For a select few, it’s the first sign of Christmas.

A call from Brian Jenkins to say the pickled onions are ready. He peels and pickles them himself at home in Redhill, while watching TV with his family. Their eyes, I imagine, would be streaming so badly, that none of them can actually see the telly but it’s worth it in the end. Lucky recipients get to enjoy onions of mind-blowing piquancy which bring a whole new meaning to getting pickled at Christmas. Best of all, though, are the hand-written labels. Last year, he called them the Redhill Chilli Peppers. Of course he did.