Alison Keenan

Christmas shopping and special Christmases gone by

2009-11-18T10:31:31+00:00

I have been somewhat panicked after last Friday's gem show with Jilly, when so many of you texted and rang in to tell us how organised you are with your Christmas present buying! The fact that I was still sunbathing in October has lulled me into a false sense of security and, as I admitted on the night, I have only just begun to break the back of my shopping list!

I don't think Jilly was much further forward than me, although she rather fancied the boots I was wearing on the night and caught me unawares just before we went on air (see photo left)! So now you know what goes on underneath the table - Jilly was in a sleeping bag! :)

Actually truth be told we always have a bit of an issue with the air conditioning in that Studio - it's either freezing cold or boiling hot, but as long as my feet are warm I'm OK.

My Christmas shopping list

I was still thinking of Christmas when I got into the car to drive home and began to try and make a note what I'd planned to get the children this year. Lucy is always easy to buy for bless her, she likes most things. This year though, she and her man Rich are moving from the flat into their first little home together so she's already asked for Slankets and other practical things. She loves jewellery and bath products so I will squirrel a few of those away too.

Sam wants money to do his car up with, and Jack's already had money towards a BMX bike. I know it's all part of growing up but I miss the days when the element of surprise was what made it special.

Christmases gone by

Sam's little face when he got the his Scalextric was not to be missed, Lucy had a carousel complete with music and horses that moved up and down - it even had lights! She kept it until she went to University... Jack was never out of his Crazy Coupe car, although he always travelled backwards in it for some reason... they were some of the happiest Christmases.

Of course we all try to bring back what we had as children, and I still remember sitting with my sister Jenny looking out of the window waiting for Father Christmas to come... we never did see him bring the stockings in.

My favourite present when I was little

One year Dad decided that as well as the presents from Father Christmas, he would make something for Jenny and I, and he spent hours hammering and sawing in the shed at the end of the garden. I was DESPERATE to find out what he was making and so about a week before Christmas I got up just as it was light and found the key to the shed!

The first thing I saw was a perfect wooden cot complete with a mattress and it actually rocked! I wasn't sure who it was for, so I squeezed past it to the back of the shed and saw a large square shape covered in a candlewick bedspread. I pulled the bedspread back. Standing there in the half light was the most beautiful doll's house.

The front door was green and the entire front of the house opened down the middle to show the rooms, wallpapered and carpeted complete with ceiling lights. I was sure it was for me and can still remember how I felt... unbelievably happy yet really sad that I'd spoiled the surprise. I never let on though, and on Christmas morning when I'd unwrapped it and we'd set it up with wooden furniture that my Grandad had made, and Dad had shown me how to turn the lights on, I told him it was the best present ever... and I meant it.

I kept it for years, moving it from house to house, and it wasn't until I moved back down South in the '90s that I gave it to the local church along with the pram, high chair, playpen and umpteen other things that were no longer needed and we didn't have room for. Funnily enough Lucy was never really interested in it - she had her Sylvanian bunny house - but for me it symbolised everything special about Christmas and my childhood. I wonder if you've kept anything that's special to you from years back? I bet you do.

One things for certain though, I'll have to get the chimney swept before December 24th... Willows had a good look up there last night and it was very sooty :)

Have a great week,
Love Ali xx

Returning to QVC after a girly weekend away

2009-11-13T14:51:10+00:00

I have missed you!! Just a couple of days off and a few days away, and I found myself looking forward with eager anticipation to returning to QVC Towers... seriously!! But you know the great thing is that when I do get back, everything's the same, which is why I love it :)

Did nearly have a minor wardrobe crisis though, as I'd eaten something for supper that clearly didn't agree with me and my stomach filled out like a barrage balloon!

I couldn't get into my black trouser suit and was only able to encase myself in a rather tight pencil skirt thanks to Slim 'N' Lift! Luckily I was only ever standing head on to the camera otherwise comments like, "Isn't she rather old to be having another child?" would have been rife.

My brief break to Hay On Wye was one of my twice yearly holidays with the five girlfriends who've been in my life ever since I moved down south from Shropshire over 15 years ago We used to pick a different place to stay each time, but have found this fabulous house that we keep returning to.

