Can you envisage a world without sandwiches? Where we solemnly sit down at lunch, incapable of devouring this functional food shaped to post straight into the mouth? Whether the Earl of Sandwich invented this beautiful gourmet delight or not, it stands to reason that this bread-based lunch time snack is one of Britain’s greatest food creations on the planet. It’s just as well there’s a week dedicated to them.

The British Sandwich Association is there to uphold the rights of the perfect British sarnie and in honour of British Sandwich Week 2013, we’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time salivating over the greatest the world has to offer between two slices of bread.

If your dad gets a kick out of doing adrenaline-fuelled stuff, then send him off on a gift experience day this Father's Day. GoneDigging has loads up for grabs, including driving experience days such as racing around the tracks in a supercar, white water rafting, clay pigeon shooting, to name just a few. Here’s a look at what’s hot in terms of daredevil Father’s Day presents...

Airkix Indoor Skydiving

Let Dad experience the incredible rush of free fall without then need to jump out of a plane with an Airkix Indoor Skydiving experience. Kitted out in a specialised flight suit, your dad will step into the airflow and get a good dose of freefall in a specially constructed wind tunnel.

Yep. May is National Share-a-Story month. It’s no secret that children of all ages love story telling. So it’s time to open the pages of a good book and get kiddies reading. By listening and telling stories, not only can you help improve a little one’s language skills, you’ll also help them develop communication and social skills, and build confidence in their own thoughts and imagination.

Organised by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, National Share a Story Month was founded in 1965 with the aim to promote children’s interest in books and reading, getting involved with libraries, schools and playgroups. So it’s time to enjoy some good old-fashioned story telling this May. Why not get the ball rolling with our personalised kids' books? Here are our top five:

Brief let me be. A short tale to make so as not to o’er wrought, but I urge this childhood proof because what follows is pure innocence. Younger and more vulnerable years did make me whose own hard dealings taught to suspect the thoughts of Shakespeare. Nor time nor place did then adhere to the Bard. Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise, but more to know did never meddle with my thoughts.

Thou had more time for vainer hours and fleeted the time carelessly, for one did never grasp the fellow’s work nor find the mind’s construction in the face. I did thus insist the language be intpinse and plump in a great abatement of kindness. I dare pawn down my life that he hath wrote this to feel my affection to his honour and to no other, but I did not mark it. My spirits and place had in his power to make this bitter to thee. He comes to bad intent, so thou did think of the day.

Did you know it’s UK National Coffee Week, the nation’s biggest celebration of coffee? Organised by the Allegra Foundation, it’s a time when the coffee and food service industry come together in an effort to raise some dosh for Project Waterfall, the charity providing clean drinking water to the poorest coffee-growing countries such as Tanzania in partnership with WaterAid.

In celebration of UK Coffee Week, we thought it right to put together a few facts about the stuff you love to drink...

FACT 1. In the beginning, coffee was eaten. African tribes mixed coffee berries with fat, which produced edible energy balls

Do a cheeky Google search on terms like ‘Father’s Day songs’ and you’ll get all sorts of results. You’ll get loads of classic rock. And you’ll also get songs with Dad in the title, which is why we’ve combined the two. But we’ve not stopped there. We’ve also thrown in some newer stuff to cater to dads of all ages. So from old rockers to Jeremy-Kyle stay-aways, we’ve got it covered in our Father’s Day playlist…

It’s Her Majesty the Queen’s official 87th birthday on 21st April. So just what should one give the Queen for her birthday? When wondering what to buy the woman who has everything, one could do worse than our personalised gifts.

For the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Her Majesty was presented with a range of gifts, including a knitted tea cosy, 78 pictures of herself, the adoption rights to a baby Asian elephant and a dog bed in the shape of a crown.

Well-wishers presented the lucky monarch with three thrones, some tea and a pot of jam to celebrate her reign. Other gifts for the Queen ranged from ceremonial weapons to tea towels to a baby llama. Not only that, the Queen is now the proud owner of a Lego sculpture of Tower Bridge and a Brazilian football shirt.

National Gardening Week's coming up soon (15th - 21st April 2013). The aim here is to encourage everyone to get involved in horticulture as an ongoing hobby, gardening virgin or not.

Whether you have fingers greener than Alan Titchmarsh’s or can’t tell the difference between a set of secateurs and a pair of nail scissors, you’ll find these gardening facts fascinating...

1.) Apples, not caffeine or tea, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning

2.) Plants aren’t just pretty faces. They’re also used as dyes. Stewed onion skin, tea bags and walnut juice are actually used to dye cloth. One of the oldest blue dyes comes from a plant called Woad that’s been used since Neolithic times – over 6000 years. So, how about colouring your tea towel, pair of socks or pants with these natural garden ingredients?

Wham! Remember the pillow fights you used to have with friends and siblings at sleepovers? When you’d knock your fellow feather fighter off balance... and sometimes the pillow would actually rip, plastering everything in downy debris? Sure, pillow fights can be a lot of fun at sleepovers, but they’re even more fun when they’re global...

