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Take a Break – Issue 42

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Take a Break November

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Unlock brainpower with crosswords: Why the Take a Break app is your new brain-boosting best friend

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Sneak peek at issue 11’s cover stories

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Sneak peek at issue 10’s cover stories

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Sneak peek at issue 9’s cover stories

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Closing date for October Issue is midnight 29th of October 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="TSS" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="TSS2609" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 3</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110716">£50 Cash</label>
              <input type="text" id="110716" name="110716" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 9</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110788">Eco drinks bundle</label>
              <input type="text" id="110788" name="110788" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 15</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110764">£100 Cash</label>
              <input type="text" id="110764" name="110764" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 16</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110728">£100 Boots voucher</label>
              <input type="text" id="110728" name="110728" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 18</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110692">£1000 crossword</label>
              <input type="text" id="110692" name="110692" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 24</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110704">Big Relax</label>
              <input type="text" id="110704" name="110704" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 29</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110800">London break</label>
              <input type="text" id="110800" name="110800" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 30</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110740">£100 Habitat vouchers</label>
              <input type="text" id="110740" name="110740" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 36</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110668">Big Bonanza</label>
              <input type="text" id="110668" name="110668" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 44</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110752">£100 New Look vouchers</label>
              <input type="text" id="110752" name="110752" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 52</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110836">£100 restaurant vouchers</label>
              <input type="text" id="110836" name="110836" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 54</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110824">£100 Cash</label>
              <input type="text" id="110824" name="110824" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 59</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110812">Edinburgh adventure break</label>
              <input type="text" id="110812" name="110812" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 61</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110776">Birmingham break</label>
              <input type="text" id="110776" name="110776" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 62</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110680">Mallorca holiday</label>
              <input type="text" id="110680" name="110680" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 69</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110848">Supermarket Spree</label>
              <input type="text" id="110848" name="110848" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to Take a Break Monthly Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "Take a Break Monthly") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>



Closing date for issue 10 is midnight 5th November 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="FIC" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="FIC2610" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 15</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110961">Picture Pointer</label>
              <input type="text" id="110961" name="110961" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to Fiction Feast Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "Fiction Feast") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>



Closing date for issue 40 is midnight 26th October 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="TAB" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="TAB2640" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 3</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112130">10 x £20 4-Squared</label>
              <input type="text" id="112130" name="112130" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 5</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112120">10 x £20 Mega Snap</label>
              <input type="text" id="112120" name="112120" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 12</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112100">£1000 Big Bonanza</label>
              <input type="text" id="112100" name="112100" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 14</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112020">2 x £100 And Then Sum</label>
              <input type="text" id="112020" name="112020" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 14</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112060">2 x £100 Now 4 Something Different</label>
              <input type="text" id="112060" name="112060" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 20</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112040">2 x £100 Find The Money!</label>
              <input type="text" id="112040" name="112040" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 22</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112070">£1500 Big Relax</label>
              <input type="text" id="112070" name="112070" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 28</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112050">2 x £100 Code Breaker</label>
              <input type="text" id="112050" name="112050" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 38</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112030">2 x £100 Question Time</label>
              <input type="text" id="112030" name="112030" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 43</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112090">£1500 cash</label>
              <input type="text" id="112090" name="112090" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 44</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112140">2 x £100 Picture Pointer</label>
              <input type="text" id="112140" name="112140" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 46</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112080">10 x £20 Starscope</label>
              <input type="text" id="112080" name="112080" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 47</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112150">2 x £200 Supermarket Spree</label>
              <input type="text" id="112150" name="112150" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 50</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112110">£6000 Big Cash Stash</label>
              <input type="text" id="112110" name="112110" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to Take a Break Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "Take a Break") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>



Closing date for issue 41 is midnight 2nd November 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="TAB" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="TAB2641" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 3</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112261">10 x £20 4-Squared</label>
              <input type="text" id="112261" name="112261" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 5</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112251">10 x £20 Mega Snap</label>
              <input type="text" id="112251" name="112251" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 12</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112231">£1000 Big Bonanza</label>
              <input type="text" id="112231" name="112231" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 14</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112151">2 x £100 And Then Sum</label>
              <input type="text" id="112151" name="112151" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 14</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112191">2 x £100 Now 4 Something Different</label>
              <input type="text" id="112191" name="112191" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 20</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112171">2 x £100 Find The Money!</label>
              <input type="text" id="112171" name="112171" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 22</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112201">£1500 Big Relax</label>
              <input type="text" id="112201" name="112201" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 28</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112181">2 x £100 Code Breaker</label>
              <input type="text" id="112181" name="112181" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 38</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112161">2 x £100 Question Time</label>
              <input type="text" id="112161" name="112161" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 42</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112221">Trip to Vienna</label>
              <input type="text" id="112221" name="112221" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 44</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112271">2 x £100 Picture Pointer</label>
              <input type="text" id="112271" name="112271" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 46</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112211">10 x £20 Starscope</label>
              <input type="text" id="112211" name="112211" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 47</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112281">2 x £200 Supermarket Spree</label>
              <input type="text" id="112281" name="112281" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 50</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112241">£5,500 Big Cash Stash</label>
              <input type="text" id="112241" name="112241" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to Take a Break Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "Take a Break") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>


