Dear Julia I’m so glad that you will be seeing Charlotte Adam Ivy and Edith for Christmas and the New Year too.

I know last year was incredibly tough for you and I’m certain the special service at the hospice will bring you ever closer to Keith who I know you still miss very much. Sorry that Emma is still struggling with long Covid – it does seem to be very difficult to shake and I know Kathy Tayler is still not 100%. We managed to squeeze our Christmas tree into the corner of the kitchen and it looks lovely. It’s definitely going to be tight getting seven of us in for Christmas lunch but I’m sure it will be fun. Take care and surround yourself with those of you and I’m sure the 2022 will be a better year for you all. Love Ali XX

Hi there Mary, so glad that you were able to get into Milton Keynes with your twin for the annual Christmas shopping weekend. You are so organised – I bought all my presents and wrapped maybe 2/3 of them but stockings I think I will have to pass on this year. So sorry you’re struggling with a bad cough – did you manage to get to see Tina the musical? I hope you weren’t coughing too badly through it all. I don’t think you would enjoy the atmosphere – dust wise – here at all! The outside surface of the walls is being ground off with an angle grinder and there is dust everywhere! It will be so lovely for you to have Arthur with you this Christmas and I’m sure your room looks beautiful. So much to look forward to and a fabulous year ahead for all of you I am certain. Thank you for keeping in touch this year and I’ll be writing my final blog in the next few days, love Ali xx

Dear Sarah such a lovely thought and suggestion but I’m just so sorry you didn’t win! I wish I’d had a watch for everyone. Love Ali xxx

Carole delighted to know you still wear your five stone diamond ring set in gold! How fabulous that your husband bought it for you nearly 20 years ago. I wish you and he a very happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year, love Ali XX

Dear Alison thank you for getting in touch and I hope this won’t be the last blog that you read. I’m so sorry you lost your mum and your sister to breast cancer and I very much hope you look after yourself well and I regularly checked? Thank you for your kind words about the book – if it ever gets published it may well be one you like to read. I’m sorry you didn’t win the watch but I hope you may find something you like to treat yourself too. Love Ali XX

Dear Elaine, we very much enjoyed the Christmas lights and it was lovely to spend time with the children. I very much hope you will be able to see your mum this Christmas – it was so difficult last year wasn’t it? Maybe you could treat has to watch anyway. Love ALi xx

Dear Helen so sorry to know you lost your mum and that you and your Aunty I understand the grieving. I’m sorry also that you didn’t win the watch but I’m hoping possibly it’s something you could think of gifting to your auntie anyway. Love Ali XX

Dear Morag, so sorry you didn’t win the watch but I am glad that you are being cared for during this difficult time. I wish you a speedy recovery and a better New Year. Love Ali xx

I’m sure Theresa that your delivery man will be thrilled with his chocolates! iTunes brought an enormous number of things from QVC and it is so much easier than trying to find somewhere to park and then mooching around in the cold. We had a wonderful time in London and were very lucky with the weather although the windchill factor on the top of the bus was quite extreme! Take care and keep in touch, love Ali xx.

Hi there Tina, yes very messy this end with just the beginnings of the home improvements but already I have an idea of how it is going to look. I think it will be unlikely to have any news about the book before the end of the year, maybe a new year will bring you home for that. I’m glad you’re going to be spending Christmas with your sister and I hope you enjoy it. I still have yet to watch the series Close to Me, but have every intention of taking some time out over Christmas to do so! Thank you so much for the compliment about the multicoloured dress – it is an Ingenue design and one of my favourites. Love Ali xx