Birthday Memories

August means my birthday, so I thought I'd put together some birthday memories from years gone by :)

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Not my actual 0th birthday, but ten days after I was born - my first photo, with Mum and Julia (and Coco).

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On or around my 3rd birthday, which occurred on this holiday in Great Yarmouth.  That's me in the groovy bloomers, with sister Julia and cousins Gerry and Sue (to whom we are still close). I remember going out on a boat with Uncle Geoff and Gerry, and crying because I was scared.  

(I've just realised that Julia was wearing said bloomers in the photo above.  The curse of the second child - you don't get to wear new clothes!)

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My 18th.  I remember being most pleased with that jumper - it was £1 in a Miss Selfridge sale the year before.  Light blue sparkles going darker towards the top.  Well, it was 1970s.  Kept it for years.

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22nd.  Staying in a hotel in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.  Can't believe I ever had that much hair!

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My 29th birthday party.  The 2 litre bottles of Websters/Adnams beer show what a classy bash it was.  This is me clearing up afterwards.  Sort of.

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My not-so-big 3-0.  I was going through nasty divorce at the time and not in the mood for partying, but my friends Ruth and Lesley took me out for dinner at Luigi's, which was the best authentic pizza restaurant that ever existed.  I can still remember the Napolitana.  Olives and anchovies.  

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35th - The Foundry pub, Northampton.  Always loved this photo, not least of all because there aren't many of me, my brother and sister all together.

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My 36th.  In the Rubicon casino, Northampton, which my then-boyfriend Marcus (standing) used to frequent.  Opposite me is my friend Abi, but I don't know who the bloke is - some gambling mate of Marcus's.  

Those who spent many hours at the Rubicon used to think it was great that they got free lavish meals (great breakfasts, or three course lunch/dinner), never considering that they'd paid for them a hundred times over....!

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On my 37th it rained all day!  Had stayed at my friend John's house the night before, and in the morning were walking the three or four miles home.  Then the downpour came - had to give up and get on a bus, and we were so drenched, dripping onto the floor, that all the passengers laughed when we got on.

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38th - the aforementioned friend John threw a party for me at his house :)

Abi, John and my brother, Eddie.

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My 40th - had a party at our house that started in the early afternoon, so that my parents and people with children - like my best friend from school, Ruth - could come before it got too raucous.

Much later... it's my party and I'll pole dance round the coat stand if I want to.

Then-husband and I spent the whole night in the garden because lots of people wanted to stay over and all the beds and sofas were taken.

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43rd - in the King's Head, Cromer, Norfolk; had moved there two years before.  The very beautiful Claire (on the right) had the same birthday as me, and we would usually have a drink together at some point during the day.  Claire's mum Kirsty was the landlady of the Kings Head.

Birthdays in Cromer entailed drifting from one of the six pubs to another, and being bought drinks, I seem to remember.  A very small town where everyone knew everyone, and life centred around licensed premises!

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45th - actually the day after.  In Sheringham, about five miles up the coast from Cromer.  Julia and me at our friend Denise's cafe.  I loved that top I'm wearing but someone nicked it off my washing line.

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48th - a blowy night on Cromer pier, with Julia and John (and Steve who took the picture).  There's a bar at the end of the pier, but many people just take bottles of wine etc to drink at the tables outside.  Amazed it's allowed, but have had many a jolly afternoon/evening there!  

The square pale yellow-ish building next to the long grey one in the background is where I lived at the time, a flat on the ground floor.  Moved out a month later because it was cold and damp - but I loved living there, and being able to look out on the sea. 

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A couple of days after my 50th.  Turkey.  Too hot to wear make-up! (and yes, I'm wearing the same dress as I was in the picture from two years before!). 

Little bit of background here: the holiday was actually a 50th birthday present from my employers - but I could only go to Turkey, as that was where their main suppliers were located (thus, business expense).  Six weeks later, I told them I was leaving (to move to where I live now), so they scoured MySpace for evidence of a reason not to pay my final month's salary, thus recouping any money they'd spent on the holiday.

The offending pictures?  A toy rabbit in various places around the engineering establishment.  They got me on health and safety, and wasting work time.