Closing date for issue 42 is midnight 9 November 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="TAB" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="TAB2642" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 3</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112262">10 x £20 4-Squared</label>
              <input type="text" id="112262" name="112262" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 5</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112252">10 x £20 Mega Snap</label>
              <input type="text" id="112252" name="112252" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 12</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112232">£1000 Big Bonanza</label>
              <input type="text" id="112232" name="112232" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 14</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112152">2 x £100 And Then Sum</label>
              <input type="text" id="112152" name="112152" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 14</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112192">2 x £100 Now 4 Something Different</label>
              <input type="text" id="112192" name="112192" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 20</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112172">2 x £100 Find The Money!</label>
              <input type="text" id="112172" name="112172" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 22</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112202">£1500 Big Relax</label>
              <input type="text" id="112202" name="112202" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 28</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112182">2 x £100 Code Breaker</label>
              <input type="text" id="112182" name="112182" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 38</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112162">2 x £100 Question Time</label>
              <input type="text" id="112162" name="112162" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 42</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112222">Living Room Furniture</label>
              <input type="text" id="112222" name="112222" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 44</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112272">2 x £100 Picture Pointer</label>
              <input type="text" id="112272" name="112272" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 46</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112212">10 x £20 Starscope</label>
              <input type="text" id="112212" name="112212" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 47</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112282">2 x £200 Supermarket Spree</label>
              <input type="text" id="112282" name="112282" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 50</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="112242">£6,000 Big Cash Stash</label>
              <input type="text" id="112242" name="112242" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to Take a Break Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "Take a Break") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>



Closing date for November Issue is midnight 3 December 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.


<div class="competition-form">
  <form action="https://competitionform.bauersecure.com/formhandler.php" method="post" accept-charset="UTF-8" name="competition-form" onsubmit="return validateCompetitionForm()">


        <input type="hidden" name="brand_code" value="TSS" />
        <input type="hidden" name="issue_number" value="TSS2610" />
        <input type="hidden" name="channel" value="web" />


        <fieldset class="competition-form-details">
          <legend>Your Details</legend>
          <div>
            <label for="first_name" required >First name</label>
            <input type="text" id="first_name" name="first_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name fname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="last_name" required >Last name</label>
            <input type="text" id="last_name" name="last_name" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="name lname" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="email" required >Email</label>
            <input type="email" id="email" name="email" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="email" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="phone">Phone</label>
            <input type="text" id="phone" name="phone" value="" size="40" maxlength="128"  pattern="[0-9 \+]{10,}" autocomplete="tel" />
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_1" required>Address: Building and street</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_1" name="address_1" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-line1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="address_2">Address: Area</label>
            <input type="text" id="address_2" name="address_2" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-line2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="city" required >Address: Town or city</label>
            <input type="text" id="city" name="city" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required autocomplete="shipping address-level2"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="state">Address: County</label>
            <input type="text" id="state" name="state" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" autocomplete="shipping address-level1"/>
          </div>
          <div>
            <label for="postcode" required >Address: Postcode <sub>(UK: Please include space. ROI: Please enter Eire)</sub></label>
            <input type="text" id="postcode" name="postcode" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" required pattern="([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4} [a-zA-Z0-9]{3,4}|[eE][iI][rR][eE]) ?" autocomplete="shipping postal-code"/>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-answers">
          <legend>Competition Answers</legend>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 3</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110717">£50 Cash</label>
              <input type="text" id="110717" name="110717" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 9</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110789">Mattress</label>
              <input type="text" id="110789" name="110789" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 15</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110765">£100 Cash</label>
              <input type="text" id="110765" name="110765" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 16</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110729">£100 M&S Vouchers</label>
              <input type="text" id="110729" name="110729" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 18</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110693">£1000 Crossword</label>
              <input type="text" id="110693" name="110693" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 24</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110705">Big Relax</label>
              <input type="text" id="110705" name="110705" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 29</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110801">Manchester Break</label>
              <input type="text" id="110801" name="110801" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 30</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110741">£100 H. Samuel Vouchers</label>
              <input type="text" id="110741" name="110741" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 36</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110669">Big Bonanza</label>
              <input type="text" id="110669" name="110669" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 44</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110753">£100 Foyles Vouchers</label>
              <input type="text" id="110753" name="110753" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 52</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110837">£100 Restaurant Vouchers</label>
              <input type="text" id="110837" name="110837" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 54</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110825">£100 Cash</label>
              <input type="text" id="110825" name="110825" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 59</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110813">London Theatre Break</label>
              <input type="text" id="110813" name="110813" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 61</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110777">Oxford break</label>
              <input type="text" id="110777" name="110777" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 62</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110681">Spain Holiday</label>
              <input type="text" id="110681" name="110681" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


          <fieldset>
            <legend>Page 69</legend>
            <div>
              <label for="110849">Supermarket Spree</label>
              <input type="text" id="110849" name="110849" value="" size="40" maxlength="128" />
            </div>
          </fieldset>


