Welcome

Hello everyone. Here we are at the start

Merry Christmas

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A time for gifting

Our December picks

Jeremy Paxman

As some pensioners struggle to make ends meet while others live the good life, thanks to a huge retirement fund, our columnist believes it’s time to level up

Jenni Murray

Thinking of gifting a pet this Christmas? As our columnist knows all too well, caring for animals comes with its hazards

IN MY EXPERIENCE…

Stephen McGann

This month we talk… Christmas

Each month our insight team conducts an in-depth poll of Saga customers to find out what you’re thinking. This month: Christmas

Having a blast

Actor and self-confessed ‘Space Geek’ Tom Hanks, 67, reveals how he was affected by his parents’ divorce, why he only chooses roles he thinks will be fun, and that he’d clean astronauts’ boots if it meant travelling to the Moon

Meet the richest donkeys in the world

A Christmas card staple, donkeys have a special place in our hearts – so special in fact that donkey charities receive tens of millions of pounds in donations every year. What’s their appeal, and can they win over a sceptic?

Back in the saddle

After a seven-year hiatus, Jilly Cooper, 86, is back with a new novel and an upcoming TV series. Here she talks about football, her late husband’s jokes and having the PM as a fan

Season’s bleatings: Christmas on the farm

From hand-plucking warm turkeys to finding a puppy under the tree, Countryfile presenter Adam Henson, 57, shares festive memories of life growing up on his Cotswolds farm

Spread the word

Food stuff, green stuff, fun stuff, kids’ stuff… Books make the perfect Christmas gifts – and there’s something for everyone

Pub quiz of the year 2023

From Happy Valley and Prince Harry to footballers, films and fixed penalty notices, test your knowledge of the past 12 months with our bumper set of tricky teasers…

‘This year we are rolling two Christmases into one’

Last Christmas Sarah Beeny, 51, was in the middle of gruelling breast cancer treatment, but this year, she’s looking forward to celebrating with her family at home in Somerset, albeit the day will be tinged with sadness after the recent loss of her father

Roll out the barrel

Savour a biscuit… and be sure to save the tin! After all, you could be holding on to something worth more than a few crumbs

The new seekers

From lumps of iron to large hauls of Roman coins, metal detectorists are never sure what their next find may be. But for many, that’s the joy of the hobby, and why more and more people are taking up the hunt for treasure

It’s never too late to… challenge yourself

Aged 59, retired fashion forecaster Jani Rad resolved to try 60 new things before 60. Since then, she’s done everything from zip lining over land to stripping off on a beach…

Make it magical

It’s the perfect time to get stuck in to some simple creative projects to fill your home with festive charm

Joyeux Noël

Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux unwraps two fabulous dishes that will give your festive feast a French flavour

Tried & tasted

We’ve tested five shop-bought fruit cakes, but which is the star bake?

Say it with flowers

The symbolism of plants may date back centuries, but their meanings remain relevant and can help us choose what to grow – and give

Ho, ho, hoe!

Enjoy the festivities but keep on top of your plot this month: it’ll give you time to breathe, support wildlife and plan for next year’s harvests

Presents of beauty

Sleigh your last-minute Christmas shopping with these gorgeous grooming gifts, each costing £20 or less

Aroma therapy

The sweetly bitter taste of vermouth, suffused with herbs and spices, will warm the cockles this festive season

Wrap stars

From teenagers to travel lovers, there’s a tech gift for everyone – and every budget

Generation games

With the brakes almost put on his driving days, our columnist hopes that when it is time to stop, he’ll be the one steering the decision

Ask Dr Mark

YOUR QUESTIONS / HEARTBURN / HEARING AIDS

A burning issue

If you’re still plagued by heartburn and acid reflux long after seasonal leftovers have been eaten, it’s time to see the doctor – there are new treatments on offer

Hear to eternity

Only 6% of people have had a hearing test in the past year, yet four in ten over-50s have hearing loss. If you’re affected, don’t ignore it. Getting it checked out is sound advice

ask ALAN JOHNSON

The former Home Secretary uses his wisdom, wit and experience to tackle the problems troubling you

Old age, young love

With family on either side of the Solent, our columnist and Miranda are keen to ensure they see loved ones and each other at Christmas

Paul Lewis

ETHICAL INVESTMENTS / MONEY NEWS 

Money news

December 2023

A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE / LETTER FROM AMERICA

Letter from America

T his month I have two guilty

Drawing a crowd

THEATRE / EVENTS / FILM / EXHIBITIONS / RADIO / PODCAST / CHRISTMAS TV

out and about

Lasting impression Dancers on a Bench by Edgar

FILM

The Eternal Daughter Tilda Swinton plays dual roles

DECADE BUSTERS

TURNING 50 Monica Seles tennis player Nicholas Cochrane

staying in

PODCAST Shedunnit Shedunnit is a podcast series devoted

ON THE BOX

From returning dramas to the new Doctor, foodie specials to feline fun, enjoy the gift of these great shows this Christmas

’Tis the season

Have a jolly holiday with these festive specials of your favourite shows

letters

THANKS FOR WRITING TO US, WE LOVE HEARING WHAT YOU THINK

A CASHLESS SOCIETY

You’re all talking about...

SET SQUARE

Place each of the digits 1-9 in the

ADD A LETTER

Rearrange the letters and add one to these

Codebreaker

Each number in the grid represents a different

WORD WHEEL

See how many words of four letters or

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

£100 prize ACROSS 1 Noisy firework almost unbalanced

WORDSEARCH

Find all the words below (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards and backwards) associated with Christmas.

Solutions

THIS MONTH’S ANSWERS Word wheel 4-letter words akin,

Judy Finnigan

The world according to…

Word to the wise

This month our columnist suffers from an embarrassing bout of borborygmus, as her belly insists on doing all the talking