THE media are in the firing line again and aiming the gun at the messengers this time is the council at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, which is denying widespread stories that its Christmas tree would be unlit this year.

It will, the council assures anyone who cares, be a blaze of light but, as the story was that a high-voltage cable leading to the tree was now considered too dangerous, no-one could be blamed for believing that carol singers had been told to take torches instead.

In a world where the answer to every question beginning: "Why can't I?" seems to be "health and safety" it was quite logical, especially as that same town hit the headlines earlier this year with a ban on hanging baskets, which were deemed unsafe.

We, in our turn, are entitled to wonder whether the publicity in "the media" needled the council into doing something about that (allegedly) unlit tree.

It is, however, true that everyone - councils, companies, charities, event organisers and even householders - have been pushed into the cautious corner not so much by the fear of an accident as of the inevitability of the ensuing compensation claim. If they try to insure against it, the cost may well be impractical so, instead, activities are forbidden or events don't take place.

But, joke as we may about some of the more bizarre examples, this is the time of year when health and safety need to come to the fore at home, with straying wires to the fairy lights or overloaded sockets, for example.

Nowhere is it more vital than in the kitchen because we have more food on hand than normal and quickly run out of fridge or freezer space. For food which simply needs to be kept cool, I dig out the insulated picnic bag, freeze several cool packs and store stuff in the bag, in a chilly outhouse, changing the cool packs as needed. A frosty Christmas is, of course, a bonus.

This year, too, I've been testing a product which lets you know how long something has been in the fridge or freezer. I know that over Christmas, I'll open cheese, fruit juices and the like which say "use within three days of opening" or "eat within seven days of purchase" but will I remember what was bought or opened when? Of course not. Nor am I organised enough to find the freezer pen and write it on the packaging every time.

Timestrip, which comes in fridge and freezer versions, has a red, thermometer-like indicator which, once activated, will monitor the passing time.

It's accurate, quick to stick on packets and you should be able to find it in Morrison's and Lakeland stores.

* Pavements can be dangerous places, too. If you want others to be aware of your intentions in crowded Christmas shopping centres, you could pop in a quick order for some Headblinkers to fasten on your ears to indicate that you are about to change direction. I am serious; I've seen them described, they cost £6.99 from a company called Stupid (and I didn't make that up either).