{"id":108175,"date":"2021-07-23T12:52:18","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T11:52:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/?p=108175"},"modified":"2021-07-23T12:52:18","modified_gmt":"2021-07-23T11:52:18","slug":"birthdays-and-christmases-all-at-once","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/presenters\/miceal-murphy\/birthdays-and-christmases-all-at-once\/","title":{"rendered":"Birthdays and Christmases all at once!"},"content":{"rendered":"

You know that saying, \u201cIt\u2019s like all your birthdays and Christmases have all come at once\u201d when something really exciting happens and you are as happy as it is possible to be?<\/p>\n

Well, it isn\u2019t just a saying, because not only did I have my birthday recently, a rather significant one at that, but we are also celebrating Christmas in July<\/a> this weekend at Q, so you see, your birthday and Christmas really can come at once!<\/p>\n

My 50th birthday<\/strong><\/p>\n

I recently celebrated my birthday, but not just any birthday, it was my 50th. Now, just to put it in context, I have never had a birthday party, ever, or a birthday cake with my name on it. I mean, over the years I have had birthday drinks and birthday weekends away and things like that but I had never had an actual proper birthday party, not even as a child. Nor had I ever been presented with a cake with my name on it covered in candles. The reason we hadn\u2019t had them as children was because we were four siblings and three of us had our birthdays within four days of each other. As well as that, our eldest brother\u2019s birthday was just a week later. So as children, mum would have one birthday tea for all four of us on one of our birthdays. Mum would put some sweets and crisps in some bowls and she would buy a little cream sponge from the local bakery. We didn\u2019t get to invite lots of friends, or indeed any friends, because having all the friends of four children at a party in the house at one time, first of all would have been chaotic, and second of all, would have been expensive and mum just wouldn\u2019t have been able to afford it. So I grew up unaccustomed to birthdays being a big thing or having a party, or indeed, a cake.<\/p>\n\"\"\n

For my 50th, however, I decided I was going to do something big. A couple of years ago I told all my friends that I would rent a big country house or an old chateau in France, or something equally extravagant and everyone would be invited and we would have the biggest, wildest party ever. 50 years worth of parties, in fact. Well, that had been the plan.<\/p>\n

As we all know, only too well, a small inconvenience by the name of Covid got in the way of so many peoples plans, including mine. Add to that mum being so unwell and needing 24 hour care and there was just no way I could have a party. Even without Covid, I wouldn\u2019t have wanted to have a party without mum anyway.<\/p>\n

So rather than a huge gathering of everyone, I went home to Northern Ireland and rented a house by a lake in Fermanagh and the family, along with a carer for mum, decamped there for a couple of days and nights.<\/p>\n\"\"\n

I went running by the lake each morning and we spent our days relatively quietly with me sitting beside mum on the sofa holding her hand and just talking and watching old movies as the weather wasn\u2019t great, but it didn\u2019t matter because we were together. After the previous year and a half of lockdowns and isolations and not being able to see family, a couple of days together was all the birthday celebration that I needed.<\/p>\n

My family didn\u2019t let me down though, as I was awoken on the morning of my birthday to find that the house had been decorated in the middle of the night with banners and balloons and streamers. We had a birthday party and dinner in the evening and at the end of dinner I was presented with, yes you\u2019ve guessed, my very own birthday cake with my name on it!<\/p>\n\"\"\n

I was treated like a lord and rightly so because among my other presents for my birthday, I was presented with some Scottish titles. Unlike English titles, Scottish titles are based on land ownership and my family bought me a couple of very small plots of land which entitle me to use the titles, Lord of Glencoe and Lochaber. I have checked and apparently they are genuine titles and I can use them and even change my official documents to include the title if I wish. I obviously won\u2019t be doing that, but can you imagine if I insisted on using my titles on air? Lol.<\/p>\n

Well, it was a fun birthday in the end and a great first birthday party – it only took me 50 years to have one, I shall try not to wait as long to have the next one. In fact, I think I may even have another one next year! Before you know it, everyone will be having birthday parties every year! I really think it could catch on.<\/p>\n

Christmas in July, on three Easy Pay!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well it isn\u2019t just birthdays but also Christmas we are talking about and every year, just like birthdays, Christmas in July<\/a> come around again. We have a great one lined up for you this weekend. Before I tell you what\u2019s coming up, can I also let you know that for the course of the weekend we have a voucher code for you: ALL3EZ<\/a>. Using the code when you check out means you can get your goodies home on 3 Easy Pay instalments, all interest free (terms and conditions can be found on the website). So that\u2019s just an additional little treat for us all to help with those early purchases.<\/p>\n

I know I\u2019ll be shopping this weekend because I am not leaving my Christmas shopping to chance, or to the last minute, this year. We don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to be available for shipping nearer the time or indeed if we will be in another dreaded lockdown and unable to get out and about, so if I spot something, personally I am going to grab it, and I\u2019ll definitely be using the ALL3EZ<\/a> code too!<\/p>\n

Elemis Today’s Special Value<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among the many amazing goodies and treats we have coming up for Christmas in July<\/a> is a Today’s Special Value from Elemis<\/a>. Every year, the Elemis Christmas Today’s Special Value flies out the door and there is never enough available. So getting their Christmas in July one is a great way to avoid disappointment. Their products all have a long shelf life unopened, so you can get yours now and put them away safe in the knowledge that you are sorted for beauty gifts for Christmas.<\/p>\n\"\"\n

The Today’s Special Value<\/a> they are bringing us, which, by the way, is available to order right now on our website, is a six-piece Pro-Collagen Rose Nourish & Glow Collection and it features new Wildflower Cleansing Oil and your choice of Pro-Collagen Marine Cream or Pro-Collagen Marine Cream Ultra-Rich, plus Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil and a trio of rose-scented bodycare formulas. A rosy-looking glow from head-to-toe can be yours with a little help from the experts at Elemis.<\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

The Value is outstanding too. If you were to buy the items in this Elemis collection individually from QVCUK.com, you\u2019d pay \u00a3198.50 plus P&P. So for our Today’s Special Value price of just \u00a363.96 plus P&P, you\u2019re saving \u00a3134.54.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good idea to stock up for Christmas like I said, and if you are buying more than one, you save as well because every time you purchase another Pro-Collagen Rose Nourish & Glow Collection<\/a> at QVC, you will receive a \u00a34 saving. So, if you were to buy two collections, you would pay \u00a3123.92, if you bought three, you would pay \u00a3183.88, and if you bought four, you would pay \u00a3243.84 (plus P&P).<\/p>\n

This Today’s Special Value is your opportunity to get your hands on the brand new Wildflower Cleansing Oil, a deeply cleansing formula that works to gently yet effectively remove make-up and impurities without stripping your skin of its natural oils. Plus, it helps to soften the feel of your skin while leaving behind a delicate scent you’ll love.<\/p>\n

Also, if, like me, you’re a fan of rose scents, this is the collection for you. Not only does it boast Pro-Collagen Rose Facial Oil, but it also features Bath & Shower Milk, Body Cream and Hand & Nail Balm in the feminine and floral Modern English Rose scent. Just apply these skin-loving products and you’ll instantly be surrounded by the fragrance of a country garden.<\/p>\n

Here is everything you are getting:<\/p>\n