Pop the kettlen

Our latest fiction writing competition asked entrants to pen a love story, and we found find three romantic tales which we’re sure you’ll enjoy over the next few pages. Congratulations to Daniel Taylor with The Clockmaker’s Valentine , which you can read overleaf, along with two runners-up. Plus on page 58, find out details about our next themed short story competition...

KITTY’S LONG RED hair was dripping as she sat down breathless on the nearest seat. She had thought she would miss the train. The narrow lanes around her parents’ house had been flooded and she had bee

‘He’s been a poppet, as always,’ Anne said when I arrived at her house to collect my son. On the days that I worked, my ex-mother-in-law picked Ezra up from school for me. She smiled indulgently. ‘He

Head to the Austrian alps for a hiking and spa break that will leave you feeling on top of the world, says travel writer Mary Comber.

When they became parents to their beautiful baby boy Presley in May 2022, Jessica Wright and her husband William Lee-Kemp felt like the stars had aligned, with the new mum describing her son as “every

The TV legend talks to Georgia Trevitt about chilled Saturdays, feeling fab at 50, and her new show…