If you’ve ever wanted to be involved in a battle with a difference, the Pillow Fight Day at Trafalgar Square in London this Saturday (6th April) has to be the friendliest fight you’ll ever attend. The city will be awash with feathers, not to mention thousands of pillow participants, bopping one another over the head.

Happy International Children’s Book Day! We’re all about celebrating all that’s good about the written word here at GoneDigging.

From Paddington Bear and the creatures of Wind in the Willows to Julia Donaldson’s Gruffalo and Winnie the Pooh, we’ve all been touched by the magic of children’s literature.

Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday on 2nd April, International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) has been celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to highlight the importance of children’s books. So that gives us a chance to not only relive the stories that enthralled us as kiddies, but also to check out a few children’s favourites from the new writers on the block.

Last year, we listed five of the best April Fools’ pranks ever pulled off. This year, we’re going to do exactly the same, with five more brilliant acts of kidology…

San Serriffe

On the 1st April 1977, The Guardian published a seven-page supplement all about the idyllic San Serriffe. This small republic in the Indian Ocean was apparently made up of several semi-colon-shaped islands, which the newspaper described in great detail. The two main islands were called Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse, its capital was Bodoni, while its leader was named General Pica. The more eagle-eyed readers recognised all the printer-based terminology, but the feature still succeeded in capturing the hearts and minds of other readers who were quick to call requesting more information on this new holiday hotspot. In fact, the work has been credited with inspiring the April Fools’ pranks that our tabloids now take so much pride in.

Atheist or devout Christian, you can’t miss the high-spirited celebration of Easter. The occasion is just a hop, skip and a jump away and such a wonderful way to kick off the spring season! Whoever you’re spending this Easter with, dazzle and delight family and friends with these eggs-traordinary facts about the occasion…

1.) The UK's first chocolate egg was produced in 1873 by Fry’s of Bristol, with Cadbury launching their version two years later

2.) On average, each person in Britain scoffs around 10.2kg of chocolate per year. Blimey. What a bunch of choffers we are.

Are you doing - or did you do - some silly things to raise a bit of cash for Comic Relief? We did. And guess how much we raised? £680.00! Go team :)

Kevin – one of the directors here at GoneDigging HQ – agreed to dress up as a woman... in full makeup. Here he is, in all his Kate Moss glory. Kinda' pretty, isn't he?!

And James, our Operations Administrator, ditched his brown locks for an altogether more shocking colour, all in the name of Red Nose Day. He looks really happy about it, doesn't he?

Astonishingly, since the first Red Nose Day 25 years ago, a staggering £600 million has been raised to help change 50 million lives in the UK and Africa. Impressive stuff.

Comic Relief 2013 – otherwise known as Red Nose Day 2013 – falls on Friday, but what is Red Nose Day? How did it all begin? Hopefully you’ll be more clued up about Comic Relief after reading this article...

Well, it launched from a refugee camp in Sudan on Christmas Day way back in 1985, live on BBC One. During that time, a dreadful famine crippled Ethiopia. Something had to be done and boom! Comicrelief was born.

It wasn't very long ago that Ireland simply didn't do St Patrick's Day. In fact, some 40-odd years back, you could argue that Dublin was pretty much the dullest place to spend St Paddy's. The problem was that his big day falls slap-bang in the middle of Lent, which meant that up until the mid 1970s, pubs and bars just didn't open their doors. It was a raw deal, not least because most Irish folk didn't view St Patrick's Day as part of Lent. On the contrary, most argued it was an insult to their national patron not to celebrate with a pint or two and a whiskey or three.

March is National Bed Month (what do you mean you didn’t know?!). Don’t get too excited. The government hasn’t introduced a “Duvet Day”. The aim here is to emphasise how important it is to get a sound snooze.

To celebrate, we’ve come up with a few tips on how to get a good night’s kip. Before we kick off, we want to introduce you to two sleep-stimulating products... our very cute, very soft personalised ted and our gorgeously soft fleece blanket, both of which are guaranteed to keep you cosy.

Sleep is vital for our physical and psychological wellbeing. In fact, the beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow swears by it, saying it’s fundamental to looking good. Nowadays, it can be tricky to completely shut off and dissolve into a state of relaxation. Fear not. Follow the below pointers, and you're guaranteed to get some top-quality sleep...

It's safe to say Dads rock... and so do step-dads, uncles, grandads, fathers in law, god fathers and so on. While there may be only one person you call "Dad", a person could really have up to seven dads at some point in their life: one biological dad, two grandads (one each side), one Godfather, one Father-in-law, two grandad-in-laws (one on each side). This doesn't include any step-dads, step-grandfathers or husbands that may now be dads.

Okay, so seven dads may seem a tad ridiculous, but the upshot is you probably have more than one dad you need to acknowledge on Father's Day 2013.

