Welcome
to my new column for Littlewoods even more magazine. I
absolutely love catalogue shopping. My girls often express concern
about me, because my two favourite things to take to bed are a cup
of tea and a good catalogue! I modelled for the Littlewoods
catalogue during my Dynasty days, and I love the wide
variety of products. I am writing this from my home in Los
Angeles, where I spend part of the year. I'm looking out onto a
sea that is so blue, and the horizon is astonishing. But despite
the grey and the rain of Britain I am looking forward to coming
home. I will return to the set of Bad Girls, spend more
time with my daughters and grandson, and get myself back in the
working routine.
It's
a Nan's world!
Finding
out that I was going to be a grandma was a real shock. If you
are not careful, you can be shoe-horned into a rocking chair
with your : knitting on your lap. For me it happened after the
death of my parents and I realised that it was I who was now the
older generation. I would be the font of all wisdom for the
family, and that was terrifying. When my beautiful grandson Jude
was born, I was at the birth. When I very first saw him I was
overwhelmed with love and utter bliss. I knew that this was the
person that I would love for the rest of my life - here was
someone who totally and utterly had my heart. It has been
extraordinary from the start. As I have two daughters, this is
my first experience of a boy. They are simple creatures and it
is quite fabulous. They don't think on as many levels as girls
and they have an unmanipulative purity. Little girls flirt and
cajole from the age of one - but not little boys. When I had my
girls, I remember thinking how beautiful they were. Nature gives
you the gift of thinking that your baby is the most fabulous
that has ever been born, and that is doubled with a grandchild.
As a grandparent, you are able to see things with a slightly
distant and removed eye. You can say things such as: 'I don't
think chocolate will kill him at this particular juncture, and
there is no need for World War Three over such things'. You can
be calmer and more considered as a grandparent than as a parent.
And even though I am called a Glam-ma, I did take up knitting
with great joy and I am now a master at knitting little jumpers
for new people.
Why
life's no longer a drag...
I
have just quit smoking. It's not easy and it is not fun. I've
been a smoker for so long and I've absolutely loved it. I can't
bear people who tell me that I have never enjoyed it, that's
nonsense. Cigarettes have been associated with all the seminal
moments in my life. They've been my best friends, the ones who
never left me, but I wanted to give them up. I decided to see a
hypnotherapist to help me - he was brilliant, and helped me take
control. As I live in LA part of the time I am used to the
smoking restrictions in public places, but now I'm no longer
moaning that it's not fair, I am actually thankful for the fresh
air. There is a difference in choosing not to smoke yourself and
being told so by someone else. I'm choosing not to at this
moment. I have three large pictures on my fridge, one of a
healthy lung, one of a lung with emphysema and the third is a
lung riddled with cancer. They are terrifying. Thankfully, lungs
are forgiving, like wonderful old dogs. It's been two weeks and
one day - but who's counting?
Comfort
for the sole
I
have got to the age when I've come to the conclusion that
anything that makes my feet uncomfortable makes my evening
uncomfortable. During the American election, I was invited to a
lot of parties. I had the most heavenly frocks and fabulous
shoes - the shoes were the ones that look so pretty, with tiny
straps and sculpted heels. I said to my date: 'Take a look at
these shoes, aren't they gorgeous?' Then I told him to remember
what they all looked like, as I wasn't going to wear any of
them. I wore my comfortable old boots and danced like a trouper
in them 'til the early hours.
Calm
in a class
This
year, I'm going to see what exercise I can do during the day. I
think it will be yoga. I once imagined that yoga would be too
much for me but for heaven's sake ladies, I have to say, go
until you find the class that suits you! My early classes were
terrifying, full of these chi-chi women who didn't even seem to
sweat. My second was no better as it was full of the sweaty
feet, brown rice and bicycle brigade - I can't quite cope with
hairy armpits and no deodorant. But I finally found a gym where
a friend teaches me slow yoga. I am absolutely no good, but I
love it, it really relaxes me. If you have trouble concentrating
or find yourself a bit jumpy, go to yoga. Close your eyes, take
deep breaths and calm down.
Feline
fine
There
has never been a lunchtime when I haven't slept. My mother used
to tell me that the reason why cats never looked tired was
because of their catnaps, and I took this piece of advice to
heart. I can easily drift off for a good 20 minutes and when I
wake up I feel rejuvenated and refreshed. I wholeheartedly
recommend it, especially for those of you who feel tired in the
afternoon.
Watch
me now
In
Secrets based on the book by Danielle Steel, I play
Sabina, a movie star harbouring a dark secret. The cast also
includes the wonderful Christopher Plummer. This is a great
movie to watch on a Sunday afternoon, curled up with a big box
of chocolates. It is now available as part of a fantastic box
set of nine DVDs which includes all the best of Danielle Steel's
bestselling novels, and it would make a great present.
