Getting home without the hassle:You have the car in town, but you also have a tempting offer of a drink . . . or two.
Come the end of the night, it's time to pray for a guardian angel to whisk you, and your motor, safely home. The just-launched Carhome.ie service may not boast heavenly chauffeurs, but it will answer plenty of prayers. Book in advance or call direct, and a uniformed chauffeur will arrive on a motorbike that folds up into your boot in its very own greaseproof bag. The driver will then drop you and your passengers home in the comfort of your own car. The idea - simplicity itself - is already popular in the US, Canada, France and Australia, apparently. The service costs €40 for the first 10km, plus €5 for every additional two kilometres. For booking or rates see www.carhome.ie or call 1850-333303. Davin O'Dwyer
Good old days
Remember when you were a child, and your parents took you to your grandparents' every other weekend for Sunday dinner? Bet your own children don't see their grandparents half as often as you saw yours. To help get extended families back together, 77-year-old Willie Shanks (below) and his fellow members of Friends of the Elderly want grandparents, parents and children to sign up for a five-kilometre fun run in Phoenix Park in Dublin at 11am next Sunday, September 23rd. The race - or walk, if you prefer - is being started by Paddy Craddock, a 72-year-old veteran of 43 marathons, including every one to have been staged in Dublin, who is a father of seven and grandfather of 14. (If, when you arrive, he looks familiar, it might be because his day job is as the lollipop man at the junction of Rock Road and Booterstown Avenue, in Blackrock, Co Dublin.) If that sounds too energetic, Ireland's first Grandparents' Day also includes A Stroll on the Green, at 2.30pm on St Stephen's Green. Every family that takes part in the events will receive a certificate and be photographed by the charity. Register for both on 01-8731855. Phone, too, if you'd like to organise an event in your own area. More on www.friendsoftheelderly.ie. Liam Stebbing
Honouring the balzac
Paul Flynn of the Tannery in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, was not second-in-command to Nico Ladenis for nothing. He is a highly original and adventurous chef, and he has done Dubliners a great favour in expunging unpleasant memories of La Stampa (Jean-Christophe Novelli and much more besides) with Balzac, his classic bistro. There is more good news in that this exceptional dining room is now open for lunch. The smoked-haddock salad and the rare beef are classics, as are the madeleines. My only gripe is the wine list, which is adequate but could be made great with a minimum of effort. The Martinis, however, are among the very best anywhere, and Balzac, which is overcoming its initial problems with service, is well on its way to becoming a landmark Dublin restaurant. Tom Doorley
Home and away
Students heading for halls or "studio apartments" - remember bedsits, anyone? - should head to the Oxfam fair-trade shop on South King Street in Dublin 2, where they will find much to make their new homes warm and seductive. Scholarly, too, of course. There are bright rugs and pillows and kooky things for the kitchen, such as tea, sugar and biscuit canisters made from recycled tin, and bell jars for candles made from recycled glass. For the table, we like the woven place mats currently reduced to €4 and the variety of ceramic plates, bowls and cups - in indigo blue especially. Old newspapers are used to make laminated shopping bags. Endless novelties make this shop worth a regular scour.
A Fair Feast: 70 Celebrity Recipes for a Fairer World is full of wacky ideas using fair-trade ingredients and makes for good reading. We've already tried India Knight's osso bucco with considerable success - but hope the day will never come when we will need to sample Katharine Hamnett's anti-anthrax salad dressing. Patsey Murphy
Bushels (and bushels) of tomatoes
Anyone who has grown tomatoes this year will know that there was a long, long pause before they started to ripen. Those grown under cover should now be in full spate, however, and the question is to how save the glut until they can be enjoyed at leisure.
One idea is to cut each tomato in two, lightly sprinkle with sea salt and grind some pepper over them. Then place on a baking tray and put them in the bottom oven of the Aga or in a very, very cool oven (we're talking gas one) for a few hours, until a lot of the water content has evaporated. At the end of the process, the tomatoes should be rather wizened, a little leathery, but still full of flavour. They can then be placed in sterilised jars and covered with olive oil, a process that will allow them to survive well into the new year. And the great thing is that the drying process will concentrate that wonderful, home-grown tomato flavour.