Want to make Mother’s Day special this year? Whether she’s a gorgeous grandma or a magnificent new mum, why not warm her heart with one – or several – of the below Happy Mothers Day quotes?

Mother's Day 2013 is fast approaching. If you're a man, chances are you're completely clueless about what to give your lovely wife for Mother's Day. Want to know a secret? All mums really want on Mother's Day in an extra hour in bed!

Here are a few Mothers Day tips to enable you to make the mum in your life's dozing dream a reality...

Be on the Ball. The moment you hear the kids are out of bed, take control. Refrain from burying your head under the pillows or feigning "asleepness". Up you get and take charge. If you want to give your beloved a lie-in, it's not necessarily being quiet (though that helps) – it's assuring her everything's in hand and that there's no need for her to get involved. Your job? Grab the kids, seize some clothes and get them dressed downstairs. And don't forget to give them their breakfast, too – it's going to be a hectic morning.

Most of us know about the Irish tradition of St Patrick’s Day that takes place in March. But did you know about St Davids Day, the Welsh celebration that’s commemorated on 1st March each year? And if you do, do you know what it’s all about? Here are 15 facts for you about the Welsh national day...

1.) Saint David was one of the early Saints who helped spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of Western Britain

2.) The national emblems of Wales are daffodils and leeks. It’s believed that St David instructed his Welsh soldiers to wear leeks in their helmets in battle against the loathed Saxons in order to distinguish friend from foe

Every year on 17th March, we celebrate St Patricks Day, donning our greenest garb, marching in Irish parades, eating green clover-shaped foods and quaffing beer, all in the name of a saint. But do you really know who St. Patrick was and why he is celebrated?

This occasion was named after the patron saint of Ireland who was believed to have died on that day sometime in AD 400 and is now buried in Downpatrick in Nothern Ireland.

The event is clouded by ambiguity, yet we still commemorate it. Not only is it celebrated in Great Britain, it’s also honoured in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. But do you know the story about Saint Patrick? Did you know he wasn’t even born in Ireland?

Mother's Day often creates the opposite effect on its desired intention. If you want to know what your mum thinks of you, a forgotten gift or card can give an answer pretty quickly. So here's the thing: should a husband buy his wife a Mothers Day gift? Well, this is definitely a subject up for debate. Let's take a look...

Reasons not to Buy Your Wife Mothers Day Gifts

She's Not Your Mother

For 364 days of the year, your wife will say, "I'm not your mother." Should you really be sending mixed messaged by purchasing her Mother's Day gifts?

The guys 'n' gals at GoneDigging Towers reckon humour is the secret to a long, evergreen relationship. Want to woo your lover on Valentine's Day? All it takes is a dash of humour and a smidgen of love. We’ve put together some funny Valentine’s Day quotes to share with your other half.

“One should always be in love. That is the reason one should never marry.” - Oscar Wilde

"Husbands are like fires – they go out when they’re left unattended." -Cher

“Today is Valentine’s Day. Or, as men like to call it, Extortion day.” - Jay Leno

“Get married early in the morning. That way, if it doesn't work out, you haven't wasted a whole day.” - Mickey Rooney

All the guys 'n' gals at GoneDigging HQ are big fans of Pancake Day, not least because we get to scoff our faces with that mouthwatering fluffy, squishy, warm goodness. After all, what would Shrove Tuesday be without a stack of pancakes with lashings of maple syrup and strips of crispy bacon? It's a quintessential English favourite!

Making pancakes for the first time can be an utter nightmare, if no one’s ever shown you how. Here's an easy peasy lemon squeezy pancake recipe. You’ll never be defeated by a pancake again! This crisp, meltingly light pancake recipe will be a favourite on Pancake Day or anytime. So get your frying pan at the ready, folks.

Batter up for next week’s Shrove Tuesday! Perfect for dessert, dinner or even breakfast, pancakes are dead easy to make – and tasty, too. The guys 'n' gals at GoneDigging Towers have put together some delicious pancake recipes for you, including American pancakes, Gluten-free pancakes and even rainbow pancakes. Fear not, there’s something for everyone, right here...

Pancakes with Bananas and Vanilla Ice Cream

• 4 large bananas, peeled and split

• 25g unsalted butter

• 50ml dark rum

• 25g soft light brown sugar

• ½tsp vanilla extract

• 500ml good quality vanilla ice cream

For the pancakes

• 100g plain flour

• 1 large egg

Choosing the perfect bunch of posies for your mum can seem like a nightmare situation for many sons and daughters out there – a minefield of colours, sizes, budgets, scents and sizes that just seem to daze and perplex us.

Happily, here's a simple guide to lead you through the floral maze and bring you out other side with the perfect Mothers Day flowers. Most importantly, remember the golden rule: find out your mum's favourite flower and you're on the road to success.

