Happy Christmas!!!!

Wishing all my listeners and readers of my blog a VERY Happy Christmas! Happy Happy Christmas - may all your dreams come true!
And a very Happy New Year!
love and hugs from Charlie xxxx

Its nearly Christmas....!

and the goose is getting fat and so am I! I don't think we are meant to eat our body weight in chocolate BEFORE the big day but what with wrapping presents, writing cards and decorating trees, there just always seems to be a time when a chocolate helps. I have also got into the habit of a mince pie working its way into my evening meal in some form. Add to that the fact that my partner is a better cook than I will ever be and hey ho the scales are shouting hallelujah (and it aint Alexandra's version!)
Hope that whatever you are doing this weekend it will involve something Christmassy that you enjoy and remember we will be keeping you company here on BBC Radio Solent. If you would like to dedicate a record to someone do give me a call on the show and I will be more than happy to give them a shout.
My grand daughter has at long last decided that Father Christmas is OK and at her Nursery Christmas party was more than prepared to accept a dinosaur book from him. Along the premise of anyone giving out books on dinosaurs must be OK!
We are going to my daughter, her partner and grand daughters this Christmas and Mr M is cooking dinner. He flies 12000 miles and still has to cook Christmas dinner!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

and other Bing like comments have been flung around Studio 1B as we attempted to decorate. We were left with the last box of decorations and we have got a robin with a few feathers and a couple of baubles hanging off a row of stars. Oh well I think I will get one of those sparkly glittery Christmas trees and put it in there too. I love decorating trees and we bought one in Romsey at the weekend and Mr M managed to break the halo off one of the decorations so he was then banned!

We are off to a Victorian Christmas evening in Bedford Place here in the city this evening. It will give him an idea of what us Brits do for the Yuletide season. He is used to sunshine and beaches and I am thinking of adding thermal underwear on his Christmas wish list! He is on mine - now if I can just get him to start by dressing up as Santa......

Which brings me on to purple trousers - Jonny Cuthill thinks I look like either an elf, a smurf or a gnome - with friends like that who needs enemies!

It's good to be back!

Feeling a whole lot better and thankyou for all the calls, texts and emails from you lovely listeners saying welcome back!
I am delighted to tell you that Mr Mysterious as you have dubbed him has relocated to the UK and I am very happy indeed - again thanks for all the messages of support from you all. A wonderful Christmas pressie!
I was talking today about the morning after pill and one of my callers raised an interesting point about today's 'morals' and whether they have in fact disappeared in the 'noughties' (an appropriate term perhaps!). I would value your opinions on that one.
Are you getting prepared for Christmas? Are there problems about what to do with your mad Aunty this year? do let me have your Christmas dilemmas as we will be revisiting Daily Dilemmas for the festive period.
I started my Christmas by attending the Advent Service at St Michaels here in the city, on Sunday with my Mr M, and singing very badly!

A very blustery day...

is due this weekend so I am thinking that a battening down of the hatches is in order! I am visiting various friends and also my family so I think a bit of leaf kicking is on the cards.

On Sunday I am off for my duel! A call into the show from Simon Briggs meant that somehowI have managed to get myself into a fencing fence-off! I am going to Rockley Holiday Park in Poole to try out my epe! Stand guard.....

It's Halloween

and enough of the jokes of 'Oh Charlie great witches outfit' when I am not dressed up!' Very funny (not!). So whatever you are doing have a good evening. Don't get too scared!

I am off to get my roots done and following several blonde moments this week I think I should go lighter. I am trying out a new hairdresser so I will let you know how it goes!

Looking forward to the weekend - I am taking my friend out to a Sussex Manor House for her 50th birthday treat, and then meeting the girls for a walk in Brighton. I need to get more of that winter sunshine so I don't need to get one of those light boxes I was talking about on air today for the treatment of SAD. Must be horrible to have that - we all look forward to lighter evenings and it must make the onset of winter even more difficult. I seem to cope by having hot chocolate and cuddles!

the clocks went back

so I stayed in bed for the extra hour and read magazines and ate a bag of cheese and onion crisps in bed! Felt extremely decadent doing that for some reason. Probably as I can remember my Mum telling me off for eating biscuits in bed! It was one of those mornings when it was windy and blowy outside and I just snuggled back down. Did a bit of Christmas shopping on Sunday and managed to pick up a few bargains in the sales - which I suspect will be going on for a lot longer this season.