Offending rabbit.  He had his own MySpace page.

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52nd.  Love this photo!  In our flat where I live now, with dear husband.

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Another 'milestone' birthday (no numbers mentioned!) - an idyllic few days spent in Cromer for get-togethers with old friends  Still the same - the afternoon traipsing from pub to pub, albeit more low key than when I was younger!  

....and the cake Julia got DottyAboutCakes to make for me!

More Cromer pictures from that lovely week here.

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2021 - no make-up, waah!  Not making a statement; I just snapped it when I got up :)

....and 2022 - with presents, including Leo socks from Julia :)

2023 update... this is how we like them after a certain age, especially first thing in the morning with no make-up on - nice and blurry!!!

2024 update....

2025...

~ Happy birthday to all who are August born! ~

The Z Files: Rosie Amber ~ Leo

Astrology ~ a bit of fun, a load of rubbish, or something to take seriously?

I invited around 70 writers/bloggers to write a piece about whether or not they're typical of their sign, and how its traits affect their writing life ~ if at all...

I featured fifty-one writers and bloggers last year ~ if you would like to have a look at the list (with links), they're all HERE


My first guest of 2016 should need little introduction to many Twitter based bloggers of the book reading and writing community ~ Rosie Amber, book blogger extraordinaire and big-hearted Leo!

It is a change to be featuring Rosie rather than the other way round, so I'll let her take the stand without further ado ~ all blog links, etc, after she's had her say :)

"Oh to be a Leo – Born to Rule? Not me, but I do make a great second in command. 

Looking back it’s been both a delight and a curse in my past. I love the sun and the warmth it brings so my star falls at an ideal time of the year for me, long summer days, holidays and lazing around, that’s me, I like to bask in the warmth surveying my domain, does that make me smug or just proud?" 

"Now the jealous trait - As a child I saw an August birthday as a curse, I waited all school year for my birthday and just when I got there, everyone was away on holiday, plus when we all returned to school in September, blow me if someone had a birthday on the first day back and I was at the back of the queue all over again. 

Loyal – as I said above, believe it or not I prefer NOT to be the leader, but I pour lots of traits into making a great second in command. Here I tick off; determined, enterprising, encouraging, generous, energetic and faithful. If you’ve got me backing you up, we make a mean team. That will last until on rare occasions the temperamental Leo trait rears its ugly head. But I’m not one to get into an argument with a face to face blow out, I’ll go off and give you the silent treatment."

"Creative – So just at this point many of you will be scratching your head about me – I’m Rosie Amber the fearless leader of the “Rosie’s Book Review Team”, I’m putting myself “out there” exposing myself to the world on social media, yet I claim I’m not a leader? Firstly it’s easy isn’t it? I’m sat behind my computer, see second in command again. Secondly I put that down to my creative side which has now had time to re-emerge, into this I can push my fun and friendly side, my generosity to others that I give to book reviewing and my dramatic side. Don’t get me started on telling you a tale, we’ll be here for the rest of the morning, I can do a good recount of some great incidents." 

"Energetic – Anyone who knows a bit more about me knows I’m a busy person and I can fit that expression “If you want a job done give it to a busy person” I’ll get it done, organised and sorted. When I met up with some members of the book review team last October, I had the hotel booked, the weekend planned, maps of the places we needed to go, even a print out of all the motorway services on the route for rest breaks – but we had a laugh too – I may have printed out the list of motorway services, but it sat back at home on my desk.  I may have planned a meet the author at a book swap session, but it was a bit of a one horse event and we chose coffee and an afternoon chatting instead. Although I did pull off a completely mad idea and had us all posing as “Rosie’s Angels” 

So for now I’ll leave you with my lion’s ROAR!"

Could this be Rosie?

Having been one of the members of the book review team that met up last October, I can confirm that Rosie is a warm, friendly and creative lion, very typical of the sign indeed!  She's always thinking of some new idea for the blog, such as her new video reviews on YouTube; maybe running Rosie Amber Book Awards is the most Leo trait of the lot ~ the Queen of the Jungle distributing her new year's honours!