Best on a Budget

Hou ar ye? Hou's it gaun? There's nothing like a wee bit of Ceilidh – that's Scottish country dancing to you Southerners – to mark Burns' Night. Never heard of Burns' Night? Wouldn't know a "neep", "haggis" or "tattie" if they were directed straight at your head and fired out of the One O' Clock gun at Edinburgh castle? Read on, and all will become clear...

An excuse to wear a kilt and get hammered, Burns' Night is annually celebrated in bonnie Scotland on or near to January 25th to commemorate the life of the bard (poet) Robert Burns. Born on January 25th, 1759, in Alloway, Scotland, this day marks Burns' contribution to Scottish culture. One of his most notorious works is that of ‘Auld Lang Syne', which is sung on New Year's Eve in Scotland, parts of the UK and other places across the globe.

C’mon, you all know Winnie the Pooh, the adorable bear we’ve all come to know and love. Although a “silly old bear”, Pooh is loved by kiddies and grown-ups alike. This cute honey-loving bear, stuffed with fluff, loves nothing better than a lick of honey when he’s rumbly in his tummy.

Today is “Winnie the Pooh Day”, which celebrates the birthday of Alan Alexander Milne, author of the classic Pooh stories. A. A. Milne was born on 18th January, 1882, and raised in London town.

On Pooh’s honey-searching adventures through the Hundred Acre Woods, the “bear of little brain” is usually accompanied by his friends, Roo, Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Rabbit, Kanga, Christopher Robin and Owl.

We’ve collected the best Valentine’s Day quotes we could find so you can show your partner, best friend or family member how you feel by topping off their handmade card with a meaningful quote. Go on; spread the love on February 14th...

1. "For you see, each day I love you more, today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow." -Rosemonde Gerard

2. "For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul." - -Judy Garland

3. "A life without love is like a year without summer." --Swedish Proverb

You’ve cooked up a culinary feast, lit the candles and the setting couldn’t be more romantic for the perfect date. Now all you need is the perfect soundtrack to set the tone for a romantic evening with the one you love.

There are tons of love songs – too many, in fact. And the bad ones heap cliché on cliché until they're as disposable as a pile of lovey-dovey books at a train station.

Planning on romancing your partner on Valentine’s Day with the latest 50 Cent or Will.i.am record? Let us intervene and rescue you from disaster with our selection of seduction songs.

Happy New Year! It’s the season for optimistic vows to quit smoking, hit the gym, lose weight, stop stalking your ex on Facebook, sort out your budget, give up chocolate, ditch junk food and eat more home-cooked meals. Do they work, and will you make any? Have you ever kept any of them for an entire year or beyond? Can you remember the ones you made a year ago? What are your resolutions for 2013?

Here’s what the marketing team at GoneDigging HQ had to say...

Kerrie – Buyer

"To spend less."

Simon – Copywriter

"To read more. I thought about exercising more as well, but that’s less likely to happen. So yeah, I’m saying to read more. I’m currently in the middle of a rather fascinating book on the pursuit, capture and trial of Nazi Adolf Eichmann."

It’s nearly that time of year again when 12 celebs take to the ice in front of judicious judges and millions of viewers, vying to be crowned the “Dancing on Ice” champ. Dancing on Ice 2013 will hit our TV screens on Sunday 6th January 2013 and this year’s line-up is sure to see the ice sizzling with the likes of TOWIE’s Lauren Goodger, Pamela Anderson and Matt Lapinskas donning glitzy leotards and laugh-out-loud tights.

Here, GoneDigging gives you the rundown of the 12 celebs taking to the ice in 2013...

SHAYNE WARD

Famous for: Winning that show back in 2005... oh, what’s it called again? Oh yeah. The X Factor.

With Christmas on the horizon, GoneDigging thought it time to put together the definitive list of the best Christmas songs ever made. Want to know what song sits atop the Christmas tree? Read on…

#10. Wham! Last Christmas

George Michael clearly takes the limelight in this vid, but where is Andrew Ridgley, the other half of Wham, what happened to him? Take in the sweet hair styles of 1984. If you have one of these “do’s”, just for the record, it’s a “don’t.”

# 9. Bing Crosby – Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)

Recorded way back in 1950, 'Mele Kalikimaka' is a Hawaiian-themed song which will make you yearn for the sunshine. “Mele Kalikimaka” means “Merry Christmas” and the song was featured in L.A. Confidential and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

20 days to go ‘til Christmas. What do you really want for the festive period? More time, more pleasure and less hassle? Welcome to Christmas countdown 2012! A calmer, more collected Christmas is on the cards, providing you follow the below day-by-day organiser...

5th December. Write Christmas cards.

6th December. Put up the Christmas tree, decorations etc.

7th December. Buy Secret Santa gifts for the office.

8th December. Post international cards.

9th December. Order a turkey or ham, or whatever else is the centrepiece of your Christmas meal so you don’t get caught short.

10th December. Do any online shopping now so you have lots of time to wrap them once they arrive. Plus, if you shop online, you’ll avoid the crowds on the high street and get the best deals and choice. Smiley face.