India was insistent on pushing the buggy when we were out for a walk on the seafront on Saturday, which meant we took a bit longer! She was happy entertaining a few people who said she was cute - pure showbiz already!

Thankyou to Connie Clarke who sent me this little poem today. it's a good message!

Smiling is infectious
You catch it like the flu
When someone smiled at me today
I started smiling too!
I passed around a corner
And someone saw me grin.
When we smiled, I realised
I'd passed it on to him
I thought about the smile
and realised its worth
A sinle smile like mine
COuld travel round the earth
So if you feel a smile begin
Don't leave it indetected
Let's start an epidemic quick
And get the world infected

PS

I am missing my boyfriend so much - he is home in again in January, thank goodness. Anyone else got tips on what I should take up as a hobby meantime during the longer and darker evenings????

He had the X Factor!

Steve Brookstein joined me in the studio and as I had voted for him 6 times to win the X Factor four years ago I was really pleased to meet him. He is in Our House at the Southampton Mayflower at the moment, enjoying very much his first foray into musical theatre. He was full of excitement about his new addition to his family, baby Hamish and I looked at some cute pictures of Hamish raspberry blowing at his lovely wife Eileen!

The evenings are starting to draw in so I am going to go home now and see if I can get an hour's walk in the light - next week the clocks go back and it will almost be dark when we go home - roll on Spring!

I have also decided to ask friends to only spend a fiver on me at Christmas as my nod towards less spending! I expect a lot more of us this year will be doing the same. My daughter has made all the family promise that no big toys will be bought for India as she is running out of room at home - does this mean I can get Indie a recorder??? (what do you think hahahahaha).

Adult sleepovers!

My friend has invited me for a sleepover - so who says it should only be kids who do this! I am looking forward to seeing her and having a midnight feast hahahahaha. She has been away in the USA on holiday and I am sure there will be loads of photographs to look through.

I am seeing my family too and will find out how India is finding her new class in Nursery. She has gone up to Wallabies class for the 2-5 year olds, so I am sure that she is finding her feet and making her voice heard! I am babysitting overnight on Saturday so my daughter and her partner can have a night away together, so I am sure a good time is in store for me and Indie - probably involving a lot of drawing, dancing and chocolate. My favourite sentence at the moment is hearing her say 'Goggy do dancing' and off we go doing the tango! Strictly Come Dancing eat your heart out.

Have a great weekend whatever you are doing and whoever you are with.

Hooray! I'm 2!

That was what Indie was shouting yesterday in the sunshine. It was the most wonderful day and the sun shone. It is unbelievable how these two years have flown by. She loved her car that I bought her although she only seems to be able to go backwards at the moment!

I was so very proud of my lovely family as we all joined together to celebrate, and the pictures are of a special two year old and my lovely daughter Min and her rather gorgeous partner Zac. All in all a very special day.

When I saw the card that Min to Indie it made me smile. She is carrying on the tradition I started with her, of writing a couple of paragraphs of special words to her daughter, just as I always do with her.

I'm looking forward to making fairy cakes

It's my grand daughter's 2nd birthday on Sunday and I am going to make fairy cakes. I like the ones with icing and hundreds and thousands and jelly tots so I shall do those tomorrow. I have bought Indie a car - which as my daughter said, is a lovely present but a little large for the house!!! Whoops didn't think of that hahahaha. Next thing I will be buying a drum set and a recorder! Best check with Mum before I start buying Christmas presents!

The nights are really drawing in now and I am sitting at work at 6.45 and it is completely dark. I need to start thinking winter evening activities that don't involve large amounts of hot chocolate and jam roly poly!

have a great weekend whatever you are doing

Leaving on a jet plane

So he went and we cried - a lot. We took your advice and played jolly songs in the car and got stuck in terrible traffic because there was a chemical spillage on the A4towards Heathrow. Blimey long distant relationsips are hard - lots of listeners sent in really supportive emails saying how they had managed them. My daughter was very sweet and cooked me vegetarian roast after I dropped him off, and my grand daughter sat on my lap and said 'don't cry Goggy' which of course set me off even more! Looking forward already to his next visit.

Great debate today on air about being gay in the workplace. It would seem that even in 2008 people are still prejudiced which I find incredible. One caller however said that he felt that by making an issue of it you were in fact 'flagging it up' and making things more difficult. As always you put forward some interesting points.

My friend Ali is taking me for tea and cake this evening - the perfect antidote to feeling blue.

Back from my hols!

Had the most wonderful week off with my fella. He flew in on Friday night and we started our road trip on the Thames staying in a favourite hotel. The weather changed the moment he seemed to land - and we very lucky to have glorious autumnal sunshine all week. We toured around the BBC Radio Solent area visiting such places as Kimmeridge Bay, Salisbury and Romsey and spent a fabulous couple of nights with one of my 100 Livers Andy and Anna Chamberlain at their new venture, the Thanet Hotel in Bournemouth. We met their gorgeous daughter Elizabeth who is set to be become a true beach baby! We then had a fab weekend in Warwick with some friends and spent a lot of the week laughing and walking - all in all rather wonderful!

Good to be back to work and one of the things we have covered is about trying to keep positive during times of financial crisis. The thought that our own negative thoughts can make a real difference to the way we cope in crisis is a really valid one I think. I feel really lucky that I see myself as a positive person, but we can all have bad days and it is knowing how to handle them that is important.

India has started nursery and Min tells me that she seems to be enjoying it although giving her a hard time when she gets back from work! Apparently this is usual as the child is a little darling often during the day and then becomes 'Damien' on their return home! Looking forward to seeing them at the end of the weekend.

Ok so it's a lot to pay for pants

But there are certain times when a girl wants nice underwear. These and many other justifications have gone through my head as I handed over £22 for one pair of pants - albeit very pretty ones! The emails and texts I received from listeners following that admission made me laugh out loud! Well, at least they match the bra (no, I'm not telling you what I paid for that!!!!!!)

Had a fab weekend - long walk with India at Wakehurst Gardens in Sussex and lots of work on the garden meant that both of us were suitably tired by the evening! My daughter said that she slept all through the night - not surprising as we were walking for about 2 hours!

Vicky is off on holiday to Croatia and when asked what she could bring me back she said nothing you're naughty! So I look forward to my present hahahahaha

I have just whizzed out to the shops as I have left my makeup bag at my daughter's house and realise that my eyes look piggy without eyeliner! It has become really autumnal out there. Woolly socks here we come (with the fancy pants???)

Cake off!

No I am not swearing in a new way - I was challenged to one with Jon Cuthill. I had to bake a Coca Cola Chocolate cake which was pitched against Jon's Tomato Soup cake. I am very pleased to announce I won! It was a hard battle but you will see the results on the photo gallery on the website.

Wasn't the story of Mary who married a bigamist amazing? We all like to think that we are too wise to be taken in by people, but the reality is that sometimes we are. It was extraordinary and you will be able to hear that again if you missed it on my webpage 'you won't believe what they tell me' from Monday.

We are supposed to have a weekend of sunshine so I am hoping to stock up on some rays. I am babysitting overnight for Indie on Saturday so I reckon a couple of packets of chocolate buttons and a bottle of milk and watching Strictly Come Dancing documentary should make for a good Saturday night. Having spoken to Len Goodman this week I feel a rhumba coming on (if you heard the interview you will know that this was the original spelling and Len loves to roll the 'r's'!!!)

Back to University

Spent a great day on Saturday with my friend Janice and her son Tom. He is considering attending Southampton Uni to read either Maths or Chemistry, so we went to the Open Day. What an amazing place! it's huge, and I knew that it covered a lot of the town but had never been there before. Sat in two different lectures on the subjects and there was one very amusing moment when we had to press the answers on our remote control to some tricky chemistry questions. Needless to say I got them all wrong and need to brush up on my chemistry signs!?

The listeners made me laugh out loud today on the show as we talked about men wearing make up and also feathering in your eyebrows when, like Pauline, you had had a tricky 'waxing incident'! Very funny.

I am looking for an Indian Summer and it seems I will just need to buy new wellingtons, not the sexiest of looks which brought me on to asking the listeners to help me decide what I should wear for an important date I have at the end of next week. The dress seemed to win over trousers, and it seems that I need to wear killer heels - well as I have over 30 pairs of shoes that won't be a problem! I will let you know how it goes!

it's the weekend!

