It would make a lovely Christmas present, particularly for anyone interested in astrology and astronomy, and a helpful guide to tasks and events season by season. There are also features on each month's unique nature, such as the meteor shower of the month, beehive behaviour, folklore, seasonal recipes and charts tracking moon phases and tides. December: “There appears to be something about reaching the deepest depths of the year that inspires us to use up an over-generous proportion of our precious resources in gathering, feasting and celebrating. If you are interested in the natural world and folklore this is an excellent month by month guide to the year. Each monthly chapter is broken down into sections including the night sky, the garden, a recipe, nature and the tide tables.

Within the pages allotted to said month was so much of interest and practical use, that I would defy anyone not to find something to inform or delight them. This audiobook combines content from all Lia Leendertz’s Almanacs and is updated annually to include new recipes, tips, stories and seasonal information to accompany you throughout the year.There are also features on each month’s unique nature, with this instalment following the swirling micro world of the garden pond through the year. But the author does encourage you to look at what is happening outside, are there buds or bees starting to emerge.

This I will follow through the year as I always do, and this year especially the fabulous seasonal recipes, folk songs and exactly when to do things in the garden through each Moon quarter of the month. I am not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without my permission. This may include special days for particular faith like Lammas in the Christian faith in August, Bank Holidays, major sport events and other yearly landmarks like the Notting Hill Carnival. The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way.Althought It's the shortest day/longest night of the year, it always gives me comfort that the days are getting longer. It gives details of the month “at a glance” such as the appearance of the countryside and traditional practices in rural areas such as Morris dancing.

There is a beautiful drawing for the start of every month, often linked to the zodiac sign which is further detailed in the text. The beautiful illustrations and cover added to my enjoyment, I think I'd like one of these little almanacs every year. It’s evident from the acknowledgements that The Almanac has been a collaborative effort and I really think that collaboration makes it more than the sum of its parts.Nature is also given – May’s offering is pond life creatures illustrated allowing identification of certain beasts.

Talking of which, the “bun of the month” feature is fabulous, from making marzipan hot cross buns in April, to enjoying Irish barmbrack buns for Hallowe’en. Divided into the 12 months and providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons. Either way, they add a lightness of touch that balances the stark and effective tide tables or phases of the moon. Reconnect with the seasons in Britain and Ireland with The Almanac, a month-by-month guide to the world around us. But I've seen enough to know I'll be revisiting it throughout the year, because that is the whole point of the book - it's an almanac.The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way.