So you’re having a Halloween party. You’ve probably covered your home in spider webs, candles and ghouley, ghosty things. Your party’s going to be booming! However, before you don your Halloween costume and hit the town for a spooky night out or invite your revellers round, be sure to flick on this playlist. It’s destined to give your guests the fright fest they’re looking for.

Specially selected by the guys 'n' gals here at GoneDigging Towers, it’s brimming with the best Halloween songs of all time. Add these spooky songs to your playlist and you'll set the vibe for a real scare. Muahahahahaha...

Grandparents’ Day was established in 1990 in West Virginia, USA, and, as its name suggests, it’s a day dedicated to recognising all the hard work that grandparents do for their loved ones. In 2012 it falls on Sunday 7th October.

So besides the fact we love ‘em, why the introduction of Grandparents’ Day? Well, they’re increasingly taking a more hands-on role in childcare and in supporting their grandchildren – something backed up with the following facts and figures…

• Apparently 72% of grandparents view their role with grandchildren as one of the most important things in their lives.

• And that might help explain why grandparents across the UK provide a whopping £33 billion of free childcare!

Over the centuries, famous historic faces, from Aristotle to Groucho Marx, have had something to say about marriage and, unsurprisingly, wedding anniversaries.

Perhaps this is because, for most of us, marriage is the foundation on which our lives are based.

Whether you’re new at the marriage game or celebrating your hundredth wedding anniversary, we’ve collected some of the best wedding anniversary quotes for your delectation. Some of them are funny and witty, whilst others are poignant and emotive.

The quotes, in our humble opinion, can be used by anyone needing special, romantic words for wedding speeches, anniversary toasts, greeting cards and so on, to convey the message of love in marriage.

It’s nearly school time again. Your kiddie's probably feeling a weeny bit sad that summer’s over and nervous about the first day back at school… those new teachers, new friends, and maybe even a new school.

After a summer of sleeping in or doing things in their own time, the alarm bell declaring the first day of school can be a rude awakening. Love it or loathe it, your little ones have gotta go back to school.

GoneDigging’s put together a few tips on how to make the transition from summer to school a little easier.

The amazing thing about the Olympics is just how often it transcends sport into politics. There was Jesse Owens’ success at the 1936 Games in Hitler’s Munich, the Black Power salutes of 1968 in Mexico, and the terrible events in Munich four years later, when Palestinian terrorists murdered 11 Israeli athletes.

Quite understandably and quite rightly, it was these atrocities that dominated the 1972 Olympics. 40 years later and the events still live long in the memory, so it’s little wonder that one particular final, played less than a week later, has been overshadowed by the historic violence. Yet the story of the Men’s basketball final sent its own sporting shockwaves around the world, thanks to a textbook tale of two superpowers going head to head at the height of the Cold War.

Weddings can be a complicated old business, with the question of etiquette never too far away. So with the matrimonial season now well and truly underway, we’ve put together a basic guide to the traditional dos and don’ts of a modern wedding. Take note or ignore as you see fit…

The Bride

Okay, so it’s not exactly etiquette, but for the bride her wedding is all about the organisation. She should be – and will want to be – involved in all the decision making in virtually every aspect of her big day. So whether it’s the cake, the dress, the flowers or simply the type of ceremony, expect the bride to have a major say in it all.

When it comes to wedding anniversaries, words speak pretty loudly. In fact, they sometimes speak louder than anniversary gifts (should we really say that, being a gift company?!).

Trying to write an anniversary poem? Lost for words? Don’t panic. Don’t get brain strain. Have yourself a cuppa, get comfy and read on...

We’ve put together a few ideas that’ll help you become a true warrior of words. The guys n’ gals at GoneDigging Towers believe, quite simply, that the key to scrawling a meaningful poem for your other half is “P.O.E.M.”:

Personal

Original

Emotional

Memory-infused

Keep it personal

With Wimbledon less than one week away, we decided it’d be nice to take a look at SW19’s ten greatest moments of this millennium. So pour yourself a Pimms, make yourself comfy and take a look at what we’ve come up with…

Pete Sampras Vs Pat Rafter, Men’s Final, 2000

It felt like now or never for Pete Sampras. After rain had delayed the start of the 2000 men’s final, an unusually anxious Pistol Pete finally saw off the challenge of Aussie Patrick Rafter in four sets 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-2.

In truth, it was less about the match itself and more about its significance. In winning his seventh Wimbledon title, Sampras equalled William Renshaw’s record. And by securing his 13th slam in total, he finally passed Australian Roy Emerson, whose 12-slam haul had stood for years.

