Alison Keenan

And we're off down under!

2012-02-02T09:45:50+00:00

Who needs a Berlitz Guide when I have you!! :) Thanks SO much for all your wonderful suggestions of places to visit, stay at, or eat in for my forthcoming trip to Australia which begins today! I've been jotting all your ideas down in a little red leather notebook that my sister gave to me for my birthday,and reckon that Colin and I have MORE than enough to keep us busy for the next 20 days!

To be honest, there have been moments over the last week or so when I seriously didn't think I'd get everything sorted in time. The spare bedroom was full of summer clothes (even though it's been raining for about the last month in Sydney) and then my mum told me that it was very chilly in Tasmania, and so I had to dig out a few jumpers... then I was worried that I might need a coat, which left me no alternative but to get a new suitcase!!

I wouldn't say it was large but you could fit a family of possums in it and still have room for your trainers!! Trying to fit it into the back of my rather small car was quite funny though - well not to me but to a couple of young lads who had parked opposite and no doubt thought I'd have to take the roof down to get it in!

I will though have to find a spare corner in it, in which to place my 'armbutler'. Nope, it's not a member of staff to save my energy when holding a glass of wine, it is a rather strange metal frame that I have to use to get my lymphoedema sleeve on! Such a nuisance, along with the tummy injections I've got to give myself prior to each of the long haul flights... I even have a letter from my doctor giving me permission to carry a 'sharp' on the plane :)

But you know what... a year ago today I was heading off to the hospital for my mastectomy - I never expected that - but didn't anticipate 12 months later to be heading off to Australia either, so every cloud has a silver lining in my book :)

I will try and check in at least once while I'm away, but promise to take as many photos as is humanly possible and create a little gallery for you when I'm home. For your part, stay well, stay warm, and be good to yourselves :) Missing you already!!

Love Ali xxx

Cooking duck and going Down Under...

2012-01-18T09:56:42+00:00

Hello there, do hope you're nice and snug wherever you're reading this, cos it's jolly parky outside!

A question... do you have a failsafe recipe for cooking duck?? I only ask as my hallowed hero of a chef Jamie Oliver, whose gastronomic works of greatness litter my kitchen, failed me! My duck had an oily breast, not crispy as promised, and every 20 minutes when I had to turn the bird over, half an orange fell out of her bottom!!

I'd never cooked duck before but because Lucy and Jack were round for lunch, I wanted to do something special - I don't think I'll bother again! Some recipes suggested putting the bird on a rack so that it didn't sit in the oil, but Jamie suggested sitting her on a bed of carrots, celery and onion... and also to cook at 190 degrees which seemed a very low temperature to me.

Still, Jack did eat all his to be fair but Lucy wasn't impressed and it took me rather a while to carve it, so having told them to "start without me", they'd nearly finished by the time I sat down! Never mind eh, it was good to see them :)

The fact that I managed to clog my vacuum cleaner with pine needles is a timely reminder that Christmas is well and truly behind us, but I still find it hard to believe that in two weeks time, Colin and I will be boarding a plane to Australia. We're flying out on Thursday 2nd February - a year to the day since I had my mastectomy and also my Jack's birthday!

We've decided to do the journey in one hit - apart from a two-hour stop over in Abu Dhabi to refuel - and so we'll arrive in Sydney on Friday afternoon :) I've spoken to my brother several times over the last month, and together we're working out a timetable. Both he and his wife Sarah work, so it's good that we're arriving at a weekend and can catch up properly.

It will be seven years and two months since I was last 'Down Under' and so I thought you might like to see this photograph (left) of us all with his children on the day we flew home. The picture was taken before we said goodbye :) Look at Jack!! He's almost 19 now and six feet tall... where have the years gone?

Peter has never met Colin although we've had Sarah and both their children to stay with us on numerous occasions when they've been to the UK. I know they'll get on, and it'll be good for them to have some time together. We fly to Tasmania in the second week to visit Colin's brother Phil who owns a vineyard out there - that should be fun!! :)

Peter looks very much like my late father and now that my hair has grown back so dark, I look more like him too - minus the moustache thank heavens! :) Mind you Peter wore his hair a lot longer in his teens and was 18 when this picture (left) was taken.

