When was the last time you attempted a jigsaw puzzle?

Jigsaw puzzles! Remember those?

When was the last time you attempted to put together a jigsaw puzzle, if ever? As a kid I loved them, especially those 1000-piece challenges. I still remember spending many hours fitting pieces together, a lot of which was spent wrangling with my brother over which piece fitted where.

The closest I’ve come to jigsaw puzzles in nearly 40 years is when disinterestedly passing by those puzzle boxes on toy store shelves. Oh, there was this one time – can’t remember when – I saw a completed puzzle framed and hanging on a wall in someone’s home. I’m pretty certain they bought it in that condition.

I’m guessing that jigsaw puzzles are not very popular with kids, or even adults, these days. Video games and other err… online activities, have all but killed this pastime that once ruled the roost. It’s not surprising therefore that there is a proliferation of websites that offer online jigsaw puzzles. But I’m unconvinced they offer the same excitement or challenge as the real thing.

I suppose there are avid jigsaw enthusiasts somewhere in the world, maybe even clubs, but it seems they’re keeping it all very secretive.

At my age, I think spending some time away from the Interwebs, working on real jigsaw puzzles may be very therapeutic. In fact, I read somewhere that this activity is useful in keeping both the brain active, and Alzheimer’s at bay.

But just in case you’re not convinced, here’s an online puzzle that will either get you hooked, make you want the real thing, or shun puzzles in disgust. I’m hoping you’ll yearn for the real thing – the 1000-piece beauty that you can touch and feel.

[Click on the Play button to attempt this online puzzle]

Please Mr. Wenger, don’t you dare…

Dear Mr. Wenger,

I know you’ve been telling us repeatedly that you can’t play the same team all the time. And yes, that’s true; we understand that players need to rest and recuperate and thus you need to rotate them.

But please don’t for the love of the beautiful game, ever start with that lazy-ass Dane Bendtner, ever again.

I know you’ve been telling us repeatedly that your players are starting to have great belief in themselves and their ability to win games. And yes, that’s true. However, Bendtner has great belief that the ball will magically come to him as he strolls lazily around the park.

Please Mr. Wenger, if he doesn’t start making an effort to get to the ball, get rid of that loser as quick as you can. But in the interim, he should be given time off to get into shape; he does not belong on the same field of play as the others.

In you we will trust.

Lenny