Medical detection dogs – a grand day out
Regulars will remember that last November I did an afternoon tea party, partly for my birthday and partly for medical detection dogs, the fabulous charity where doggies help humans. Well, this week they finally got their tour around the Milton Keynes HQ! We watched young dogs being trained, including spaniel cross ‘sprocket’, Cockerpoo Nora, and 10 week old labrador puppy Mason! So sweet.
We also got to watch a sniff test demo, where experienced three-year-old Willow was detecting Covid on samples of T-shirt. (If you know anyone with Covid please contact medical detection dogs direct to find out more, as they are always looking for more T-shirt samples).
Plus I was delighted that I also got to say hello to Asher, one of the most famous of the medical detection dogs, he is in biodetection, although he is about to retire. A brown spaniel with a big floppy fringe, and big light-coloured eyes. He was in a really mischievous mood on the day. Lovely founder, Dr Claire Guest came in to talk to us as well. And then we all went off for a super lunch.
One thing they need at the moment, if you live near Milton Keynes, is puppy socialisers. Here’s this week’s vlog, with a mention about why they need them, and how it all works. If you’d like to get in touch, please just email me, which is info@ (and then this website), and I’ll put you in touch.
Vlog – See this week’s vlog here.
Thanks to Jacki Wright who came, along with fab pals & QVC guests Susie Adams and Patrick Hoy, and the ever-giving, supportive animal-lover-extraordinaire, Andie Stephany. Fraser Anderson couldn’t make it sadly, but hopefully he will come another time. A good time was had by all and even more money was raised for MDD! Very proud!
SNIPPETS
Snowman
Hope you’re okay with all the snowy weather this week. We had it thick and long-lasting up high in Banstead, Surrey. My neighbour made this snowman! So much snow – and the perfect kind for making snowmen. See it for yourself here.
Unlike when Blake came to stay and we went sledging when it was freezing cold before Christmas and the snow was just too powdery! Wonder if we will get much more. Roll on spring!
Brad’s Birthday continued
Another year, another BD get together with my boy. We managed to grab a coffee on Sunday afternoon, when I visited to see him for his birthday last week. Played some lovely games with the kids, and spent some precious son-time with my boy. And his boy, and his girl of course! Had a nice chat with Kari, my daughter-in-law, too. Precious family times and memories!
Electric Dreams
Getting used to charging this plug-in hybrid Kia now, and I’m spending a fair bit of time sitting outside supermarkets at the moment! Sometimes I can get in on the chargers at our work car park chargepoints. But mostly I am spending time getting emails done, watching the battery slowly tick up. I get 40 odd miles on a full charge (if I don’t use any heaters or anything, so obviously not that much at the moment!) All good fun so far…
Watch – Finally got round to watching ‘Nolly’ this week. Very apt, an inspirational women’s week, and I finished watching it that evening. Helena Bonham Carter did a brilliant job of imitating Meg Mortimer from famous soap Crossroads which ended in the 80s, not long after she was given the boot. Also, I didn’t realise she was the first woman to appear on colour television when she did the screen test for John Logie Baird! Anyway, it’s another wonderful period piece, and if you used to watch Crossroads you will love it. I didn’t really watch Crossroads and I still loved it! You didn’t need to watch it to recognise some of the characters. It was really well done. I liked it at the start when they said some of the characters had been made up for dramatic effect! If my French or Dutch book ever gets made into a TV series (let’s face it, it’s every author’s dream) mine would definitely have to have the same preface about making up characters!
But also…. Watch 2 – ‘Shirley Valentine’ for IWD!
On international women’s day, what better way to have celebrated than to have watched a play about a strong woman, with two of my favourite female pals! Theatre buddies, Sara, Christina and I went to see Sheridan Smith playing the role made famous by Pauline Collins, based on the witty and wonderful Willy Russell stage play. It’s basically a monologue, and it’s absolutely, utterly fantastic. She was incredible – a superb script brought to life in a magnificent way by a female comic genius. Can’t praise it highly enough. It did however, make me want to go home and watch Shirley Valentine the movie, featuring amongst others, Joanna Lumley, Tom Conti, Alison Steadman, Bernard Hill, Julia McKenzie and a young Tracy Bennett. Must seek it out! If you spot it anywhere let me know 🙂
Funny
This made me laugh! (I was actually sent lots of jokes, about women, on international women’s day, none of which were as funny as this!)
