It’s a joy this week to see My Weekly focus so much attention on plants and flowers. The winter, due to our situation, felt like the longest I have ever known and as I look across at bare trees from my window, I’m dreaming of the day they burst into colour.

I’m passionate about improving our dexterity and in my opinion, the best way of doing this is – walking.

Do you remember back in the day before eBay we used to do swaps at school? I swapped a Donny Osmond poster for a pair of Osmond socks, and a blue Mary Quant eyeshadow for an equally vibrant purple – because as all Osmond fans know, purple is Donny’s favourite colour! As I’d entered a competition in Radio Luxemburg’s FAB208 magazine to meet him, I needed to get my look together for when it was announced I was the lucky winner.

MY WEEKLY

Books Books Books!

March 2, 2021

Hello

Oh, joy of joys, one of our My Weekly topics this week is books! I absolutely love reading, and being the child of a time before 24-hour TV and smartphones I always had my nose in a book.

How’s life? I hear on the QT that some readers had told the My Weekly team that lockdown lethargy had been taking hold and they are struggling to summon their usual enthusiasm and motivation when it comes to home life, domestic tasks, keeping in touch with the outside world, bothering with their appearance – the light at the end of the tunnel is flickering.

Well let’s get the elephant in the room dealt with straight away. I’m struggling with lockdown 3 far more than I ever did during 1 and 2. The word I’m using to describe it for all of us is Attrition – dictionary definition, The process of reducing something’s strength or effectiveness through sustained attack or pressure.

Well, in light of a few articles in the magazine this week, I thought we should talk about lists.

Sitting at my computer with Soho the Frenchie balancing on my knee, I’m thinking, with the help of a fine red wine, what shall we talk about this week?

Well, have you taken them all down and had a massive clear up yet?

It’s years since I’ve said this and meant it. I’m enjoying and looking forward to Christmas this year – and the reason? Because for the first time it doesn’t feel like a greed fest.

Hope you’ve had a good week, I’ve been beavering away but, like all of us, crossing the days off until we’re allowed “Out Out” – a phrase my 90-year-old mum used the other day to prove she’s up to date with street talk!

I can’t believe how many people – including myself – have said, “lets get those decorations up a little earlier than usual” – partly because some of us have a little extra time on our hands, but also because there’s nothing like a few baubles to put that childlike smile on our little faces and lift our spirits.

During our weekly chit-chat, Editor Stuart asked me to give you a few Christmas tips. Well, I’m your girl for that task, as under my writing belt I have my book The Perfect Christmas which is awash with tips on how to survive and relish the festive season. So this week, next, and all the others until the big day, you’ll get a little nugget from me.

I have a confession to make… this weekend, wooed by discounts and offers, I pulled out my Christmas list and hit “Add To Basket”.

said last week I wouldn’t moan so I won’t, even though it’s taking my complete reserve of resolve not to as I’m a total anti- lockdowner. That on one side (she says with a high- pitched voice and pursed lips), let’s get on with Christmas preparations as best we can, to keep ourselves sane in this crazy world.

Well I had a rubbish week for two reasons. One, I had the back window of my car smashed in by thieves who then got into my boot and took a loved Mulberry holdall. Nothing in it of immediate use to them like money, laptop, iPad or phone – just personal stuff like make-up, hairdryer, brushes, notebook and a jacket. In fact the damage to fix the vandalism was more costly than the haul.

Yes, I have been having plumbing issues this week, but that’s another story! But back to my question… do you wake with the intention of breathing life into your day, or do you wake under a cloud thinking about all the things that are wrong with your life?

I was listening to one of my favourite breakfast shows, Chris Evans on Virgin, and the big discussion was Britain Bouncing Back. It’s a phrase I’ve been hearing a lot.

I wanted to have a quick chat about your book of life… We all have one. It’s your very own imaginary scrap book lodged in your head, into which you paste everything that’s happened in your life, good and bad. Then every so often for no apparent reason you go through it. It’s a little trip down memory lane, but here is where the problem lies.