Chat 03 February 2022

Hero of the week has to be Marion (p30). She’s 102 and puts me to shame – and not just because of her taste in fashion! We hope her story inspires you to step into some pink snakeskin Lycra and get out there. Everybody needs good neighbours – and Allison certainly had a great one! (p10) Grace says the COVID lockdowns turned her into a bimbo – find out why she couldn’t be happier about it (p37). We’ve got 20-minute meals (p42) and great style you can pick up with your groceries, from just a tenner (p12). Plus the prize puzzles you love. Stay safe and well this week. Subscribe for just £11.75* Subscribe online at magazinesdirect.com/A11X or call 0330 333 1113 and quote code A11X** *£11.75 payable every 3 months by UK Direct Debit. Offer closes…

My wife Mata and I had a fantastic day out when we were on holiday in Poland. Our children Emilia, 4, and Sean, 2, could run for miles in the hills and trees, they absolutely loved it. James Richardson, Great Leighs Callum and Florence the Frenchie catching some zzzs! Fiona Campbell, Woodhurst I bought a little ‘pawsonalised’ treat bag for Wiggles to take with us on walkies. Isn’t it fab!? Krissie Cope, Manchester My 2-year-old daughter Esther likes to measure herself under the hat on the door. She does it quite a few times a day and doesn’t understand why she isn’t growing faster! Karen Seville, Birkenhead I got to meet a lot of alpacas at the Chilli Bean Cafe, but it’s safe to say this one stole my heart – and I got a little kiss too. Shannon…

Jodie Dickinson, 34, Derby Sliding into the front seat of my black Vauxhall Corsa, I felt a thrill of pleasure. It was autumn 2014 and, at 27, I’d just passed my driving test. To celebrate, my boyfriend Tyrone, then 25, had bought me a car. ‘I want you safe,’ he’d smiled, handing me the keys. I gasped in delight then leant across to kiss him. Tyrone was a mechanic. He’d have done a good job making sure the car was safe. It was all he ever wanted me to be. We’d met that summer at a mate’s house and hit it off. But I was a bit scared. I’d not long come out of a difficult relationship... ‘I understand,’ Tyrone said. ‘Let’s take it slow.’ We spent weeks getting to know each other. Cooked each other meals, watched telly snuggled up on the…

NUMBER JIG Not including the title, how many times do the letters i and f appear in the text of Rudyard Kipling’s poem, If? Fit these numbers into the grid. One number doesn’t fit. This is the prize answer. 3 digits 104 106 137 233 291 351 364 440 489 553 559 4 digits 1044 3173 3418 4191 4536 4543 4641 7733 8120 8425 8879 9090 9208 5 digits 14159 16301 20231 29417 42722 58441 58934 67674 90000 97700 99120 6 digits 494107 520092 561419 7 digits 3880628 7239469 8429413 8 digits 22800641 39664931 53182748 89166789 WIN £250 Puzzle 1 Your answer: SPIRAL XWORD In the Chinese zodiac, 2029 will be the year of which animal? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the one-word prize answer. 1 Bright, clear (5) 2 Elton John song Tiny _ (6) 3 Venomous New World pit viper (11) 4 Saga, long film (4) 5 Prince in Cinderella (8) 6 School subject (9) 7 _Frankenstein, Mel Brooks film (5) 8 George _, Rhapsody in Blue composer (8) 9 Barge (6,4) 10 Domesticates (5) 11…

Look sharp If your crimping scissors need sharpening, try using them to cut up a piece of silver kitchen foil. Maggie Cobbett, Ripon Cherry on top I keep the trays from a well-known brand of chocolate. With a cherry popped in each section and topped up with water, they make pretty ice cubes. Katie Gooding, Tidworth Talking scents During these cold nights, I use a hot-water bottle most evenings. For a bit of extra luxury, I spray a little of my favourite perfume onto the cover. Warmth and a comforting smell – nothing is better! Wendy Pownall, Morriston Fixer-uppers I have started gathering old toy cars and painting them. They come up like new, and you can also personalise them with some stickers from eBay for a few pounds. Mandy Blee, Strabane Kettle care To descale my kettle, I put in some vinegar…

Allison King, 32 Clicking ‘like’ on a friend’s Facebook post with a heavy sigh, I was overcome with longing. Another pregnancy announcement. For as long as I could remember, I’d wanted to be a mum. As a kid, I’d been surrounded by a gaggle of dolls, and as a teenager, I’d babysit whenever I got the chance. I’d always assumed I’d get married and settle down quickly. But, in my 20s, I focused on my career as a teacher. Now, in 2012, aged 23, I’d started to wonder if it’d ever happen at all. ‘I just haven’t met the right person,’ I groaned to my neighbour Doug. ‘It never happened for me, but hopefully you’ll have more luck,’ Doug confided. I looked at him curiously. He was 20 years older than me, recently divorced. An ex-firefighter, he had lovely blue eyes…