![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Sunset-2.jpg\")
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Sunset-1.jpg\")
\nSo, we got through it! 2020 that is, and having read all the uplifting comments on social media in spite of everything that\u2019s been flung at us since December 19th, we\u2019re all doing our best to stay positive. Because it\u2019s the only way to be isn\u2019t it really?<\/p>\n
I know Christmas was different for most of us, but very difficult for some and if you were on your own I do hope that somebody reached out to help. I\u2019d be lying if I said our Christmas was as we had intended or even what we\u2019d hoped for, but I did manage to see all three of my children at various points last month, and stay overnight with Lucy and Honey in our support bubble.<\/p>\n
It was also the first New Year in many that I wasn\u2019t able to see my friend Jo. We\u2019ve known each other since we were 11 years old and as it\u2019s her birthday on New Year\u2019s Day we invariably spend New Year\u2019s Eve together, but everything is on hold until better times. Realistically I didn\u2019t celebrate my 60th birthday at all last year so in my head I\u2019m still 59! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
Part of that positive mindset was definitely boosted for me when we passed the winter solstice on the 21st of December. Shorter nights and longer days definitely help, and I\u2019ve already enjoyed several country walks this year.<\/p>\n\n\n
More good news came to us from Australia where my lovely niece Clare had her baby on her due date \u2013 17th of December! She gave birth to Agatha Fletcher who weighed exactly the same as Clare did when she was born and both mum and baby are doing well! My brother Peter and his wife Sarah are over the moon to be grandparents, and I\u2019m thrilled skinny too, even though I have no idea when I\u2019ll ever get to see them and baby Aggy as she is being called.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Aggy1.jpg\")
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Aggy2.jpg\")
\n
Way ahead of time I sent a gift for the baby that I posted on the 1st December but it didn\u2019t arrive until the 26th December! It was from a wonderful company called BabyBlooms and they create bouquets using cleverly folded baby clothes to look like flowers! Stupidly I hadn\u2019t tracked the parcel and I\u2019d almost given up on it ever arriving but I was very glad as it did as Clare thought it was a great gift.<\/p>\n
Talking of gifts I have to tell you about The Great QVC Giveaway<\/a>! It was launched at 9am on Monday and will run until 23.59 on the 24th January. Anyone can enter and as soon as you\u2019ve bought anything from us you go to QVCWIN.com<\/a>, put in your order number, house number and postcode and then you get the chance to Spin the Wheel that will pop up on your screen. There are literally hundreds of prizes you could win and you\u2019ll also be in with a chance to take the \u00a310,000 cash prize in our Grand Prize Draw. Give it a go! You might well be lucky.<\/p>\n I was trying to think of what to make for dinner this evening and was horrified at how many leftovers I still had in the fridge! Most of them were definitely way over their \u2018best before dates\u2019 and had to be binned with mince pies being the only exception! We managed to motor our way through at least six of them today so they are out of the way now. I\u2019ve decided on a vegetable casserole for tonight, but when I got home from work on New Year’s Day I was presented with this fabulous beef Wellington that Colin had made for me. It was absolutely delicious \u2013 he followed a Gordon Ramsay recipe having bought two pieces of beef fillet the day before. I feel he should take over cooking duties from this point forward!<\/p>\n Staying with food, we\u2019ve got something exciting coming from Wilfred\u2019s Pies<\/a> next week \u2013 their first ever TSV! You\u2019ll be able to choose between a selection of steak, chicken or vegetarian pies and the fillings sound fabulous! Follow me on Instagram<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> as I\u2019m getting the chance to taste them prior to the launch!<\/p>\n We\u2019ve also had major price reductions in our January sale<\/a> on almost everything \u2013 check out the website to see what\u2019s on offer from your favourite brands. And while you\u2019re there, I do recommend you click the link to \u2018Stories\u2019 and listen to the first podcast in a series of four that focus on mental health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n Will Gowing is talking to Nicola Elliott, the founder of the Neom<\/a> brand, who is the first contributor – it was fascinating hearing her describe how she coped with panic and anxiety attacks. Perricone\u2019s<\/a> Kara Beck and Marjelene Brugman, the familiar face and demonstrator of Pilates<\/a> at QVC will both feature in the coming weeks, and I am very humbled to tell you that I will be with you for the final podcast of the month.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the second time Will has talked to me about my life and we will be looking back over the years to several significant events that shaped how I now cope with my mental health and life generally. The events of the past year have shaken so many of us, and its very difficult to know how to cope at times. Hopefully by sharing our experiences it may help those of you in similar situations.<\/p>\n Sometimes all it takes to make you feel better is talking with a friend or someone close to you, and one of my closest friends at the Q is Kathy Tayler. Obviously we\u2019ve not seen much of each other over the Christmas break but we\u2019re in touch regularly. She\u2019s just finished promoting the re-launch of her Morning Style Show and had some great photographs taken after being styled by Stine Wintnev \u2013 here\u2019s the link<\/a> to see more.<\/p>\n Loving the Ruth Langsford biker jacket<\/a> in tan \u2013 I have mine in taupe \ud83d\ude42 I must admit to having become more than a little obsessed with the Cuddl Duds<\/a> range of leisurewear. I treated myself to their fleece leggings and several tunic tops just before Christmas and have spent most of my time wearing them while lounging about or staying snuggly in them when I\u2019m out walking. They are SO much warmer than jeans or my usual walking trousers and I\u2019m more inclined to walk for longer when I\u2019m warm!<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been listening to a new audio book – another of Lisa Genova\u2019s novels. It\u2019s called Life with the O\u2019Briens and I\u2019ll be honest, it\u2019s not the easiest of listens. Her books all deal with some form of illness and this one focuses on Huntington\u2019s Disease and is quite distressing. Before that though I listened to The Switch by Beth O\u2019Leary, which was the total opposite \u2013 heartwarming, fun and insightful. I bought it for Jo\u2019s birthday present as I know she\u2019ll love it too. Colin and I enjoyed watching Roald and Beatrix on Sky over Christmas starring Dawn French. I\u2019m a huge fan of hers and it was a beautiful tale about the young Roald Dahl and his obsession with the writing of Beatrix Potter. We started watching the new Channel 4 period drama The Great last night – VERY unusual but quite entertaining!<\/p>\n Hopefully QVC will continue to entertain you with all we have to offer over the coming weeks. Watch out for special deals from Alpha-H<\/a>, Ruth Langsford<\/a>, Phase Eight<\/a> and Morphy Richards<\/a> to name but a few. And do drop me a line if you have a moment. I really enjoy catching up with your news and it certainly is a leveler for me when I hear how well you\u2019re coping in these unprecedentedly difficult times with all that comes your way.<\/p>\n Stay well, stay safe and do stay in touch.<\/p>\n With my love,<\/p>\n Ali xx<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So, we got through it! 2020 that is, and having read all the uplifting comments on social media in spite of everything that\u2019s been flung at us since December 19th, we\u2019re all doing our best to stay positive. Because it\u2019s the only way to be isn\u2019t it really? I know Christmas was different for most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":102520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[251,21],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/NYD-dinner.jpg\")
\n