I have had a short week this week as I had three days leave, so the weekend has come round very quickly! I had the most wonderful few days with my grand daughter whilst my daughter was away celebrating her 21st birthday. We tried potty training which was greeted with a resounding 'No Goggy no potty' (I'm Goggy!). So rather than push the point we have decided to leave for a few more months. My daughter laughed and said I told you so!! Really special few days with her and I feel very blessed indeed.

I am meeting a friend and her son tomorrow as he is thinking of coming to Southampton University. Seems incredible how the time has passed as I remember seeing him as a babe in arms.

It was interesting today talking about bi-polar disorder. We tend to think about any form of mental illness in a different way to other illnesses eg things we can see, like a broken leg. Why, I don't know, but I am very glad to see that more is being done to remove that stigma.

And I also spoke to one of the people on my 'would love to interview' list!!! John Sargeant today - and he was as lovely as I imagined. I am really looking forward to seeing how he and Kristina do in Strictly Come Dancing!

Oh forgot to say - had my hair done and went slightly darker for winter and it took on a worrying slightly green tinge! Happily two washes on it seems to be OK but I was worried I would have to be called Shrek!!!

Have a great weekend

on my hols!

I'm off for a few days until Thursday now and really looking forward to looking after my grand daughter in Sussex. I have paid for my daughter to spend her birthday in Tenerife.

I am crossing my fingers for good weather and a visit to the Zoo could be on the books!

The fabulous Claire Anderson will be keeping my chair warm and I will see you on Thursday.

Vintage caravans and all that

If the idea of canvas fills with the sort of horror that I feel, the idea of a silver bullet type caravan is a better one. With the resurgence of everything nostalgic I am loving the idea of a holiday on the Isle of Wight dressed in a little frilly apron and baking muffins!

And I divulged today my secret passion of dancing on bandstands so if you would let me know your guilty pleasure that would be great!

so exactly where is the summer?????

Sitting here in the chill of the early evening I am reminded that it is in fact still August. I am hoping for some Indian Summer type weather for next week as I am looking after my grand daughter for five days (hoorah!), and I want to do some outdoor things or otherwise it will be lots of potty training!

I really enjoyed today's programme and a had a few emails saying Charlie you should write your autobiography - but I think I will take a rain check on that as the most interesting bits could prove embarassing! I loved the speed walking dating piece and wish Lorraine and Colin all the best for their wedding at the end of the week. They say you can tell whether you will marry someone within the first few hours of meeting them, and I think they are right!

Been some time....!

I have just noticed how long since I last wrote! Lots been going on not least the fabulous outside broadcast at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. It was the worst day of the year weather wise, with wind, rain and hail. But determined not to let it get us down we had a fantastic day and it was so good to meet listeners who had braved the elements! I really enjoyed myself, particularly the fashion challenge where Judy and I were given £50 to find an outfit. I found myself a secret weapon in the form of Tom who works at Gunwharf and put a nifty little number together for me (which I ended up buying). Great fun and I found out that a chiffon scarf is the top accessory for the winter so bought myself 3 this weekend!

I have just come back from the dentist - I have been having a lot of work done over the last year, and today I had a crown on one of my dodgy teeth that I was always concious of. It looks brilliant! I hugged my dentist - I think he was a little shocked but glad to keep his clients happy! This is a temporary one and the real one will be put on in two weeks. Very strange having to match up the colour of your teeth against a tooth colour chart, like choosing a new colour for the sitting room!

I'm a bit tired!

Having completely overdone it over my birthday weekend I think I need to catch up on some sleep tonight! I had the most wonderful weekend and truly can say that I celebrated big time! I have also been keeping up with the speed walking each night and doing a lot of reading for the new Charlie Crocker Book Club. I am finding that the choices of books has been so varied that I am swinging from the emotions of laughing out loud and then crying!

Great to ring a bell to start off the BBC Radio Solent Bowls Championship this morning and meet some listeners too. I have never played bowls so am looking forward to when we play a friendly game later this Autum with some of my colleagues.

So off for an early night and another book and maybe a face mask - yes I know, that's always the time that the doorbell rings isn't it.

Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Well what an amazing day! I was woken at 8 with the start of texts and phone calls wishing me a good birthday and then when I got into work there were beautiful cards, flowers and pressies. I feel very lucky indeed! Jon Cuthill kept telling listeners that I am 50! My birthday is 1st August 1961 honestly!!! Just because he's 40 next year!

