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???