Newsdesk: and a new one just begun

A little later than usual, perhaps, but it's 2009 - a brave new world of almost exactly the same stuff as in 2008. Excited?

(Edinburgh 2009 New Year Fireworks by Scala64. happy new year 2009 from lulugaia's Flickr photostream, displayed under a Creative Commons licence.)

Newsdesk: DIY

There's a growing number of notable mixologists who aren't professional bartenders. While I'm lucky enough to have access to a well-stocked, well-equipped cocktail bar at work, that isn't necessarily an option for the enthusiast. Handily, the internet has answers to the questions you haven't even asked yet.

Newsdesk: the wrath of grapes

Hangovers are the nemesis of the committed drinker, and just ahead of Christmas, it gets worse.