{"id":102133,"date":"2020-12-24T16:00:15","date_gmt":"2020-12-24T16:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/?p=102133"},"modified":"2020-12-24T13:58:40","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T13:58:40","slug":"my-review-of-the-year-and-what-a-year-its-been","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/presenters\/debbie-flint\/my-review-of-the-year-and-what-a-year-its-been\/","title":{"rendered":"My review of the year, and what a year it\u2019s been"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since this is going out on Christmas Day, I can\u2019t include any of the festivities that haven\u2019t yet happened at time of writing, and will do so next week. So, for a change, this December, I am including the annual “review of the year” blog this week, instead of next.<\/p>\n

It goes without saying that 2020 has been unlike any other year in recent memory. Apart from the obvious restrictions affecting us all, my holidays were cancelled, including some of the Las Vegas and cruise trips. QVC work continued throughout, and they looked after us and made things right to keep us safe.<\/p>\n

Above all, I changed the way I live when I\u2019m doing my QVC shifts at weekends in London. I moved into my new flat, next to Mum in Banstead in Surrey, after three years of staying in my brother\u2019s spare room. My place in Devon had no writing retreats, so became a holiday let. Now, I just go down once a month (or will do when it\u2019s settled down again) to run my little getaways for authors, which means that basically my life has completely changed compared to last year! It\u2019s no bad thing, and I\u2019m much more settled and happier than I\u2019ve ever been.<\/p>\n

Family highlight<\/strong><\/p>\n\"\"\n

I did manage to get down to Wales to see Lauren, and as Phoebe and Blake grew a little older, we had some lovely family times. Like this one, where the natural rainbow got in the shot and provided the most perfect large canvas for a wall in my new place. They are the light of my life and I am loving being a grandma. Or as they call me, Nan Nan.<\/p>\n

Daisy\u2019s new home<\/strong><\/p>\n\"\"\n

My Daisy dog got a new home as well, and new companions – my six-year-old niece Evie, my brother\u2019s family, and a puppy called Beau to keep her company. It makes me very happy that she is so settled now and loves it there. I miss her obviously, but I know she is better off there. It also allowed me to change my life, so a big thanks to my lovely brother Derek and sister-in-law Amanda for making my Daisy Labrador feel so welcome.<\/p>\n

Historical highlight<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love my history. I have an archaeology A-level as some may know, but one of my highlights in this arena during 2020 involved my ancestry records, DNA tests, and solving a 120-year-old riddle. We found out the mystery father missing from the birth certificate of my mum’s grandad, James Edward Cullip, and via DNA testing, discovered that the family would have been called Lunn, not Cullip, if we are correct. It won\u2019t change much, but it was an achievement, I can tell you! Thank you to Graham, my second cousin Frances\u2019 husband for the help.<\/p>\n

Another highlight for me was, peculiarly, enrolling onto a regular testing program for my skin condition, EPP. It\u2019s extremely rare, and they test your liver and blood every year to check things are okay. It took me into a whole new realm of appointments and discovery. While my poorly eye (repeated infections that are now finally being dealt with by a specialist) is being addressed, there is a chance I might be able to take part in a drugs trial next year, and finally go out in the sun for an extended period of time. Fingers crossed!<\/p>\n

Best photo I took<\/strong><\/p>\n\"\"\n

Apart from all the others you\u2019ve seen, this was my favourite shot. The lovely ship down on the seashore in Hastings. We managed to get some day trips to our old childhood haunt, where we had many happy family caravan holidays as kids. With a light touch, or special effects, I managed to create a shot worthy of a wall. I also really enjoyed being back in Hastings. Bracing seaside walks, seafood, and caravan accommodation, just like when I was a kid. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Best book <\/strong><\/p>\n

Usually, I would choose a novel, but without scarring my records, I must say that one of the most enjoyable non-fiction\/dramatised audiobooks I\u2019ve ever listened to was the story of the Warner Brothers movie industry in Hollywood, scanning the late 1800s through ’til the mid 1900s, featuring some of the massive characters like James Cagney. It\u2019s called “Bullets and Blood”, and it was a recommendation during lockdown from one of the people on my #Thursdaybantz. It\u2019s always a good sign when I want to re-read something, and I would do so with this – quite rare for me with a book. So this is my book of the year! An unusual one for an unusual year.<\/p>\n

Singalongadebbie – lockdown live, 100 nights of live vlogs on my Facebook page<\/strong><\/p>\n

Specially to help keep people company through one of the most unusual events of my life – I\u2019m sure lots of you feel the same. From VE Day to musicals, from Donny and David Cassidy to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, we had a nightly karaoke session and a little chat. Click here<\/a> for a little taste!\u00a0 Of course, once it all ended in July, that became the weekly Thursday session and I have not missed one since! Join each week on my Facebook page for a nice catch up and a cuppa! Check out last week\u2019s Christmas karaoke live for a sampler!<\/p>\n

Best watch<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s difficult to choose. Finding more time on my hands, I ended up watching more television this year than I think I have done in the last four years put together! Haven\u2019t there been some incredibly good shows?!<\/p>\n

Shortlist for best one of the year, it has to be “This is Us”. Compelling, compulsive viewing as we follow the four different family set-ups and find out how their lives intertwine. Funny, emotional, heart-wrenching and original. I have loved, loved it. Enjoying season five now.<\/p>\n

But the year could not go by without mentioning how good season four of “The Crown” is. A show gets top marks from me when I find myself reliving it and re-running it in my head for days afterwards. So, the girl who played Princess Diana was incredible, and Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher was a revelation, she needs a spin-off! Yes, I know some of it was fictionalised. But I can\u2019t wait for the next one. Highly recommended.<\/p>\n

Top product<\/strong><\/p>\n

How do I gauge this? I use so much! Could it be the Ninja<\/strong><\/a> nine-in-one? The first time I\u2019ve properly used a pressure cooker and it took just minutes to cook potatoes and Brussels sprouts! Could it be my new crush in skincare, Neom<\/strong><\/a>, with the hand wash in the fragrance called “Happy”? Or my wonderful new Centigrade<\/strong><\/a> coat that I now cannot do without, with its clever inside pocket that makes never losing my phone easy! There are so many more to mention, but one I love using and rely on constantly is… my Apple<\/strong><\/a> AirPods.<\/p>\n

They’ve completely transformed the way I listen to things, and have made the walks in the woods at my new place wonderfully entertaining as I catch up on podcasts and listen to my books. So easy to set up, easy to use and crystal clear, especially in Zoom meetings. I would not like to do without them now. You can get yours here<\/a>. Plus, it makes walking for longer easier, and I\u2019ve been toning up and getting more trim once more as a result.<\/p>\n

Plus, of course, I spent a lot of lockdown using recipe boxes and have developed a come on in confidence that I never had before. Seriously, I was a good compiler, but not a great chef – using recipes anyway. Without all the changes this year, I never would have done so many different dishes. Debbie does dinner has been a feature throughout the year. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Highlight of my outside life <\/strong><\/p>\n

Apart from the children and family stuff, obviously, a highlight was being voted into an officer role in our local political association in Devon. I have enjoyed being deputy chair, fundraising and membership so far, although most of it has been on Zoom. Hopefully next year will allow us to do some actual events!<\/p>\n

QVC obviously had a complete change on screen, with lots of Zoom and Skype appearances etc, with guests coming down the line to join in from their own living rooms. I think much of that element will stay, because it\u2019s so much more green. Off screen, here is one of the Zoom meetings we did recently for the Algenist<\/strong><\/a> range, it is going to be a beauty Product of the Month in January. Look out for it.<\/p>\n\"\"\n

Best podcast<\/strong><\/p>\n

Easy! Not my favourite political ones, like Iain Dale\u2019s “For the Many”, or “Newscast”, or “Coffee House Shots”, but our own Will Gowing\u2019s “Inside QVC” – obviously! Have loved Will\u2019s informal chats, finding out more about the life and times of some of our QVC faces. And I always learn something new. A year\u2019s worth now, and counting. Well done Mr Gowing! Here\u2019s my one<\/a>, which features some of the highlights thus far, and if you are new to it, it\u2019s a good place to begin!<\/p>\n

Best blooper <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Faux fur\u2019 was spelt wrong, and was so naughty we couldn\u2019t even use it! But Claire Edmonson, the guest, was on with me and after we\u2019d both composed ourselves, she put it on her Instagram in November! Otherwise, I\u2019ve had lots of fun, including with Carla Laszlo, this year. Check back through my blogs, there is a funny nearly every week! Here is one of the best.<\/p>\n