Had such a lovely time this week in Devon, even though it was somewhat problematic! (On some levels anyway. Go below to my vlog, where there is a link to my regular weekly Facebook live, #thursdaybantz, for more about that!)
The weather took a turn for the better on a couple of other days at least, although it was so windy at the start of the week, the end of it ended quite nice. The above photo was taken in the glamorous surroundings of… The Waitrose car park in Okehampton! LOL.
My lovely writing friend Rosemary Dunn, an open university tutor, held another writing retreat telling people the basics and fundamentals of how to write a novel, and what a nice group they were. Some challenges as far as their dietary requests were concerned! (See vlog!!) but I managed okay.
On the final night I did a tuna Nico Ferri variation, and I can tell you now I will be doing this again! Firstly it looks great, very colourful. Secondly, it’s really good for you, and thirdly how easy and simple it was! The only thing I had to wash up was the steamer! Yum Yum Yum. I could eat it again now LOL.
And on one day I did my trademark “pie meringue lemon“, only with a meringue at the bottom, crumbled digestive at the top, (all variation of), and in the middle the most delicious lime Easiyo yoghurt (except for the non-dairy people who had a coconut yoghurt).
They loved the food, and they loved the week. And I had to wash up for nine people with a dodgy dishwasher on the blink! I managed it though! Hope the next lot are just as nice, I have the next retreat in May, but I am away at Center Parcs the week before that for my birthday week with my daughter! Yay!
SNIPPETS
Afternoon Tea chez Moi
My regular Devon ladies came to see me again briefly, and we had a good old chat talking about the way things were different when we were younger! The two in their 80s had some wonderful stories! Barbara won the contest of “I remember when we didn’t have…!” my contribution was “when we didn’t have calculators! And we had to use logbook! Remember those?” We all enjoyed a lovely big Victoria cake made by Sally, the local lady living not far from me. Always nice to catch up with my lovely friends.
Rhododendrons are blooming!
It won’t be long now, where the famous half a mile drive where I live, will be covered in rhododendrons in full bloom, one of the reasons I loved the idea of living at my flats in Surrey! You can be sure there will be some impressive pictures over the next month or so! Plus great news that the property managing agents will finally take over today (19th). It’s been a long battle but we’re nearly there! Wish us luck 🙂
Oops
Look at this set from last week on QVC – doesn’t this look beautiful, talking of wonderful colours. Yes, it does, I can hear you say. So that’s why I ordered these colour changing faceted glass solar lights in a set of 10… Except I didn’t. What a numpty! This from the person who always tells people don’t forget to complete your order! I obviously thought I’d done it but I hadn’t. Oh well it happens to the best of us. I just hope they come back in stock at some stage, I’ve ordered two sets on waitlist. If you got some I hope you love them!
Watch – just a little thing for you to watch this week, apart from the obvious, very obvious, final of The Apprentice! A little news story from BBC Spotlight this week, featuring a brief glimpse of a portrait of my lovely friend Alix, and some of the people who live in Belstone village in Dartmoor. Charming!
I’m looking forward to seeing ‘Back to Black,’ the Amy Winehouse story at the cinema, I’m going to go either Friday night or Saturday night! Must lay off the popcorn though, time to get sugar back out of my diet if my throbbing knuckle is anything to go by!
Funny – spotted this on the Laura Geller Instagram account, well that’s a different way to advertise! Funny! (See it here).
Podcast – Go here to get the latest Inside QVC podcast from Will, and the current one if you haven’t listened yet :-). Don’t forget there’s a massive back list to catch up on, too!
This week, Julien MacDonald tells Will about his early life growing up in Wales, his incredible career in the world of fashion including working for some of the biggest fashion houses in the world, and of course his 10th anniversary here at QVC!
Vlog – you got to hear what I went through with this week’s meals in Devon! Check out this week’s #thursdaybantz here!
Book of the Week – Since I enjoyed still life so much, I thought I would explore a bit more Sarah Winman. She’s a very clever author. Lots of personification in particular. Some funny turns of phrase as well.
‘The Year of Marvellous Ways’ – has the same writing style, I thought, but not quite as punchy or polished as still life which I would’ve thought came later. Again another saga, following the relationships between a few people over different decades. And a bit confusing in places. Nice to enjoy if you liked Still Life but I would read Still Life first. They are not connected plots.
Yeah, I have started the latest Marian Keys book, ‘My Favourite Mistake,’ I do love her characterisations and her narration, it makes me laugh out loud in places! And for some of us, it’s so wonderful to have a laugh isn’t it! Recommended so far.
Newsletter – This week people who subscribed to my Friday newsletter will have got a beautiful picture of my grandchildren on the beach, and something weird featuring part of my body! See below on how to subscribe.
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 Ruth Langsford double breasted blazer, very affordable! And a mini celebrity event in fashion. Plus an Andy Peters’ food fest with Will for two hours at 2 pm!
Saturday – the weekend is exciting with an alfresco living event! I’m off for the weekend, but we will have some lovely outdoor furniture including a multifunctional garden storage bench and two chairs tsv from my garden stories today…
Sunday – and on Sunday look out for the ninja Woodfire outdoor pizza oven and smoker, pizza peel and cover, going on sale earlier in the week, probably online now, and another Andy Pete food fest at 2 pm!
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 – cozy home cotton Jersey PJ set
Main – periea set of four mixed size collapsible storage boxes
Main – liz earle four piece complete face and body collection for a really low price
Beauty – Estée Lauder Youth dew fragrance collection
Digital – silent night so fresh anti-allergy pillow pair
Now back to the today’s special values for the rest of the week –
Monday – Block blitz the weed killer at a low price!
Tuesday – Helene Berman short jacket with jewelled buttons. And look out for the denim and co hour with me at 8 o’clock concluding a four hour denim miniseries featuring different brands! I will be having fun with Glenn Campbell!
Wednesday – tweak’d revitalising hair treatment mist in a super size 16 ounce duo!
Charlie Bears is also on today with my mate Charlie Farley at five.
Thursday – time for Skechers go walk flex slide scandal, and I’ve been asked to do a special thing for social media on this, so you might spot it!
Friday – Julian McDonald with a first, a faux flower, three stem orchid in white glazed pot
Fri 9pm – our big beauty weekend – watch out for my top picks and my quote about our beauty products on the main website! Plus it’s going to be Estée Lauder time with a big today’s special value on Saturday, the three-piece advanced night repair essential kit.
And also going on sale earlier in the week, the Sunday’s beauty event today’s special value, the new Shark styling device – a clever hot brush with built-in smoothing comb, the SmoothStyle with storage bag!
Next week – Back to Black, the Amy Winehouse movie at the cinema, and a couple of extra days off in Devon as I have a big weekend – an AGM for 30 people and an important Sunday lunch, as I take and a couple of extra days off in Devon, lucky me, please let it sunshine!
Best wishes
Debs
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