I love Amchara, the health retreat in Somerset where I have come every year since 2022 when I spent three weeks here and had a bit of an epiphany. Decided to come last minute on Sunday, so my visit was Monday to Friday this time. Juice fasting, yoga, swimming, really good sleeping 🙂 and the best room I’ve ever had here, really loved it. You’ll see it on my #Thursdaybantz on Facebook if you want to have a look round. I also did a bit of a reading from the book that I’ve been writing, French or Dutch! I might do that every week to keep me motivated to do some more! What do you think? Have a listen on this link (here) and see what you think.
It’s a very grand old country house as you can tell from the top picture of me in the lawns. And the hallway is beautiful.
I really recommend it if you ever want to go there. But one of the biggest draws for me is the pool, you know how much I love swimming! Also how nurturing it is, kind and caring the people are, clever cooks the chefs are, creating fabulous food – when you eventually get it (see my Instagram for a picture of the first dish I had after breaking the juice fast! And see my newsletter this week for another exclusive from the holiday. Also one of me and my granddaughter at the fair!)
And here’s this week’s VLOG link – from in the actual pool! Ahhh the pool.
My objective of writing my book French or Dutch was definitely partly achieved, got much done and got my head back in the book which was great. Very inspirational, this place. Plus I came away feeling properly relaxed having focused on me, and what I need, for a few days. Could’ve probably done another three or four days there to be honest. Maybe I’ll squeeze in another trip later in the summer who knows! But look up Amchara Somerset if you’re interested (they also have a place in Gozo). Highly recommended..
Anyway talking of grandchildren, I’m off to see the other ones in Wales on Sunday, I get to stay in Lauren’s holiday let cabin for two nights! Can’t wait. Plus I had a lovely time with mum and Izzy when we went to Dotty’s tea house in Carshalton when Izzy was over from Sweden last weekend. Always nice to see my lovely niece. They are the ones I used to live with pre-Covid. They’ve emigrated now.
SNIPPETS
Like mumma like son…
And talking of the Welsh grandchildren, if you want to know what Jasper looks like, imagine this little girl, Lauren aged two, as a boy. They are practically the same 🙂 his eyes are a bit more like his dad, but still blue. So cute. She sent me this, this week – I haven’t seen it for years. Takes you back doesn’t it 🙂
Caroline n me
Had a smashing Liz Earle day at work, with a really good value deal last weekend. We took this picture behind the scenes just before we went live. Such a pretty girl! And such fun shows. I took my make-up off at the end of the hours, live on air, as I normally do, and I’m sure that Liz Earle helps my skin be what it is. (Doesn’t mean I don’t look tired when I haven’t got make up on LOL. That’s what two people said when they watched the #Thursdaybantz, which I did with bare face, having already washed it ready for bed, when I did the Facebook live LOL).
Behind-the-scenes fun
And more behind-the-scenes at QVC with two of my favourite guests, Lee Hohbein and Patrick Hoy, Lee doing tech and Patrick doing fashion. Love being on with them. In fact Lee has today (12th of July) today’s special value, see below.
I’m due to go to see medical detection dogs soon with Patrick again, because he is a supporter of my charity, too. It will be interesting to find out about their new afternoon tea offering. Anyone who is interested in a visit to their HQ in Milton Keynes, watch out for an announcement of when I might be putting on a fundraiser there. It will be a damn sight easier than trying to organise it myself that’s for sure! (I’ve got to put on an event this weekend which is a thank you to everybody involved in campaigning, where I should have Pimms and strawberries as well as some nibbles. Should be fun :-)).
Watch – if it’s not The Traitors USA, season two, which I’ve just started watching, then it’s stuff like this. I’m really interested in Roman times anyway, let alone these wonderful recreations based on heads/busts of all the Roman emperors… fascinating! (See it here). Meanwhile back to Alan Cummings being an over the top sinister Scottish laird…
Or this (here) – bee tangled in Webbing gets help!
Enlightening!
Funny – yes, it’s cats on Facebook (here) but this really made me laugh, some of these I laughed out loud!
Book of the Week – ‘The Betrayal of Thomas True,’ by AJ West. This will be a bit of an acquired taste for some, set in the harsh circumstances of 1700s London, with quite graphic torture scenes and Molly houses, but it’s an interesting ‘romp’. The narrator does some really good dialogue and voices, although a couple are quite similar and in places confusing. But I’m enjoying it so far! When I’m here at Amchara as I have been every July for the last few years, I’ve always got a different book and I can go to the pool and immediately I’m transported to the stories I listened to on audiobook, while I was swimming backwards and forwards! I love swimming. And audiobooks 🙂 Anyway having got AJ West’s first book which was excellent, (The Spirit Engineer), I wanted to get his second one. It’s a bit ‘unusual,’ and some people will love; am determined to finish 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 galaxy fresh watch seven and stainless steel strap. Lee Hohbein was very excited about it this week!
Saturday – already online the Estée Lauder three-piece summer holiday collection
Sunday – time for some DIY with the Wagner W510 universal paint sprayer
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 Beach kaftan
– extra – Stylpro cosmetic brush cleaner set
– beauty – skinsense hydrate five-piece hydration collection
– main – Tili LED mirror storage box
– digital – Radley Burnham beaches backpack
Now back to the today’s special values for the rest of the week –
Monday – Lock and Lock 4-piece every day stainless steel set
Tuesday – super soft by cosy home textured stripe six-piece duvet set with floral embroidery detail plus I will have up to 30% off Dominique at 5 pm that day 🙂
Wednesday – Denim n co washed cotton pocket jacket – very affordable
Thursday – time to look after your feet with the Margaret Dabbs three-piece supersize hands and feet collection, I may feel a purchase coming on! On my day off 🙂
Friday – Hotel Chocolat return with the sleekstar and baton love match selection, going on sale earlier in the week as we kick off our Christmas weekend! With lots of lovely ideas in advance of yuletide. Okay, six months in advance! But that’s how QVC rolls!
Friday 9 pm – the cello ultrasonic diffuser with set of seven aroma oils, and going on sale earlier in the week the home reflections micro dewdrop tree, on Sunday. I’ve got two of the festive food shows that weekend, both at 2 pm! How ironic considering I just went on a health retreat! LOL.
Next week – my Pimms and strawberries event, probably going to try to fit in seeing Alex my friend in Belstone, and going to the cinema to see ‘Fly Me To The Moon,’ I really fancy it, as well.
Then off to Wales to see lollipop briefly before back to work! I do have a week of work and meetings nearly every night on Zoom or in person for different reasons. It will soon be the weekend again! Enjoy your week too.
Best wishes
Debs
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