Sara Ward on Living the Good Life November 2025

Have you started your list?

Guest blog by Sara Ward

The clocks have gone back, Half Term is behind us and I’m pushing forward to enjoy all that’s ahead for the evening of the year…

As twinkling lights start to brighten the long nights, a cosy feeling inside heralds the festivities to come – and it’s all in the preparation.

Throughout the year I make little notes of recipes, gift ideas and new friends to add to the Christmas card list. I’ve got preserves and jellies ready on the shelf and two different flavours of fruit gin macerating (sloe and quince if you’re interested). I’ve got pears pickling ready to serve with cheese and my membrillo was a success last month, even if I did get more than a couple of burns from the volcanic splashes.

Outside, all of the honeybees are safely protected throughout winter in their insulated hives and a big block of fondant icing is stored inside each in case they get a bit peckish whilst it’s too cold to fly.

Our chickens have been growing new feathers to ensure that their lush plumage is in tip top condition keeping them nice and warm through all weathers whilst they enjoy a well deserved break from laying eggs.

Down at the allotment, I’m clearing the spent crops and will be sowing broad beans and planting garlic cloves whilst the soil is still warm enough for germination – all the jobs are on my list!

If you are thinking ahead, there’s still time to make your very own cheese to serve at the festive feast. Join us to make your own Camembert that will be perfectly ripe for the celebrations. We have a couple of spaces on Introduction to Making Cheese on Wednesday 12 November allowing your cheese the recommended six weeks to mature.

It’s not long now until the Ideal Home Show Christmas at Olympia London 26 -30 November. I’ll be hosting the Christmas Corner, bringing the Christmas chapter of my book to life each day encouraging guests to create sustainable gifts and decorations. Readers can get special £10 tickets by using code: IHSXSARA when you book in here or head over to HenCorner.com for a competition to win a pair of tickets!

As always, we are looking forward to the Festive Chiswick Flower Market on Sunday 7 December where I’ll be running my ever popular Christmas Wreaths workshops.

This year, they will be held at the beautiful Room2 Chiswick Hometel on Windmill Road, and due to demand we are running two sessions this year 12-1.30pm and 2-3.30pm.  Tickets are available from Chiswick Flower Market and Hen Corner.

So get ahead of the game and start drafting your plan for festive preparations!

I hope to see you soon,

Sara

Coming up at Hen Corner:

November

Introduction to Making Bread Tuesday 4th

Introduction to Making Cheese Wednesday 12th

Introduction to Scandinavian Baking Tuesday 18th

Making Christmas Puddings – Stir Up Sunday Sunday 23rd

December

Making Christmas Wreaths Wednesday 3rd (7pm), Thursday 4th (1pm), Wednesday 10th (7pm)

Plus Christmas Wreath Workshops at Chiswick Flower Market Sunday 7th Dec, 12pm and 2pm

Making Christmas Food Gifts Tuesday 9th

Introduction to Christmas Baking  Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th

Sara Ward is the owner of Hen Corner and author of Living the Good Life in the City: A journey to self-sufficiency

All courses can be found at HenCorner.com

Follow them on social media @HenCorner

Hen Corner is a member of The Chiswick Calendar’s Club Card scheme, offering discounts on her courses and on her book Living the Good Life in the City.

See their Club Card offers here: Hen Corner Club Card offers