Yes another August, another lovely week in Devon with the kids. This year was the easiest so far. I think it gets easier the older they get, don’t you? Certainly in my experience.

It was a great week. I really loved seeing them playing together, the little boys now playing as well as the girls do together, not without their little spats, obviously. But mostly it was great.

It included a fabulous day when we went crabbing at Bude (top pic) – caught loads as well! With some really smelly bait LOL, but the kids were very amused seeing them in the bucket and then chucking them back in. 

My favourite day was an at home day, when, after lunch, I managed to make ice cream with the Cuisinart Freeze Wand that I bought, and they loved it! A vanilla base with mix-ins including pineapple, blueberries, raspberries and sprinkles! That’s what we were doing in the top picture.

Then we did some crafts – we made little gel creatures using special paints and moulds, that expanded over a couple of hours if you left them in a special solution, they were absolutely riveted and stayed for ages! Then we did a science experiment from the big pack that I bought. We had to do the volcano another day when we could go outside, so they made green slime! So funny, both seven-year-olds (well Phoebe is seven in October) and three-year-olds (Kaleb is 4 next week) were entranced. Plus of course they had their fair share of playing games, magazines, reading, playing in my studio including puzzles, and the paddling pool in the back garden.

We also had two goes at a beach day and finally on Thursday the sun and shine came out although it was still quite windy and the kids were cold, and of course I had my usual heebie-jeebies when out in the sun on the beach… But was good fun overall! Bude is a really good venue albeit a little bit crowded in height of summer, but takes a lot of boxes, and we had some wonderful fish and chips at the LAB fish restaurant. And the men made a really impressive sand creation as usual! 

A couple more highlights are below as well, but basically a good time was had by all. There’s also a bit of an exclusive over on my newsletter from when I took the kids up for ice cream and they’re all standing with me looking out to sea!  (Nb You can sign up for my weekly newsletter to your inbox by email, click on the word newsletter at the bottom of this page).

SNIPPETS

Rosemoor Day Out

Tuesday this week saw a trip to the beautiful RHS Rosemoor gardens near great Torrington – I never realised there was so much to do for the kids. My niece Jodie came with her family and the kids all got on very well together, it was lovely to watch! Highly recommended as a day out if you wanted to take your family there too!

Results

Thought you’d enjoy this funny this week, and well done to everybody who got good exam results! Needless to say there was lots of laughter this week especially when me and my kids were playing Scrabble with Nick Lauren‘s hubby, after the grandchildren had all gone to bed! Some lovely times, and some super memories. I think everybody said this was the best family holiday yet! And things can only get better in years to come.

Ali Update

For those not on social media, this (here) was Ali Keenan’s update this week, a week after she came out of hospital following her planned procedure. Glad the recovery is going well Ali! We all love you too.

What do YOU think?

You might have heard about the Menopause Mandate – they are an organisation of women from a variety of backgrounds (celebrities, women’s health experts, MPs etc) who have come together to campaign for better support during the menopause. They research and listen to what women are experiencing and want to address the issues.

QVC are promoting the 2025 survey – which closes soon – which helps gain valuable insight in to what women need during the menopause. The survey ends early September so click now! More info on their website here – and the link to take you straight to the survey is this one here.

Watch – I hate to say it but having been serenaded – a lot – this week by my two granddaughters singing K-pop Demon Hunters on a permanent loop, I’m gonna do something really unusual and recommend that you watch it! Then you can be down with the kids… Just like I will when I’ve watched it – I’m gonna force myself through gritted teeth! So funny listening to the kids singing in the back of the car though and knowing all the words! Very very cute! 

Or – watch this (here) for some timeless wisdom from her late Majesty. I never knew our lovely Queen Elizabeth II did stuff like this! Wonderful bit of vintage TV.

Or – the documentary about Matthew Perry and his tragic end to his amazing life and what he meant to everybody he touched during the years he was on this planet. Such a star. Gone too soon….

(Ps otherwise if you’re in London and looking for something to watch, go and see The Great Gatsby at the Theatre – I’m just looking to see when I can see it again before it closes on September 7!)

Blooper – you can rely on Jackie – and Andi Peters! (See it here).

Vlog – lots of little vlogs this week to check out on my socials! Here’s just one of them from the beach in Bude! (See it here).

Apologies for the lack of corrections in the captions – I’m channelling that ‘we do not care club!’

Book of the Week – Still loving me a little bit of Lynda La Plante and am now on the third DCI Anna Travis book, Clean Cut. I love that Linda always has done a lot of research on her different storylines, so each plot always has a ring of truth about it. Anna’s relationship with her now injured boss hits tricky territory, as a new murder case links together with a violent underground organisation involving illegal trafficking, abduction, and voodoo! Very good. (And don’t forget the next week’s one will be the new Strike novel! Can’t wait.)

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 knitted zip front vest. Join me over on style at 5 pm (this is Friday, the 22nd of August. Just remembered this would’ve been my wedding anniversary, had we stayed married, we would’ve been celebrating 40 years today. Thank goodness I shook free 25 years ago! LOL)

Saturday – Tefal easy fry pizza air fryer and cutter

Sunday – Emma award-winning Thermosync hybrid mattress with protector.

And join me at 9 pm Sunday for the launch of the VAX offer! Online now. Plus see below.

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 – centigrade single breasted trench

– garden – you Garden 2X pre-planted pansy 35 cm rattan hanging baskets with fertiliser

– extra – ORDO toothbrush – sonic light bundle (2X sonic lights plus 4X additional heads) great value and super for travel.

– beauty – Sachajuan thickening shampoo and conditioner travel set

– main – tbc

Now back to the today’s special values for the rest of the week – 

PLEASE NOTE – these are correct at time of writing but maybe subject to change.

Monday – Vax spot wash home pet design carpet washer

Tuesday – Loccitane three-piece almond and flowers body collection

Wednesday – Lock and Lock set of eight nestable containers

Thursday – monsoon Ivy floral embroidered blouse

Friday – Vionic Asteria Ariana wedge boot

Friday 9 pm – Richard Jackson’s three in one autumn lawn booster

And look out for the Liz Earle three-piece super skin neroli and rose collection.

Next week – it’s finally happening, I’m off to Sweden! So there may be a footnote if I can fit it in to next week’s blog!

Also watch out this weekend for a whole weekend of wonderful offers and a very special August bank holiday code! Have a great week.

Best wishes

Debs

X

PS  I support Medical Detection Dogs. We raised over £2,300 in our June event. Find out more and donate on this link.

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