2012 is a big year for our wonderful country.

Here are some things to consider when looking booking your next family holiday. Some forward planning can save you a lot of money.

There are lots of children who would love to own a pony but because of a lack of space and finances, this will never become a reality.

This is ideal for toddlers and small children. It would be a great idea for a birthday party, fundraising event or school holiday activity.

If you are considering a cruise or perhaps you have already booked, then this article will help to give you some pointers and things to consider before you leave.

A favourite with boys of all ages, is the good old traditional Pirate themed Birthday Party. This does not have to cost a fortune and is great fun.

Art and Craft parties are popular with children of all ages and are especially good when you have children of different ages and a mixture of both boys and girls invited to your party.

Rather than buying from the high street spend an hour poking about in charity shops and you'll find lots of wonderful treasures that will form the basis of super quick, rather special, Easter gif

Every child loves an Easter egg hunt, even very big ones - a great way to start the day running about in the fresh air before the serious business of chocolate eating starts.

Blown eggs make the perfect starting point for Easter decorations. With a little care you can quickly become an expert.

Closing your road properly is vital to ensure that all your guests can enjoy the party safely and that you don't spend the day haggling with the odd difficult resident.

A street party is the perfect opportunity for neighbours to meet and have fun together. So whether you want to mark a royal event or just have a knees up, here are the basics for a day to remember.

Secret Santa's are a fun and inexpensive way of allowing a group of people to give presents to each other.

An iced Christmas cake is a Western institution, the icing invoking the magic of the snow-covered world outside while inside the festive spirit can be found.

Christmas is a time of indulgence; embrace the festive season with an authentic home-made Christmas cake. This rich, spicy and moist cake will stand out from any shop-bought version.

Though initially slightly odd-sounding, bread sauce is the last remnant of medieval British cuisine. Bread sauce is now part and parcel of the authentic Christmas dinner.

If you really want to show off to your guests for Christmas day, you can flame your Christmas pudding and wow them. Flaming a Christmas pudding can be done safely once you know how.

Just because you are vegan it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on enjoying a Christmas pudding. Christmas pudding is usually made with suet which is made from animal fat.

I know what you’re thinking.

We all know that “it’s what’s on the inside that counts,” but when it comes to giving a Christmas present, it doesn’t hurt to put a little thought into the gift wrapping as well.

When you are stuck to know what to buy someone for Christmas, a hamper is a good choice. You can make it to any size or budget and adapt it to personal taste.

Mistletoe is the plant most often associated with Christmas and long linked with the tradition of 'kissing under the mistletoe'.

Exeter is a beautiful and historic city and the county town of Devon. I love the fact that you can still see the Devon hills when you are in the centre of the city.

Ultraviolet body paint will glow under ultraviolet (UV) light or black light.

Traditional Christmas wrappings can be expensive and aren't very environmentally friendly.

Create a glow in the dark effect to your drinks for your next party. All you need is tonic water and black light to make your drinks appear to glow. This will really spice things up for your party.

If you are looking to make a special treat for Halloween or a late night treat. You should have a go at making jelly appear to glow in the dark.

There are everyday items around the home that glow under black light, which is also called ultraviolet light.

Vampire makeup is great for halloween or dress up parties where you want to make a statement.

Bonfire night in the UK is the 5th November, and is also known as Guy Fawkes Night, as it was on that date in 1605, that he plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament.