I am so sorry for the radio silence this last three weeks, especially as I had promised to let you know my granddaughter’s name as soon as I did! It was just after I posted the last blog that Sam and Elise named their baby girl Florence Marie, which we all agree is absolutely beautiful, and was one of three names they had originally suggested. I think it’s lovely that some of us know the name of our child the minute we meet them, although others need to get to know their baby before they feel a name fits.
Personally, I think Florence suits her really well, and according to legend, it suggests that she will be “prosperous and flourishing, and also kindhearted with a natural inclination towards helping others”. Hard to believe she is now a month old, feeding very well and gaining weight beautifully. Elise is healing after her Caesarian and Sam has returned to work. Time moves so quickly, doesn’t it, and in these first few weeks, babies can change enormously but Sam and Elise had some professional photographs taken just last week, and I thought I’d share some of them with you. It’s wonderful to see her beautiful eyes open and I’m particularly fond of the photograph of the three of them which I plan to print and frame. I’m so proud of the way they’ve settled into becoming a little family and there is a wonderful sense of calm and contentment in the home whenever we visit, which is as often as possible! 😁
So how are you? I do hope you had an opportunity to enjoy the stunning weather we’ve had over the last couple of days or more? So good to see the sun, but more importantly feel the warmth of it on our skin. I’ve been spoilt because we’ve just returned from a six day break in Gozo and the weather there was delightful! It’s a tiny island off Malta and a place Colin and I’ve been visiting for the last seven years to spend time with our friends, Cordelia and Barry. Cordelia, who models for QVC, lives out there with her husband Barry, and she invited us to a surprise birthday party she’d organised for him on Saturday 15th March – the day before mine! It involved 27 people in total – at least 10 of us flying in from different countries! How on earth she kept it a secret I don’t know as she first suggested it in January this year! She, Barry and I had all missed out on our big birthday celebrations in 2020 because of the pandemic and so she decided to redress the balance and organise this fabulous surprise.
We flew out to Malta two days earlier and stayed close to our hotel until the Saturday night when, having been ushered into a converted wine cellar in a beautiful restaurant, along with 20 or so other guests, we waited for Barry to arrive. The look on his face when the doors opened is one I will never forget, especially as the first people he saw were his two sons, whom he’d not seen for five years! What a night of celebration! So many charming friendly and interesting people, a table full of delightful food and wine, and great conversation. Even though Colin and I already knew a few of Cordelia and Barry’s friends from previous visits, by the end of the night we’d made many more! The festivities continued the following day with a barbecue (this time for my birthday) at Chris and Helen’s home on the island – more food, more wine, and a whole lot of fun! We were blessed with lovely weather and I even managed to sit out in the sun for a few hours which was glorious! We came home on Tuesday and will be having a family party with all the children and grandchildren on the 29th of March – being 65 is working out rather well! Have you ever organised a surprise party or been the person who was surprised? Do let me know, and we can compare notes!
Actually there was another birthday surprise in London just days before we flew to Malta – this time with ex colleagues from QVC! Mark West turned 50 on the 10th of March, and is someone I’ve known for 25 years – ever since I first started working for QVC. He was a producer then, but moved on and up to become our presenter manager for before leaving to begin his own business in property and rentals. It was so good to see him again, along with Debbie, Jilly, Dale, Jackie and many more old friends I’d not seen for quite some time.
It always feels like I’ve never been away and it was great to share memories and plenty of stories with everyone. I didn’t stay too late but in my haste, left my phone in the taxi having used it to pay for my fare! I genuinely hadn’t realised how incredibly vulnerable I was without it, unable to recall any telephone numbers, not even Colin’s! Luckily I’d bought a return rail ticket so I was able to get the train and then a taxi back home. Colin was worried as I’d not been in touch and he had planned to pick me up from the station, so it was a great relief to both of us that I’d got back! Luckily we were able to locate my phone and the taxi driver was decent enough to drop it with friends of ours who work in London, so we headed back into town the following day to pick it up. I hope it’s never happened to you, but I have found it a salutary lesson, especially as I have so many things downloaded onto my phone, including all my banking, bank cards and savings, and all my precious photographs, which I can of share with you here! great memories of some great times – I hope you enjoy them.
I’ve started listening to another Liane Moriarty book – Truly Madly Guilty – again expertly written with some truly memorable characters and a very complex plot! Colin, I have also been enjoying on TV The Great British Menu which has featured some truly outstanding chefs! None of your baked beans on toast here! 😃 We also enjoyed the remake of Agatha Christie’s Target Point on TV – I can never work out who’s done it when she’s written it. Any recommendations?
I must go now, but I will endeavor to get another blog written in the next fortnight – as you can see it’s been a bit of a mad month for me! But thank you for your lovely birthday wishes and the comments last time – I do hope that for those of you have been struggling, things have eased for you now.