In truth it's a heck of a journey and until we introduced a sat nav into the equation, there were a few tricky moments... like the one where having driven around Warwick four times in the vain attempt to pick up Julie, the last of our number, Diane insisted we stop at the Police Station so she could get 'proper' directions! We all sat in the car like chastised children in the layby outside until she came out, walked straight passed our car and got into the car in front! I don't think the driver was too happy. Laugh? We still live off that one to this day. :)

We had mixed weather over the weekend and only managed a brief sojourn into the village itself as it was perishing cold and wet, but after the storm there was the most incredible rainbow and I managed to get a shot of it before it disappeared (see photo above). What made it even more magical was that the end of the rainbow appears to be over the Church... pretty isn't it?

On a final note, have any of you had those emails asking for recipes? If you send one off, you're meant to get 36 back... Debbie Greenwood sent it to me, so I dutifully sent it back and on to many friends and have received nothing!! So I texted her stating my disappointment... at least I thought it was to her, but needless to say the dentist will have had a laugh trying to decipher the automated voice reading out said text... I sooooooooo need glasses.

Have a great weekend, and if you have any girlies to buy Christmas presents for PLEASE join Jilly Halliday and I for the Gem Gift Idea shows from 9pm til midnight tonight Unbelievable collection of stones and designs and the prices will definitely bring a smile to your face. :)

Love Ali xxxx

Guess the road sign...

2009-11-04T16:07:04+00:00

Gosh, it was a busy old weekend wasn't it! Never mind previous listings of parties and reunions, I spent Saturday and Sunday here at QVC Towers and in the company of some lovely guests. Not sure if you saw Tova at all, but I was spoiled with three hours of her company and not just her fragrances but the jewellery too.

I always make sure I check with her as to what she'll be wearing so that I don't clash! I do remember one time having to present a fitness hour beforehand, and although I managed to cover the lycra with a dress, my trainers didn't really work... Tova though, was far too much of a lady to mention it :)

Guess the road sign

Talking of memorable moments, while driving into work along my usual route - the M1 - I noticed in the middle distance a rather strange pink and orange light. This was on Saturday when the weather was appalling and my wipers were moving faster than a Geisha's fan in their vain attempts to try and shift the water that was sloshing down from the heavens.

Well, the pink and orange light got closer and I was able to see it was actually an illuminated warning triangle, with the words Slow Down highlighted underneath it and the number 30 by the side. Nothing unusual there, until you look at the position of the car inside the triangle. See??? (Sorry the picture is a tad poor as my passenger had to try and take it through rain, screen and wipers!)

It's a little car balanced on its back window!! But what does this mean?? I have scoured the Highways Department website, and found out all kinds of things about these new signs that at a cost of £16 million are there to alert us.

I also now know that by using upper and lower case rather than just capital letters, we react to the message far faster, and that when you team the writing up with a picture - BINGO! All excellent aids to averting accidents, but should it not be a little more apparant as to what the picture means?!

Now I know how good you are at making choices, so thought you could help me to decide whether it's:

a) Open drawbridge ahead
b) Ridiculously steep hill ahead
c) Beware falling cars
d) None of the above

Answers below! :)

My new addiction!

Oh and as a final note, a warning of my own. Not sure if any of you have heard of or even played on Forza Motor Sport. It's a car racing game for those who are lucky enough to have a games console... like my son Jack, whom I challenged to a quick race - me in a Fiat 500 (start small I say) and him in a Mini 1000.

Folks, this is addictive!!! I just couldn't give up until I'd found all the short cuts and beaten him! It was hilarious... but it has left me with a troubling affliction... 'Forza Claw'. Self-induced cramping of the digits from gripping the controller too tightly! :)

Thanks in advance for your time in answering my quiz and I'll forward them onto the Highways Department!

I'm off for my second long weekend away with my girlfriends (so good we do it twice), so should have some more photos to share with you on my return. Hope you too will have a lovely weekend.

Love Ali xx

A fantastic night at Debbie's!

2009-10-30T16:48:26+00:00

I'll be honest I didn't know whether or not Debbie Greenwood's birthday/anniversary party was common knowledge until I read both hers and Julia's blogs, so as to not to appear churlish - and in response to your lovely comments this last week - here are a few more photographs of a fantastic night!

It's best to look at them in time order... less dishevelled, earlier on... and also to see those who clearly were not up for a late or energetic night! To be honest the fact that any of us could even move after sampling so many fabulous Thai dishes was a miracle!

