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\nI am so sorry for the incredibly long period of time since I last wrote to you, but I think the term \u2018extenuating circumstances\u2019 genuinely covers it, and the situation we all find ourselves in now is unprecedented.\u00a0 In fact looking back over my last blog it\u2019s hard to comprehend just how much the world has changed\u2026\u00a0\u00a0 I know that all of us are being bombarded with news and information about the devastating effects of COVID-19, and it\u2019s extremely worrying.\u00a0 I very much hope you are well, and have managed to avoid the virus so far with all the restrictions and measures that are now in place? Self-isolation won\u2019t be easy for everyone I understand, so I hope that with the telephone and all the other ways of keeping in touch, you won\u2019t feel too lonely.\u00a0 \u00a0I also pray that if you know someone who has it, that their symptoms are mild and they will recover well. \u00a0This blog has always provided a support network, and I feel there\u2019s never been a better time than now for us to connect and look out for one another. I hope you agree \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n
Well, I had imagined I\u2019d be sharing photos of my 60th<\/sup> birthday celebrations with you this time round \u2013 and thank you so much to those of you who sent cards to me at QVC before the date, \u00a0but unfortunately on the 14th<\/sup> March I woke up with a cough, and by Sunday was feeling really unwell.\u00a0 Having called 111 they told me to treat it as Coronavirus and so I was told to self-isolate for the next 14 days.\u00a0 Luckily for me, Colin was home and not working and has done a great job of looking after me. He also ordered 100s of balloons and decorations which were to have been used at the party but are now stored away, \u00a0however, he inflated this fabulous Happy Birthday banner which he hung in the kitchen for me bless him!<\/p>\n Obviously I wasn\u2019t able to see anyone else, and the party we\u2019d arranged in the local pub was cancelled along with the band that had been so brilliant at our wedding.\u00a0 To be honest I didn\u2019t even get out of bed for the first four days and had a terrible cough that hurt my chest.\u00a0 The radiotherapy I had all those years ago damaged my ribs and lung on the right, and so I\u2019m always more susceptible to chest infections. Mercifully, the aches and pains and general feeling of exhaustion have finally passed, but I still have the cough, which means that I won\u2019t be coming back to work just yet as I can\u2019t talk without coughing and couldn\u2019t risk anyone else catching it.\u00a0 Of course until I have a test I\u2019m not at all sure that I\u2019ve had it, but whatever it was, I wouldn\u2019t wish it on anyone.<\/p>\n The weekend before, we\u2019d actually had a large family gathering because Colin\u2019s daughter Lily was heading to Australia for 18 months for a work placement.\u00a0 She\u2019s a very successful accountant, and was extremely excited about the thought of a new life in Sydney.\u00a0 We had a lovely lunch together with a Mexican menu \u2013 Lily\u2019s favourite \u2013 and took a fair few photographs!\u00a0 It was really quite hard to say goodbye, but the world is a far smaller place these days, and we all know it\u2019s a great opportunity for her.<\/p>\n She flew out on the Friday just as Australia put their restrictions in place, which meant she had to go directly into isolation for 14 days!\u00a0 Mercifully her employer had an efficient support structure in place and we\u2019ve all been keeping in touch with her via Whatsapp and FaceTime, so she\u2019s not too lonely.\u00a0 Ironically, my lovely Australian niece Clare and her husband Cale were due to be returning to Sydney on the 18th<\/sup> April, but when the situation accelerated here they sensibly decided to try and get an earlier flight home.\u00a0 They had three flights cancelled, before flying out on Wednesday afternoon, and arrived safely on Thursday, much to my brother\u2019s relief! Sadly we had no chance to say goodbye as our planned dinner party, and my birthday party were both cancelled, but we\u2019ve had some fabulous times together in the last 23 months since they arrived.<\/p>\n My goddaughter Sophie hasn\u2019t been as lucky \u2013 she is now grounded in Perth, but is with a family she knows who are looking after her.\u00a0 On the plus side, it\u2019s lovely to see the kindness and support from everyone around the globe.<\/p>\n And talking of support, those of you who follow me and my colleagues on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter will no doubt know of some of the great ideas they\u2019ve come up with to connect to the community.\u00a0 Miceal is self-isolating and doing live exercise programmes each day, Jackie has set up a book club, and Catherine has begun to teach sign-language!\u00a0 I\u2019ve got a few ideas up my sleeve, but will hang onto them until I\u2019m able to talk without coughing and spluttering! \u00a0Of course finding ways to relax always helps, and so I though you might like this lovely photo of Honey showing me how to meditate!! Love the position of her hands \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 She and I have been connecting with this special App on our phones, where she draws something and I have to guess what it is!\u00a0 She\u2019s actually better at it than I am, but it\u2019s a lovely distraction.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also begun to FaceTime her at bedtime some evenings to read her a bedtime story \u2013 it\u2019s almost as good as being there\u2026 almost.<\/p>\n Something I can do for you, by way of a distraction, is to set a competition.\u00a0\u00a0 I know it\u2019s been AGES since I last set one, but I\u2019ve managed to procure a large collection of products from some of your favourite beauty brands and the estimated value is around \u00a3350!\u00a0 \u00a0So, I\u2019ve found this rather lovely and original quote, and I\u2019d like you to do add in the final bit of it for me!\u00a0 Some of you may well know it, but if not, I think it\u2019d be lovely just to go with your imagination!<\/p>\n Here goes:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stories.qvcuk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/IMG_8728-300x225.jpg\")
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