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The Spy has to admit that he has been carrying a little extra weight over the last few years - the result of years of glorious, rich food, and little in the way of any strenuous physical activity. Whilst I am more than happy with this current state of affairs, the lovely lady Spy is extremely vocal in her concerns for my health. This has prompted her - continually - to extol the benefits of exercise and a healthy exercise, and I feel duty bound to pass on some of this information.

The Spy must admit to rarely travelling on any form of public transport. That said, I did recently endure a short tube ride across central London, which reinforced my reasons for this. The carriage was so full of people coughing and sneezing that I would have been forgiven for mistaking the scene for a doctor’s waiting room.

So with that in mind, here are some of The Spy’s suggestions for staying healthy and cold-free over the coming winter months.

Eat well

We all occasionally dream about becoming super rich, being able to quit the dreary day job and live a jet-set lifestyle. Summers spent cruising around the Med in a private yacht, and winters luxuriating in our chalet, in the French Alps.

How do we achieve this elusive, new, fantasy life? Well, how about inventing a new product that will change the world, sell millions, and make you rich beyond your wildest dreams? The Spy has always fancied himself as the next James Dyson, and if you do too, here are some fantastic inventions of 2010 that may give you some inspiration.

The Spy would like to express his congratulations to Prince William and Kate Middleton, who yesterday announced their engagement with a view to be married in Spring 2011. This engagement follows a lengthy seven year romance, no doubt intended to ease Miss Middleton into royal life and all its pressures.

The lady Spy is unfortunately out of action at the moment. The result of an ankle injury sustained from a somewhat overzealous croquet opponent. Believe me, having seen these ladies in action, it is certainly not a game for the faint hearted. The way these ladies play croquet is more akin to lions vs Christians in a Roman amphitheatre than that of a gentle knockabout by the Barnes Women’s Institute.

New York is one of the great cities of the world and is a truly amazing city to visit at any time of year. In the run up to the Christmas, the city is transformed into a winter wonderland. Must-see attractions include the gigantic Xmas tree at Rockerfeller Plaza, along with the breathtaking window displays at Macy's, Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue. A trip at this time of the year would not be complete without a visit to the outdoor ice rinks at either Rockerfeller or Central Park.

We all like to treat ourselves to a nice meal at one of our favourite restaurants. Whether it’s a daily, weekly, or - heaven forbid - just a monthly occurrence, there is definitely something special about having others cook for you, wait on you, pour your wine and generally make you feel welcome and comfortable.

In The Spy’s mind, any day is a good day to indulge in a glass of red wine or two, but with the winter nights closing in, there really is nothing better than drawing the curtains and getting cosy by the fire with a glass of red. If this in itself was not a good enough reason, a recent American study has found that 'Moderate Red Wine Drinking', which unbelievably is classed as three or four glasses a day, was associated with a 23% drop in the risk of death from ALL illnesses.

The Spy confesses to being a tad under the weather of late. I rather suspect there's a strong connection that this general unwell feeling is the result of a long haul flight to Tokyo I was recently forced to endure. As always, my loyalty to Her Majesty’s Secret Money Saving Spy Service restricts me from revealing any more.

For probably as long as man has walked the Earth, human beings have given each other flowers. Although The Spy suspects that in medieval times, the bouquets had slightly less fancy packaging and much less variety of tropical species, certainly in this country anyway. However, the very act of giving and receiving flowers is a timeless ritual practised around the world.