But we polished Debbie's parquet flooring up a treat, and although there is no photographic evidence, I do remember belting out "I will survive" through a microphone (a la karaoke stylee) to all those who couldn't run and hide. Pippa - as you can see - did her best, but even she wasn't safe.

Actually to go back to the parquet flooring, if I may, I personally feel this - and this alone - made possible Julia's extraordinarily energetic version of the splits, where she literally threw herself to the ground in an incredible scissor movement at a rate of knotts seldom seen indoors, with the exception maybe of hurling events!

There was a nanno second when I was concerned for her health, but she sprang up in no time (with no carpet burns thanks to the flooring) and carried on with our conga! Amazing Woman :)

Of course I wasn't the only person making photographic memories of the night. Debbie's husband Paul spent several hours trying to separate his zoom from his image stabiliser (as seen here) and Claire's Dan and Colin spent some time trying to decide who should tell him to take the lens cap off first. Of course, he only had to ask Anthony!

It's sad but true that because of our shifts at QVC Towers, we rarely get together socially, and although quite a number were unable to make it on the night, it was an absolute treat for those who could - as I think the rest of the photos show :) I'd love a caption for the finger pointing photo please... can't quite remember what was going on there!!! Roll on Christmas I say! Everyone round to mine!!

Actually if they do come, I doubt by then this somewhat unseasonal occurance will still be standing in my garden, but I beg the question... when did you last see a Delphinium blooming in November?? Richard Jackson's Flower Power is truly magical! Oh, and whilst on a horticultural theme, anyone know when I should trim my clematis? Answers below please :)

Have a cracking weekend, and do join me and Tova on Saturday if you can, and again on Sunday! It's going to be an fabulously fragrant and festive I'm sure.

Lots of love,
Ali xxx

See what I made with today's TSV...

2009-10-25T23:30:00+00:00

I have a question for all of you... what do you do with all those photos you keep on your camera or store on your computer? How many of them do you have out in frames? Well if the answer is precious few, I've got just the thing! And if you tune in today you'll be able to get one too!

The posh name for it is a 'photo montage throw'... but to me it's a way of surrounding yourself with your favourite people, pets and places - literally. The company who make them can reproduce ANY photo you have onto this sumptuously soft throw in either colour, or black and white.

You can either upload your photos online to them, or alternatively send them your photos, disc, artwork or memory stick and not only will they let you know they've safely received them, but within 7 days they'll send you a proof and you can make any changes you like.

What do you think of mine then? :) I've got Willows and Dodge on there too! And just think - you could theme yours to be just pets, or a new baby, a wedding, or holiday of a lifetime, maybe your parents - for a special anniversary, your brother who now lives abroad... you name it, they can do it. And the quality of the pictures is extraordinary.

Hope to have your company with me on Sunday at midnight and we can share memories!

Have a great weekend,

Love Ali x

More photos from behind the scenes at our BCC Event

2009-10-23T16:22:12+01:00

Well my plans to take photos of all that happened behind the scenes last Thursday night at our Breast Cancer Care fundraiser were thwarted by my ineptitude! I did remember to bring my camera in with me, and then at the 11th hour couldn't find it anywhere!

I sent poor Dale to wander up and down the corridors of power in the vain hope he might see it lying alone on the carpet, but no. I went out into the freezing cold with my evening dress on and my rollers in, just incase I'd left it in the car, but it wasn't there either, so I had to give in and get on, remembering to remove my rollers before going on air (don't laugh but I've rushed into a studio on more than one occasion with a few stray ones still in my hair!).

Of course, once the evening was over, the balloons and banners taken down, the donation lines closed, and Anthony's pink telephone wrenched from his grasp, I emailed dear Barbara (our saviour) who duly mailed EVERYONE at QVC Towers asking them to look for said camera. And lo and behold, it was found! In my handbag... where it had been all along :)

However, I was sent these rather lovely shots for you to enjoy of the night, and for me they are a fabulous memory of a cracking evening...

Enjoy! Love Ali x

And the dress I'll be wearing tonight is...

2009-10-15T12:11:43+01:00

Well what can I say... except THANK YOU ALL!! :) So many of you have taken time out to choose the dress I am to wear tonight to host our fantastic Be Aware, Show you Care Breast Cancer Care Fundraiser.

