Set by Tiny Tim We asked for the usual Christmas circulars, from famous people of your choice

Report by Ms de Meaner

I was sorry to drop Michael Berry's round robin from Prince Charles "and, er, thingie". And I know this comp was set on 11 December, but El Basilio's entry from Saddam felt a little gross in retrospect. £20 to the winners; John Purkis gets the Tesco vouchers in addition.

Every cloud . . .

Breaking with Sian was sad, but I'm not making heavy weather of it. No more Welsh lessons! It's an ill wind . . . Instead I've spent weekends planning asteroid "track and whack" with Powys Near Earth Object Alert Group. Though I achieved "commended" in the Machynlleth well-dressing comp, I've won no prizes for dressing well. Sales of the twins' hit "Touch My Bum" approach brass disc level. Had my own musical triumph on Charlie Gillett's World of Music show, accompanying Momma Margit's Romanian Spinning Songs on my harmonica. Rocky, her wolfhound, is now incontinent, but fortunately internet shopaholic Monica discovered www.dognappy.co.uk. Gabriela and I and 1,000 other Santas from Newtown's Dial-A-Ride Charity Run wish you "Merry Christmas". Have a cheeky 2007. Go for it. Live your fantasies! (Lembit Öpik)

Anne Du Croz

Free as a bird

As you will all know, 2006 was a really eventful year for me. I was beginning to feel that I had settled into my post at Defra, and therefore was able to relax a bit, taking our caravan to rural spots around the country, when suddenly I was hiked out of the job into that of Foreign Secretary. As you can imagine, it's much more difficult taking a caravan abroad, although I had managed to get to France in the past. Unfortunately the areas where I had to be most busy weren't really conducive to holiday-making, let alone enjoying the open road or setting up home in a field overnight.

Nevertheless, during my last visit to Moscow I had a most interesting conversation with Mr Putin about chemical toilets. (Margaret Beckett)

Katie Mallett

Out with a bang

As I settle down to my pre-Christmas Baileys, served cold with my wife on the sofa, I remind myself that a year ago I was the expert on round robins. I borrowed Puccini the Hamster for book-signing tours. While at Morecambe station he stopped the train by gnawing an electric cable: I now carry his little casket everywhere. However, I failed to meet my publisher, and was demoted to editing 18-year-olds' letters from the Gambia. My next book - The School Holidays: selections from children's coursework - will give me a chance to move forward. Just off to the Irish embassy party where I'm due to meet a man from Southwark. (Simon Hoggart)

John Purkis

No 3964 Good ideas factory

Set by D A Prince

The Blair Foundation, based on Bill Clinton's foundation, is to preserve and develop his ideas. A senior source said: "There are serious fears from some close to the PM that his radical agenda will be replaced by the next incumbent. A conveyor belt of new ideas will make it much harder to forget what was achieved."

So, what ideas will emerge?

Max 125 words by 1 February
Email: comp@newstatesman.co.uk

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