Final update of 2015
Well, Christmas is literally days away and I thought I’d take this opportunity to say I hope you’ve had a good year, and you’re not still desperately wrapping presents – as I am!
Since I last did a blog it’s been an Autumn of two halves (hey, a football analogy from me, that’s a first!). On the work front I’ve finished filming Escape To The Country for this year, starting again back on the road in March 2016. Wanted Down Under has been extended and starts again on January 4th, so I headed back out to Oz at the beginning of this month to finish filming this popular series.
More sun, sea, tears, laughter and enormous changes to people’s lives… There’s no other series quite like it on TV, and no other series gives couples and families the opportunity to start again in a different country. Expect some emotional scenes when it airs… BBC Radio 2 have welcomed me back once again, so if you’re up early during Christmas and New Year, join me for an early breakfast. You supply the tea and toast… Worth texting in, hopefully you’re get a mention! If you are an early bird, you may have seen me back on Sunrise for Sky News reviewing the daily papers.
Back in September I was honoured to present (or ‘host’ as our American friends like to say) The European Diversity Awards at the Natural History Museum. What a remarkable event and venue! In early November I was a guest of Weston College’s Business and Achievement Awards and I also joined the NAFAS teams in Blackpool for their Festive Flower & Food Show. December saw me as a guest for the week on Dictionary Corner for Countdown. Legendary show.
So, as you can see, it’s been pretty busy but there has been a slight downside – I mentioned earlier ’two halves’ and the second one came in the form of a much needed operation on my ankle. All rather dull but extremely painful. Luckily I’ve been looked after by a great team and am making progress. I still can’t walk any distance but I’m behaving, doing my exercises, trying to wear ‘sensible’ shoes and trainers and giving my ankle the chance to mend… I had to cancel a fair degree of filming but hey, these things happen and hopefully 2016 will see me return to the gym but in all honesty, I’ll never be a marathon runner…!
I squeezed in a holiday to Mexico (for medical reasons obviously haha) last month, and watched my husband cycle and raise money for three fantastic charities – Nordoff Robbins, Teenage Cancer Trust and Childline. It was a fabulous trip for brilliant causes, which I’ll talk a-little more about next time… Talking of which, keep your eyes peeled for an interview I’ve done, which will go out in the next week or so…Shacky and I together. If you don’t know, Shacky is my husband…
So I’m going to sign off now as it’s late and I’m up tomorrow at 3.30 am ready for work at BBC R2 HQ!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2016. Thank you for all your wonderful tweets and messages throughout the year. I do appreciate your lovely comments and support.
Take care
Nicki