We are off for a meal tonight and then I am going to see my daughter and grand daughter and have a sleepover with a friend who has promised me a midnight feast!

Hairdos and don'ts

We spoke today of Aggy supermodel's new 'do' and it reminds me that even on my own website I have changed many times! I think that a new haircut can make you feel a million dollars, but if it goes wrong you just want to wear a hat a lot of the time! We all remember the curly poodle perm that everyone insisted on sporting even though it didn't suit us, and my blue mohican will be most remembered for the fact that my parents very cleverly said 'very nice dear' rather than ranting which meant of course that I was bored with it shortly after!!!

The weather is cooling down which is making my speed walk easier - although I am sure that the sauna method of power walking is just as effective on weight loss! I am finally starting to see the results of my hard work and am determined to continue now that I can see I have a waist again - hoorah!!! It's just much harder work as you get older, and when I think of the amount of chocolate and rubbish I used to eat and it wouldn't add an inch!

I love this job!

It's a week since I've written!

Not quite sure where this last week has gone. I had such a good time conducting the City of Southampton Orchestra on Saturday night at the Guildhall. I was so nervous I am not sure how I got onto the stage but my two minutes of Tchaikovsky seemed to go well! Another ambition done - I am very lucky.

One of my heroines came into the studio this week, Stephanie Powers. Wow, I hope that I look that good when I am her age! She looks amazing - and it is always great to meet the stars of the shows that you loved when you were younger. Nostalgia and all that. Also in today from another one of my favourite shows, Two Pints of Lager, Natalie Casey, who is a very funny woman - had me laughing out loud especially during the records!

I have been speedwalking most evenings and I am finally starting to see my waist appear again! It is a case of exercise making the difference there is no getting away from it! I am also amazed at the amount of people out on the common in the evening doing everything from army training to super frisbee, to walking dogs. Talking of dogs am I the only person to think that dogs definitely smile?! Well they seem to be as they run past me!

Lazy Sunday afternnon

I had a great day with my grand daughter on Saturday - a very blowy walk along the seafront and on the beach meant all the cobwebs blown away!
Sunday was one of those days watching old movies, falling asleep in front of the television, walking and pottering. Not done it for such a long time and the amount of times I fell asleep think showed that I needed to catch up!

Loved the comments on elegance today on the show - something which I think will do full circle. Maybe after all we will again wear hats and gloves to go out - now I just have to work on that 'waspie' waist!!! My walk on the common when I got lost last night will help and I now have a Dirty Dancing DVD to exercise to - will give it a go tonight and let you know!

Rain rain and more rain

So here we are in the beautiful British summer. It has been pouring for what seems days and it has meant that I have done more jobs at home including completely clearing my ironing pile! Wowee can't believe it - I have found clothes I had forgotten about and now have needless to say been consigned to the bags to go to the charity shop.

I am also trying to cut down on the number of times that I phone my daughter and grand daughter - how do other Mums manage this? We worry so much about them and I was finding that I was ringing them twice a day. They are doing really well, and are very happy, so I now think it is the time to start cutting back. Do Mums ever get to the stage where they don't worry??! I hope not!

I am going for a walk tonight - have decided that even if it rains I need some fresh air to clear my head. I have been reading non stop for the book club - some excellent books too! Am really looking forward to speaking with my reviewers about them.

How wonderful to see Emma Pontin today in her pre-wedding radiance. I met with her stepdaughter to be Hannah and her maid of honour Jilly. They are going to have such a wonderful day on Saturday and I can't wait to see the photos! Judy embroidered her the most beautiful cushion with E and R on it - made it look like the Queen's! I bought her a little cat box - not for little cats - but for keeping her rings in. Lots of love and luck for Saturday Emma and Richard!

Weekend news

Had a fab weekend - the weather was great in Sussex on Saturday and I took Indie to the beach and we met some friends for a picnic at the same children's park I used to go to when I was child. She went on a Shetland pony ride which she was happy to do for about one and a half minutes and then it was off again! Visions of that Thelwell cartoon as she went on the horse!
Sunday morning saw me joining in with the choir at church for a Jazz Mass at St Michaels in Southampton, which was great fun - I loved it. I also went for a tour around the Tudor House which was fascinating and made me realise exactly how comfortable we are with today's mod cons!
I also finally started the clear out of the wardrobes and the bags of clothes are piling up in the hall. It's very cathartic!

the big clear out

Well I have at last collected all my stuff from the ex's house. My car is full of boxes and still got to do the storage unit. Where on earth am I going to put everything? How on earth did I collect so much STUFF? How do you get rid of everything? Here is a selection of a few of the random things I have found. Why am I still keeping all my wedding cards and love letters?? Do others throw these things away???? How do you choose? And surely I could never throw away one of the first paintings that my daughter Min painted for me? I would value any advice on how you've chosen between which sentimental items you keep, and which you throw away for good!