Flying gift experiences sell like hotcakes. However, they’d sell like even hotter hotcakes if nobody had a fear of flying. So in an attempt to boost our profits, we’ve decided to take a look at just how likely you are to pop your clogs in a fiery tube of plummeting steel. Let’s get straight down to the nitty gritty…

First of all, let’s assume you fly with a reputable airline. Stay clear of Russian companies and some of the more obscure African and South American carriers. Do this, and there’s a mere 1 in 11.4 million chance of being involved in a flight that results in at least one fatality. And the odds of you snuffing it? An incredible 1 in 29.4 million.

It’s only a week and a bit away ‘til us Brits get ready to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012. Everyone here at GoneDigging Towers is excited, so much so, in fact, that we’ve organised a Jubilee-themed fancy dress party at the office. Yep, seriously.

The last time we had a Diamond Jubilee was way back in 1897 to mark the then Queen – Queen Victoria. Let’s face it. Since Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne 60 years ago, on 6th February 1952, Britain has witnessed a mahoosive economic, social and political transformation, right? Despite the ups and the downs, the Queen’s remained up to speed as the head of the world’s most famous Royal Family. Not once has she faltered.

With the Cup Final on Saturday, GoneDigging thought it’d be a bloody stonking idea to dig out ten of the greatest ever FA Cup Final goals. It’s by no means a comprehensive list, so please don’t take umbrage or write a snotty email deriding our selection. Instead, kick back and feast your eyes on these beauties. Enjoy!

Ricky Villa Vs Manchester City, 1981

It was 1981 and in a year when Ossie Ardiles famously sang, ‘for Tottingham’, it was left to his Argentinean compatriot to net two of Spurs’ goals in their 3-2 replay success over Manchester City. With the scores level at 2-2 and with just 14 minutes left on the clock, Villa proceeded to jink his way through the City defence before slotting home. Here’s a reminder…

George: the Man

So what does GoneDigging actually know about St George? We know chavs hang his flag out their bedroom window once every two years. And there’s that story in which he killed a dragon. But what else did he do? And who was he? Let’s take a little look-see…

Most of us are aware that he’s England’s patron saint, typically identified by English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry. And yet actually, he wasn’t English at all. In fact, he was probably born in the third century to Christian parents in Cappadocia, in an area that’s now in Turkey. However, when his dad died, it’s thought his mum moved them back to her native Palestine. Thereafter, the story goes that George became a soldier in the Roman army – rising to the rank of Tribune.

On the 14th April, this year’s National will take place at its usual home at Aintree Racecourse. To mark the occasion, GoneDigging thought we’d take a look at all things Grand National...

The Grand National’s Early History

The Grand National was founded by William Lynn – a syndicate head and proprietor of the Waterloo Hotel. Using leased land in Aintree, he set out the course and built a grandstand before Lord Sefton laid the foundation stone in February, 1829.

Despite much historical debate since, it is thought the first race was run seven years later in 1836. Both this race and 1837’s were won by The Duke, while the 1838 win went to Sir William.

Want to set up an Easter egg hunt for your kiddies? GoneDigging has put together a few tips on material, how to prepare and how to make it simple and exciting for all ages, grown-ups included!

What You’ll Need:

• Chocolate Easter eggs. Plump for some small mini eggs along with some larger, foil-wrapped eggs

• A couple of containers to collect the eggs in, like baskets, bowls or pots

• Paints, sellotape and card

• Craft materials

• A pen and some paper

A Few Tips Before you Start:

To make sure things run swimmingly, it’s always good to lay a few ground rules...

With April Fools’ Day just round the corner, GoneDigging thought it’d be fun to take a look at some of the biggest and best pranks ever pulled off. Here’s our top five…

Panorama Spaghetti Harvest

It’s 1957 and thanks to a very mild winter and the elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop. Or so Panorama had the nation believe. Massive numbers of viewers fell for it, with many contacting the BBC wanting to know how to grow their own. Here’s the clip…

Sidd Finch

We’re going across the pond for this one. In the April 1985 issue of ‘Sports Illustrated’, journalist George Plimpton had a story published about a rookie pitcher who planned to play for the New York Mets. His name was Sidd Finch and it was claimed that he could throw a baseball at 168mph – a full 65mph faster than the previous record. Better still, he was reportedly able to do it with pinpoint accuracy. The story then went on to claim that Finch had mastered the “art of pitch” in a Tibetan monastery under the tutorship of the “great poet-saint Lama Milaraspa”. Overjoyed Mets fans flooded ‘Sports Illustrated’ with requests for more information, although had they looked closely, they’d have seen the clue in the article’s sub-heading, “He’s a pitcher, part yogi and part recluse. Impressively liberated from our opulent lifestyle, Sidd’s deciding about yoga – and his future in baseball”. Take the first letter from every word…

The spring has definitely sprung. It’s gloriously sunny outside and we’re clad in our shorts and flip-flops (at least I am anyway). Everyone’s cheery in the office today (could that be something to do with the leisurely bank holiday weekend just round the corner?). Either way, there’s something about springtime that puts everyone in a good mood.

And now the arrival of yet more brand new Easter gifts to order from GoneDigging in time for the holiday is the icing on the cake! Here are a few of our faves...

