Is “Live Reporting” a bad thing

It was during the aftermath of the Asian Tsunami in 2004 that I first became acutely aware of rolling news.   That constant rolling news footage beamed live into our living rooms from the disaster zone.   I am sure it happened for Princess Diana’s death and funeral but I was living in Saudi Arabia then and things were a bit different.   The Tsunami was something I had an

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Last minute Christmas presents

We have had Cyber Monday, Black Friday, Mad Friday, which presumably was followed by Hangover Saturday, and also Panic Saturday and now I am introducing Oh bloody hell this is really happening and I have done bugger nothing Monday”. Or I was really organised and ordered it all on line weeks ago but now thanks to useless delivery companies I have no idea where any of the stuff is and

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Getting some me time

Exhausting isn’t it?  This holiday season.   That and the shorter days.  And the end of term.  And it feeling like forever since you had a holiday.  Or even a proper day off.   And all you can see ahead of you is a chasing your tail with getting ready for Christmas with present buying and food organising. One thing you won’t be doing, I am sure, is making sure

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Gift ideas for teenage girls

So you are stumped.   You need to buy a Christmas present for a teenage girl and you have no idea what to buy.  I know this because I have two of them.  Teenagers, that is, not presents.   The teenagers themselves are no use, you ask them and they just say “money”.   Buying for younger kids is so much easier, they either give you a list of items

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Buying appliances the Miele way — AD

Buying appliances the Miele way I am big fan of experiences.   Not only are they great fun but they create fabulous memories.  I think we have been through the Red Letter Day’s catalogue and done most of them between us, everything from driving experiences to wine tastings to photography days.  What I have never done though, is visit an experience centre.   Well not unless you count that indoor

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What are your must see films

It was during Abigail’s Party recently that it happened.   Not an actual party at Abigail’s, I don’t know anyone called Abigail.  Let alone Lawrence.  And don’t get me started on olives. Now you see if you haven’t seen that film, that last paragraph makes no sense to you.   As the references to “frozen sausage” didn’t when people on Twitter then started talking to me about Rita, Sue and

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I love days like this

When you open the curtains and see frost on the ground The sun just poking through the trees that have yet to lose the last of their leaves.     White tops along the hedge Hearing frost melting off trees and dripping onto the grass     Seeing your own breath when you breathe out. Knowing you have no plans for the whole weekend and intend to go nowhere  

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And so it begins

Well actually it doesn’t begin now, some of it starts in January. “Done my Christmas shopping in the January sales.   Saved loads of money” Oh give over.   I can’t even begin to discuss that one. The rest of it starts in about August as the bigger shops clear away all the summer furniture the Christmas displays start.   Things start creeping into the house.   Lists get written.

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Team Honk is back, Baby with a grand plan for 2015

TEAM HONK IS BACK BABY Can you believe that this time last year the relay was still just a map on my coffee table and that Annie, Penny and I were on the verge of calling the whole thing off as we couldn’t see how we could ever pull off getting a single baton from Lands End to John O Groats.   We didn’t pull it off though because whilst

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Ranty Friday — #CameronMustGo

Am I allowed to say “Back by popular demand”?   Since people have said “Oohhh… Ranty Friday is back, I loved it” when I did one last week I have decided to bring it back again.  So here goes. This is probably going to be a controversial one this week and I might regret this but here goes. All week, on Twitter, #CameronMustGo has been trending.   Well it might

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Update on the perfect stranger swap

A month ago today I shared that I was taking part in a stranger swap. Well obviously it is not about swapping an actual stranger, that would be a logistical nightmare.   But this was something organised by Oh Comely magazine and involved signing up, saying a little bit about yourself and then waiting for the bods at Oh Comely to match you with another participant.   My first blog

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Leftover turkey and ham pie recipe

Leftover turkey and ham pie If you are anything like me you will have bought a turkey that barely fits in the oven and now you are wondering what to do with all the leftovers.  This year has been a weird year for knowing how many to cater for but when it comes to the turkey I always make sure there is lots for Boxing Day and onwards.   You see, I

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