Another possibility is making passata. This is simply a case of cutting each tomato in two, scooping out the seeds and the surrounding gel, and simmering what remains until it has become as concentrated as you want. Then just add some seasoning and rub through a sieve to remove the skins and freeze what remains. Or you can skin the tomatoes in the first place by just submerging them for a few minutes in boiling water.
If you want to plan for next year, I would suggest three tomatoes that have worked very well for me this season in the polytunnel. The little yellow pear-shaped Polen, originally from eastern Europe, is so good that the fruits can be eaten like sweets ( www.brownenvelopeseeds.com). Plum tomatoes are truly multipurpose, equally good eaten fresh or used for sauces, and San Marzano has been highly prolific for me ( www.edwintucker.com). Harbinger is a traditional tomato with terrific flavour that was grown commercially until the 1950s and is now becoming popular with home growers ( www.organiccatalog.com). Tom Doorley
New breed of seaweed
The biodegradable packaging, as you can see, is handsome. The scent, if you will imagine it, is clean, fresh and not even remotely briny. The Waltons of Celtic Seaweed Baths in Strandhill, Co Sligo, have devised a range of seaweed spa and beauty products with lots of virtuous credentials - they are "certified organic" and packed full of "anti-oxidant, anti-ageing and anti-cellulite" ingredients. What's not to like? The Voya range includes everything from scented candles (small ones that last 84 hours) to cleansers, creams, shampoos, moisturisers and seaweed soaks and soaps. They are stocked by Dromoland Castle, which is a fine endorsement to start with, as well as Bellinter House in Navan, Avoca Handweavers nationwide, Nue Blue Eriu in Dublin, Louth Craftmark Shop in Drogheda and Leitrim Design House in Carrick-on-Shannon. They sell detoxifying teas, too, but we didn't go there. See www.voya.ieor contact 071-9168686. Patsey Murphy
A treat for the eyes
With the longer evenings coming on, crafty creatures might feel the need to pick up some creative needles. If you're looking for inspiration, check out Quilting, Patchwork & Appliqué: A World Guide. The book covers a worldwide survey of these decorative techniques, in which old or new fabric pieces are cut and resewn to form a new textile. Beautifully illustrated, it covers everything from traditional bedding, floor and wall coverings to flags and clothing, although the most impressive thing for me is the fact that most of these stunning items were crafted in an age before electric light was invented. It's published by Thames & Hudson, £24.95 in UK. Phyl Clarke
Win €2,000 to spend at hobbs
To celebrate the launch of its new Limited Edition collection, Hobbs is offering one reader the chance to win €2,000 to spend in its store at Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16. Hobbs has created a Limited Edition capsule collection for autumn-winter 2007. This is the second season for the Limited Edition collection, which was launched last year to celebrate Hobbs's 25th anniversary.
This higher-price collection uses luxurious materials, such as cashmere and mohair blends, nappa leather, silk and sheepskin. Black, the colour of the season, features heavily, and is highlighted with flashes of fuchsia, soft gold, winter white and charcoal grey. Shapes include high-waisted pencil skirts, 1960s-inspired suiting shapes such as retro funnel-neck details, pretty pin-tuck blouses in acid brights and classic panelled shift dresses ideal for the office. The collection arrives in store on September 24th. For full store details visit www.hobbs.co.uk.
To be in with a chance of winning this prize, simply call the phone number below; leave you name, address, daytime telephone number and answer to the question below:
What is the colour of the season?
Republic of Ireland: 1550-114705
Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 0906-6040245
The phone lines will remain open until midnight on Wednesday, September 19th 2007.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Calls cost 95 cent per minute in the Republic of Ireland and 60p per minute from Great Britain and Northern Ireland (all charges include VAT). Calls from mobiles may be more expensive. Callers under 18 must have the telephone owner's permission before calling. Service provided by Phonovation Ltd (01-2844060). A full set of rules is available on written request from the Promotions Department, The Irish Times Building, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2. No further correspondence will be entered into. The judges' decision is final. Vouchers cannot be redeemed against the Limited Edition collection
• Who'd have thought a handbag-hire service might come in, well, handy? See www.handbaghirehq.co.ukif you are into designer handbags but not the price tags