It was another Devon week (without Howard – he was over in Belgium making up for his aborted motorbike trip last month, with a trip to some of the world war sites including at Ypres, or ‘wipers’ as the British soldiers used to call it during the war apparently!)
One of the highlights was going to Boscastle for the very first time, to see my lovely mate Barry from Devon. (He’s the one who moved up near Blackpool for a few years, the one I used to do the concerts and the singing with about eight years ago!) Anyway, they’ve now got a lovely place on the edge of the town of Boscastle, and it was lovely to see it.
We’re very good friends and we had a really lovely catch up; he and his husband Tom and Panda the dog accompanied me to the most delightful Tea room, next to the bridge pictured above.
Nothing I like better than a tea room visit and this one was splendid. The weather was only about 21°, warm and sunny but with a breeze that was just about cool enough. It was lovely to see them.
My group this week at the Writing Retreat in Devon was one of the biggest I’ve ever had, 10 people – look at this picture of everyone in the lounge – every single sofa full and another stool taken – and I could fit 10 round the table, just, with me like Cinderella eating my dinner in the kitchen. (Well okay, I didn’t really but only because I’d eaten most of it by the time it was served LOL. ) Lovely margarita the memoirs tutor is absolutely fantastic, one of my best, and most good value – she’s just put another date in the diary for January, so if you’re interested look at retreatsforyou.co.uk events page and get in touch.
It was another great week and fortunately the weather got cool enough to be comfortable, hallelujah! It even rained a bit! See it here.
SNIPPETS
Devon Girls Day
Of course it was necessary to have the Devon girls round and we had a really long chinwag. I say girls, but Ryan my neighbour was there as well. Howard wasn’t though, for above reason. Everyone missed him. We put the world to rights and had a right old laugh as ever!
Facetiming me Fella
Obviously caught up with H a few times on video call. It’s so funny and always makes me laugh. I thought he looked particularly handsome on this night! Looking forward to seeing him at the weekend. Also went to the afternoon Village show in Horsted Keynes last weekend, very hot day and some wonderful exhibits!
Rare event:
#justSayin
(in London it will apparently be a 91% Eclipse just after 7 pm. It varies according to where you are in the country apparently but it’s easy to find out online!)
Exclusive – on this week’s newsletter (sign up to get yours in the inbox every weekend), the exclusive content is the video I did at the end of the Austria trip that didn’t get fully uploaded! And what’s cooking in the kitchen in Devon! Guess what’s in the pan. 🙂
Watch – Didn’t really have time to watch much this week, always rushed off my feet when I’m doing a retreat on my own especially if I go out in the afternoons like I did, but found this and thought it was really funny! So have a little watch. Can you imagine what they could’ve been asking for…?!!
“Can you show us proof you didn’t receive the pants you ordered” – lolol!! See it here.
PS I was amusing myself this week by watching this and doing it – can you do it? #SpiceGirls See it here.
Blooper – OMG – it’s the way she disappears under the table at the end! See it here.
Vlog – did a long video of what it’s like to be running a retreat in Devon on Instagram – go here for the main one!
Book of the Week – Well, I listened to this one straight through, kept going back to it because it was so good. It’s another Lisa Jewell, and it’s called “It Could’ve Been Her”. Really, really suspenseful mystery where a young woman turns private investigator to track down what happened in a suspicious house that brings back painful memories from her past. Really, really well written and read. Loved it 🙂
QVC TOP DEALS FOR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS
Friday (today) – go to qvcuk.com and search ‘today’s special value’ to see and buy what’s left of the Ben De Lisi faux suede jacket
Saturday – a lovely indoor outdoor rocking swivel egg chair and folding basket
Sunday – already online and selling really well the DefiLift firm & sculpt collection. I really love this range as it features some of my favourite products, well, this new TSV includes them but also has a new serum! Check out Michaela’s explanation as to what’s in it! See it here.
Big deals ending Sunday night
Go to this section of our website each week to discover the current ones which often end on Sunday nights if there are any stocks left!
Big deals are available on air for usually a week, they may be longer online if stocks last. Occasionally they last a couple of weeks but there are new ones every Sunday night so come back again and see them on the link above.
Next week should include:
– style – denim and co embroidered jersey pintuck blouse
– garden – tbc
– extra – Laura Geller four-piece balance and glow and spackle SPF 30 collection
– beauty – molton brown Rosemary body Care three-piece collection
– main – elemis superfood radiance ritual three-piece collection
– extra 2 – Tili makeup brush and sponge set with case/ or embroidered towel pouch
Offer of the Week – Shark Silk Pro hair straightener and dryer
Now back to the today’s special values for the rest of the week –
PLEASE NOTE – these are correct at time of writing but may be subject to change.
Monday – Tili jelly organiser flat lay bag
Tuesday – white stuff Lizzie embroidered top
Wednesday – zooki super strength collagen 11,000 mg two month supply
Thursday – Wilfred’s pies set of 10 Welsh oggie pasties
Friday – TBC – Shark
Friday 9 pm – denim and coat crewneck Viscose cardigan
Next week – Lollipop and her gang are down for a flying visit, including Winnie the puppy! And a long week for me at work. Have a great week and I hope the heatwave doesn’t return!
Best wishes
Debs
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DON’T FORGET… to do me a favour by sharing the link to my house and business sale down in Devon! It would mean a lot!
https://www.retreatsforyou.co.uk/its-online/
PS I support Medical Detection Dogs. We raised over £2,300 in our event back in June ‘25. Watch out for another one in 2026! Find out more and donate on this link.
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