5. Personalised Wine & Spirits Gifts Packs, from £27.99

It’s the Dancing on Ice 2012 final this Sunday, 6:50p.m., ITV 1. As if you didn’t know :-)

Last week’s show saw Jennifer Ellison and Jorgie Porter both land in the skate-off after receiving the least votes from the British public. Boo hoo. But actress, Jorgie Porter, got lucky and was saved by the ice panel judges.

Sporting a glistening red ra ra skirt, Jennifer received a score of 24 after her routine to Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and had tears streaming down her face as she left, telling host Phillip Schofield, “I really loved it. I just want to thank everyone for the opportunity.” Aaaaw, bless.

Mother’s Day is only a week and a bit away. Not got anything for her yet? Want to thank Mum for being your pillar of strength and support over the years?

Happily, us thoughtful folks here at GoneDigging have picked out 10 fabtastic Mother’s Day gifts. We think you’ll love ‘em.

Check out our vid (it’s only 2 mins) and get your mum something she’ll remember not just onetime, but for a lifetime for March 18th...

If we were playing Mallet’s Mallet* and we were to say St Patrick’s Day, we bet your first answer would be Ireland and your second Guinness. And yet actually, there’s way more to St Pat’s Day than just pints of the black stuff. Over the next week or so, we’ll be popping up a rather awesome infographic full of fun facts dedicated to Ireland and its national day. But in the meantime, we’re putting on our serious hat and looking into the man himself. Prepare to get deep.

St Patrick was a Romano-Briton born in around 387 in Banna Venta Berniae, which we reckon is the modern-day Ravenglass in Cumbria. At the age of about 16 he was captured by some rather unpleasant Irish raiders and taken to the Emerald Isle as a slave, where he worked as a herdsman.

With St David’s Day just a few days away, GoneDigging thought it’d be nice to take a look at what it’s all about. After all, most of us have heard of it, but how many of us really know anything about the bloke and his association with Wales?

So, sitting comfortably? Good, then we’ll begin…

The feast of St David is a big, old knees-up that falls on the 1st March every year. Apparently the date was chosen in remembrance of David’s death in around 589. Then, much later, the Welsh made it a national day of celebration in the 18th century.

The red carpet. High-profile Hollywood celebs dolled up to the max, mingling during commercial breaks and sipping on champagne. Hundreds of photographers, TV cameras and webcams ready and waiting to capture every starry moment. It’s the moment stars across the globe finally have their work celebrated as the entire world gathers together to recognise there’s no job quite like acting... the Oscars 2012.

Last night’s ceremony saw Meryl Streep pick up the Best Actress award for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, while Octavia Spencer got the Oscar for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ and Canadian actor Christopher Plummer became the oldest Oscar winner at 82 for his role in the film Beginners.

Pancake Day’s tomorrow. Yum. GoneDigging has picked out some thrilling fillings, (they really do go beyond lemon and sugar!) and will make your pancakes taste flipping fabulous…

But first, of course, you have to make the pancakes. Forgotten how? Here’s a reminder:

For the pancake mixture:

• 110g/4oz plain flour, sifted

• pinch of salt

• 2 eggs

• 200ml/7fl oz milk mixed with 75ml/3fl oz water

• 50g/2oz butter

Instructions:

• Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl

• Make a well in the center

• Whisk together the milk and eggs in a large jug

• Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, whisking constantly until a smooth batter forms

Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is here. It might seem like a holiday dedicated to commercialism and over-consumption of chocolate hearts, but there’s a whole host of fascinating facts about the holiday that few folks know... here are a few of our favourite cupid-inspired titbits, specially selected by everyone here at GoneDigging Towers... Happy Valentine’s Day!

Fact 1

Valentine’s Day was first celebrated during the Roman times in the middle of February. It was a holiday called Lupercalia to commemorate fertility. A “love lottery” was held whereby young men drew young women’s names from a box to commemorate their rite of passage to the god Lupercus. The chooser and chosen would then be paired for one year. These random pairings often led to marriage.

I want you to click your fingers once every three seconds – click two three, click two three, click two three. Keep doing it for as long as it takes you to read this blog.

Keep clicking.

Every three seconds on the 45th day of our calendar year, a girl’s dreams are shattered.

Keep clicking.

Not because of dirty water or malaria, but because of her other half.

Keep clicking.

He’s not abusive, she’s not in a refuge and their relationship is largely harmonious.

Keep clicking.

Sadly, however, he’s absolutely cack at remembering Valentine’s Day.

Keep clicking.

Every year she hopes he’ll organise in advance. Every year she’s disappointed. This shouldn’t happen. And most importantly, it doesn’t have to happen.

Valentine’s Day is only – let’s see – 23 days away! Not long, really. Dreading the thought of traipsing your hectic high street to find something that could pass as an 'alright' Valentine's gift for your sweetheart? Fear not, because you won’t have to...