That hat....

Here is the hat band from the felt hat that I wore for my kindergarten when I was three years old. It was in Yorkshire, and off I went with a little grey pleated skirt, gingham red shirt and grey felt hat with this band. My mother would love to tell the story of me lasting precisely two weeks there. A little girl dented the top of the hat with a punch and that was it, I absolutely refused to go back! Therein started the love hate relationship I had with school!!!

Autographs

Stuart Henry was my favourite DJ on Radio 1 - he was coming to the Worthing Pavilion for a road show and I couldn't get there quick enough! I managed to get up on stage and he signed this photo for me and also signed my t-shirt (which I was wearing!). I nearly swooned!!!

what is it???

I have found this strange object - any ideas? Is it worth anything? Must have been given to me as a child

and she's back!

Have had a fab holiday. Did lots of jobs - things like upgrading my mobile - get me with my touchscreen!!! I am now on line at home which means that I am now able to receive emails from my producer at any hour of the day! Min and her new partner and baby India came to stay for two days which was really lovely, we went shopping and seemed to eat a lot. They had a great time at a Brazilian Party on Tuesday night at La Margherita here in the city - an unexpected jewel in the crown on a weekday night. Went to see my mate Garry in Brum at Butlins in Bognor Regis, India was happy watching for half an hour and spent the rest of the time on the side stage dancing - to which my daughter said 'that's Granny's gene that is!'Bought India a new Princess Potty and she seemed quite excited about it although wearing it on her head seems to be the nearest we have got towards training. Being woken up at 6am with a knock and 'Granny Granny' has never felt so good. I feel very blessed.

I did not get to clear out my wardrobes yet but I have read the decluttering your life book which is a good first step! It means that I have all the theory in mind just not the practice. It's the sort of thing that you know will make your dressing in the morning so much easier because you can find everything but first I need to know exactly why I bought 42 pairs of shoes???

Just a tease for when I get back

It's a big clue I grant you ....
Think Richard and Judy ...
Think great books ...
We'll be launching something VERY special when I get back from holiday..................

Off on my hols!

I am looking forward to spending a few days with my family next week and taking India to the theatre for the first time to see my friend Garry in 'Brum' at Butlins! I am also hoping to do some of the clearing out that I have been threatening to do for some time. As my daughter says she enjoys laughing at some of the things I am still keeping in my wardrobe, perhaps I can persuade her to help me out, and maybe add to India's dressing up box! A lot of 'pottering' in order though I think.

As it is Wimbledon fortnight I am thrilled to hear from our Crash Course expert that it would take a mere three months to get me to doubles standards. However I don't think he fully appreciated the lack of co-ordination that is my sports style. I have been known to be trying really hard and everyone is laughing around me and saying 'now do it properly' and I have been! Oh well, who needs ball boys anyway running around after you. Come to think of it........

A VERY special guest!

Met one of my childhood heroes yesterday - Tommy Steele! He was incredible in Dr Dolittle at the Mayflower this week. So agile and it is very hard to believe that he is 71! Utterly charming and you can see by the photo that we seemed to get on!

Must get higher heels......

At the weekend I went to Windsor Castle, and had the most brilliant day, and you can see that I did all the things that a tourist should do - including standing next to a soldier and having your photo taken - not sure who looks more terrified him or me!

I must try and have a long walk this evening as I have recently just not had the time to do so after work and have been missing it. So straight into my trainers and off we go. Unless of course it rains.............

Secret admirer???

Great excitement in the studio today as 12 beautiful red roses arrived for me. Took my breath away and made me shed a tear just as I was going to do an interview! Had to say to the person I was interviewing 'could you just hang on a for a minute please'! Beautiful and made my heart flutter, as he has.

