I had to do a few Zoom calls last week – don’t we all, these days. There was a little surprise for the people I was calling, though. People could see my new housekeeper at work – Mrs Patmore from Downton Abbey. None other than Lesley Nicol!
She popped over for a wee visit last week and when I had to make some calls she took to handing me cups of tea to give my Zoom guests a wee surprise.
There were a few shocked faces when Lesley informed them that I hadn’t gone “Hollywood” at all but did have the real Mrs P as my housekeeper.
Lesley told me that the next Downton movie is definitely a goer but, while the real Lesley is not mad about cooking she is incredibly passionate about animal cruelty.
It was recently Moon Bear Day which marked the plight of bears trapped and suffering in bear bile farms in several countries, including Vietnam, China and South Korea.
This is a cause so dear to her heart – she has even visited them in China and says we all have to do our bit to help save these gorgeous animals.
She joined other celebs on a video released by Animals Asia to highlight the plight of these animals. Among the other big names taking part were Judi Dench, Virginia McKenna, Kesha, Joanna Lumley, Ricky Gervais and Guns ‘n’ Roses guitarist Slash.
“If this crisis has taught us anything, it’s the power of leaving nature alone – and that The Only Cure is Kindness,” said Lesley.
“We’ve got so much to learn from animals and nature – and there is so much we can do to help.
“Animals Asia are actively harnessing that kindness to end bear-bile farming, rescuing bears and taking care of them. Let’s be kinder to nature, and kinder and more forgiving to each other too.”
On the subject of charity, I’ve also been busy filming a chat with another lady with a huge heart, and a fellow Glasgwegian to boot.
Businesswoman and philanthropist Deborah Alessi’s latest business venture is Beverly Hills IV Therapy, and it’s heading to the UK and hopefully her native Scotland soon.
They pop you on a big IV drip for 20 minutes for some vitamin infusion therapy. She told me all this then said I needed to know because I’m the biggest drip she knows!
Deborah’s story is an amazing one. She was brought up in Glasgow before relocating to the Middle East to work for the Royal Family of Bahrain.
She’s now the CEO of Face Forward International and alongside her husband Dr David Alessi, a plastic surgeon to the stars, they’ve provided over 500 free life-changing surgeries to over 200 survivors of trafficking, domestic violence and other horrific acts of crime.
“I think it’s so important to give back and my Glasgow attitude had helped me get through so many doors!” said Debs.
Check out her website faceforwardintl.org – it’s heartbreaking but inspirational, too. Brilliant work, Debs.
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