Christmas Appeal: Last chance to ramble with Janet or bowl with Gus

There are plenty of bargains to be had among the 41 lots in The Independent's charity auction, which is now in its final week.

A very popular lot again this year is the runway-side seat with Susannah Frankel, The Independent's in-house fashionista, at a top designer show in London Fashion Week. So far, bidding has risen to £2,000, which is well over £1,000 more than last year.

One of this year's best bargains may be a ramble in the Yorkshire Dales with Janet Street-Porter, where bidding has so far reached £1,500 - about £500 less than last year.

One of the most popular lots has been a meal out for two adults and two children with The Independent's columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown at her favourite curry house in Southall. The highest bid at the moment is £2,510, which has easily topped last year's winner, who paid just £1,450.

Heavy interest is also being shown in Lot 39, an audience for up to 12 people with Robert Fisk, in which The Independent's award-winning journalist will give a lunchtime lecture on Islam and the West followed by questions. Highest bid is £1,993.17.

One of the lots which arguably offers the best value for money is also attracting attention. The bidding currently stands at £1,252.01 for a day out at Lord's for a whole cricket team's worth of children (and that includes a 12th man - as well as an accompanying adult for each child). The group will watch a Middlesex game and later enjoy some coaching from Angus Fraser, the former England player, who now writes for The Independent.

Bids for a day with Mark Steel, the stand-up comedian, alternative historian, lethally witty columnist and cricket fan, stand at £999 - well up on last year's £677.

The auction closes at 1pm this Friday. All winning bids go to our Christmas Appeal, A Better Place. Donations are split among three charities: Education Action International, Children in Crisis and Practical Action.

* A Better Place charity auction: bid now!

* A Better Place: Donate now!

* A Better Place: Full appeal links.