        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-optins">
          <legend>More Competitions, Offers and News</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="brand_opt_in" name="brand_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="brand_opt_in">Opt in to Take a Break Monthly Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="group_opt_in" name="group_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="group_opt_in">Opt in to Bauer (publisher of "Take a Break Monthly") Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="partner_opt_in" name="partner_opt_in" value="true" />
            <label for="partner_opt_in">Opt in to Partner Competitions, Offers and News alerts (You can opt out again at any time)</label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <fieldset class="competition-form-legal">
          <legend>Competition Terms & Conditions</legend>
          <div>
            <input type="checkbox" id="terms_and_conditions" name="terms_and_conditions" value="accepted" required />
            <label for="terms_and_conditions" required >Tick to confirm that you have read and accepted our <a href="http://www.bauerlegal.co.uk/competition-terms.html" target="_blank">competition terms and conditions</a></label>
          </div>
        </fieldset>
        <input type="submit" name="submit" value="Enter" />
    </form>
</div>


**_Kei was feeling low, then someone special hopped into her heart…_**

Huddled together, a litter of fur babies lay before me.

As I leant over to take a closer look, I noticed there was something else moving too…  
‘Urgh!’ I gasped, clocking the fleas that were bouncing off the small creatures.  
My boyfriend, Josh, picked up one of the baby rabbits.  
He was just three weeks old and my heart melted at the sight of him.  
‘We've got to get him away from here,’ I whispered.  
We’d made a five-hour car journey to a rabbit-meat farm to find a pet.  
Josh had owned a pet rabbit for 16 years previously and fancied another one.  
‘At least we won’t have to walk it like a dog,’ he laughed.  
And I liked the idea of having a bunny to stroke.  
I was depressed because I’d lost the two restaurants I owned during the pandemic, and I  knew just how powerful an impact animals could have on mental health.  
‘We’ll take him,’ I said firmly, determined to save him from becoming the filling in a pie.  
The bunny was a Flemish Giant breed, and he would grow to a massive size.  
‘Why don’t we call him Alex?’  I suggested.  
If he was going to be gigantic, he would be our very own Alexander the Great!  
Back home, we bathed him gently in liquid soap to get rid of the troublesome fleas.  
That night he nestled against my neck in bed, and at 3am, I woke up as he nipped me.  
‘You want to be petted?’ I asked, bleary-eyed, giving him a tickle.  
As Alex grew bigger, he found another favourite place to sleep — tucked under Josh’s armpit.  
Our bunny was docile and affectionate.  
‘He’d be perfect!’ I said to Josh, when we discussed his suitability as a therapy pet.  
He’d already helped me to feel lots better.  
On a plane to Las Vegas,  he was the perfect passenger as I rubbed his ears and stroked him.  
‘Nothing fazes him,’ I said, amazed.  
Alex was soon certified to become an official therapy pet.  
Weeks later, I watched, entranced, as a flurry of hands began to stroke him.  
I’d taken him to meet a group of children with special needs. Some of them suffered with high anxiety levels.  
Suddenly, one of the little boys laid down next to Alex. His eyes began to flutter and soon he was snoozing, relaxed and happy.

Later, I took Alex to a baseball game with the San Francisco Giants, where a camera zoomed in on him and everyone cheered.  
‘You’re famous overnight!’  I laughed.  
The same thing happened when we took him to a basketball game.  
Our huge bundle of fluff also became part of the so-called Wag Brigade at two airports, so nervous flyers could pet him and ease their worries.

We wheeled him around in his stroller, and it wasn’t long before there was a crowd wanting to meet him.  
‘Please bring him to my mother at the departure gate,’ a man said.  
He explained that his mum suffered from severe dementia, but she’d had rabbits when she was younger.  
When we approached her, she reached out her hand and began to stroke Alex.  
Her family began to cry because it was the first time she’d shown a reaction to anything in years.  
Our beautiful 30lb fur ball brings people so much joy.  
I’m convinced that he’s brought me luck too, because I now have another restaurant.  
There’s no doubt about it, Alex is a 21-carrot gold legend!

Some BUNNY to love! Therapy rabbit helped me beat depression

**_When Lauren’s husband received an odd phone call from his bank, alarm bells rang…_**

I heard the faint ringing of  my phone as I put the last  of the children’s clothes  into the wardrobe.

