The daughter of jazz drummer Syd Halliday, Jilly began her career as a professional dancer. Having appeared in West End musicals - and sung in a girl band - she moved into journalism, writing reviews and articles for top London newspapers. From there she dived into the world of television and has been presenting on QVC since 1994.
Well usually I blog around midweek but this morning I just can't help myself. What on earth has happened to Simon Cowell? Has he lost his marbles? How can he drone on about how bad 'Jedward' are and then not get rid of them at the earliest opportunity?
I am totally baffled, although it did make for an easier life because Taylor, my son, was on the verge of hysteria at the thought of the boys going out. I don't think I would have ever got him to bed! But surely this can't go on much longer can it? Why do you think he kept them in?
On a calmer note, I've got some great shows this week with Pilates tonight (Monday 9th November) at 10pm followed by a superb Carole Hochman Today's Special Value tomorrow (Tuesday 10th November).
Then on Friday 13th (ooh!) there's a fantastic gemset Today's Special Value, which I've sneakily been wearing already, I wonder if you've spied it?
On that evening I'll be on for three hours with Alison Keenan from 9pm, with some great jewellery gift ideas, which I'm really looking forward to.
One of the pieces I have my eye on is the blue lapis pendant (left) - it's simply gorgeous! Keep your eye out for it on the day!
Then it will be Saturday and another round of X- Factor. Will their time be up next week?
Have a good week,
Jilly xx
Hi everyone!
We love Halloween, it's just a great excuse to have a kids' party.
We always choose a big pumpkin and hollow it out, which I think is a horrible job as it smells disgusting. Still, then you get to have a great time carving it. You can get some great stencils these days and I always trace the face on in pencil first.
A couple of years ago my children really wanted to go trick-or-treating and I must admit that I wasn't really keen so I lined up a few friends and family that we could call on.
All was going well until we got to my sister's house. She had decided to dress up too, as a surprise. So when she opened her front door, all the kids saw was this cackling old witch.
Well they screamed, I screamed, my sister screamed because we were screaming and the kids were hysterical and thought the boogeyman had taken their aunty!
I've never really been a morning person, since my days in the theatre probably, although I was always told that, as a child, I never wanted to go to bed. What I can't understand is how everyone else on the school run manages to look so lovely at that time of the morning!
Thank you to Tina and Valerie for reminiscing about Watford. I quite often go shopping there too in the Harlequin Centre. They have a great music shop where I bought my son's saxophone. He has been learning 'When The Saints Go Marching In' all summer so I'm sure that the neighbours will be pleased he's back at school so that at very least he can blast them with a whole new song!
We managed to fit a last minute couple of days at Alton Towers before school resumed and it was absolutely fantastic. It's the first time that Taylor has been tall enough to ride the big rides there and he loved it. I however was terrified.
I love rollercoasters but those big rides they have now are just amazing. The most incredible of them all was 'Air'. You really do feel like you are flying and then it flips you over and you are flying upside-down on your back. It's quite exhilarating in a really scary way.
I've posted a photograph that Taylor had made as a T-shirt (top left). I'm not sure who looks more in shock. My husband thought it was so funny that I was so frightened and yet desperately trying to smile for the camera!
We had such a great time and the kids loved the water park too. I'd love to go back but I guess our wings are clipped until half term. Still it won't be long - roll on October and then it will soon be Christmas.
Oh my God, I can't believe I'm thinking about Christmas already! How soon do you get organised for Christmas?
Take care,
Jillyxx
I absolutely love Christmas and the whole lead up to it. There are certain things that really get me in the festive spirit and Christmassy smells are definitely one of those. The gorgeous smells in the Price's Candles Today's Special Value make me wish it was Christmas Day already!
Smells that make me think of Christmas
A really warm cosy smell sums up Christmas for me. Like a crackling log fire possibly with a little spice added to it. My favourite classic Christmas fragrance would be cinnamon and orange.
This Price's Candles set is amazing value. You could split the collection up and have five brilliant gifts, each with its own little snuffer and beautifully presented in an organza bag.
They're ideal as gifts for teachers or treats for friends as you go visiting over the run up to Christmas. At the price you can't go wrong, and they smell divine too.
The Figgy Pudding smells very inviting and the Chocolate Log smells very decadent and not a calorie in sight!
And if they are good enough for the Queen they are good enough for us!
Yeah! I'm back from holiday having spent a blissful time in Majorca where the weather was just perfect.
It always amazes me how when you are on holiday time goes even quicker and you're back before you know it. We took the children on a snorkelling trip and they absolutely loved it. We went along the coast about half an hour by speedboat to some great caves.
The captain let both the kids drive the speedboat, much to the horror of the other eight adults on board, but it was a really great afternoon.
Closer to home we have seen the show Sister Act this week, which I would highly recommend (we were literally dancing in the aisles) and the film Bandslam, which I definitely wouldn't!
Thanks to Jayne and Diane for your day trip ideas, Gullivers I love, it's a great theme park near Milton Keynes and the Eco Park next door is fantastic too, although I think they have changed their name this year.
Odds Farm I haven't been to so I shall put that on my list. Another great free place I stumbled on this week is Cassiobury Park in Watford. They have a superb paddling pool area and also had some bouncy castles and a little train ride that was just £1, which I thought was really well priced and I had a lovely bacon butty there too.
Keep your ideas coming through for summer days out wherever you are in the UK, it all helps to keep the little ones happy and if they're happy we can relax.
See you soon!
Take care, Jilly xxxxxx
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