I was 16 then and in my final year at Secondary school, and our sister Jenny was probably 14... I got detention at school for wearing that T-shirt instead of the usual polo shirt - hey ho :)

There are so many places in Australia that I hope to visit this time around, and we plan to hire a car while we're there so we can make our own way. It's so much easier than in Europe because they drive on the same side of the road as us! If you've ever been to the other side of the world, particularly Sydney, please do let me know if there's anywhere you would recommend we visit.

I have done the Aquarium and The Rocks, oh and I think Koala world (?) but I know there's so much more like The Blue Mountains that would be a shame to miss. I look forward to hearing from you with any suggestions, and hope that you have a good week and an even better weekend!

With love, Ali xxx

Happy New Year everyone!!

2012-01-09T15:56:42+00:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! And I completely understand you thinking hello... a little late maybe?! So sorry but am hoping that you will have had a grand time over the festive period, and that already things are looking up for you for 2012.

Here's a very short video I took of the Christmas lights just off Covent Garden as I thought they were really pretty... :-)

My Christmas
Christmas was great fun, and my only faux pas was buying far too much food! Lunch was with Lucy, Richard, Sam, Jack, Colin and I, but Colin's children were due to join us that evening and stay over.

There's me thinking turkey and gammon sandwiches for 14, but the lure of pizza slices and duck rolls beat my more traditional offerings into a tin hat! That and the 'fat frog' drink which was discovered on our family holiday to Ibiza two years ago. A rather lurid mix of several brightly coloured liquids which brings about deep joy and happiness in all those who drink it! :)

In the morning my sitting room resembled one of the London underground stations during the Blitz but as the day wore on, and much coffee and paracetamol was consumed, the numbers thinned out... Still no takers for my turkey though, which was fine, as I took the carcass to my mum and she managed to get 3lbs of meat from it, and made six pints of soup! Bless her :)

It's been many years since I've seen my mum at Christmas, but we all got together at my sister's house, and had a lovely lunch with crackers and champagne - but no turkey! She's a vegetarian so made a gorgeous chilli lasagne which hit the spot, and with Michael Buble entertaining us (through her hi-fi not in person you understand) it was perfect.

There was a moment though where my credibility and intelligence were questioned, and that was following the pulling of the crackers... I spent several minutes trying get a sound out of my orange plastic whistle before realising it was infact a small sellotape dispenser... Ho hum...

New Year's Eve

New Year was spent with Ros and Chris and some friends and although I had to be poked awake at 11.40pm (Trivial pursuit and mulled wine not a good combination), it was lovely to see in the New Year and wave goodbye to the old one... and I even managed to keep my wig on, on this occasion :)

Talking of wigs, my hair is growing back and not only is it very dark (OK, so I wasn't a true blonde!) but it's curly!!! Eeeeeek! I say that but am immediately consumed with guilt because I should be grateful to have any hair at all having spent the last six months or more completely bald!
One of my friends who will remain nameless said "What have you done to your hair?!" followed by... "It doesn't really suit you..." I know that! But not a lot I can do, but I still love changing from blonde to red to dark hair - variety is the spice of life eh? :)

As promised I found the few photographs of the QVC Christmas party that were taken on my camera, and so I hope you enjoy them. It was a cracking night, and Miceal and Craig were awesome! Love to you, and I look forward to hearing how your Christmas went. Ali xx

Christmas preparations and parties

2011-12-22T16:36:17+00:00

Well I have only four presents left to wrap, and have posted all my Christmas cards, which for me isn't bad going! Thank you for all YOUR beautiful cards, and apologies if the ones your receive aren't the usual glossy QVC ones, but our print run was short and I missed out on them! My own choice was a little smaller and less glossy but sent with love :)

I chose the tree with Jack and Sam last week, and managed to jam it into Sam's rather large car. It was about a foot too tall, but with the help of a bread knife (Ok, but I'm not all that good on the DIY) and Jack's sawing skills, it was reduced to a size that enabled me to put the star on the top :) Looks pretty doesn't it? Actually it looks identical to the picture I took last year, but I promise you it is a new tree!!

Talking of trees, I'd have been hard pushed to beat Debbie Greenwood's tree that stands proudly in her atrium... if I can say that in polite company. You'll see it behind Kathy Claire Deb and I in this photo that was taken the night of Deb's pre-Christmas party. We had such fun :)

She cooked a fabulous Beouf Bourguignon with rice and roast vegetables, and then a scumptious chocolate (well it had to be really) bread and butter pudding - a Nigella recipe apparently - which most of us shovelled down in a rather piggy manner!