I'm delighted to be able to tell you now which dress won... and trust me it's taken a few counts, as Willows (my cat) launched herself onto the lap top and I lost my place as her paws hit the keyboard... oh, and then the postlady called (with my Lock & Locks) and the battery ran out while I was answering the door, BUT all that aside, here's the verdict...

In third place (love the suspense don't you?) was dress A with 25 votes, second was dress C with 26 votes, but the winner by a long way was dress B with a total of 35 votes. And I've been really fair and not included those who couldn't decide... like me! :)

So as promised, I would like to thank Nicola, Jackie, Kath, Karen, Allison, Eileen, Penny, Gaynor, Marg, Steven, Dorothy, Pam, Nikki, Karen, Barbara, Rhonda, Margaret, Ann, Kim, Anne, Janine, Maureen, Barbara, Wilma, Jackie, Tracy, Tracey Hunter, Gill, Val, Sue, Rhona, Jue, Kim, Kim Egan, Lorraine, Elizabeth, Valerie, Annette, Carole, Lyn, Rhona, Elaine, Lillian, Lyn, Lynn, Liz, Magda, Margaret, Stephanie, Julie, Anne, Elizabeth, Charmain, Mrs. S Smith, Betsy, babytiger, Mrs.L Hambleton, Kelly, Pauline, Sue, Linda, Georgina, Amanda, Lou, Rebecca, Irma, Jacqueline, Kiu, Elaine, Julie, Vicky, Siobahn, Cindy, Janet, Zoe, Pauline, Janice, Jeannie, Elizabeth, Samantha, June, Jue, Kath, Emma and Michelle.

Not only did you bother to read the BLOG and make a choice, but so many of you said the nicest things about the dresses and how they looked too.

I very much hope you'll all be able to join Dale and I tonight at 7pm for this very special evening. We'll be asking you to dig deep because we've raised over £2.6 million so far, and would REALLY like to shift that to over £3 million. Do you think we can do it?? I KNOW we can :)

So I'll see you there, in dress B, and we can spend the 3 hours together, and I promise to take loads of pictures behind the scenes, and fill you on any gossip next time.

Again, I can't thank you enough, so I'll stop now :)

Love Ali x

P.S. Visit our Breast Cancer Care page to show your support.

Having a ball at the Breast Cancer Care Fashion Show

2009-10-09T14:24:12+01:00

Well, it was the cinema last week with superstars on the big screen but this week it was the real thing! Breast Cancer Care's Annual Fashion Show at the Grosvenor Hotel, which we - QVC - are the official broadcaster of!

One show, 24 models, one purpose - that was the motivational line that brought so many stars to the event to see 24 women, either suffering with or having survived breast cancer. These 23 women and one man were amazing! Truly.

They walked tall on the catwalk wearing the most fabulous fashion, themed to music, and knocked the socks of what the others do in Paris Milan and New York. For some of the girls, who've undergone major surgery and are still having treatment, it was a very long day but the look on their faces as they gained confidence was priceless.

There were smiles and tears but overall an incredible feeling of wellbeing, hope and happiness. Best of all, you'll be able to see some of the show next Thursday evening between 7pm and 10pm when Dale and I bring you the 8th Be Aware Show you Care Fundraiser, so make sure you join us, cos we need your money and your support badly to raise even more money for Breast Cancer Care.

Dale was with me to see the celebs arrive and we even had our photographs taken with a few of them! I thought you might like to see Darren and Lilia from Strictly Come Dancing (photo below) so I snapped them as they stood by the Press Wall.

A highlight for me was meeting Beverley Craven (photo above) whose album Promise Me I played so many times that I swear the CD became transparent! She's even more beautiful in the flesh than you see here, and she sang and played for us later on in the night. I spent a little time talking to her and was delighted when she told me that she loves Diamonique and wears the jewellery when she's on tour.

Her new album Close to Home is incredible... I played it on my way home from work last night and the lyrics and music are just perfect. Soft and haunting, smooth yet ironic - all those things - and several tracks brought me to tears they were so lovely. A must for your Christmas present list.

Now I have a big ask of you! Obviously next Thursday is a really big night for us all here, and we want to raise as much money as possible. So I was hoping you'll be able to help me choose which dress to wear for the occasion. Ali Young - egg sandwich in one hand, camera in the other - took these pictures of me in each of the three options I've got, so it'd great if you could tell me which one you think I should wear? By the way, Ali was sitting down so that's why I look so tall, although I was standing on tip toes!

