Five years at QVC!

Wow. Five whole years at QVC and so much has happened in that time! I always say that how I came to be a presenter on QVC is a real 'Cinderella' story.

I was working as a dental nurse when one of the companies we sold toothpaste for asked me to represent them on QVC as a guest for 'Janina whitening toothpaste'.

I did it as a favour and was paid in toothpaste! Well from there I was asked if I would audition as a QVC presenter and several months later. Out of thousands of applicants, to my bemused surprise, I got the job!

I was looking back through some old photos and thought I'd share these with you. I always try to appreciate every moment and never forget where I came from and how blessed I have been. When I saw my lighted mirror in my dressing room I was so excited! Don't ask me why, it's just kind of special.

Presenters' Christmas lunch

I always think it's a shame we presenters don't get more catch up time, sometimes we're just ships that pass in the night...or 'blurs' that pass by the dressing rooms! Well Christmas is always a very good reason to get together with friends so we took some time out and went to lunch together.

Obviously as QVC is on 17 hours live every day we couldn't all meet up in one go, as someone has to hold the fort back at QVC Towers, but we had quite a gathering last week with many faces you know very well; Anthony, Julia, Charlie, Sara, Jill, Julian, Anne and myself.

We did a 'Secret Santa' but we always end up telling each other who bought what so it's not that secret in the end. I was delighted when Ant ended up with mine as part of it was a pair of 'beer goggles' and I knew he'd be up for modelling them even though he's a teetotaller, doesn't he look fab?

My favourite and funniest Christmas gifts

Hi everyone,

I can't believe how Christmas has crept up on us so fast again. I'm just off out to get the kids their advent calendars and we'll be putting up our tree and all the decorations tomorrow night - can't wait! I even ordered kitty advent calendars for the cats, Pixie & Popsie (left), from the Cats Protection League!

I just wondered what your worst and best Christmas presents have been. I would say my best was a bracelet that my very thoughtful man, Steve, had made for me by a very well-known Welsh jeweller called Rhiannon.

I think the most humourous presents I get are always from my son, Tom, who's now 16. He has a very quirky and alternative sense of humour and buys me completely inappropriate cards like 'Happy birthday to a special one year old boy'.

He has even wrapped things up from his room as presents, like old action figures he obviously no longer plays with - very random!

I'm looking forward to having a good old giggle hearing about your best and funniest gifts!

Love Catherine x

My favourite winter moments

Hi everyone, Catherine here,

I'm a real summer lover as I hate being cold, but I love getting wrapped up really warm and watching fireworks with a steaming hot drink in hand. I also love spending time at Steve's (my partner) family home in Wales. Their house sits on top of a hill overlooking lush green fields and winding roads with no street lights, which means it is pitch black except for the stars on a clear night.

We sit out on the swings with hot chocolate and Cointreau, and stare up at the stars marvelling at the  peace and perfection of it all. We've had so many good times there. One year we took the children and their friends to stay and we set light lanterns off into the sky together with positive messages attached to them. Yes, we are such soppy hippies at heart but these little moments make life sweeter.