I had a few mighty tropical moments during the night, and so the wig came off, but was used to very good effect in a game called 'guess the hairstyle!'- hilarious :) I can't quite remember WHY we were standing up on the chairs a little later in the evening, but am amazed I managed it in my pin heels.

After we'd sat down Debbie's Paul set up a cracking quiz which we played until well after midnight, and then while he and Colin washed up the remaining glasses (seriously!), Deb and I sat in front of the fire and put the world to rights - the perfect end to a perfect night.

I was lucky enough to be a guest again at Greenwood Towers last Friday night, as the QVC Christmas Bash beckoned. With a 1920s theme it promised to be a hoot, and we weren't disappointed. Julia and her daughter Sophie were there, Anna and Claire, plus Craig and Miceal.

And I have to say we were ALL 'giving it large' on the dance floor. It reminded me of a night some years back when Colin and I went to a do, and some young chap came up to him and said of my gyrating, "She can throw some wicked shapes for an old bird!" - high praise indeed :) Thought you might like to see a few pics but had a bit of a palava sending them over so will pop them up after Christmas... and yes the wig did come off again!

With two more days of work before I'm off over Christmas, I just wanted to thank you all again for everything you've done to help me through one of the most difficult years of my life. Your constant contact as 'Ali's Army' through this blog, endless cards, letters, flowers and special gifts have meant the world to me.

On the nights when I couldn't sleep, the days when I felt so rough, all those times I looked in the mirror and didn't know the face looking back at me, you were there 'holding my hand' - red and crepey though it was for several months - and it's made all the difference :) I know we may never meet, but I feel I know you, and it's lovely to be able to call you friends. None of us know what the future has in store, but I know that whatever the next few years bring, I will be able to deal with it because I have you in my life.

Have a wonderful Christmas, and may I wish you a very happy and healthy 2012.

Love always, Ali xx

Meeting Il Divo, visiting Amica and more...

2011-12-09T17:07:43+00:00

It's a good job you can't see me as I write because I look like the wreck of The Hesparus this morning - I've actually got bed hair!! :)

That's something to celebrate of course: the non matching bedsocks (worn in Colin's absence I hasten to add) and thermal nightie don't look all that alluring either, but are necessary as it's a tad parky today. I'm trying to leave the heating off overnight, which is fine when I have my usual three hot flushes a night, but not so good when I wake up with a blue nose!

There was of course very little to grumble about last week when I met Il Divo - what lovely gentlemen they were too, and very complimentary - which was a bonus! It was extraordinary to hear the power of their voices in our somewhat small studio, and the hairs on the back of my neck - which have only just grown back - were left standing! They said they'd definitely come back another time, so here's hoping!

Along with working I've managed to visit Amica, our lovely model who was also diagnosed with breast cancer this year. She's doing very well following her reconstruction and is now on a different drug to herceptin to keep things in check.

She wanted to see how my hair was growing back and so I took my wig off and put it on the windowsill - next to hers! Looks funny doesn't it :) She's hoping to come back to work soon too which will be lovely, and I've passed all your good wishes on to her.

My CT bone scan was all clear and now I just have to wait for the MRI results of the breast tissue, but am expecting good news there too as it would be staggering to think anything sinister could still be lurking after that much chemo!

I'd be fibbing though if I said I wasn't a little nervous when once more, face down, I was manouvered into the MRI tunnel. Luckily I could just about hear Bobby Darin singing Mack the Knife over the constant banging, and before I knew it I was out.

Those nerves were nothing though compared to the stomach-churning, body-shaking ones I had on Monday night before I read at the Candlelight Carol Concert in Knightsbridge. Breast Cancer Care has asked me to write and read a Reflection for them, looking back over the last year. St Paul's is a beautiful church, and I was thrilled to meet Zoe Wanamaker, Bill Paterson, and the delightful Dan Stevens - who stars as Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey.

My dear friends Ros and Jo both came along and as a complete surprise so did Lucy and Richard! Colin was there with me and held my juddering candle as I crept up the carpeted steps to the Lecturn. Suddenly I was nine years old in St. Mary's Church East Molesey, where I had read from the bible for an Easter Service.

