Board games are a great way to pass away the time and with an ever increasing range of title there's sure to be something that appeals to everyone from young children to grown ups.

Even with all the gadgets and technology of the modern age, there's still something deeply appealing about getting lost in the pages of a good book. Especially good when enjoyed in front of a nice, warm fire.

Cooking can be surprisingly therapeutic and there are few things better for lifting the winter blues than a bowl of hot soup or hearty stew.

Winter is an ideal time to catch up with the latest DVD releases while curled up on the sofa. Some of the biggest films of the year are released in DVD in winter.

They're not to everybody's taste but computer games on console, mobile phone or PC can be a great way to spend your free time, either playing alone or with others.