Christmas and Thursday's Today's Special Value

Isn't it amazing how we spend months planning Christmas and then it's all over in the blink of an eye! I found a turkey in the end, and even had all my presents wrapped by midday on Christmas Eve which was quite a feat for me.

I recorded The Polar Express which is a truly traditional Christmas film in which Tom Hanks plays every character with the exception of the reindeer and that's only because they don't speak, and then I forced my boys to watch it! Even though they're 19 and 15 it brought the spirit of Christmas back for them and they had already opened their stockings by 8am Christmas morning!

We had a lovely day and not only did we all get some lovely thoughtful gifts but lunch was served on time and every morsal was eaten. I have to let you know that I had some help in the kitchen, courtesy of our New Year's Day Today's Special Value. I'll be bringing it to you at midnight on the 1st January and I know you're going to love it.

Only a few days to go...

... and I've just realised that I haven't bought the turkey!! There's gammon in the freezer, and Christmas pudding in the cupboard, but I'm praying I won't have to resort to chicken pieces on Christmas Day!

I have to be honest and tell you that one year I put the turkey in the garage as there was no room in the fridge. It was meant to be below freezing overnight... unfortunately the temperature rocketed and the rather attractive pistachio green tinge that coloured our bird meant drastic measures had to be put in place, hence the chicken pieces. I thank my Girl Guide Training for that one! 

I hope you've managed to be a little more organised than me?!

Cooking for ten and the QVC Christmas party

Well it's been a busy old week and, having fully recovered, I've been dividing my time between home and QVC Towers in preparation for Christmas. 

The silicone bakeware TSV came in handy when I had to make a chocolate cake at short notice and also Sunday lunch for 10! My cake came out of the sandwich 'tins' without a hitch even though it was the first time I'd used them.

I also did roast gammon with a honey and mustard glaze, and the glaze didn't burn or turn to toffee as it has done when I've used a metal roasting dish! So not only was I spared expensive dental bills but the washing-up was a treat! 

I also made it to the annual QVC Christmas party which was fab! It's always really nice to meet up with the hundreds of other people who work behind the scenes and who I rarely get to see. Everyone looked gorgeous: a sparkling sea of satin, tafetta, velvet and lurex - and that was just the men!! 

I managed to find a lovely dress this year, wore my Honora Pearls necklace, a Diamonique watch and ring, and my fab two-tone gold sparkly bracelet which was a TSV years ago. I felt very glam!

Starting out as a radio presenter, Alison moved to television and quickly became the queen of lifestyle programming. She was a stand-in presenter, along with her former husband, for Richard and Judy on This Morning for four years...

Read Alison Keenan's full biography

My bad back keeps me home all week

Crikey it's been a long week, and one I don't wish to repeat in a hurry either! How I've missed the roar of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd - or whatever that strange expression is...

I've literally been flat on my back for the last seven days! Not sure what I did to set it all off, but what began as a stiff neck ended up with my whole spine seizing up.

I was actually at my Mum's in Waltham Abbey when it got progressively worse. She very kindly took me to her surgery where I infuriated the receiptionist as she kept calling my name and it took me forever to turn my head and acknowledge I'd heard her! I was driven back home, got into bed and stayed there... for days.

It's a funny thing when you have time away from your usual routine, you always think of all the things you should be doing. Like cleaning under the beds, defrosting the freezer or getting rid of the cobwebs you only ever see when you're flat on your back!