Then, I'd read it through without stumbling, although I was a little worried that the word 'loin' might have caused a ripple. This time, as I laid my speech out in front of me I looked up and into the congregation and a feeling of peace came over me... might sound silly but I felt instantly calmer, and apart from a slight wobble towards the end, I managed to read it through without crying. All was quiet as I walked back to my seat and as I saw my friends and family smiling at me, I knew that this last year, with its fear and uncertainty had been lain to rest.... the future is so much brighter :)

After the service, Colin and I were invited to the Lanesborough Hotel for a champagne supper where we had a wonderful night with most of the management from Breast Cancer Care and the delightful fashion designer Hilary Alexander.

After a delicious meal, I was given the microphone and had to draw the raffle.... even though I picked a diner completely at random, can you believe the first ticket out was Colin's!! I put it back of course and someone else won the midweek stay in the Cotswolds, but it was anything other than a disappointing night for me....

The auction that followed saw my man bidding on a trip to Sydney via Dubai, which he won!!!! We will be heading out to Oz in the Spring before my op and I will finally see my brother after seven years - I am soooo excited :) We'll also visit Colin's brother who lives in Tasmania and owns a vineyard there - could be interesting?! How lucky am I :)

Today I'm visiting properties with Sam who is looking to move and then this evening we're off to Greenwood Towers for supper with Deb and Paul, Kathy and Olley and Claire and Dan... I'll make sure I take my camera!

I'll leave you with a picture of a rather unsual creature who lives up the lane... I've never seen a black squirrel before, but this one is particulary friendly although bloomin' fast on his feet, so rather difficult to photograph. Any idea where he might have come from? I thought we only had red and grey squirrels in England??

As always, thank you for keeping in touch with me, and for keeping me in touch with your lives. I hope that all is good in your world as Ali's Army marches towards a New Year :)

Have a great week, Love Ali xxx

My Il Divo rendevous

2011-11-23T17:25:47+00:00

Hi everyone,

Well it's been full speed ahead since I came back to work, and although a little exhausting in some respects, such fun!!! I have to admit to being a tad disgruntled when I received a Congestion Charge Penalty through the post - I've only been to work five times but forgot on one of the days to pay it! They've set up a new system now though whereby you register with them, and they bill you every time you come into our great city... a pound less a day, and no risk of a fine... shame I hadn't done it sooner eh? :)

We had a cracking weekend at my sister's 50th birthday, and I got to spend time with my nieces whom I've not seen for over a year, and their lovely young men. I made Jenny a ribbon cake - much the same as the one I made for Kathy - and having got it safely settled on the cake board, I then had to work out how to transport it in one piece to meet Colin and then drive down to Hampshire. I was doing so well... then a rather tight right hand bend and I felt a thud behind my seat… Trying to levitate a large cake with one hand while driving is not recommended, and so I had to pull into a bus stop and observe the damage.

Someone was definitely smiling on me as apart from one edge having lost its ribbon and flowers, the icing had sort of slid rather than broken off, so I wedged it back together, moved the centre flowers and hey presto! Mercifully the light in Jenny's house was set to 'ambient' so few folk were any the wiser.

As the evening wore on, we wore holes in the floor gyrating to the likes of Earth Wind and Fire, but a touch of something less frantic would have been perfect to end the evening... Had I have managed to get my hands on Il Divo's brand new album we could have whiled away the wee small hours being entertained by these four delightful young men.

But never mind just listening to them, they are going to be with me this Thursday at 7pm and will sing two songs from their new album especially for us :) How fab is that?! And it's come about as a direct result of your requests. They are without doubt THE most requested artists EVER here at QVC. I am brushing up on my Spanish, French, Swiss and American (although ‘Howdy’ is relatively easy to remember), and very much looking forward to meeting the Armani clad Maestros. All I have to do now is decide which wig to wear… Mmmmmm red or blonde? Decisions, decisions :) I'll see you there!

Love Ali xxxx

What a week!

2011-11-11T17:41:01+00:00

I can't tell you the number of times I've thought about coming back to work and being on air - sometimes with apprehension, other times with longing, but always knowing that as soon as I was sitting there in front of you, I would be able to put the last nine months behind me :)

Of course Lucy's wedding was the pre-cursor, and once we were home from Cornwall I made the call and then the decision to put my life back on track. I have to say that all those behind the scenes at QVC who have kept a gentle network of support there for me could not have been kinder, and although I'll start with just a couple of days a week, I'm hoping that by December it'll be more.

There are two entrances to QVC at opposite ends of the building, and I chose to park at the far end so that I could sort of sneak in with my bags and my wig, before meeting up with everyone. It's not that I didn't want to see them, it's just that I wanted to take a deep breath...

