This coming Sunday will be the third anniversary of Chris and I finally getting engaged after living together for almost forty years! The picture is of our small engagement dinner with family and close friends; it seems such a long time since we were allowed to do that, but hopefully it won’t be too much longer! My beautiful engagement ring was designed by Alison O’Reilly, who also did our wedding bands, and just to mention, she will be putting in an appearance on Diamonique Day next Friday.
Our original plan had been to get engaged on April 1st as we figured that after all those years together, some people might think we were playing an April Fool’s Day joke, but tragedy struck. We lost our gorgeous cat Poppy. She died in my arms after looking up at me as though to say, ‘I’m ready to go now.’ As a family we were dreadfully upset as she had truly been one of the sweetest, most loving cats we’d ever had. She rests in our garden with an enamel poppy to mark the place and if I’m feeling stressed or emotional, I’ll go and talk to her because she calms me down.
Talking of our garden, how lucky were we with the weather on Easter Sunday. We had arranged for Sophie and her family to come over for a barbecue, which we were able to enjoy in the sunshine in relative warmth, although by the time they left at around 9.30 in the evening it was pretty cold, and I was thankful for the fleecy slankets I’ve had from QVC over the years.
As well as the veggie burgers and bangers, along with veggie kebabs, new potatoes, corn on the cob and salad, we also indulged in this decadent cheesecake made by Katie! No wonder we’ve barely scratched the surface with our Easter eggs!
Monday was a different story; I don’t know about you, but we had a couple of snow flurries and it reminded me of Chris and my first Easter together. We’d gone to visit his parents in Spalding and had driven to Mablethorpe on the Lincolnshire coast where it proceeded to snow quite heavily! Mablethorpe is the beach location for chapter 1 and chapter 43 in my latest book, My Mother’s Secret, and both chapters are set on Easter Monday on two consecutive years, so quite topical for this time of year!
I say my latest book, but there is a newer one that I have just received the first round of edits for, which will be out in August if all goes to plan. And speaking of books, look what I received in the post this week. The title of the book is a giveaway as to who the author is – Renee Greenstein – who sells her fashion ranges Attitudes by Renee and Women with Control on QVC and in fact had a Today’s Special Value earlier this week. I can’t wait to delve in when I get a few minutes of spare time.
If you love fashion Today’s Special Values, there are two more over the next couple of days, as we have a two-day fashion event. Today it is a Skechers ‘arch-fit’ sandal. I haven’t had a chance to try the sandals yet, but I am a massive fan of the arch-fit trainers; in fact, I have two pairs and will probably buy more. I have a very high instep, so it helps fill in the space underneath it without it feeling stretched, but it is also good if you have quite flat feet as it helps prevent from rolling inwards. I wear them when I walk on my treadmill, which I’m able to do much better now than I could a year ago – there are a couple of videos in the extra ‘Story’ I did for our Health and Wellbeing page if you fancy a look.
Then tomorrow, we have a Ruth Langsford Today’s Special Value. I have two shows with Ruth at 11am and midday… one is her fashion range and the other is one of her edit shows featuring a variety of different brands.
And while on the subject of different brands, I have a show with Danni Minogue and the range she has created for QVC on Wednesday at 3pm. I haven’t seen many of her styles yet, but I’m absolutely loving the Big Deal leggings – I wanted a close fit, so went for the small in the Petite length and they are perfect, as there is a lot of stretch over the tummy area which is where I need it. Danni will also be featuring with a couple of shows on Diamonique Day at midday and 8pm. The Diamonique Today’s Special Value is a chain-link bracelet watch in stainless steel. I haven’t actually seen it yet, but it’s nice to have something a bit different as the star of the day.
If you missed last week’s Permission to Pry live on my Instagram (juliagroberts) last Friday at 11am, you missed a very enlightening chat with Jacqui Joseph. The good news is that the video is still available to view, and I would highly recommend it.
We know her as the ‘face’ of Ashwood handbags and Nina Leonard fashion, but did you know she also presents the property show, Homes Under the Hammer and the upcycling show, Money for Nothing, both on the BBC. That’s what she’s currently up to, but she has a long history of interviewing celebrities, including the likes of Will Smith and Beyonce, oh, and she has met and chatted with Nelson Mandela!
I tell you, she really is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to her career, so how appropriate that she should mention one of her favourite tipples to go with her fave cheese (you’ll have to watch the interview to find out what that is) is Dark Horse Cabernet Sauvignon!
Of course, I immediately bought a bottle to try it over Easter and I must say it is pretty good. The flowers in the photo are from my garden by the way, from the de Jager bulbs I planted last year. I love daffodils for their beautiful happy colour, but these are gloriously fragrant too.
Back to Permission to Pry for a second – this week’s is featuring our fabulous model Ali Bailey, although you might not have recognised her from this photo!!!
Someone who has already featured is Keeley Aydin from Elemis, who we’ll be seeing quite a lot of on Sunday as they have the Today’s Special Value that day.
