Dear Readers . . .
Welcome to our Winter Special! Its 100 pages are packed with great reading to warm up even the coldest of days, with 20 original short stories by favourite authors, eight pages of puzzles to test your wits, tempting cakes to bake and a cosy Icelandic inspired cowl and mittens to knit.
Ahead of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, Lorna Cowan pays tribute to Team GB’s sporting heroes. Nature writer Brian Jackman shares highlights from his incredible career, Bill Gibb meets the women who are growing tea in Scotland and Willie Shand uncovers the true story of William McGonagall, the notoriously bad poet.
Polly Pullar looks at the spectacular return of the red kite, Dianne Boardman delves into an almost forgotten classic by Charles Dickens and Laura Brown celebrates the history of hairdressing.