I am going to see Tommy Steele in Dr Dolittle tonight which I am looking forward to - funny as I stayed in Marigot Bay in St Lucia which is where they filmed Dr Dolittle in the 60's and rumour has it that the pink snail is still on the island somewhere and lots of myths abound as it to its whereabouts with many people making claims as you can imagine!

You're Hired!

I was so pleased to meet Rachel our Apprentice reporter for the last few weeks. It has been great having her on the show and I shall miss our weekly chats!

Surfer Dude Charlie

Jonny Cuthill called me a surfer dude today because I have gone blonder and also I have scrunch dryed my hair (for that read 'looks like I have fallen through a hedge backwards'). I just want to look tousled - tousled is good I have decided and gives one an air of abandonment (who am I kidding.....!)

I am going to the National Trust at Mottisfont tonight to smell the rose garden - apparently glorious at night and then supper at Ali Leslie's - looking forward to that - but must take my wellies just in case. Not because Ali lives underwater but in case of rain!

Got a car, not got a car........

More developments on the car story. Having been told the car of my dreams has in fact been sold to someone else - the garage owner was listening on the way to work and emailed me on the show!!! He said please can he sort it out and try and find me another one, because today I asked for my deposit back. So........ watch this space. maybe a Porsche Cabriolet would suit after all......

Well we did it! Five Miles to Fabulous!! A load of willing women on wheels set off from Southampton Common on Saturday morning in the beautiful sunshine. I had no idea there were so many wonderful cycle paths in the city and I am looking forward to exploring more of them because it has made me definitely want a bike! I got a chance to see parts of the city that you can often pass by, a great morning topped off with a pub meal afterwards - great!

The weekend was amazing weather wise which meant that a walk in the woods with Indie was in order - she absolutely loved it and it made me realise that the love of walking that my Dad gave to me is now being passed on through the generations to his great grand daughter! We had a wonderful time looking for squirrels and birds and a few alarming ones as she ran towards lakes to look for the birdies!!! We both had a large stick we had found in the woods and we must have looked quite funny walking along! We then went for a ride on the miniature railway which I used to take my daughter on - great fun until the dark tunnel - not sure who was more frightened! All in all a blissful day.

As I was celebrating the beauty and joy of my family, my daughter had the terrible news that a friend had been killed in Afghanistan. What an awful and tragic loss. My heart goes out to the family of the brave young man who went to war with such passion. I remember that he had told my daughter how proud he was to be going and how he didn't think of death. It makes me cry. Let's just get our men and women back and safe. This on the same weekend that we also lost two brilliant and brave BBC employees out there. All in my thoughts and prayers. -

Can a tummy ache be good? Oh yes!

The weekend in Cardiff was fab! I haven't been there before and it was to visit some new friends - a couple that I met in St Lucia when I went on holiday earlier this year.

We had the most fantastic time and laughed till my tummy ached on several occasions! Laughter is good for the soul, and it is great to meet people with a similar sense of humour and get on so well with them after a holiday.

I am off on my bike this evening as I am needing to get in some practice before Women on Wheels on Saturday - I want to at least look as if I have ridden without stabilisers for a few weeks. I am off to do martial arts tomorrow so a busy week of activity!

I am keen to lose a bit of weight again (yes I know a woman's constant lament) as I have an ex boyfriend from when I was 18 coming to visit me from Australia and I don't want him to walk past me not recognising me at all!

I know it sounds like a long way to come for dinner, but I am in the middle of a visit to Surrey and Monaco! A friend has decided to move house and when he rang this morning and talked about it, it made my feet itch again. Living in rented property has many advantages but I really miss decorating, and putting pictures up and pottering in the garden, and if it rains much more I will have a swimming pool on my balcony.

It seems to be a good time to look with the market being as it is so I think I might have a quick scan on the Internet. Now is there much out there with own garden, 2 bedrooms, nice carpets or flooring, parking, conservatory, all for £70k????!!!!

What me - need Stablisers?

After half an hour of wobbling around - and trying to avoid the torrential rain showers - I got the hang of it...

Five miles? Bring it on!

Five Miles to Fabulous

What was I thinking accepting the challenge for the Five miles to Fabulous Bike Ride in Southampton on 7th June? It's yonks since I've ridden a bike - and first of all I had to find one.

The lovely Natalie Gledhill from StreetTread has come up trumps. StreetTread aim to encourage 'active travel' in Southampton by making cycling more fun and more accessible. This is the first of the project's bikes to be lent out...sadly, they don't seem to have ones with stablisers on......