I'd been shopping the day before to buy something new to wear. I talked to Kathy as I was worried about my arm and hand looking ridiculous, or that the rather large dent on the right side of my chest would show... oh, and that my make-up would melt if I had a hot flush!

Delighted though to have my eyelashes and brows almost fully grown back (thanks hugely to Revitalash!) I have also developed a fuzzy covering over my face and neck - blonde fuzz yes, but more like kitten fur than peach I felt... I was worried I might look like the bearded lady if there was a close up shot of any earrings! :) Of course Kathy's response was as always - kind and considerate... "Ali nobody cares about those things, it will ALL be fine" - bless her :)

And of course she was right. I saw Charlie first and he chose the dress I wore and, as you will have seen, was an absolute star during the show. Wendy backstage was there with a fan for the first sign of a hot flush, my Producer and Director were brill too... and as I said on air, it was like coming home :)

Thank you ALL so much for the lovely texts - I do want you to know that even though we weren't able to read them all out (well over 300 of them!) Gavin very kindly printed them off for me and so I DID receive them all, and read them all, and they made a perfect end to the day.

So much has happened to change my life over the last nine months, but with your help and support I have always held on tightly to the positive, and know that with my treatment, I have been given the VERY best chance of getting better. Being back at work this week, has compounded my sense of relief and luck at having been given that chance.

Something else that has really cheered me is to have been asked to make another speech at the Breast Cancer Care Carol Concert by Candlelight on the 5th December at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge. I am really honoured to have been chosen for this very special occasion, and plan to start writing my Reflection this weekend...

I thought I'd leave you with a few more photos from Lucy's wedding, and hope that you'll find time to send me your photos for my gallery... thanks to Jo, Liz, Gail, Debz and Ainzley, Sue, Helen and Olivia, and Babs - you're ALL looking great. I'll see you next Tuesday at midday with my snuggly Emu boots on!

With my love, Ali xx

The Perfect Day...

2011-10-27T10:58:59+01:00

Almost a year to the day since Richard proposed to Lucy, the long awaited Wedding Weekend had finally arrived, and with our car packed to the gunnels, we set off with Ros and Chris to the tiny village of St. Neot in Cornwall.

I thought I'd start with that bit so the madness of packing, wrapping, remembering and forgetting wouldn't take centre stage, as I couldn't believe how much stuff we had to take!!

My hat box was about the size of a baby seat, and then my wig on its stand had to be balanced carefully so as not to damage the beautiful 'up do'.

As Sam and Jack were heading down separately I had Jack's suit and shoes as well as all ours, and then what with the presents and Ros and Chris' bags, you'd think we were moving house rather than spending two nights away… but we made good time on the journey and only had to stop twice.

I have to admit to feeling somewhat victimised by a large poster on the back of the loo door that read 'Phew, made it!”'followed by 'It isn't normal to plan your journey around toilet stops!' …says who?? It's always worked for me! Our sat nav took us over the Bodmin moor and having negotiated the ponies and the cattle grids, we heard it tell us 'You have reached your destination!'

Arriving at the venue

The venue for the wedding was a large collection of converted barns with an adjacent farmhouse where dinner on the Friday night was served. The wedding was to take place in the largest of these barns, and the view across the moors was beautiful - I could feel the fizz of excitement as soon as I got out of the car!

I hadn't mentioned before, but a couple of months ago, Richard asked Colin to be his best man, so from 2pm on Friday Colin was involved in meeting the registrar and running through the schedule for the next day… all very exciting.

My mum and sister arrived not long after us, followed closely by Lucy's dad's family whom I've only seen a couple of times in the last twenty odd years, but it was such a happy occasion to all be together that the intervening years just melted away. Dinner that evening gave us all a chance to catch up, and although Sam and Jack had a little engine trouble, with Colin's help they arrived safely albeit a little late!

Lucy had breakfast in her room on Saturday morning, but the rest of bundled into the farmhouse again and were treated to a magnificent fry up. I breathed a sigh of relief that my outfit was in a stretch material as sausage and mash the night before had lain rather heavily on my waistline!!

As Lucy had her best friend Mel with her and Colin was with Richard talking about manly things and responsitilities, I wasn't needed until around midday. So I went for a long walk in the sunshine with my sister, Linda, Ros, Jo, and Chris. Once back though, it was time to get changed!