Do keep in touch with me here or on Facebook and Instagram,
With my love,
Ali XX
Elaine SALLIS says
Hi Ali. Your granddaughter is gorgeous and I love her name. It looks like you had a lovely birthday. It was mine a couple of weeks ago and I had a lovely day. I will be 70 next year and I can’t believe it, where do the years go? I can’t believe Poppy is going to be 15 in June it seems like yesterday that I told you about her birth. Love Elaine
Alison Keenan says
Hi Elaine, lovely to her from you, and thank you for your birthday wishes. I definitely had a very special time away, and was then lucky enough to be spoilt last weekend by all the children and grandchildren when they came to visit. I can’t believe you’re going to be 70 next year- how time flies. And yes, I remember you emailing me to let me know that Poppy had been born… 15 in June! That’s incredible – almost as crazy as Honey being 10 in May! Thank you for keeping in touch, and I hope you’ve been enjoying this beautiful weather. With love, Ali xx
Kay Rowe says
Hope you had a lovely birthday belated birthday wishes. I was 65 on the 3rd of March I can’t believe how time flies. Sending love to you and your lovely family. Your photos are lovely. Congratulations on the birth of your granddaughter beautiful name x
Alison Keenan says
Hello Kay, belated birthday wishes for you – we are the same age! How lovely. I’m so glad you enjoy the blog and also the photographs and thank you for your kind words about Florence‘s name. I have been able to spend more time with her over the last couple of weeks and it definitely suits her. I do hope you’ve been able to enjoy this lovely sunshine, love Ali xx
Sonia Hughes says
Thank you for your lovely blogg.
So happy Florence arrived safely and is doing really well. It goes so quick and they change a lot early on.
Leo our 5th grandchild arrived by c section on his due date 11th March after several failed inductions.
He is gorgeous and was 8lb 10 so a good size too.
Unfortunately he had some breathing problems on Wed so was rushed back to hospital. He’s had lots of tests and ghey can’t find any problem but said newborns sometimes do this. It’s so scary. They have a baby monitor which goes on his ankle and monitors breathing and oxygen etc which is reassuring.
I am so pleased you had a lovely time on your birthday and going to Gozo to the party. I remember Cordelia on Qvc.
I still watch and buy lots😊.
It is our ruby anniversary this Sunday. I would love to go away but my husband is a homeward.
I may ask my daughters if they fancy going for a massage or facial and maybe afternoon tea. J know I am going to be upset and disappointed if we dong do anythjng. 40 years is a long time.
He has started his jabs for his crohns and did his first on his own on Thursday and made a mess of it, most of the liquid ran down his leg😱. They are very expensive too, so not much help for next 2 weeks.
I have a few days off after Tuesday so I hope weather is good.
You are looking really well and nothing like 65.
I find the grandchildren keep you going and are such a pleasure.
Enjoy the next few weeks and I will look forward to your next blogg.
Sorry I don’t know how to send you a pic of Leo.
With love& best wishes
Sonia xx😘🌷
Alison Keenan says
Dear Sonia, I am so glad to know that your grandson Leo arrived safely after the C section – the day after my son Sam’s birthday and he weighed 8lbs 9ozs! I am though very sorry to know about the worrying time that followed and relieved that he is now being monitored with this clever piece of technology. Thank heavens medical science has moved on! Yes, my birthday was great fun and then I celebrated with all the children and grandchildren last weekend which was also special. We combined it with Mother’s Day which was lovely.
I am sorry that your husband has been struggling with his injections. I do remember having To give myself injections when I was on chemotherapy and they can be quite trying. I really hope that he feels better in himself and wanted to celebrate 40 years of marriage with you last Sunday. That is really quite something – so many years, your children and your grandchildren to be able to share it with too. The weather has been fabulous all this week, and looks to be staying that way for the next week too! I’ll be posting a new blog the beginning of next week, so will look forward to hearing from you then. Take care Sonia, love Ali xx
F Lees says
Delighted you had a lovely few days in Gozo.
Xx
Alison Keenan says
Thank you! If it’s a country you’ve not visited yet, then I’d highly recommend Malta :). I hope all is well with you and thank you for keeping in touch. Ali xx
Mary Morphy says
Good morning Alison and a very belated Happy 65th birthday! It sounds like you’ve had some wonderful celebrations with friends and I’m sure you’re looking forward to your family gathering on Saturday. My 59th birthday is Wednesday, muted celebrating because me and my friend Beryl the boot are still very much in healing stage so I won’t be throwing any shapes on any dance floors just yet.
We threw my mum and dad many surprise parties..one for their 25th wedding anniversary, one for their Ruby wedding anniversary which was at my house and I bought loads of red flowers which we decorated the house with plus loads of red lights..looked a bit like a brothel but tasteful! Mum and dad couldn’t believe we’d got them twice and then we did one for their 45th Wedding Anniversary..which they were visibly shocked with and couldn’t believe wedding it for a 3rd time..such wonderful memories though and my dad died 18 months before their 50th Anniversary so it was the last big one we celebrated.
Your granddaughter Florence is beautiful and her parents are glowing with pride..I’m glad they’re settled and that Elise is healing well, it takes time and I remember I thought I was ready to lift a kettle all those years back when i had mine with Chloe ( not easy with a 2 year old either) and rapidly decided I wasn’t!