It was my husband  Angel, he often checked in with me after I’d dropped the boys at school.  
‘Hiya,’ he said, ‘Guess what? I’ve just been really lucky.’  
‘Really, how come?’ I asked.  
Angel, 40, explained that the fraud team from his bank Revolut had called to say someone had been trying to get into his business account.  
Call it instinct, but alarm bells started to ring immediately.  
Oh my God, this sounds like a scam, I thought.  
‘Are you sure they were genuine?’ I asked, nervously.  
‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘I was worried at first, but they knew all the activity on my account without me giving them any details.’  
‘How long were you on the phone?’ I asked.  
‘About 30 minutes,’ he replied.  
‘What did they say?’ I said, trying to keep calm.  
Angel said they’d asked him if he’d made a transaction in B&Q on the Isle of Wight, where we lived.  
‘I had bought something from there, so I thought they were the real deal,’ he told me.  
He said they then told him someone was trying to withdraw money from his account at that very moment.  
‘The man said we needed to stop this person in their tracks,’ Angel told me.  
The man explained that Angel had been sent an email.  
Sure enough, an email had arrived a few minutes before Angel took the call, explaining that an iPhone from London  was trying to log into his account.  
Angel said the email looked like a legitimate Revolut address.  
I felt fear rising inside me as I wondered what on earth was going on.  
The man from the bank had then asked Angel to send over  a selfie.  
‘You sent him a selfie?’ I asked, incredulously.  
‘That’s what I did when I set up the Revolut account,’ he replied, ‘So I didn’t think there was anything wrong.’  
But I knew instinctively that something was very wrong.  
‘Oh my God, Angel, you need to go into your bank account now!’ I said.  
He hung up  and tried to access his account.  
Please don’t  let this be a scam, I prayed.  
Angel had spent years building up his small business fitting bathrooms, but now I felt this terrible sense of foreboding.  
Suddenly, the phone rang, and it was Angel.  
‘Oh my God, they stole my money!’ he screamed, practically hyperventilating with distress.  
It was terrifying to hear him so upset.  
Maybe it’s just a couple of grand, I reasoned, trying to stay calm.

‘It’s over £20,000!’ Angel said, his voice hoarse with shock.  
What?!  
The blood drained from me, and I felt my knees weaken.  
‘I was meant to move the money to my other account this morning, but something went wrong with the transfer,’ he said, his voice weak.  
‘Shall I come to you?’ I asked, worried about him driving.  
‘No, I’ll come home,’ he replied.  
Twenty minutes later, Angel was at the front door.  
Ashen faced, he walked into the house.  
It turned out it had taken  the scammers just four  minutes to steal £24,105.50 over 26 separate transfers.  
‘There’s just £9 left in the account,’ Angel said.  
I felt sick to my stomach.  
‘What should we do?’ he asked.  
All I could think was to call the police.  
I called 999 and reported  it, but the officer advised me to get in touch with Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud  and cyber crime.  
We did. A lady took our  details and suggested that we contact Revolut.  
But try as we might, we couldn’t find a contact number for them anywhere.  
‘We’ll have to speak to them using the ChatBot,’ I said.  
For the next hour, we explained to the ChatBot what had happened, but it felt as though we were going round in circles, talking to a robot and growing increasingly frustrated.  
I looked at my husband, who was pale with shock.  
‘I’m just so sorry,’ he said.  
I felt awful for him.  
We’d met in 2017 and married in 2019, settling on the Isle of Wight where we were bringing up our boys, aged four and 13.  
Angel had moved here from Spain and all he wanted to do was provide for his family and  be a good husband and father.  
I wanted to do everything in my power to support him. But it was hard to know where to turn over the next few days.  
There was nothing in our account, yet we still had to pay the mortgage and bills and buy food, not to mention Angel’s business overheads.  
‘How will we manage?’ he asked me in despair.  
I knew I had to stay strong.  
Every evening when the boys got home from school, we tried to keep things normal.  
But Angel was so upset, he couldn’t even work for the first few weeks. It was heartbreaking seeing the toll that it was taking on him.  
Each night, he’d go out for a walk, unable to eat or sleep properly.  
We called the Citizens Advice Bureau who said we should contact them again once we were in debt, and they would then see what they could do.

But we don’t want it to get that far, I thought.  
The only immediate help  we received was from a local charity called Isle of Help who gave us £300 worth of Tesco food vouchers.  
What had our lives come to?  
I kept thinking about the people who had done this cruel thing to us.  
Angel said the caller had been a well-spoken man with an English accent.  
How was this man able to sleep at night when he’d done something like this to our family?  
Meanwhile, Angel had to close his account and lay off his employees.  
We contacted our utility companies who said they would delay our payments.  
However, the Inland Revenue weren’t so generous, declaring there would be no extension for the £3000 Corporation Tax we owed.  
‘But I didn’t do anything wrong,’ Angel told them.  
There didn’t seem to be one umbrella organisation which could advise us.  
We appealed to Revolut to refund us the money, but they refused, claiming Angel had given the scammer details which allowed them to log in to his account.  
That wasn’t true – they were already inside Angel’s account when they called him.  
We also contacted our MP  Bob Seely and the Financial Ombudsman (FO), which asked us to submit an application.  
Soon after, it was Angel’s  40th birthday.  
We’d planned to go back to Valencia in Spain to visit family, but there was no way we could find the money.  
A few weeks later, we were finally told by the FO that HSBC, where the scammers deposited our money, had returned £9123 via Revolut to us.  
It’s not even half of what we lost,  but at least it’s something.  
We’re still waiting to hear whether  we’ll get the rest, and in the meantime Angel is back working.  
These people are criminals, they ruin lives and there has to be tighter regulations.  
We don’t want any other family to go through what we have.