The girls hadn't seen my outfit, but they said all the right things, and apart from a shaky moment involving glue and false eyelashes I was ready.

Walking across to Lucy's barn I looked up over the moors, and remembered watching the clouds move across the sky on the day she was born.

I will never forget her being handed to me; this tiny bundle with dark hair and blue eyes. Her little fingernails were like shells and she was perfect… 'my Sweetpea' I called her. And now here she was - 26 years later, with a degree, a head of department teaching job, about to be married to dear Richard.

The day I had been focusing on throughout this year, had finally arrived…

The wedding

Lucy looked simply beautiful. The dress, shoes, her hair, the special button and lace bouquet and headdress were perfect, and as she walked towards us with her Dad I thought my heart would burst with happiness :-)

Richard, too, looked very dapper in his suit, and the smile he gave her when she stood beside him lit up the room. Their service wasn't made up of the traditional vows and readings. Instead Jo the registrar talked of love, and families and strength and happiness and there wasn't a dry eye in the house!

Hannah, Lucy's sister, read a piece from one of my children's favourites books 'The Velveteen Rabbit' which reduced Sam and Jack to tears, and then I had to gather myself to read the verse Lucy had chosen for me 'I will be Here'… something I have prayed for so often over the last nine months. The rings were exchanged, the register signed and my little girl had become Richard's wife!

The rest of the day passed in a whirl. The food was fantastic, champagne flowed, and everyone got on famously. We even had dancing at the end of the night, by which time I had removed my fabulous hat.

As Colin and I whirled around the floor, I was unprepared for the final 'dip' and as he expertly dropped me backwards, my wig flew off!!! Laugh?? We were all in hysterics!! A fitting end to the best of days…

I hope that you enjoy the photographs, and thank you all SO much for your good wishes, love and prayers for both Lucy and Richard and me too.

As the registrar said, to love and be loved is all that really matters… and so I send my love to you, until next time, Ali xxxx

Thank you for all your support!

2011-10-13T15:01:22+01:00

Such is the excitement following last night BCC show that I can't sleep, and so I've downloaded all my photographs and wanted to share them with you while I say THANK YOU!!

Unbelievable support from you all to bring the amount raised to the highest total ever, and as the phone lines stayed open after 'normal' programming was resumed with Ali Young, I am certain we will have set the bar even higher!

What this money will bring to other women who, like me, have needed support is vital and your money is so much appreciated. I know I managed to say thank you to a number of 'Ali's Army', but obviously not all of you, for which I can only apologise, as you have ALL been inspirational to me…

Thank you too for the incredible response to the speech I made at the BCC Fashion Show last week… I am humbled by the things you say, and moved to tears to read all your comments. You are so kind, and I didn't expect in a million years to have such a response. It was an amazing evening, and I felt afterwards that I'd really turned a corner…

Being back at QVC Towers last night brought about a mix of emotions. Can it be a whole year since I was all dressed and ready, heading upstairs with Craig to 'man' the auction and donation lines? I remember Mum didn’t want me to mention her recent diagnosis and treatment, and I was worried I might cry with the emotion of it all…

So much has happened since then, but the buzz around the building last night was no different. Being in our presenter lounge rushing about getting changed, collecting notes and catching up with everyone was wonderful. I had my make-up expertly applied by Amanda Harrington, and as I sat in mine and Kathy's dressing room, the woman looking back at me in the mirror smiled, and reminded me of who I was, and who I am determined to be again…

I'm keeping everything crossed that I'll be back on the schedule in November, but in the meantime I am getting ready for Lucy's big day. A week tomorrow we'll heading down to Cornwall - can't wait. Thank you for the photos you've sent in so far - and please don't be shy!! I need plenty more to make my 'Rogues Gallery' and then it will be there on the wall in my dressing room to remind me how lucky I am to have you all in my life.

Have a great weekend, and thank you again.

Love Ali xx
P.S. Here's my speech for any of you that missed it...

Having trouble viewing this video? See YouTube's Help page

My holiday and some big news...

2011-09-15T10:01:51+01:00

I'm sorry I've left it so long to post up my holiday pics, and to let you know how it all went. Thanks soooooooo much though for all your lovely comments and kind words following the last blog - onwards and upwards definitely the watch words.

