h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It seems I am to be dragged out to the swankiest purveyor of cocktails in town, and plied with drinks, as a "wee treat". It's a hard oul' life, but someone's got to do it.

I'll have to make sure not to order the wrong thing. Some of the concoctions in there cost hundreds of pounds.

Enjoy.

Well, it wouldn't really be my thing, normally. I'd be just as happy with a good brandy in a cozy pub with a fire and a low ceiling for a fraction the price...but I think I was being obtuse. When I voiced that opinion, it dawned on me that the "wee treat" might not be *solely* for me.

I've found the cocktail list for that place online...about 150 pages long. That's...I'm not sure what adjective I'm after, but it's *something*.

I'm trying to plan something nice for Christmas time too (something not involving cocktails with immodestly dressed cherubs hanging from the ceiling), but inspiration hasn't struck just yet.

How about a hike in fancy dress followed by a hot toddy and barbecued sausages round a Swedish log?

That is in German a Schwedenfeuer - a large log sawn crosswise part of the way down. You stuff burning wood shavings into the middle of the cuts - the hole in the middle, so to speak - and it burns for ages and makes a lovely warm safe fire to stand around.

http://www.burg-sternberg.de/index.php?id=273

I like those burning vertical logs!

They look very solstice-y, too.

We always cut a couple when we get our wood in the forest. We haven't really had much opportunity to use them yet, though, although they should be good and dry by now. It would be great just to light them and stand out on the street on New Year's Eve, but usually I just go outside for 5 minutes at midnight, have a quick drink with the neighbours and watch the kids' fireworks then dash back in again quickly.

Not sure how much in advance you need to light them to get a good glow going.