A few weeks ago, we were asked to select some pieces of jewellery from QVC’s vast inventory to wear on-air, and those pieces arrived in my dressing room today.
I had forgotten what I had selected, but clearly I must have been in a romantic frame of mind as three of the four pieces were heart themed.
I’ve already had loads of comments about the Fiorelli heart necklace, which has matching earrings, and I thought they combined nicely with the Folli Follie bracelet that I’m wearing in the photo above. Any, or all, of them would be meaningful Valentine’s Day jewellery gifts.
Years ago, before I started at QVC I think, my other half – Chris – bought me the ruby and diamond ring as a Valentine’s present, and I’ve worn it every day since. I guess, as we’re not married, it’s almost like a dedication ring.
Well, we’re not married but we are celebrating 40 years of living together next Friday 19th January and, as a celebration, we are going away on holiday; which I alluded to on last week’s blog. The first three days we will be in New York with our son and then Chris and I go on to Antigua for a week.
Apparently, New York is freezing cold and there is a possibility of snow on Tuesday when we arrive. I’m definitely going to need my down-filled Centigrade coat, Emu Australia boots, and possibly my winter tracks too.
The other two haven’t been to New York before and I haven’t visited in over 40 years, so we are all really looking forward to it.
Top of my list is Central Park, but we’re also planning to visit the Statue of Liberty and walk the Highline, plus we’ve booked to see a Broadway show. A Bronx Tale has been described as a cross between Jersey Boys and West Side Story, the latter of which is one of my all time favourite musicals.
We watched it last night to get us in the mood for New York and I must confess that I still cried at all the relevant bits! I love almost all the songs and am virtually word perfect, but A Boy Like That still tops the lot for me. Jackie Kabler, who has been to New York lots of times, also recommended we visit an Irish bar called The Dead Rabbit, reputedly one of the top 10 Irish bars in the world.
I’ll try and do a blog next week with some pictures, assuming my hands are not too cold to hold a camera, but I’m not promising as Chris and I will be mid-flight to Antigua – my Ultrasun is already packed!
Many, many thanks for all the birthday wishes for my daughter, Sophie. We had a lovely weekend with her friend, Karen, staying and enjoyed dinner out on Saturday night along with several games of Sorry and Heads Up!
Even the chocolate birthday cake – I hastily threw together on Saturday morning before work – stood up to the taste test. We managed to save some for her actual birthday on Monday, after I had cooked her favourite dinner of spinach, walnut and cottage cheese lasagne.
Talking of recipes, I made up a recipe for tomato soup earlier in the week and it was surprisingly good so I’ll post it on here, with a picture, next time I make it.
Although I won’t be here at QVC for a couple of weeks, I wanted to draw your attention to some fab Today’s Special Values we have coming starting with the five-piece supersize collection from Decleor all day tomorrow.
There’s also a Kipling crossbody bag, which would have been ideal to take on holiday and next Saturday a first Today’s Special Value from Ruth Langsford. They are straight leg jeans at a great price, and I believe they also come in a petite length as well as the regular.
My final two hours before my holiday are also dedicated to fashion – Fashion on Friday today is a two hour extravaganza of New Season Fashion so hopefully you can join me for that.
Much love,
Julia xx
33 Comments
Hiya Julia
Have a lovely holiday and congratulations to you and Chris on your 40 years together that’s really lovely
Enjoy New York Julia.
Much love
Elizabeth ?
Hi Elizabeth
Just on my way to get my latest blood tests done and then I will properly be in holiday mode.
Thanks for your good wishes for our anniversary and trip
Speak soon
Julia x
Hi Julia have a lovely time xx
Thanks Judith, we’ll do our best
Love
Julia x
Hi Julia, just wanted to wish you happy anniversary in advance, and hope you enjoy your trips. Xx
That’s very kind of you Maria. Our anniversary will be a bit strange – the flight to Antigua from New York is very early but it will be worth it when we get there
Love
Julia x
hi Julia,its our 65th birthdays this year hubbies and mine and also our 46th wedding anniversary,we were looking at going to new York ourselves to celebrate this years milestone, really looking forward to seeing some great pics from u to make our minds up. hope u all have a fantastic holliday and many congratulations to u both much love ann xx
Hi Ann
Congratulations in advance to you & your hubbie on your 65th birthdays & your wedding anniversary. I will post some pictures on here and also on my other social media but everyone I’ve spoken to seems to love the New York experience so I’m hoping we will too.