**_Lauren Fernandez, 41, Isle of Wight_**

Four minutes to FINANCIAL RUIN: Scam call tricked us out of £24K

**_Rachel Powers, 53, grew up loving the Poltergeist films – a franchise famously rumoured to be subject to a real-life curse. Then the house from the first film started calling to her…_**

Gazing at the famous house, across its neat front lawn, I took a few snaps through the car window.

Just being near the place felt surreal…  
I’d first seen the cult 1982 horror flick, Poltergeist, in the cinema, aged nine.  
Mum had taken me and my younger sisters to see the film, which was about a family whose lives got turned upside down by paranormal events in their new home.  
Although I’d screamed the place down in the scene where a clown popped out from under the bed, I’d loved the movie – in particular Dana Freeling, the teenage big sister character.  
Now I’d seen all the sequels, and re-watching the original had become a Halloween ritual.  
I’d also heard the rumours about the film franchise being cursed, due to four cast members dying during or soon after filming.  
Dominique Dunne, who played Dana, was strangled by her former partner, John Sweeney, outside her home the same year the film came out. Sweeney had been jailed for voluntary manslaughter.  
Heather O’Rourke, who played younger sister Carole Anne, died in 1987, aged just 12, during a bowel operation, months before the third instalment hit screens.  
Evil preacher Kane had lost his life to stomach cancer soon after shooting Poltergeist II, while Will Sampson, who’d played Taylor the Native American shaman, died in  1987 after undergoing a heart and lung transplant.  
Sampson – a medicine man in real life – was also said to have performed an actual exorcism after shooting wrapped one night.  
As an adult my job in consumer electronics had taken me to California, home  of Silicon Valley.  
One of my sisters lived just two miles from the Poltergeist house, which was in the middle of an ordinary-looking estate.  
Now, on a visit to see her, I’d driven by to check it out.  
Although I knew the house’s interior had been recreated in a studio for filming, it blew my mind to think the exterior scenes had been shot right where I was standing!

A year on, heading to visit my sister once again, I passed the turn-off for the Poltergeist house. And this time I got the weirdest gut feeling…  
That house is going on the market soon.  
I shrugged the thought off. Even if I was right, it wasn’t like I was going to buy the place!  
Although I had started house-hunting in the area, with my eldest daughter at college I was looking for something smaller and cheaper.  
I still hadn’t found the right property a month later.  
However, in August 2024, when my sister said, ‘The Poltergeist house has been put on the market…’  
‘I know,’ I replied, thinking how my intuition had been right. ‘They’ll have had loads of bids. I bet it’s gone already.’  
‘It’s literally just been listed,’ she replied quickly. ‘Apparently it’s the first time it’s gone on sale in 45 years.’  
Next thing I was calling my estate agent…  
Then I was actually standing in the Poltergeist kitchen!

The apparent ‘curse’ didn’t stop me putting in an offer. Looking at the vast number of cast and crew that must have worked on such a big franchise, four deaths – although sad – didn’t sound statistically unlikely.  
I was up against several other bidders, but just after Halloween in 2024, the house became mine.  
Standing in each room, picturing the scenes that  had been set there, took my breath away!  
Not that my girls understood.  
‘Remind me, why did you buy this again?’ my 17-year old asked, looking around, baffled.  
It was only after I was under contract on the house – and started doing a bit of research – that I heard another dark rumour about the film.  
Some said writer and producer Steven Spielberg had cut costs by using real human skeletons to film the famous swimming pool scene, where it’s filled with bodies!  
The claim had never been verified, so again, I shrugged  it off.  
Still, my first night in the house I couldn’t sleep because my German shepherd Emmy kept barking at something I couldn’t see.  
And I hadn’t long bought  the place when a team from  the paranormal show Ghost Adventures asked to investigate the property.  
I hadn’t yet spent enough time in the house to know if they’d find anything. But one of the production crew brought over a polaroid they’d snapped in the house, which seemed to show a weird kind of ‘energy’ near my head.  
Then one of the hosts, Zak Bagans, told me the house was haunted – but that there wasn’t anything evil there.  
After filming had finished, the team revealed what they’d found.  
They’d turned up with a doll that had belonged to Heather O’Rourke, placing it on  a shelf in the kids’ bedroom – where it had fallen over by itself. They’d picked up a  voice in the same room.  
They’d recorded a fluctuating electromagnetic field (EMF) in the hallway and around the television – where the spirits communicated with ‘Carole Anne’ in the movie, plus a shape near the TV too.  
I wasn’t freaked out, more curious.  
By then I’d already set up a website for the house, explaining how I was restoring it to its Eighties movie glory.  
I was using old photos of the house to match the wallpaper, beams and lights to the film and scouring eBay and charity shops for furniture and ornaments.  
Some things found me. Like, there’s a glass of milk that smashes to pieces thanks to an unseen force over breakfast, early in the film. I randomly came across the same glasses, while queuing at the checkout of a local off-licence and bought the last seven!  
Then I spotted the exact material of Carole Anne’s  floral duvet cover on a last-minute dash to get bits for  one of my girls’ science  project one evening.  
I soon began getting emails from fans around the world thanking me for preserving  the house and saying how much it meant to them. That, and seeing the number of people who still drove by the house for a look, as I had, helped me decide to start letting it out to fellow fans for  a few months each year.  
It was amazing seeing the joy on people’s faces when they walked in and put their hands on the TV – which was how the spirits communicated with Carole Anne in the film.  
The kitchen floor is taped up as it was in the film, and again like Carole Anne, guests can put on a helmet and pretend a ghost is pushing them across the room! I’ve put fake skeletons in the pool and added a VCR where fans can watch a VHS of the film.  
One fan brought his own projector and reel and screened it in the backyard for friends!  
Before long, the guest book was filling with spooky experiences.  
One guest described the kitchen lights flickering, another hearing faint conversations when they picked up the old-fashioned landline phone – although they hadn’t been able to make out what the voices were saying…  
Other visitors reported a light beaming on to the living room wall.  
My logical brain wants to blame dodgy light bulbs or crossed phone wires. But who’s to say?  
The house also attracts a lot of online content creators, and there’s definitely something inspiring about being here.  
I’ve even started writing a novel myself since moving in!  
I recently learnt that Universal Studios in Hollywood hold horror nights – including a tour of the studio replica of the Poltergeist House. My sister took me for my birthday and it was pretty weird getting to walk through my own home, inside a movie studio!  
Living in a piece of horror history can be wild – but I wouldn’t change a thing.

