Some recent festive news items that have caught my eye. Did they catch yours?

Teacher sacked over Santa gaffe

Santa penguins

Top ten Christmas toys

The true cost of Christmas

10 December - What do you get the man who has (quite literally) everything?

I love this.

6 December - St Nicholas Day

Today, Saturday 6 December, is the feast day of one particularly well-known Christmas saint, Saint Nicholas.

















Saint Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop of Myra in modern day Turkey and is the patron saint of children, amongst other things including seafarers. In countries like the Netherlands, and its European neighbours, 6 December is the day when Saint Nicholas delivers presents presents and sweets to well-behaved children (rather than on Christmas Eve as Father Christmas does in this country).




I happened to go to Myra some years ago and visited the Church of Saint Nicholas. (St Nicholas' also happened to be the church I went to as a child.) The image which will always remain with me is that of the statue of Saint Nicholas, in full Christmas regalia, in the baking Mediterranean sun. Very festive!

Ho, ho, ho.

Only 60 shopping days 'til Christmas

So, with only 60 days to go you're probably starting to plan what you would like to receive for yourself this festive season. I know that these days I pretty much buy my own presents for the rest of the family to give me, which is great, because I'm fortunate enough to get exactly what I want. Who cares if the surprise element is gone? Better excited certainty than a disappointing surprise.

However, if you're not sure what you'd like this year, then why not pop over to IWantOneOfThose.com? There you can get hold of pretty much anything and everything from iPod alarm clocks (available for £39.95) to MechRC dancing robots (retailing for a cool £399.99).

Stuff you don't need... but you really, really want!

What do points make?

As I was searching the Net for top Christmas gift ideas to share with you all, I came across this.

'So what?' you might think. But take a look at the gift that was in at #10. Your very own Bruce Forsythe! He's not looking well is he?