Well, Brighton was blustery but we had a ball :) Where we were staying was just off the seafront, but a bit of a walk to the pier and the Lanes, so we had quite a few bracing moments!! We ate well though, having devoured an Indian feast on the first night, followed by pub grub and a final night in Jamie's Italian. We toured The Lanes, and spent ages in the arcade on the pier, and even braved the beach bar on Saturday night - great fun! The next time we're all together will be at Lucy's wedding which of course is heading ever nearer... :)

On Bank Holiday Monday, the children headed home and Colin and I went first to see my mum and then to stay overnight with my sister. We had invested in a brand new Trivial Pursuit which we set up after supper, but yours truly only lasted the first 10 mins before falling asleep on the sofa - such a lightweight! Personally I blame the sea air....

On Tuesday Colin and I set off in the sunshine to Swanage. It was beautiful, and we found a lovely B&B and ate fishcakes and chips on the front. There's a dinky little pier there and on every one of the wooden slats making up the walkway is a bronze plaque with a mix of funny, poignant and sometimes romantic messages on them. Such a great thing to do I thought (heck of a job for those who polish them though!).

The next day we decided to take the steam train to Corfe Castle. It only takes about half an hour, is very bouncy and noisy, but great fun. The last time I had seen the castle was in 1972 from a field where I was camping with the girl guides. We'd pitched our tent on a slope unfortunately, and as the night was hot, and the tent brailed, we awoke to find Mai Mai Lillywhite wrapped around the flag pole in the middle of the field, having rolled out of the tent in the night :)

We had a guided tour around the ruins and had a fantastic view over the Dorset countryside from the top. From there we headed towards Lulworth Cove where Lucy had found us a little hotel just by the bay. The weather was corking, and Colin and I sat on the pebbles and watched the sea for several hours.

We had a lovely meal in a local hotel, and the next morning set off up the cliff path to Durdle Door... I think I thought I was fitter than I was, because although I made it there and back I felt absolutely shattered for the rest of the day. Mind you Portland Bill was our next stop and thanks to Charlie recommending the Lobster Pot Cafe there, we were fortified by a fabulous cream tea :)

Many calories later we climbed the 900 and something steps (its 136 feet high!) to the top of the lighthouse and we could see forever. Good job they have a spare bulb at the top - wouldn't fancy hacking down those stairs to get a spare one!

We drove on to Weymouth from there and decided to stay the night in one of the many colourful B&Bs that line the front. I've never been to Weymouth but we both loved it. A Victorian seaside town, it still has a Punch and Judy show daily and traditional deckchairs, which require a Mensa test to put up!

Friday morning dawned and we were treated to a cobalt blue sky and gentle breezes and Colin went a golden brown colour while I dozed in my cardigan :) We left just after lunch, and although the journey home was slow, the sun continued to shine and somehow it felt as though we'd been away far longer than a week...

I managed to get the washing out, and shopping in before Sunday when I opened my little front door to my friends from QVC :) It was so good to see them all and even though it was pouring with rain for most of the day, the sun came out for us towards teatime and everyone made the best of it.

Simon, Pipa, Claire, Jilly, Claudia and Sara all brought their children and it was amazing to have the cottage filled with their chatter and laughter. The grown ups chatter and laughter was equally therapeutic - I've missed them all so much....

I went for my radiotherapy mapping on the Monday and have to admit to being somewhat excited when they told me I was to have a tattoo! I thought my mum had been a tad conservative in opting for just two black dots and thought I might go for an orchid or something pretty. Ok, so it's a dot for a reason... although if you joined all three of my dots you'd get a kind of short pyramid...

I started radiotherapy this Monday, and although it's completely painless I'm not all that keen. It so bloomin' cold in the room (cos the machine heats up) and you have to stay absolutely still for about 10 mins.

I had an itch on my nose on the first day which was torture, and today I have a fabulously huge bruise across my chest where my port was taken out the day before, so keeping my arms above my head was a tad uncomfortable. That and my right arm with its bloomin' lymphodema which would put Popeye to shame... still three down and only 12 to go...

And now for the big news!!!! I am to make a speech at the Breast Cancer Care Fashion Show on the 5th October! So flattered to have been asked, and you'll be able to see it on the night of 12th October when QVC have their own Breast Cancer Care fundraising evening.

I'm planning to pop in that night to man the phones for a while, so do call in and we could have a chat! I'll write again before then because I may well need your help in choosing what to wear for the big night.... I'm thinking floor length hoodie at the moment :)

Sending you my love,
Ali xx