The Laboratory

snowman ornament: a story in six photos you can make one too! just get some buttons and thread

Happy Christmas everyone! Our family Christmas card this year is all about the hexagons Adam was so pleased to be able to do his Year 5 Hexagon masterclass to children in London in November, after 2 years of cancellations Here's a hexagon puzzle for you all: Can you put the numbers 1 to 19 in the coloured hexagons so every row and diagonal adds up to 38? Hint: 5 goes in the centre! From Adam & Sarah:

Only 2 shopping days to Christmas, so if you are short of ideas, here are Sarah and Adam's top tips for last minute gifts: Circus tent toy teaset, H&M Home, with charity donation to Save The Children Scented jigsaws, The Works Flatpack moose, IKEA Sushi Jenga, Tiger Spectacular bins, Asda (thanks to Dave for this one)

The season of Advent is nearly over, which means 2 things: shop sales are starting, and Christmas treats in fast food outlets are ending. We are very pleased this year we hit the big 5, the Pentavirate of Festive Treats, as listed below: 1. McDonalds Festive Pie: mincemeat AND custard? Ronald is spoiling us. 2. Costa Black Forest Hot Chocolate: the ultimate Christmas drink, no other can compare 3. Pret Christmas Sandwich: like a roast dinner in a wrap, AND you're giving to charity 4. Greggs Festive Bake (also available in vegan flavour): a bit of a mush but it's Christmassy 5. Krispy Kreme Kristmas Donuts: just look at the jolly snowman, get to Tesco's now Of course the true Pentavirate is a secret organisation, as revealed by Mike Myers in "So I Married An Axe Murderer":

It was very sad when Debenhams closed earlier in the year, and everyone lost their jobs, Sarah included. It also prompted a strange outpouring on social media of people's reminiscenses, not just of shopping at Debenhams, but dreaming about Debenhams, especially during lockdown. These are all genuine. == Tamsin S. If the haunted 1980s spin dryer hadn't been my mum's, and the basement where I rescued Joe Biden from drowning hadn't been at Debenhams in Guildford, I'd swear I was assigned last night's dreams by mistake. Surely they were intended for someone rather more interesting? Bluebirds Past Had a dream last night I was in a massive shopping mall in America and I went into a Debenhams and Craig Bellamy was in the there waiting for the lifts. We both had City shirts on, he shouted "Bluebirds" at me and we stopped for a chat. Can confirm he was very pleasant. Adam Rainbow I had a dream I was an Uber Eats driver but it changed from food to any type of g...

Here's a special message from a special friend of the Advent Calendar: And when better than the Sunday before Christmas to slap your copy of "The Muppet Christmas Carol" in the DVD player and sing along to "Here Comes Mr Humbug". Enjoy!

We can't have our usual party but we are trying to see friends safely before Christmas if possible. So thanks to our friends Megan and Mark who have been entertaining us today. They have possibly the ultimate remote control holder on their sofa ever! It also holds cups, glasses, specs cases etc, and it's made of a lovely soft crushed velvet material while still being really sturdy. Some people use theirs to serve afternoon tea on their sofa: Megan and Mark haven't gone for the pink heart-shaped one. Instead, to match their sofa, they have a brown rectangular one. The velvet can be wiped to make patterns. Here is Megan's: