The local Marks and Spencers foodhall has been giving tasters of various seasonal food and drink, it is quite nice to get a nibble of mince pie or Christmas cake or even a Belgium chocolate together with a drop of champagne or port.

My bank has gone one better, they are giving away bags of coins! Today when I went in to pay my credit card and to get some cash I noticed bowls containing mesh bags of gold cover chocolate coins. I asked a staff member if they were just for decoration and was told that we could help ourselves, one bag per customer. What a nice idea.

Do you get Christmas nibbles?

Sue (munch munch) I do get the nibbles (munch, munch) as a matter of fact I'm eating some (munch, crunch) home made peanut brittle as I type. My lovely wife is a great baker and right now the house is full of cookies, cakes and all sorts of Christmas goodies.

But my favorite was when we got the parcel from England (my mom was a War bride). Every Christmas Nan would wrap up some good English chocolate and even make a Christmas pudding and send it. I'm getting dewy eyed just thinking of it. Boy I love Christmas. Ho Ho Ho

Ah yes but I was talking about free samples in shops. Don't they give free tasting sessions in your shops?

Our local supermarket deli gives samples of specialty ham, cole slaw, cheeses and such for the asking. They occasionally cook up pizza or new specialty items for the customers to sample. Small bites with toothpicks and napkins

Free samples, oh yes Sue, from Safeway to Costco you can sample to your hearts desire. Especially Costco, which has sampling all year long. Since they are a warehouse/bulk buy operation they give samples of their newest products. I've seen people go at lunch time and have the samples for lunch. Shrimp, cheese, chocolate, they've got it all.

I love Costco. One can make a Sunday brunch out of the samples they give out!

Over here in our Whole Food Stores (organic food places) they always give out samples of food. Now that holidays are near I've been seeing samples of holiday cookies. Mmm, gingersnaps!