  
● For more information, visit poltergeisthouse.com

The real ‘Poltergeist’ house called to me – So I bought it!

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When decorating your home for spooky season, the first instinct is usually to think about what everything is going to look like - the skeletons, the spiders, the cobwebs. But creating a creepy atmosphere isn't only about what people see - it's also about what they hear and feel.

RWS Global is a leading creator of immersive entertainment, behind Halloween experiences at attractions including :a[LEGOLAND]{href='https://takeabreak.co.uk/holidays/take-a-break-holidays/legoland-family-break/' }, :a[Chessington World of Adventures]{href='https://takeabreak.co.uk/holidays/take-a-break-holidays/howloween-review-chessington-pulls-out-all-the-shocks-for-a-frightfully-great-family-day-out/' } and :a[Fright Nights]{href='https://takeabreak.co.uk/holidays/take-a-break-holidays/thorpe-park-fright-nights-2026-review-the-iconic-theme-park-event-celebrates-25-years-of-fearworth-it/' } at Thorpe Park. Here, Craig Laurie, Chief Creative Officer at RWS Global, gives his top tips for making your home truly scary this Halloween. And whether you want to get crafty or turn to shop bought decorations, we put the :a[Cricut Joy Xtra]{href='https://cricut.com/en-gb/cutting-machines?gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=Cricut-UK-B-Exa-Eng-All-SE-DTC-Google&amp;adgroup=Brand_KWs_Pure&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=cricut&amp;network=g&amp;device=c&amp;placement=&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=24362350687&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAB-HeIwKb3Nm874ogZv4YG42ZiNET&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiIuEndTIlwMVtqqDBx3xtRMbEAAYASAAEgLvpPD_BwE' } to the test and trawled through the amazing range of creepy props from :a[The Range]{href='https://www.therange.co.uk/halloween/?sort=relevance&amp;in_stock_f=true&amp;page=1&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=24266969955-g-pmax-sideboards&amp;utm_content=-&amp;utm_term=&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=24278060392&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADFuktyYZ0CQwtkcw4oV0sfZrNTYI&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwNXru4_GlwMVL5iDBx3LYC3rEAAYASAAEgJZd_D_BwE' } to illustrate how you can transform your home into something spook-tacular...

Craig says, 'What people hear can be just as important as what they see. Instead of simply putting on a Halloween playlist, try building your own soundscape. Using equipment you may already have at home and a programme like GarageBand, you can layer wind, thunder, creaking doors, whispers, distant screams, footsteps, bells or creepy music. Also, do not be afraid of incorporating silence. A cacophony of sound then…silence…then something extremely startling like the screeching violins from the Hitchcock film, Psycho would frighten anybody!

If you have more than one speaker, hide them in different places around the display. Suddenly, people do not quite know where the sound is coming from. That is when it starts getting creepy.'

Craig says, 'Skip the little bags of stretchy spiderweb and try beef netting. It is a trick used by professional haunters and scenic designers, and you can create something much bigger with it.

Stretch it, cut holes into it, and layer it across porches, trees, railings, or even entire sections of the house. And do not make it too perfect. Pull it apart. Make the shapes irregular. The messier it is, the more convincing it starts to look. At night, add some placement blacklight fixtures on the ground and point them upward with neon spiders in their stream and the whole thing suddenly comes alive. The netting is also durable, washable and can be dyed, so you can use it again.'

Craig says, 'You absolutely do not need to spend a fortune on professional props. For example, take an inexpensive Styrofoam tombstone from a Halloween or craft shop and start aging it. Add washes of green and brown paint, then dry-brush a lighter colour over the surface to bring out the stone texture. You can also use spray adhesive and add bits of moss to make the tombstone look like it has been sitting in an abandoned cemetery for decades. The impact is all in the details. Keep layering them until that store-bought tombstone stops looking store-bought.'

