Bingo winner

Now I’m going to fly across the world to visit my son…

Logging on to Chat Mag Bingo, I bought some tickets for a 90-ball game. Then, I popped into the chatroom. Hi everyone! I typed. All my bingo mates said hello, asked me about my day.

That was one of the best things about Chat Mag Bingo, and something that I hadn’t

even expected when I signed up several years ago.

I’d been looking for a site to play bingo on, from the comfort of my own living room.

But I was surprised by how friendly everybody was.

After a busy day babysitting for my many grandkids, going to visit my mum or doing the housework, I’d relax and enjoy a few games of bingo.

I liked playing on the slots, too – especially Double Bubble.

So I’d settle in for the evening, buy a few bingo tickets or play a few spins.

That day, after buying tickets for the bingo in Emerald for 2p, I nipped to the kitchen to make myself a brew, then wandered back into the living room.

But, as I put down my cuppa, I did a double-take. My name had popped up on my laptop… Is that me?! I thought. Yes – it was! My numbers had been dabbed off my tickets automatically while I was in the kitchen.

And not only had I won the full house of £68 – but the progressive jackpot, too. And it was a massive £1,975. ‘Whoop!’ I cried – I’d won £1,975 while the kettle boiled. And on a 2p ticket, too! ‘I can go to Australia!’ I cried, my adrenaline pumping.

My son had moved over there six years ago with his family.

I missed him like mad, and I’d visited him once – but I just couldn’t wait to go down under and see them all again.

I’d actually already been saving up for my next trip.

And now, with my win, I could go sooner than I thought.

So, picking up the phone, I called my son.

‘I’ve just had a win on the bingo,’ I cried. ‘So I’m coming over to visit!’ He was thrilled to bits. And so were my four grandchildren, who also live over there.

This summer, I’ll be jetting off to the other side of the world.

I can visit my family and enjoy a relaxing holiday, too.

As my son fires up the barbecue in the Aussie sunshine, I’ll raise a glass to Chat Mag Bingo!

And celebrate with a hot dog or two!

Any weird cravings yet?’ my friend asked.

‘Nothing at all,’ I said, stroking my expanding bump. I was expecting my first baby, a girl.

Princess dresses and pigtails were all I could think of.

The pregnancy was brilliant – I wasn’t sick, didn’t crave strange foods.

‘Sometimes women eat ice or coal!’ my friend added.

Ridiculous!

When baby Farah was born, she was beautiful.

She loved to babble away, and put her feet in her mouth. All babies do that, I thought. Cute! Except, at 6 months, the Velcro on the straps of her baby shoes disappeared.

That’s weird...

I replaced them, of course, but the next week, the same thing happened.

Plus, when I put the shoes on her feet, they were wet.

She must be putting the shoes in her mouth, I thought. And swallowing the Velcro! When I took her to weigh-ins, I mentioned it to the nurse.

‘She’ll soon grow out of it,’ she smiled.

But when Farah turned 1,