Just put A B or C in the message box and then I can count them up on Wednesday and make the decision. That's really kind, thank you. Look forward to hearing from you, and I hope you a great weekend.

Love Ali xx

P.S. They are ordered A, B and C from left to right.

What a glorious week it's been!

2009-10-02T16:15:28+01:00

I couldn't believe the sunshine over the weekend, and have even managed to top up the tan a tad whilst on a 6-mile walk with my friend Diane around a huge quarry near her home. Blissful :)

That said it's certainly got a little colder at night, so I would highly recommend snuggling down on the sofa wrapped in something warm.

Any Mexican recipes?

Well, I had a night off from cooking when Colin and I went out with Sam and Becks for a Mexican meal. I introduced them to the delights of the Mojito cocktail, which I had quaffed on a beach in Ibiza, but they weren't all that smitten. So not wishing to appear ungrateful, I drank theirs too!

The sombreros and ponchos weren't standard dress code but I think they looked pretty good, don't you?! A cracking night was had by all, and I'm now introducing enchiladas and fajitas to our weekly menu. Actually, if you know of any variations on the theme, or an alternative to chicken, I'd be really grateful, and then I could always create and blog the results!!

'Julie and Julia'

I've had another lovely night out recently to see the film 'Julie and Julia' with Lucy and Jack. To be fair, it really wasn't Jack's first choice but being a true gent he graced us with his presence and motored through a huge bag of popcorn while Lucy and I sat enthralled.

The film is based on a true story of how in 2005 Julie Powell set herself the challenge to cook 524 recipes in 365 days. All the dishes were created by the American chef Julia Child, whose cookery book was published in the '50s. The story moves constantly between decades and from Paris to America and back again.

The story of how Julia came to put the book together in itself is really entertaining, but she went on to become a TV chef - one of the first on American TV - and looked a bit like our very own Fanny Craddock, if you can remember that far back! Also, a little reminiscent of the sadly departed Keith Floyd... although not sure if alcohol was her poison.

Not only is there the TV element, but Julie chooses to write in detail about what she's cooked every night in a blog, and, of course, over time it's not just the food but every aspect of her life and relationship that is included. It's a fantastic idea for a film, and I truly think Meryl Streep deserves an Oscar nomination for this one... she's long overdue her third in my opinion :)

I was still talking about it a couple of days later when a little parcel arrived for me, and my very thoughtful girl had bought me the book of the film, so I can become word perfect! Do let me know if you've seen it, and what you thought of it. For me I'd give it five stars in our review system :)

Have a great weekend.

Love Ali x

My Christmas checklist

2009-09-24T23:48:00+01:00

I have to admit to nearly choking on my licorice tea when I heard Dawn Bibby say there were only 89 days until Christmas, which made me realise I needed to start gathering my thoughts and my plans!

Ordering the turkey

To be honest this year - as with the last two - I shall order my Christmas turkey, gammon, sausages and other meats from Exmoor Style here at QVC because you can either have it delivered in November or just before Christmas - depending on how full your freezer is! Or in my case how much room there is as I haven't defrosted it for ages!

Buying Christmas gifts

I've already started buying gifts! Beauty Day was a great help there and I'm now making notes whenever I see a particularly pretty piece of jewellery that I think would make a good present - watch out for Gem Day, oh, and Diamonique Day too!

Making the Christmas cake

Colin made another spectacular cake for our friend's 50th birthday, which was made in the shape of a theatrical stage, and so with the offcuts I will be making a randomly shaped Christmas cake! I'll let you see the finished result come December when I marzipan it!

Top tip: I find it's always best to leave the icing until the week before Christmas as I use the Ready to Roll stuff and in a warm house it can crystalize a tad.

Christmas cards

I'll be honest and admit to only ever making one Christmas card at a special Craft Day with Leoni Pujol, and so I tend to buy them about the beginning of December and send them out last thing - 'cos that way you've received most of yours and don't forget anyone!

Having read all that back I realise I'm actually a lot more organised than I thought.

Enjoy our run up to Christmas this weekend, and happy shopping!

Plus, I'd love to know how all your preparations are going so feel free to drop me a line.

Love Ali x