The Bank Holiday, um, holiday!

I had three days off for Bank Holiday which was absolutely lovely and a real treat to spend three days with my family.

The ex moved into a fab new house which is like being in the middle of the country with trees and a lake! He seems to have most things organised but of course my excellent supervisory skills were in high demand (not!).

We had the opportunity to do lots of walking this weekend as the weather was so good in Sussex - we didn't get the rain until Monday. I was sleeping in a sleeping bag this weekend which made me very nostalgic for childhood times spent in the back garden camping - especially when you knew you could come back in if you were frightened!

We were feeding a friend's cat this weekend too (Popsy my cat has retreated to the bottom shelf of the bookcase since the move). The ex was greeted by a dead pigeon and a mouse who now walks with a limp - nice.

I cooked a roast dinner for 7 people (OK 6.5 with Indie being so small) on Monday and we had all the family around - it's rare for me to cook for so many and I really enjoyed myself - perhaps because I don’t do it so often - and I felt like the Italian mama with her brood around her.

My grand daughter is really starting to chat now which is great - although strangely when she says Hello it is in a Swedish accent. No idea where that has come from but it causes great laughter.

I drove back home with the rain starting - encountering two very fast people carriers determined to stay in the middle lane and apparently racing each other. Interesting mode of transport boy racers are taking on these days I thought - until I saw that there were two very petite women at the wheel in both cases, one I am sure having to sit on a cushion. Perhaps a bad day with the in-laws and they were taking their aggression out Formula One style on the M27 - who knows? I also came home to a small lake on my balcony - my guttering is blocked - much scooping later and I was out of my bikini and inside in the warm again!

Into the shower - I was trying out my new shampoo, which I realised smells of pineapple. What is the obsession with wanting to smell like a fruit trifle? Yuk! My hair is very shiny today though so something's working - just need to meet someone now with a love of fruity smells and I will be fine!

Talking of meeting a new man, a large spot has appeared on the end of my nose, which isn't very attractive. This has popped up just in time for meeting my new neighbour upstairs, who looks rather charming - a large hat maybe? Or perhaps a veil?!

Thank goodness it's Friday!

Day 2 of the slog and I am really glad it is a Bank Holiday weekend! Looking forward to a three day break with my family. I have had a migraine today - started last night whilst shopping in Southampton and I have been wearing sunglasses all day in the studio whilst being fed tea and sympathy by my colleagues!

I was woken by a frantic call from my daughter this morning as my grand daughter Indie had fallen over whilst running along the path to help with Grandpa's house move. She fainted apparently - but when toddlers do this I'm told they hold their breath and their eyes roll back - all very alarming and worrying.

The ambulance was called and she was checked over at hospital, but I am very pleased to say that all is well now apart from a large bruise and graze. She had managed to get hold of a packet of crisps and that seemed to be helping!
Not that I am an over protective Granny or anything but I shall of course this weekend be tarmacking their pathway with that special bouncy stuff you get in children's playground ...

My First Blog!

Well it seems I have been dragged screaming and kicking into the technological age - I'm usually the person who passes notes written in pencil... It has been suggested that an insight into my life could be of interest to you out there… so here goes …. Oh no, writers' block already …. Where's a Poet Laureate when you need one?!

I'm setting this up as part of Silver Surfers' week - I'm not yet silver and I'm not that good at surfing - but it's my chance to get acquainted with the web! What are you going to get from my blog in the future? My rants and raves, my views on the world, and all the behind-the-scenes out-takes from my show!

We've had some full-on shows this week - honour killings is one of those subjects that horrifies me, and I am sure others, and Nazir from the CPS, who came on yesterday's show, gave me some hope that people are working towards changes being made. Conversely, speaking to Raef from The Apprentice made me laugh out loud as he was as gentlemanly as I had hoped - wonder if he has a suit of amour and a charger?It was great to catch up with Lorraine Kelly this week - she's always lovely and was one of first guests when I first started presenting at BBC Radio Solent.

I'm really looking forward to reading her autobiography - she said that she didn't think she was interesting enough but I'm sure she has some stories to tell about guests she's had on the show!I am helping my ex move into his new home this weekend - he has custody of my cat, but I have full access and visiting rights! I'm looking forward to some grooming - of the cat not my ex!