I kid you not, it’s a tough choice in terms of the body products because I love them both as fresh and uplifting spring/summer fragrances. One option is British Botanicals and the other is Sea Lavender and Samphire, which is not ‘lavendery’ at all. The whole kit comprises the NEW Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum, Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30 (first time it has featured in a TSV) Pro-Collagen Energising Cleanser and the Shower Milk and Body Cream in the aforementioned options. It is already on pre-sell and proving to be extremely popular. Check out the value for money too!
Well, I need to dash, although I will be taking it a bit steady for a couple of days as I’ve just had my second Covid vaccination, brought forward at the request of my leukaemia consultant, in case you were wondering.
See you next time.
Love,
Julia xx
17 Responses
Happy 3rd anniverary julia to you an dchris
Thanks so much Martin – in some ways it feels much longer than three years since we got engaged, but in others it feels like yesterday.
Hope you are keeping well
Love
Julia x
Happy Anniversary both. Hope you are ok after your covid jab. Love your daughter in laws cakes they look beautiful.
Love Karen xx
Hi Karen,
I’ve been very lucky with both my jabs – a bit of a sore arm and tired but nothing else at all on either of them.
Katie does make exceedingly good cakes 😉 – it sounds like the Mr Kipling ad!
Love
Julia x
Hi Julia, how fab did that cheesecake look. If you do get time in your busy schedule would love the recipe.
Enjoy your anniversary x
Hi Kath
I’ll ask Katie for it – I do know the base was crushed chocolate digestive biscuits 😋
Love
Julia x
Ah is it three years since you lost your gorgeous Poppy cat, I remember it was around Easter time. I have been through the loss of a beloved cat many times too. It is devastating. The cheesecake looks delicious! It’s been sun and snow showers in the North and far too cold to sit outside! Xx
Hi Sandy
Grief is definitely the price we pay for love, but it is a price worth paying I’m sure you’ll agree. We were very lucky with the weather on Easter Sunday, it has been way too cold since with settling snow for a while yesterday.
The cheesecake was delicious 😋
Love
Julia x
First may I say a very Happy 3rd Anniversary to you and Chris Julia 🙂 the time has flown by.
On reading your memories of beautiful Poppy, I know you have so many people message you and and I know
it its very difficult to remember every post. I don’t know if you remember me posting on Twitter our dearest Poppy (Black and white Tuxedo) who passed away on the 1st April one year after you beloved Poppy, I will always remember the date as it was my wonderful dad’s ( who died aged 65yrs 32yrs ago) birthday on April 1st. Memories are precious and will be with us forever. Take care and stay safe. Love Claire xxx
Hi Claire
I must apologise and say that I don’t recall your actual message although I do read and try to respond if I can. I’m sorry you lost your Poppy too but as you say our memories of them are precious & we will always have them
Love
Julia x
Happy Anniversary to you both! I feel like I have forgotten what it is like to enjoy a family party after all this time
Here’s hoping for later this year
Best wishes
Jane
Hi Jane,
Thank you. We were hoping to have had a first wedding anniversary party last summer but Covid put pay to that…. here’s hoping we can have a 2nd anniversary one instead with both of our mums vaccinated and in attendance
Love
Julia x
Happy Anniversary to you and Chris, I don’t comment on your posts very much but I love reading them and miss them weekly. Thanks for sharing a picture of Poppy I had forgotten what a stunningly beautiful Cat she was bless her.
Julia I have tried to trace the Danni Minogue leggings but I don’t seam to be able to find them have they sold out do you know.
Much Love
Linda xx
PS I adore your books xx
Hi Linda
Apologies that my QVC blog is now fortnightly rather than weekly (not my decision) but you can catch up with me weekly now on my author website… so pleased you like my books by the way 😊
I guess I’m a bit biased about Poppy but I agree with you, I think she was beautiful inside and out.
The Dannii Minogue leggings are actually on our website as pull-on jeans. They are still available but in broken sizes.
Love
Julia x
Hi Julia,
I think sometimes people who have had pets only truely understand their deep connections.
I watched the Danni Minogue show – was a great show – fun and with great products. I’m on the shorter size, so took your advice and ordered a nice pair of jeans and also the striped white long sleeve TShirt.
Also, who is the ‘Tipsy Tart’ Dale referred too? I’ve got a feeling the silver fox was referring to you, as you mention that you’re not a big drinker, and can imagine you leading him astray. You do seem to have some funny banter with him over the years.
Much love,
Margaret
Hi Margaret
I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed the Danni Minogue show – she was lovely to work with & there are some nice pieces in her collection.
You’re right about pet owners and as her majesty so rightly said ‘grief is the price we pay for love’ which apples to animals too in my opinion.
I’m not so worried about being ‘tipsy’ but ‘tart’? 😆 Dale & I have a very good relationship, as do most of the presenters to be honest. I’ll be sad to see Kathy Taylor go in May 😕 but pleased for her of course.
Love
Julia x
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