## 4\. Make ordinary objects part of the scene

Craig says, 'You probably already own more Halloween props than you realise. Books, mirrors, picture frames, candlesticks and furniture can all become part of the environment if you change the way they look. One trick is root-cover spray for hair, which can temporarily give some surfaces a dusty, aged appearance and, depending on the material, can often be cleaned off afterwards. If it is something you are happy to alter permanently, paint, stain or shellac can add the look of several years very quickly. You do not have to transform everything. Pick a few things and make them feel like they belong in the world you are creating.'

Craig says, 'Whether you buy Halloween bodies or make your own mannequins, including the little details is important to sell the illusion. Add a silicone mask, wig, gloves, and a complete outfit. And yes, socks and shoes matter! Then think about where you put the figure. Do not just stand it against a wall. Have it crawling out from underneath a porch, sitting unexpectedly in a chair, peeking through a window, or interacting with another part of the display. A great pose can make a very simple prop genuinely creepy.'

Craigs says, 'Most store-bought skeletons are bright white and pristine. They look like they have just come out of the box…because they have. A little aging can make a huge difference. After checking that the products you are using are appropriate for the material, use a plastic primer and add darker stains to knock back some of that bright finish and bring out the detail in the bones. Then think about what the skeleton is actually doing. Dress it. Give it accessories. Put it somewhere people might not notice immediately. Placement can be much more effective than simply adding more props.'

Craig says, 'You do not need massive special effects to make an impact. A small fog machine hidden behind a tombstone or underneath a porch can completely change the atmosphere. You can also try fog-filled bubbles. They float through space and release little bursts of fog when someone pops them. A small effect in the right place can do much more than throwing everything you have at the space at once. The best Halloween displays create an environment, not just a decoration. Give people something creepy to see, something unexpected to hear, and a few things they have to look twice at. That is when a familiar house starts to feel like somewhere completely different.'

We started with sound and changed the chime on the smart doorbell to a Halloween theme, alternating between sounds that include a creaking door and a witch's cackle.

Visually, we wanted to create a set that worked around one theme - we chose clowns. The Range has an incredible offering of reasonably-priced Halloween props and decorations, ranging from kid-friendly to super sinister. We centred our display around an 8ft clown with a terrifying grin. We thought about where to position our sinister new friend, and decided that having him peeking through the window created a genuinely creepy surprise for passersby. He's battery operated and not only does he speak, but at night his light-up red eyes peer out into the darkness.

We continued the frightful fun by giving him a pal, stood next to the doorstep. This clown is also animated with movement, sound and light-up eyes. Operating on motion sensor, it's sure to provide a jump scare.

We used a :a[Cricut Joy Xtra]{href='https://cricut.com/en-gb/' } to design and create a _Beware the Clowns_ sign, which we hung in the window and surrounded by blood splatter stickers, purchased from Amazon. We put cheap decorations to good effect by covering the front door in 'caution' and 'keep out' tape, and we draped strips of bloodstained cloth above the door.

Following Craig's tip about making the most of ordinary objects, and in keeping with our clown theme, we tied a red helium balloon from a small grate at the front step, evoking the spirit of Stephen King's Pennywise from the horror _It_. In the kitchen, a strange pumpkin scarecrow joined us for breakfast.

The Range also has a great variety of Halloween inflatables, and in the back garden, a giant Grim Reaper with hypnotising green eyes, stood ready to terrorise anyone who dared to step out into the darkness.

The best thing about using a Cricut, is that you're not limited to what you can purchase online and in the shops. You can let your imagination run wild and create your own custom designs. In keeping with the clown theme, we used glow-in-the-dark vinyl to create this fun but spooky top for my young son.

His older brother, who is a huge Marvel fan, drew his own Doctor Doom character, which we were then able to photographe and save as a high-res image, before uploading it to Cricut Design Space and then cutting it out on vinyl and ironing it on to a tote bag, ready for trick-or-treating!

With a few simple tips, carefully selected decorations and a bit of creativity, the home went from everyday to eerie. Halloween party guests enter - if you dare!

How to make your home genuinely spooky this Halloween

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We kicked off the October half-term in spook-tacular style by taking our two young sons, Odhran, 11, and Reuben, 8, on their first visit to The London Dungeon, and this :a[Halloween]{href='https://takeabreak.co.uk/holidays/take-a-break-holidays/how-to-make-your-home-genuinely-spooky-this-halloween/' } there's a brand new show - _Curse of the Mummy_.

A jester with an intense look in her eye and an unhinged smile, set us off on our dark descent into the Dungeon in a rattling lift.

From here, it was no photos or filming allowed, as it was time to explore 1,000 years of London's darkest history, brought to life through terrifying tales, fantastic acting, special effects and immersive stages and sets.

Navigating dark corridors, with black cobblestone walls and floors, we encountered a crazed killer, shackled in chains, who revealed his chilling plan to escape.

We moved on to learn about Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder Plot and discovered what pain and punishment looked like in the 1600s.

Then it was on to 1665 London during the Black Death, and the grim sights and smells of the plague. We visited the Plague Doctor - but found him dead. Our wellbeing now rested in the hands of his terrifyingly unqualified assistant!