I watch a lot on Netflix so you’ll find loads to watch..I think Victoria was on Netflix. A must! And I also enjoyed The Crown..just finished Adolescence, and need to start something new..I have been recommended Zero Day…about a blackout outage I think..looks good.
I’ve had a potter around the garden this morning without my crutches abd did a bit of tidying up but stopped as soon as my achilles started to get sore. Very frustrating as there is lots to do but i need to be careful .I’ve already started a ‘To do list when I’m recovered ‘ list which includes spraying all the paving, patio and drive with Wet and Forget..I may do a bit Easter but see how I go. I’m also desperate to start driving but until Beryl comes off that’s a definite no go!
Well I’m now going to do John’s accounts and prepare for the tax return in a couple of weeks time..I’m so Rock n Roll!!
Much love Mary
Alison Keenan says
Dear Mary, as always great to hear from you, although I am sorry that Beryl is still ever present and impeding your birthday celebrations, your time behind the wheel and in the garden! It will be worth it in the end but I fully appreciate how frustrating it is in the meantime. I loved hearing about you mum and dad’s surprise parties – incredible that you caught them out three times and what incredibly special memories to be able to hold tight to…. Thank you for your kind words about baby Florence – she is such a delight, and Sam and Elise are so generous with their time so I get to see her a lot. Completely empathise with you following a Caesarean – There always seems to be so much to do with other children, but it was a special time, and we just get through it don’t we?! I have still yet to watch Adolescence as Colin is not keen so will be one I watch on my own along with Yellowstone on Netflix.
Great idea to make a list of all the things you want to do once you are more mobile, but in the meantime, rest up and get those pesky accounts out the way! I hate this time of year for that reason! Hopefully a new blog with you by the beginning of next week, but thank you for keeping in touch. With my love, Ali xxx
Tina T says
Hi Ali, Florence Marie is a lovely name for a very beautiful baby! I’m glad that everything went well and that Sam and Elise are settling into parenthood well. I can’t believe, as you say, that Florence is already a month old!
Belated birthday wishes to you! How lovely to go to Gozo for six days – it looks so nice there.
I was lucky to have nice weather in the Cotswolds and stayed at a lovely cotswold stone b&b dating back to 1605 in a little village called Temple Guiting!
I expect you’ll be going away with Edna soon? I always used to go on family holidays to Bournemouth (particularly Alum Chine) and used to love it there.
Well that’s about it for now. I’ve just started watching Protection with Siobhan Finneran which is quite good.
In the meantme, I look forward to seeing more of your lovely photos (especially of Florence)!
Take care.
Love Tina xx
Alison Keenan says
Hi there Tina, and I’m so glad you also like the name Florence – she’s already being called Flo! I’ve been lucky enough to spend a fair bit of time with them all over these last few weeks and she’s changing each time I see her!
How lovely for you to have been to Cotswolds – I can’t say I’ve ever been to Temple Guiting, but hopefully when and if we ever finish the build, that will be on my list of places to visit :). So glad you had good weather. My holiday with Edna is in June and I’m very much looking forward to it. We’ve just finished watching Protection and really enjoyed it – Siobhan is an amazing actress – I loved her in Hapy Valley (my all time favourite Drama). A new blog will be with you at the beginning of the week, and yes, definitely more photos of Florence :). You take care too, love Ali xx
Karen Brooker says
Lovely blog as ever Ali. Oh wow the baby is absolutely beautiful and i agree the picture of the three of them is stunning. What a sweetheart she is. Glad you had a lovely time on your birthday. Ive been in the wars! Popped out for some shopping, was walking back home, misjudged the kerb and went down flat on my face. Having suffered for four days i finally was referred to the urgent care centre to find out i had fractured my shoulder. Am having physio as they dont want to operate due to my health conditions. I had to laugh….my husband said oh the chocolate bar got broken!!!! I wont repeat my exact reply!! Obviously happened in the fall!! Anyway i treated myself to some Liz Earle over the weekend after watching the lovely Caroline Archer. Any excuse for a treat and my lovely son will be visiting on Sunday for Mothers Day so that will be nice. Take care and enjoy all those baby cuddles xx
Alison Keenan says
Dear Karen, Before I thank you so much for your kind words about Florence and her mum and dad I want to say how sorry I am to know of your fall and subsequent injuries! How awful for you, and I very much hope your shoulder is healing as I know how painful that can be. Good for you for treating yourself to some Liz Earle over the weekend – Caroline Archer is such a delightful guest and I have always used the brand. But I really do appreciate your kind words about beautiful Florence. She is bringing so much joy to our lives and now I’m retired I do get to spend a fair bit of time with them all which is great. I hope you were truly spoilt by your son on Mothers Day – we had as many of the family here on Saturday as possible and I spent Mother’s Day with Lucy and Honey which was delightful. Photos to follow in the new blog. Definitely enjoying the baby cuddles and sending you love, Ali xx