Michelle McManus

Columnist

Latest articles from Michelle McManus

Michelle McManus: Valentine's was fun but here comes Lent

So how did your Valentine's Day go? Was it romantic? Was it like a scene from a Hollywood love story? Did you get roses delivered and go out for a romantic meal? Or maybe you plucked up the courage to finally confess your undying love to that co-worker or friend you've secretly fancied for years? Whatever you got up to, I hope it was fun but allow me to tell you what The Nimmo's got up to on Valentines night. Instead of going out and sitting in a posh restaurant eating spaghetti like those wee cuties in Disney's Lady and The Tramp film, we decided to stay in, pop open a bottle of pink champagne and scoff the new McDonald's Big Mac Grand burger that's been advertised everywhere recently. As I've mentioned in this column, I'm currently on my 46th diet attempt of 2018 so I've been abstaining from all fast food but as it was a special occasion I thought it would be ok and I'm happy to report it was absolutely delicious. Who said romance was dead eh? But I promise that was my one and only take away of 2018 because as Lent is now upon us I've decided to give up everything I've ever loved for the next 6 weeks including crisps, chocolate and takeaways so I'm going to be a joy to be around as you can imagine. Lent is one of those funny times of year when you start off full of great intentions and then it quickly descends into chaos becoming a savage survival of the fittest test as each one of your friends break spectacularly one by one, crashing off the Lent wagon. Only the brave and strong will make it to the finishing line on Holy Saturday and be crowned Mr or Ms Lent 2018 and I'm determined this year that it's going to be me. So wish me luck dear readers and if I'm MIA from next week's column you’ll know it's because I'm locked in the house with a 12 bag of spring onion tayto crisps, a bar of dark chocolate and Just Eat on speed dial. Hopefully it won't come to that.

Michelle McManus: Back in London and loving it

What a wonderful timeI've had flying up and down to old London Town not once, but twice this week for work. First up was Loose Women at the start of the week although thanks to the snow on Sunday I nearly never made it! It was touch and go but after a few hours delayed at Glasgow airport we finally took to the skies although I have to say it was the first time in my life I actually boarded a plane wearing my wellie boots which did attract a few stares from my fellow passengers probably because they were navy and white polka dot in colour so not my most discreet footwear choice I'll give you that. By the time we landed at Heathrow and then I had to travel into the city, I didn't check into my hotel at Westminster until just after midnight so it was pretty much lights out for me shortly afterwards but not before I got to enjoy my beautiful view of the London eye, lit up in all its glory. I forget how much I love London, I lived there for 6 years and had what can only be described as an utter ball during that time.

Michelle McManus: I'm thrilled to be joining ITV's Loose Women for a right good gab

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. No, I've not lost my mind and I'm fully aware that it's the middle of January and Christmas is well and truly over, but I'm going to hold my hands up and say I absolutely cracked open the last bottle of mulled wine and put the winter wonderland LP on the old turntable on Tuesday night when those big white flakes started to fall.

Michelle McManus: It's been a year of two halves

Well with Christmas only 3 days away and this being my final column of 2017, I thought it would only be fitting to take a look back at this year because, for me, it's really been a real tale of two halves. The beginning of my year didn't start off so great as ended up quite seriously unwell in hospital for about a week and I took a few months to fully recover. I’ll be honest and say it was a very scary time as I've never really been unwell before but luckily enough I have an amazing group of friends and family who were by my side the whole time although a special thank you must go to all of the staff in the high dependency unit at The Glasgow Royal Infirmary. It's not until you experience, first hand, being in hospital and seeing how hard our doctors and nurses work day after day that you can truly understand how incredible these men and women are and how indebted we are for their service to us all. You literally saved my life and I'll be forever grateful.

Michelle McManus: 'Tis the season to go daft for panto'

Pantomime season is well and truly upon us, oh yes it is (sorry I couldn't resist) and I for one couldn't be happier as I'm very proud to admit that I'm just pure panto daft. I've seen two pantos so far with lots more booked over the festive period but let me tell you about these two Christmas crackers. Firstly I jumped on the train with my pal Laura and went down to The Palace theatre in Kilmarnock to see the Imagine Theatre production of Dick Whittington starring River City's Sally Howitt and Outlander star James McAnerney. It was the 1.30pm show so it was jam packed with school children booing, cheering and screaming “it's behind you” at the top of their wee lungs and loving every single second of this wonderful production. The cast were all outstanding but a special mention must go to Fraser Boyle and Gary Morrison who were hilarious from start to finish as Mammy Sarah and Idle Jack. The Kilmarnock pantomime is always one of my very favourites and once again it did not disappoint.