Shuffling along, we stepped into the bowels of Newgate Prison where Elizabeth Sawyer awaited execution, after being convicted of conversing with the Devil. While at first she appeared pitiful, we quickly discovered another side to Elizabeth!

Just as we paused to catch a breath, we found ourselves creeping along Victorian alleyways and listening to the gruesome tale of Jack the Ripper's victims. We took shelter from a storm in the Ten Bells Pub, where the barmaid in ghost story-style gave a chilling account of Whitechapel's most infamous serial killer.

Later, we stood trial before an unforgiving 18th/19th-century judge, who's courtroom had only two doors for us to leave through - one marked 'Guilty' and the other 'Very Guilty'. After our conviction, it was on to the gallows, as the tour concludes with the _Drop Dead: Drop Ride_. This vertical free-fall drop tower simulates a 1783 Newgate Prison execution by hanging in the gallows. Odhran and me screamed as we were sent plunging three stories in the pitch dark.

_Curse of the Mummy_ is a new historical Halloween show that's included in the cost of general entry and is running from now until 1 November.

Based on the terrifyingly true history of the ‘Unlucky Mummy’, guests are transported to the delivery bay of the London Museum in 1889, where the infamous mummy board has just arrived - along with something far darker.

During the Victorian era Egyptomania was a booming trade, with wealthy elites importing Egyptian mummies to London. According to myth, the trouble began in the 1860’s when four young English travellers returned home with the ‘Unlucky Mummy’ after visiting the mummy pits of Deir el-Bahri in Egypt. A rapid trail of disaster was said to have befallen those who crossed paths with it.

Three immersive theatrical shows unwrap this chilling story, using sensory effects to intensify the experience.

By the end of all of the jump scares and ghastly goings on, we needed a drink to settle our nerves and were happy to find The Tavern - a victorian themed pub, located at the end of the Dungeon tour. But the interactive fun continued, as a tarot card reader predicted our future, and a ghostly landlady opened an old newspaper and encouraged us to try and uncover the identity of Jack the Ripper. We sipped our drinks, while a piano played entirely by itself!

Children under the age of 5 are not allowed in The London Dungeon and the recommended age is 12+. As Odhran and Reuben are fans of horror video games and enjoy TV shows such as Stranger Things, I thought they might be ready to brave the Dungeon, which they'd been asking to visit for ages.

But a lot of the fright element involves being suddenly plunged into darkness, and this combined with believable characters and several sensory elements left Reuben feeling a little shaken at first. We had to remind him that it was just actors and nobody was going to touch him. As we moved through the tour, he relaxed into the experience and loosened his grip on my hand. There are lots of lighthearted moments and jokes throughout the experience, especially when members of the tour are hauled up to take part in the shows, and Reuben was smiling and laughing in the Torture Chamber and in the courtroom, where he was begging to be put in the dock. In the end, the only tears came when he was told he was too little to go on the Drop Ride, which has a 1.4m minimum height restriction.

Reuben really enjoyed The London Dungeon, but I think he's an exception for his age, as he's quite daring and has always been drawn to spooky stuff. He was scared but still intrigued, and really engaged with the comedy elements. But I'd be reluctant to take another child his age.

It felt perfect for Odhran, who loved the more thrilling element of this :a[Halloween family day out]{href='https://takeabreak.co.uk/holidays/take-a-break-holidays/gourds-assemble-heres-a-look-at-our-mighty-day-out-at-europes-largest-pumpkin-festival/' } experience. He delighted in the jump scares and found parts of the experience absolutely hilarious.

The London Dungeon is located on the South Bank, right next to the London Eye and SEA LIFE London Aquarium. The full address is Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB

Advance online tickets start from £29 (adult), £23.50 (children) The Drop Ride and _Curse of the Mummy_ is included in your ticket entrance to The London Dungeon. Find out more :a[here]{href='https://www.thedungeons.com/london/' }

The London Dungeon is one of the most :a[thrilling Halloween experiences]{href='https://takeabreak.co.uk/holidays/take-a-break-holidays/thorpe-park-fright-nights-2026-review-the-iconic-theme-park-event-celebrates-25-years-of-fearworth-it/' } to enjoy as a family day out in London with teens and brave tweens. We loved how it was decorated for Halloween, but throughout there are lovely little touches, such as the guillotine urinals!

But the experience involves pitch-black rooms, strobe lights, jump scares and intense live actors, so unless you feel certain you child isn't going to be freaked out by this, it's probably best to stick with the 12+ guidelines. But we found it to be both informative and really good fun.

Reuben says, 'I felt I was going to puke with scaredness but it was funny at the same time. It's an amazing experience and there were loads of actors, who were very good. I would recommend it for around 10 years of age because the actors are dressed well and make it very scary.'

Odhran says, 'I loved it! It was scary but funny and the jump scares were great. The Jack the Ripper part was my favourite - my heart was racing- and the Drop Ride was good fun.'

The London Dungeon Halloween 2026 Review: Curse of the Mummy (Is it OK for kids?)

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