Thanks for your good wishes
Love
Julia x
Hi Julia, I am so envious of your trip to New York, my son and daughter in law took me four years ago for my birthday, we had a buggy ride around Central Park and also walked the highline! as well as the Empire state building and visited the 911 memorial site, plus all the big stores! hope you enjoy it as much as I did, glad Sophie enjoyed her birthday and the cake was a success! Love Linda xx
Hi Linda
Great to hear you enjoyed your New York trip so much particularly as we are planning to do all the things you’ve mentioned, although I may not do too much shopping….
Hard to believe Sophie is now thirty – she did a little more celebrating this past weekend! Well, you only change decades every ten years ?
Love
Julia x
I like you I cried at the end of West Side Srory it’s one of my favourites and I have seen it on the stage in London twice once in the fifties and again in 1998 on our 40th anniversary My husband passed away in 2015 but we always enjoyed the London shows
Hi Margaret
It’s not only the end of West Side Story where I cry! My absolute dream would have been to see the show on Broadway but it’s not running at the moment.
I’m sorry to hear you lost your husband in 2005 but at least you had a good long time together
Love
Julia x
I meant to put 2005 my husband died all I can say is don’t get old everything goes down hill fast
Hi again Margaret,
I’m doing my best to stay as healthy & active as possible but we never know what’s around the next corner xx
Have a lovely holiday and don’t get to cold in New York put your thermals on because you don’t won’t to miss a thing, wish it was me and injoy the sun Antiqua. happy forty Years together may you have many more. Love Maryx
Hi Mary
I’m hoping we won’t need thermals but suspecting we might ❄️❄️ – I actually don’t mind the cold as long as it’s bright.
Thanks for your comments on our fortieth anniversary – I hope for many more too
Love
Julia x
Hi julia ,congratulations on your 40 years celebrations, I was in New York this time last year …..my first visit and definately not my last. You must visit the stardust diner situated in time square ….fabulous experience listening to the waiters and waitresses singing Broadway tunes whilst you eat it’s a must …….enjoy your trip x x
Hi Sherry
Thanks for the tip about the Stardust Diner – we’re staying not far from Time Square so we’ll look it up, it sounds just my sort of thing.
Thanks for the congratulations
Love
Julia x
Happy Anniversary, hope you have a fab time in NYC and Antigua. If you get a chance my former Husband has a restaurant near St Johns Antigua ‘Jacque o’s ‘ suppose to be great..have fun!???
Hi Gloria
Really looking forward to it although the packing for such diverse destinations is a bit of a nightmare.
Thanks for the suggestion about ‘Jacque O’s’, we’ll try and look it up as long as they cater for veggies.
Love
Julia x
Enjoy your holidays,stay safe.xx
Thanks Ann, will try to on both counts
Love
Julia x
Could you possibly put up your lasagna receipe when you come back from holiday. I’m veggie and it sounds delicious. Thank you.
Hi Frances,
Will try to remember to do it when I’m back – I’ll look for a photo too, I’m sure I must have one somewhere I’ve made it that often over the years!
Love
Julia x
Nulia enjoy your break and congratulations on 40 years of being with Chris and 2 beauitful children. My son who was 42 yesterday next month has been with Karen my daughter in law 22 years. As they both say you have to work at a relationship not take things for granted. Look forward to your next blog and hearing all about your holiday x
Hi Theresa,
No problem with the name – easily done.
As your son & daughter-in-law say, you have to work at a relationship to make it last. All I can say is Chris is a very tolerant man ?
I’ll try & do a short blog from New York later this week so as not to overwhelm with photos all at once.
Love
Julia x
Sorry Julia just noticed I mispelt your name.
Happy to hear your chocolate cake wowed the family. Enjoy your holiday , come home feeling well and fit.
Hi Josephine
It really was a good one considering I threw it together.
Looking forward to the total relaxation of Antigua to recharge my batteries after an action-packed three days in the Big Apple.
Love
Julia x
Hi Julia, Have a lovely break away in New York and then Antigua. Am very jealous cos haven’t been to either! Look forward to seeing some pics tho! Congratulations to you and Chris on forty years together, may you have many more. Have a fab holiday and stay safe xxx
Hi Gillian
I haven’t been to either for over forty years & really enjoying it so far – very cold though so looking forward to some sunshine next week.
Thanks for the congratulations
Love
Julia x
Hi Julia have a nice break, away from the snow.
Take care X
Hi Christine
We had snow in New York yesterday & bitterly cold – set to climb above freezing today though & sunshine hopefully next week
Love
Julia x