Liz Jones is reflecting on a tumultuous year marked by personal loss and a string of misfortunes, chronicling her experiences in a recent column.
Jones recounted a conversation with her late partner David's sister, who informed her of his unconventional funeral arrangements: a gathering at his favorite pub on November 5th, with his ashes to be sent skyward inside a firework. This news, coupled with not being able to say a proper goodbye, left Jones shocked and upset, though she acknowledged it was characteristic of David's fearless and unconventional nature.
She also shared her plans for attending the memorial, detailing her chosen attire, which included a Prada skirt suit and a Zara coat. The engagement ring, which David wanted her to have, was also mentioned. Jones had previously surrendered the ring when she began seeing someone new but was promised it would be returned by David's son.
Discussing David's favorite pub, Jones noted that while she believed it to be the Trinity Arms in Brixton, her choice was overruled. She recalled frequent visits to the Trinity Arms, where David made his only romantic advance before they reconnected in 2014.
Jones's best friend, Sue, offered to accompany her to the memorial. Sue has known David for as long as Jones has and previously visited her in Brixton, even agreeing to take out Jones's rubbish for a glimpse of David. Jones described David's shared house at the time as resembling the chaotic dwelling in the BBC sitcom The Young Ones, though significantly worse, lacking walls and a proper kitchen. David and his housemates would often use Jones's oven, sometimes announcing their presence simply by saying, "Just inserting a chicken!"
Looking back at 2026, Jones listed a series of unfortunate events. Her cellar flooded, ruining her Miele washing machine and tumble dryer. Her Mercedes broke down, and her classic Range Rover has been off the road for two months after multiple breakdowns. Her dog, Mini Puppy, also died. Adding to the sorrow, her partner David passed away.
Further compounding her difficulties, Jones's employee, Nic, was injured by one of her horses. Nic experienced constant pain, was unable to drive for months, and faced a lengthy wait for surgery. Jones's insurance claim for Nic's injury and lost earnings was rejected, with the assessor citing 'inconsistencies' found in Jones's published columns. The insurer reportedly only covers third parties who have no contact with horses and had apparently reviewed a forum on Horse & Hound where Jones was discussed.
Jones also recounted being scammed twice in one day. First, she received a call from Barclays claiming fraudulent activity on her card at Waitrose. Shortly after, she received an email indicating a new monthly direct debit of £1,800 to Airbnb, despite her decision to stop using the service after a previous negative experience.
Adding to her list of frustrations, the loan car offered by her Range Rover dealer refused to start when she attempted to use it, leaving her feeling cursed and calling out to David.
Jones expressed a desire for privacy, lamenting that her fame makes her a target for