Plus, I found a hilarious new account to follow on Instagram: Casper and Pam; never has a singing dog been so funny! Watch this.
The exclusive over on my blog this week is a funny that my brother created, and a little insight into the past. When I was still the biggest of my five siblings, and the others were much younger, we had a family pic taken at the caravan in Hastings, which my brother has doctored. In his version, there are now speech bubbles giving an insight into our futures, created by my counsellor brother Derek Flint, who is probably one of the wittiest people I know. If you’ve subscribed to the newsletter you should have it in your inbox now or soon (and if you don’t, see below**).
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 a chat with a new skincare brand. Charlie Brook my fellow presenter told me that he has just recorded his, which should be a hoot! Can’t wait to listen to it and find out all about Charlie’s career before QVC; he joined more than 20 years ago now!
Book of the Week
I have to say I am absolutely loving MRC Kasasian and his Gower Street detective. As each successive book goes by, the adventures of Sidney Grice and his sidekick, his accident-prone ward March Middleton, get more and more entertaining. Set in the 1880s, It is read by one of the most brilliant narrators in audio – Emma Gregory. I will definitely listen out for more from her in the future. Book 3, ‘Death Descends on Saturn Villa’, is a little bit wacky and weird. But the interplay between the characters is really developing and ever so funny. March gets herself into trouble and is accused of murder as usual, but her guardian is the only one that can get her out of it. The way he does it is just genius. I do hope they make a TV series out of it at some stage.
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 Kipling Lata floral embossed print cross body bag!
Saturday – Join me on Friday at 9 pm for the launch of the new Gatineau today’s special value, it’s from the collagene expert range – the new photo radiance three-piece collection with the essence, a new cleanser that looks really exciting, and a smashing new serum! Also on with it Gatineau on Saturday night at 10! I do love this brand, it is one of my key skin solutions brands that I most rely on – so I’m looking forward to finding out more about this new product. It certainly makes my skin feel soft.
Sunday – It’s a trellis, a lovely garden reflections cherry blossom trellis, in three different types. Super affordable as well! Look out also on Sunday night at 10 pm with me for the garden new for you show followed by home improvements!
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 – Crystal Kobe printed bow detail jumpsuit at a very affordable price
– extra – Dr Seaweed’s ‘Weed and Wonderful‘ community supplement 120 days supply
– beauty – Tarte 3 pc frosted eyeshadow palette collection
– main – Monsoon printed plisse blouse
A reminder that every weekday between 5 and 7 pm there is now a fabulous gardening section 2! Live on style channel.
Now back to the today’s special values for the rest of the week –
Monday – Simply beauty two in one (double-ended) super smooth face and browse hair remover, works really well; in different colours.
Tuesday – Ninja are back with a super affordable under £100 air fryer! Looking forward to seeing Charlie doing that one!
Wednesday – It’s hotel chocolat time with the extra thick Easter egg and 48-piece chocolate bunny select packs, going on sale earlier in the week.
Thursday – An amazing day with many shows featuring a couple of massive brands. As you may have noticed from the TV Guide. The TSV is denim and co – jersey hooded cardigan and a separate item number for the longline padded gilet. And watch out at 9 pm
Friday – Tempur ease hug pillow is here!
Friday 9 pm – sketchers footwear, the summit slip in trainers.
And a massive gardening weekend with tons of home improvement and garden shows!
Next week – A belated xmas treat for me at Champneys, and much more!
Best wishes
Debs
PS ** want to subscribe to my newsletter? Click on the newsletter button at the bottom of this blog. If you are AOL, sky or Yahoo, you may have to add me to your contacts in order for it to come through, and sometimes even then it doesn’t. So if you can subscribe with a different email if you don’t get it between Friday night and Sunday night each week, that might help. One lady told me she didn’t get the first one but she did get the next ones. Exclusive content just for my newsletter posse! Thank you all 🙂
Meanwhile if you cannot do that, maybe follow me on my social media where each week I will post with my new blog goes up –