I was glued to the Platinum Jubilee celebrations from Friday morning to Sunday night and will rewatch it all whenever I need cheering up.
Seeing Paddington enjoy tea with the Queen was my highlight - the sight of my two favourites together made me well up.
When Sweet Caroline played during the concert, I sang along in my loudest voice and waved my arms above my head so madly I needed a paracetamol afterwards. I wish everyone in the royal box would’ve done the same - how could anyone not sway along to that song?
Little Prince Louis didn’t bother with stuffy etiquette and I adored him for it. Kate shone. She never puts a foot wrong, from her elegant outfits to her big smile and warm parenting.
And even after all the trooping of the colour, the concert of legendary performers and the vibrancy of the pageant, seeing the Queen was the best sight of all.
I felt proud to be British and glad to be alive to see a spectacle no other country in the world could reproduce. Since then the song I’ve had in my head is Nobody Does It Better.
Lulu has lot Shout about
Didn’t Lulu look at least two decades younger than her 73 years at the Jubilee?
I’ve always been a fan and her song Shout is my party piece.
A few year back, at my late husband Colin’s niece’s wedding, I was so busy chatting to guests that by the time I was ready to jig the band had started to pack up. So I climbed on stage, asked them to stick on some background music, grabbed the mic and started singing Lulu’s Shout.
I did her wiggly-bum dance as best I could and handed the mic to different people to sing the “wooh” bits.
The bridesmaids hadn’t known me from Adam but they did by the end of the night.
Let's all keep eye out for bargains
I’m really lucky to have friends who make sure I never run out of anything now my legs are too bad to go out shopping.
My friends tell me that Sensodyne toothpaste is cheapest in Home Bargains, butter is on special offer in Asda and keep a keen eye on Tena Lady promotions.
But many people our age don’t have the mobility to shop around, traipsing from one end of town to the other. And younger people are often working two or even three jobs and don’t have the time.
So yes, Boris should have stood down this week. But many of us don’t have the time to debate whether the vote of confidence result was good or bad because we’re too worried about keeping food on our tables.
Whoever leads our country next isn’t going to have a magic wand to make these crippling price rises disappear.
For now, we have no choice but to put up with it. So as well as making small talk about the weather, let’s all share bargain spots and money saving tips - like the Mirror is doing under its weather forecast every day. Even helping in a very small way is a much appreciated help.
No Spain? There's always Blackpool
My neighbour and her family have been counting the days to their holiday in Benidorm. But then the airline cancelled it.
They’re going for a few days to Blackpool instead and although the adults are disappointed, my neighbour’s young grandson isn’t. He won’t realise he’s missing Spanish sun and will instead be thrilled to see the bright lights of the Pleasure Beach.
Isn’t that young positivity lovely? If we could take a leaf out of our children’s books we’d all be cheerier.
Rafa's just a turn-off
When the tennis season starts, my socialising stops. I don’t answer the phone or the door when matches have me gripped.
I was going to stock up with strawberries to snack on while I was watching the tennis. But then Sheila bought me a Patisserie Valerie strawberry tart from Sainsbury’s and I ate that instead (in fact, I could’ve had three).
I settled down to watch Rafael Nadal in the French Open but didn’t last long. Before each shot he picks his underpants out of his shorts, wipes his brow, wipes his nose, bounces a ball, adjusts his t-shirt and brushes his hair from his face. I can’t be doing with the rigmarole. I was shouting: “Just get on with it!” before I switched channels to save my blood pressure.
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Wales qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1958 and I am ecstatic.
We won our place by beating Ukraine, which put me in a spot because I know the rest of Europe wanted Ukraine to win.
There’s no place for sentiment in sport. So although I love Ukraine, I love Wales more.
Thought of losing cherished Coco broke our hearts
Our Robert’s beloved dog Coco has been ill for a while now. He’s been FaceTiming me from the sofa while cuddling her and worried sick because, after major surgery, Coco is still having trouble eating.
Robert’s wife Sarah phoned the vet who was sad to say it was time poor Coco was put down. All the family sobbed at the news and spent time with Coco in their arms telling her how much they loved her.
The next day as Coco headed to the vet, Sarah FaceTimed me so I could say goodbye to Coco. But I couldn’t speak. I tried making myself a cup of tea to pull myself together, but I couldn’t drink it and poured it away. I didn’t know what to do with myself and my stomach was in knots thinking of the dog we all loved leaving us.
An hour and a half later, Robert’s youngest son Freddie FaceTimed and I dreaded hearing the words. But he said the vet decided Coco was still recovering from her big operation and hadn’t reached the stage where it would’ve been better for her to be put to sleep.
We’ve all been through the wringer and are emotional wrecks. But for now Robert’s family is cherishing every moment with Coco and clinging to her. We feel lucky we can love her for a little while longer.
If you would like to contact Val, please email features@mirror.co.uk or write to Val Savage, PO Box 7290, E14 5DD. The Mirror makes a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society in lieu of payment.
