![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Collins-birthday.jpg\")
\nI can\u2019t believe it has been almost a fortnight since I last wrote to you, but the past few weeks have just flown by. Thanks so much for your lovely comments, and for keeping in touch with me. I\u2019m glad that everyone, hopefully, has been able to enjoy the warmer weather we\u2019ve been experiencing – long may it last! \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n
You might remember from my last blog that we celebrated Colin\u2019s 59th birthday at the end of May with a barbecue at his daughter Vic\u2019s house. It was the first time the family have been able to get together since the lockdown and we were blessed with sunshine and a warm day.<\/p>\n\n
Vic and Lew were the perfect hosts and we had a fabulous barbecue and played in the garden with the children until dusk. I made Colin\u2018s favourite cake in my Vitamix \u2013 a Victoria sandwich with fresh cream, strawberry jam and strawberries. Joe and Hayley came with Rhys and baby Corey and I finally managed to get a photograph of the three generations. Definitely one for the family album!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Colins-bday-2.jpg\")
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We also celebrated a noteworthy event for my son Sam. You might remember he started his new engineering company in April and has already made the front cover of Land Rover monthly! They included a nine-page editorial and pointed the spotlight on the niche services he and his partner Guy can offer to the automotive industry!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Collins-bday-3.jpg\")
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I only had one more day at work before I was away on leave and Colin and I headed to Cornwall. The weather had been a bit mixed, but the weekend promised to be sunny and so we drove up the night before and had breakfast in Brixham. It\u2019s a part of Devon Colin and his family used to visit when he was little, and it has many lovely memories for him. We got there in time for breakfast in a lovely little caf\u00e9 by the harbour and then headed down the coast road until we got to Saint Austell.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Collin-at-Brixham.jpg\")
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We\u2019d booked one of our favourite hotels at Carlyon Bay but as we were far too early to check-in we decided to go and sit on the beach instead. How blessed we were! The sun shone, there was a gentle breeze, and we drank cider while watching the windsurfers in the distance. It was bliss.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Collin-and-Ali-on-beach.jpg\")
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That evening I wore my Marla Wynn Layers dress in this beautiful navy with the chiffon jacket over the top and prior to our delicious dinner I tried a delicious new gin \u2013 raspberry and ginger – it was fab!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Collin-and-Ali-at-hotel.jpg\")
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Sadly the following day was a complete contrast weather-wise with pouring rain, heavy winds and grey skies. Colin had booked to play a game of golf and so I decided to walk the coastal path but couldn\u2019t see a great deal because of the mist! Both of us were equally drenched by the time we got back to the hotel. After a lovely hot bath and another wonderful meal, we felt totally relaxed.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/BAd-weather.jpg\")
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There was more food to be had the following day when we met up with my cousin Marianne and her husband Len and had a roast lunch in a lovely old pub in the village of St Ewes. The day had started cloudy, but then the sun broke through and it was a beautiful afternoon.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Countryside-at-St-Ewes.jpg\")
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We had planned to stay for a couple more days in Cornwall and to meet up with my sister but as the weather forecast was pretty grotty we decided to head home instead. It\u2019s a pretty long journey so by way of a change we thought we would come back a different way and headed towards North Devon. Years ago my mum\u2018s sister Eileen lived in Appledore and we would often visit her there during the summer holidays.<\/p>\n
We met up with lovely Russell Bristow, our QVC guest,\u00a0 and his partner Mark who was a cameraman at QVC for years and had a fabulous lunch in a pub on the front where I enjoyed a huge portion of broad bean, pea and pesto risotto. They were great company and had us both rolling about with laughter as we reminisced while walking along the front.<\/p>\n
We were lucky when we got back because the weather at home was stunning and gave us an opportunity to do a great deal in the garden. Unfortunately, our planned holiday to Gozo had to be cancelled because of the recent Parliamentary decision which sadly I think will be the same for many of us. So sorry for those who had weddings and events planned but I guess we have to stay safe and keep moving in the right direction. Obviously, we were both disappointed but not that surprised and quite frankly if the weather stays as beautiful as it is now, I\u2019ll be quite happy having a staycation in July.<\/p>\n
Back at The Q<\/strong><\/p>\n It was great to come back over the weekend and have such a phenomenal success with the outdoor lighting TSV on Saturday \u2013 I hope that Bell and Howell will bring back these disc lights as soon as possible! Sunday saw the launch of our mid-season sale with everything available in Easy Payments, and this week we are shifting from fashion to fitness with a total-body training system<\/a> from Davina McCall<\/a>. It\u2019s available now on pre-sale for under \u00a354. If you want to find out what it\u2019s all about make sure you watch at 9pm Tuesday or midnight when I will be with Davina who will no doubt be putting me through my paces! We will also have a five-piece botanicals collection from Liz Earle<\/a> (243800) \u2013 great price and available also on pre-sell so check out our website for more information on that.<\/p>\n Be my guest<\/strong><\/p>\n You may well have spotted the fact that the regular Tuesday evening Diamonique<\/a> show has been taking a break \u2013 I will be back with it on the 22nd June and I hope one of you will be able to join me for it! We thought it would be lovely to involve one of you in the show so I can chat with you and have you as a guest. It will be lovely to learn why you enjoy the brand, to talk about your life, your love of jewellery and just generally to have a good old chinwag. If you want to take part all you need to do is email me at Your-Stories@qvc.com<\/strong>, include your telephone number so we can call you and then we will draw a name from a hat and you can join in on the 22nd June. It will be lovely to share the hour with you and I look forward to your response! How lovely to finally get to \u2018meet\u2019 you after all these years \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n Book recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n I finished listening to a fabulous book that my sister Jenny recommended to me \u2013 Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frea – and I\u2019ve now begun listening to Jackie Kabler\u2019s fabulous new thriller The Happy Family. It\u2019s a cracking storyline and I know that it\u2019s going to be available in several major supermarkets over the next couple of weeks so I\u2019m certain this will also hit the bestseller list as did her previous novel. Clever girl! I wish her every success with it.<\/p>\n I think that\u2019s about all for this time so please do get in touch with me when you can and as you know I will always respond. I very much hope that you are well and don\u2019t forget the Diamonique show, it will be fantastic to have that time with you. You can also contact me on Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> or Twitter<\/a> but to be a part of the show you will need to email in.<\/p>\n Take care,<\/p>\n With my love,<\/p>\n Ali xx<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I can\u2019t believe it has been almost a fortnight since I last wrote to you, but the past few weeks have just flown by. Thanks so much for your lovely comments, and for keeping in touch with me. I\u2019m glad that everyone, hopefully, has been able to enjoy the warmer weather we\u2019ve been experiencing – […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":107002,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[251,21],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n