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????!!!!