Make yourself a cuppa, get comfy and have a gander at this vid to find out what's hot in terms of Valentine's presents.

No battling your way through maddening masses. No car park fees. No traffic. You can do it all online at www.gonedigging.co.uk, from the comfort of your sofa. And don’t worry, this vid isn’t long, (it’s under 4 minutes!)…

Yup, it’s that time again when the new crop of celebs take to the rink in a bid to win the approval of the judging panel, capture the hearts of the nation, and compete for the title as the Dancing on Ice champ.

15 Dancing on Ice contestants 2012 are set to get their skates on in the new series of ITV’s celeb skating show, which hits our TV screens on Sunday 8th January.

Are you ready for another gripping series of Dancing on Ice? ‘Course you are. All of us here at GoneDigging are too.

Just for the record, none of us here are really any good at skating. In fact, the last time I attempted it, I managed to capsize and land rather uncomfortably in the middle of the rink – and yup - right on my coccyx. It was very embarrassing, not to mention very painful.

We haven’t even stuffed the turkey yet and already attention is turning to the New Year and its sales. With everyone keen to bag a bargain, we’re braving the queues and packed department stores to take a gander at Europe’s top five sales destinations...

London

Most of us are pretty familiar with our nation’s capital, especially given its theatre-rich West End, endless tourist attractions and numerous posh restaurants. But it’s also home to some of the most popular January sales in the world, most of which kick off on Boxing Day. Famous department stores like Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols all slash their prices on a massive range of lines, while both High Street fashions and the trendiest boutiques also reduce their prices.

Four days ‘til Christmas... WOOHOO! By now, you’ve probably got the turkey in, hauled in the Christmas tree and bought all your Christmas presents....... right? No? Uh oh.

Don’t worry; you’re not the only one. If you’re anything like me, then you’re probably still ransacking the shops for last-minute secret Santa gifts, stocking fillers and such like. Whoops. I’ll admit. I should’ve been a tad more organised. Never mind.

That said, I’ve got most of my Christmas pressies, only a few more to buy. It’s just the putting-up-the-decorations bit that seems to have been put on the backburner. That’ll be a job for Christmas Eve. Or, at this rate, maybe after Christmas...

There’s a chill in the air, the nights are getting darker by the minute. But, ladies and gents, Christmas is just around the corner. And to celebrate, GoneDigging has put together an exclusive Christmas Playlist to help you get into the festive spirit.

Are you a Christmas Music obsessive-compulsive? Got hundreds, if not thousands, of the same old, same old Christmas songs on your iPod? These may well be tunes you’ve never heard before.

There are over 40 wintery tracks, from Bing Crosby and the Jackson 5 through to Christina Aguilera and Michael Bublé – a fabtastic playlist for you to enjoy in the run up to – and throughout – this festive time of year.

Children In Need. Tonight, Take That frontman and X Factor judge, Gary Barlow, is organising one of the biggest charity concerts in Manchester at the MEN Arena – Children In Need Rocks.

Most of us here at GoneDigging will be tuning into BBC One at 8p.m. to watch the likes of Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Elbow, JLS, Michael Bublé, Snow Patrol – and Gary himself – perform live on stage.

In commemoration of Children In Need, we’re doing our own little bit of fundraising for the charity. But it won’t involve warbling or shaking our booties. No siree. Instead, we’re allowed to buy some of our own personalised pressies at discount prices (for one day only!). So we’ll be able to grab a few bargain Christmas gifts whilst doing our bit for charity.

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month... Armistice Day.

This day celebrates the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany at 11a.m., November 1918. After nearly four years of blood, sweat and tears, on this day, the guns of the Western Front fell silent. Armistice essentially brought an end to World War I.

Are you wearing your red poppy? At 11a.m. today, everyone at GoneDigging Towers will be holding a minute’s silence to pay tribute to our war heroes.

To mark this special day, here are a few poems to reflect the lives that were lost throughout World War I. Soldiers, we salute you.

Two things happen in November – Movember and ‘ I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’

And although GoneDigging dig bad ‘taches round office, it’s getting to watch a bunch of celebs living a life less pampered that really revs our engines. We absolutely love it. In fact, we can’t get enough of watching the contestants wriggle and squirm during trials. We also find the camp’s politics more interesting than Westminster. And don’t even get us started on the romances. So in honour of a show that’s properly ‘reem’, we’ve put together a collection of its finest moments, starting with the best of bush tucker …

It’s nearly August– damn how time flies! But don’t fret; the summer isn’t over yet. The weather, as per usual, hasn’t exactly had the air of the Bahamas about it at all, aside from the mini heat wave we had back in June when everyone frazzled up like bacon for a few days.

Aside from June, August is one of the top months for marriage proposals and naturally, we sell a shed load of personalised anniversary gifts so you can celebrate the day you, or a couple you know, tied the ol’ knot.. So have a gander through our gift ideas – we think they’re pretty cool.