Arctic Monkeys are back on the scene after a 2-year hiatus following their last album, Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007, Domino). They are back with a vengeance, with a change in style, a new approach to their songs and a great new record, Humbug (2009, Domino).

The third album from the Sheffield band is, if possible, even more rocking than the first two. They have put frenzied choruses and catchy hits behind them and have focused more on influences with a respectable pedigree – from Cream to The Doors, taking in a hint of Queens of the Stone Age.

Now is the time to catch them live on their extended European tour.

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When giving a gift, it’s the thought that counts: thinking about what the other person might like, using a touch of imagination, surprising them, pleasing them. The question of money is secondary – a more expensive gift is not necessarily a more successful gift.

A Box for all the Senses is an original gift to give. The essential idea is to give a gift for each sense. But that is not all. The concept itself, the personalisation and the presentation make it a gift that touches the heart. The financial limit you place on each gift is up to you.

I had the opportunity to make a box like this a few years ago. I was a student, living off my grant, with very little money but with high hopes of giving someone a nice surprise. Thinking about the problem and looking for information on forums brought me to the idea of a Box for all the Senses and the truth is that it worked out very well, for a sum of money that I could afford.

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Have you had an accident that has left you with an arm in plaster? Well, make the best of it. In these days of Do It Yourself brought on by the economic crisis, your imagination is the best weapon against the “war economy”. Not feeling very creative or not having many skills to put into practice are no longer valid excuses. If you have always been terrible at handicrafts, now is your chance to show that it’s never too late.

The latest in accessories to add the final touch to a glam rock look are not handbags in fluorescent colours or necklaces made of metal chains; the fashion that is coming from across the pond is all about customising plaster casts on arms and legs.

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In recent seasons there has been one garment that has stood out from the rest: the waistcoat. It has now been going strong for two or three years, and this winter it remains an essential item in every wardrobe.

Of the two types, those in cotton or wool and those in fabric, it is the latter that has the upper hand. The former are more for the male market at the moment, while fabric waistcoats are to be seen on both men and women.

The waistcoat will revamp any style, whether intentionally or not, because it is a very special garment: it’s not a coat or a jacket, neither is it a shirt, but it has touches of all of these.

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I’m sure you already know, but in case you’ve forgotten I’d like to remind you: art galleries are small museums where you can see the most up-to-date art without paying a penny. And wherever you may go, if you are interested in culture I would recommend a visit to the Instituto Cervantes. These are Spanish centres created to help spread learning of the Spanish language around the world, as well as to enable visitors to enjoy the best elements imaginable of culture with an international twist.

These institutions are usually located in the city centre in historical buildings, two important points to bear in mind when visiting a new place. The exhibitions and retrospectives that they host are worthy of the best museums in the world.

And, most importantly: you can enter the Institutes for free and enjoy projections, conferences, exhibitions, debates and book launches, not to mention first-class libraries.

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Thanks to digital cameras, we can take far more photos that we could with film cameras. It’s now much easier to shoot a photo, see how it looks and save it.

Save it. A process so simple that, when you look in the folders on your computer and begin to count the photos that you have saved, it is amazing how many you have. But what should you do with them? Many people prefer traditional photos because they can arrange them in an album, but digital photos provide us with a number of artistic, original possibilities.

This applies for example to the free computer program that I am going to tell you about. It is called Foto-Mosaik-Edda and, as the name suggests, it is used to make mosaics out of photographs. I’m sure you will all have been somewhere where you have seen these “photos made of photos”. I always thought they must be really complicated to make, but not with this program.

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The summer is not yet over, but many of us are already thinking about “Operation Bikini 2010”. Whether that’s your goal or you simply feel like getting some exercise in order to feel healthier, I would suggest going running as an affordable alternative to the gym. We tend to forget, but running is free!

In addition to being a zero-cost sport, running has other advantages. We often hide behind a lack of time as an excuse for not exercising, or complain that our free time does not fit in with the opening hours of the gym. Well, these are no longer valid excuses. You can choose the time of day that fits in best with your schedule to slot in a run.

The group classes and music provided by the gym are two of its main attractions. When running, you can personalise these two advantages even further. You can choose whether to run alone or with your friends, your partner, your dog or your family, all of whom will also help to motivate you. And as for music, what can be better than your own play list on your mobile phone or MP3 player?

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There is no doubt that Siena is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. The fact that it is also a university town gives it a special atmosphere. And the fact that it is so old that even the cobblestones are of historical value just adds to the charm. Though you should definitely leave your high heels at home, or you are bound to end your holiday injured.

Visitors will fall in love with Siena from the word go. Car traffic is prohibited except on specific occasions, and cars must be left outside the city walls, which provides the perfect setting for enjoying a mediaeval city. However, if you plan to take in the tourist sites and enjoy the beautifully-adorned contradas or neighbourhoods, you will have to dress comfortably.

This applies particularly to women; I personally witnessed night-time injuries and falls suffered by women in vertiginous stilettos, but also in more conservative heels, in this city that is the birthplace of more popes than any other. Trust me, leave the heels at home. You’ll be better off in boots, flat shoes or trainers, whether sporty or casual; the most important thing is to support your ankles well.

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The Nordic countries are a favourite destination for those of us who love the snow or winter sports or, if not, for those who enjoy a romantic weekend in a city that can be seen over the course of two days. Oslo is a great option for a romantic weekend with your partner.

Low-cost airlines are our best friend on this sort of trip, and although it might involve getting up at the crack of dawn, they let you enjoy the city twice as much. Take a flight to Torp, and then from the airport, a bus will whisk you into the capital city of Norway.

If you choose to travel in winter, as I did, you will be greeted by snowy forests, frozen lakes, fairytale houses and meadows that are crying out for you to lie down and make angel shapes in the untouched snow.

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If we can buy brand name clothes online, why can’t we do the same with clothes markets and pay them a visit without leaving home? As you know, in cities like London, Paris and even Madrid, the best designer steals or vintage bargains are not to be found in outlet stores, but at markets like Portobello, Les Puces or El Rastrillo.

While in the rest of Europe and on the other side of the pond the idea of building a wardrobe (or decorating a house) based on pieces sourced at markets has always been very well thought of, this idea caught on fairly late in Spain and large-scale markets have never really taken off.

Now, however, in an era when the most envied job is not as a coolhunter for top brands, but as a trend-hunter from street stalls, the latest thing for those who want to gain access to the intimate and unique world of the market (but who can’t find a way in) is to recapture the essence of the market on the internet.

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