2025? It’s already doing 100mph in the fast lane, and January’s just becoming a speck in the rearview mirror.  Christmas? That feels about three lifetimes ago. One minute I’m wrestling with wrapping paper and a shop full of people, mulled wine clamped in my hand, and the next, it’s “Happy New Year”, and I’ve got no idea where my wallet is. Wasn’t that just yesterday? No? Must be just me?

Please, if someone could locate the cosmic remote and hit pause, that’d be great. At this rate, I’ll blink, and it’ll be August, and I’ll still be signing cheques as “2024.” Wow, does anyone actually use cheques anymore? I think I still have my cheque book somewhere- probably in the draw with my Blockbuster card, some dead batteries, and that voucher for a free coffee from Oslars!

It appears there are only a few soles brave enough to face the prospect of Éowyn in town today, lets hope the weather calms down soon, Seriously, can we not just get a little bit of sunshine? I’m not asking for the Caribbean, just a faint, non-threatening glow and some double-figure temperatures. Is that too much to ask?

Anyway, next week, it’s time to celebrate Lunar New Year (or is it still okay to call it Chinese New Year? I can’t keep up with what’s trendy and what’s offensive- I guess it’s best to play it safe.) Pop it in your diaries: Sunday, 9th February, in Market Place. We’ll be open between 10 and 3 and we’ll have all our usual delights for you to grab before you head off to watch the lion dance. Because really, what’s more impressive than holding your shopping in one hand and wildly applauding a dancing lion with the other? If you’ve never seen a lion dance before, it’s like a special version of Strictly, with wilder costumes, and no-one gets voted off.

And of course, February. The month that ambushes you with Valentine’s Day and snow! Poor posties, though, mine must dread it; every year, the poor bloke turns up at my door, staggering under the weight of, well… nothing (apparently, anonymous admirers aren’t really a thing once you hit your 30s- yes, I am over 30!)

But if you’re lucky enough to have a partner- and by “lucky,” I’m guessing that someone hasn’t yet worked out they could definitely upgrade - you’ll need to rack up some serious brownie points this Valentine’s Day.

And if you’re currently flying solo, this is your golden opportunity to dazzle that “potential” someone. Imagine how wildly “dateable” you’ll seem when a well-thought-out gift drops into their lap. Organised? Thoughtful? Romantic? Who even are you?

And here’s my pro tip: stop by our shop and grab a romantic gift or if you don’t want to come to town click https://www.philsgoodfood.co.uk/valentines (and order a delightful hamper online with free delivery!) We’re talking gift hampers so good you’ll seem “thoughtful and sophisticated,” and treats so indulgent your partner will overlook the fact you’ve already finished binge watching that new series without them. Honestly, it’s foolproof. Unless, of course, you ignore this entirely. In which case… good luck.

Whether you’re cementing your love or testing the waters, this is your moment to shine. Or… you know, blow it completely.

If you’re still smashing Dry January, honestly, well done- you’ve done brilliantly! Drop a comment below so we can all personally applaud your superhuman willpower (and smugness). And don’t worry, I promise not to dangle our mouth-wateringly good local beers, wine, gin, rum, or whisky in front of you. At least, not until February, when it’s game over, and you’ll definitely deserve a celebratory tipple or several.

But when I say promise? That was about as reliable as a budget airline’s “on-time guarantee.” I mean, it had all the makings of something solid: the words, the nodding, the reassuring tone. But deep down, it was a big, fat, juicy lie:

SO, beer lovers, listen up-  and if you’re not a beer lover… Wait! What….????

Here’s the lowdown on some cracking new brews from Andy and the wizards over at Elusive Brewing in Finchampstead. Honestly, their brewery is like the Hogwarts of beer-making: slightly mysterious but always delivering the goods.

Their much-loved Double Oregon Trilogy is back, and you’d better move quickly because last year these beers flew off the shelves faster than Guy Martin on a rocket-powered cowboy-wagon. Andy, being a man who clearly knows the magic formula when he has one, hasn’t made many changes this time around. Instead, he’s focused on quality. Sensible, really. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it- just like my garden shed, which has been held together by sheer optimism since 2017.

The Elusive team tell me they’ve swapped out some of the pellet hops for cryo hops. Now, I don’t know about you, but “cryo hops” sounds like something a superhero would use. “Quick, we need more flavour!” “Don’t worry, I’ll get the CRYO HOPS!” I’m 100% sure that’s exactly how the brewing process works!

They’ve also spent the past year tweaking their canning process to minimise dissolved oxygen. I don’t know what that means either, but I assume it’s just more technical wizardry that ensures your beer tastes amazing. Oh, and they’re working with the best-quality hops they’ve ever had. A proper treat.

The beers are available now but Double Oregon day is 31st January, when the Elusive crew will be hanging out on social media and in real in their tap-room, so you can chat about the release, share tasting notes, and post some dodgy pictures.

So, have fun, buy the beers here (for delivery or collection from our shop) philsgoodfood.co.uk/Oregon, and enjoy!

Right, that’s enough from me. Off you go; Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day, Beer… it’s all happening. Just try not to blink, or it’ll be March, and we’ll all be knee-deep in daffodils wondering what happened to that post-Christmas diet.

 Take care and Have a great week !

Cheers!

Phil's Good Food in Wokingham, 2-4 Broad Street, offers a range of high-quality, ethically sourced products, from local honey to world-class cheeses, indie beers, wines, chocolates and much more. Our beautifully curated hampers make the perfect gift, or you can handpick your favourites, and we’ll create a bespoke hamper just for you!

We don’t deal in mass-produced plastic nonsense!

www.philsgoodfood.co.uk

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