Here's the second delicious installment from our owners' recipes series - home-cooked ham, from Giulia Savini from Locanda della Valle Nuova.

The Locanda is a 185-acre family-run farm that produces organic meat, vegetables and wine; it appears in our Italy guide, and in Go Slow Italy.

Giulia says: "At the beginning of the year everywhere in the Italian countryside we prepare our hams, salamis and sausages. This is my recipe for a great home-made cold cut. I usually use loin, not leg, as it gives good results; it's not very thick so the brine penetrates the meat evenly and it's easy to cut. Of course, the best results are achieved if you use very good quality organic pork."

No, we're not talking Six Nations, but INSPECTING

Kerry on her Grand Tour

Sawday's is heading for Ireland and a mammoth inspecting trip and we've got a new girl to help us, Kerry O'Neill, who's all set to tour the island in her lovely campervan. If she's short of a bed for the night - that couldn't possibly happen? - she'll self-cater, so she's called this tour 'Round Ireland with a kitchen'.

As an embattled environmentalist, long used to being way outside public opinion, I am delighted by The Times 'Cities Fit for Cycling' campaign.

I see it as a major breakthrough for cycling.

The conflict between cycling and driving, cyclists and drivers, is real and obvious - especially when you are the one on two wheels. 

Alastair in icy waters

Alastair survived his plunge into icy waters at Battery Rocks in Penzance.

He says: "Once I was numb it was exhilarating. I even went back in for a second dip."

The Guardian is covering the escapade and we'll let you know when video evidence appears online.

Thanks for your well-wishing and tips... The temperature on that day was 4 degrees, by the way!

Photo courtesy of The Guardian

Alastair Sawday

Tomorrow I am wading into the freezing ocean at Battery Rocks in Cornwall in the company of a stoic 70-year-old woman who swims there every day. For unmentionable reasons I feel bound to stick to the plan whatever the weather. Does anyone have any tips that might save me from agony and total humiliation?

We're in high spirits in the office, poring over the final selection of pubs that have made the cut for our Pubs guide. Our man, David Hancock, knows everything there is to know about the pub scene (we've tested him - often - and he's not failed yet!).

We're kicking off our owners' recipes series with this simple dish from Rosanna at La Traversina. Her warmth and welcome are legendary, and her garden in Piedmont in the summer is brimful with 230 varieties of roses. They grow much of their own fruit and veg, too, and cultivate giant tomatoes.

Over-wintered, overspent and overdrawn? Here's a small selection of some bargainous British B&Bs

We've had some LOVEly features in the press... In the Financial Times 'Expert Selection' section you'll find Alastair's recommendations for boltholes for two, and in Venue magazine, Toby Sawday's top ten romantic retreats for the love-struck. If you want to spring a surprise for your loved one in February, take a look... Or tell us if you've had a memorably romantic Sawday's stay...

Alex Skinner, our main man for Spain, sends news from his inspection trip

A smart choice of inspecting car for a six-foot-five-incher...?

I'm on an enormous trip, travelling from Malaga to Madrid to Segovía to Castile y Leon, to Asturias, Barcelona, Murcia and Valencia.

Inspection trips are always full of surprises, and the first one for me was the size of my hire car. A Smart car. Not so smart for a chap of six-foot-five-inches to end up with one of these.