Have a lovely break and a good New Year. We'll be back in January.

A post on our independent stockists is long overdue, because they've all got interesting stories and are well worth supporting. So I thought a note on the new places you can buy oh comely couldn't go far wrong.

The magazine is now sold online at St. Leonards, a leather-goods store set up by designer K Avery. K is also the proud owner of a very distinguished rough-haired Slovakian dog called Oscar and she keeps a blog of their adventures here.

You can also find us at the Created Gallery in Chesterfield, which is so close to the Peak District that even the London snow hasn't stopped me daydreaming about summer walking trips. Created display handmade work by British designers and run courses on felt making and textile design.

Finally, the Here Gallery and Bookshop in Bristol is also stocking the magazine. They run a great programme of exhibitions and start the new year with a show on the British-Japanese artist Lydia Shirreff.

British design duo Carl Clerkin and Ed Ward, the guys behind All Lovely Stuff, have taken over an old jewellery shop in Kensington. If you're looking for last-minute Christmas presents, pass by this excellent pop-up shop. It's full of humorous and succinctly-designed household gems like this animal-head coat rack, cheese doorstops and beer-can tree ornaments. 

Well, we've finished off issue four. This one was a lot of fun to make, apart from the usual hairy moment or two. One of the best bits was digging out our family recipes and trying each other's. All the mums and grandmas involved (there were no dads' recipes, as it happens) are very excited.

One of the highlights for us is also Dani's interview with Owen Ashworth, from Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. We identify to a worrying degree with his comment that he's been on the road for so long that his cat doesn't recognise him any more. And I don't even have a cat.

We even managed to get some snow into the issue, thanks to the wonderful Crista Leonard.

We're really excited, and we hope you like it. We posted off all the subscriptions yesterday, so they should reach you in time for Christmas, if you're a subscriber, provided that you're in the UK and not too snowbound.

Okay, so antiquarian books might not be top of the Oh Comely Christmas list, but Simon Beattie's take on selling out-of-print books has us hooked. After working for ten years in one of London's oldest bookshops, Simon decided to go it alone and sell 'quirky books, interesting books, certainly not books you've ever heard of: the books you never knew you wanted.' His beautiful catalogue is designed by Purpose and reads and looks like an indie mag. It's well worth a look and you can download it here. 

Do you ever see something that's made for children but makes you want to be a toddler again, just so you can enjoy it? If you're not sure what I mean, take a look at the Lucky Boy Sunday designs. These imaginative, kooky, fantastic, knitted creatures are so excellent I'm (almost) not ashamed to admit I'd quite like one for myself.

Well, we've just sent our next issue off print, breathed a sigh of relief, and got ourselves organised with some gift subscriptions.

They now come with one of these lovely postcards illustrated by Ben Zen. You can either have the card sent to you so you can add a message and give it to them in person, or we can put it in with their first issue. We'll include a note to the effect: "Yay, someone bought you a subscription."

The Outdoor Swimming Society enourages people to swim in ponds, open-air pools and highland lakes around the UK. Their annual December dip is taking place on the 4th. If you think it's a wee bit mad to go for an outdoor swim in early December, I'd agree with you. All the same, the OSS are spirted swimmers and hearlity dedicated to their cause.

This year's swim is hosted by comedian Jessica Hynes and siwmming obsessive Colin Hill. Even better, you'll get a cheery Christmas swim cap as a memento for taking part and a chance to warm up in the hot tub after the swim. Mince pies included. If London isn't home then check the OSS website lists a host of festive, open-air swims taking place this winter across the UK.