If you would like to read the review team's opinions on all sorts of books submitted for review, have your own book reviewed (don't forget to read the guidelines) or take part in the wonderful world of Rosie Amber generally, you can follow her on Twitter HERE, and look at the rest of the blog that I haven't already linked, HERE!  

Famous Leo authors for Rosie?  I've chosen someone I know is one of her favourites...

.... the amazing JK Rowling, lion queen of fantasy fiction for all ages!

and because Rosie's a country girl at heart, I've also chosen lovely Beatrix Potter :) 

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The Z Files: Rose Edmunds ~ Leo

Astrology ~ a bit of fun, a load of rubbish, or something to take seriously?

I invited around 70 writers/bloggers to write a piece about how typical they are of their sign, and how its traits affect their writing life ~ if at all...

Has your favourite writer been featured yet?  Links to all previous posts at the end of this one :)

It's luscious Leo the lion time again ~ I present Rose Edmunds, writer of financial and psychological thrillers, and a partner in Mainsail books.  Her latest tome about the evils of high finance in the City, Concealment, has been extremely well received; you can read my review HERE 

What does Rose have to say about being a Leo but a bit of a Virgo?  Warning: I suspect she might have approached this in a slightly tongue-in-cheek fashion ;)

"Hi Everyone – it’s great to be posting on Terry’s blog.  What a fantastic idea – I wish I’d thought of it!  Of course when she asked me I said yes, because I’m so helpful, and I didn’t want to be left out. Obviously I’d have preferred being in charge of the whole thing, because I’m a born leader, but I wouldn’t want to miss a chance to show off.  My husband says I’m far too bossy to be charismatic, but what does he know? 

Creative? Well naturally - I’m a best-selling author after all! Although I’m not at my best when hung over after a sociable night out."

"I’ve actually spent a lot of time crafting this because I really need to be the best in the series. Also, it’s been a Herculean task to find a picture that does me justice, because I’m so image conscious. But because I’m very determined I eventually located this one, of which I’m very proud.

Finally, being on the cusp, I have a Virgo alter ego who is appalled by all this self-aggrandisement, but that’s another blog post…"

Having the odd planet (well, four) in Virgo myself, I feel Rose's pain!  I'm looking forward to her next novel, the continuing adventures of "Boy-have-I-got-some-crap-to-come-to-terms-with" Amy from Concealment ~ you can keep up with all news on Ms Edmunds' website HERE  and follow her on Twitter

Now, let us find Rose some fellow Lions to play with in the sunshine...

...certainly enjoying her time in the spotlight ~ 

author of The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins..

... and I've chosen SciFi and mystery author Ray Bradbury, because he shares your actual birthday, Rose (though not the year, I hasten to add!)

Coming next - a bestselling chick lit Capricorn

Previous Posts:

Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Proofreader Julia

Leo: Anne Goodwin, Alex Johnson

Aries: Trisha Ashley, Cynthia Harrison

Gemini: Norah Colvin, Jerome Dumont, John Privilege, Shelley Wilson

Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black

Aquarius: Cathy Ryan, Lynda Renham,

Capricorn: Steffany R

Sagittarius: Rachel Amphlett, Wendy J Lennox, Katrina Mountfort,

Virgo: Louise Marley, Elizabeth Ducie, Barb Taub,

Pisces: Maria Savva, Sacha Black

Scorpio: Gemma Lawrence, Robert Leigh, Catherine Hokin, Jenny Twist, 
Taurus: Valerie-Anne Baglietto, Valerie Poore,
Cancer: Katie Oliver, Mark Barry,
Libra: Tom Hocknell, Jen Ammoscato, Joanne B

The Z Files ~ Alex Johnson ~ Leo

Welcome to The Z Files, in which writers/bloggers show how the characteristics of their star sign influence their work.  Most of the zodiac has had its first outing now, with many more to come...please see the links at the end of this article for other posts. Thanks for your interest!

Today I'm delighted to introduce my second fellow Lioness, who knows all about Leo glamour ~ Alex Johnson is a journalist and researcher in the beauty and perfume business.  She's published two works of contemporary women's fiction on Amazon: Run Away and The Perfume Muse (links at end of post).... one suspects the latter, in particular, might be very well researched!  Is Alex fiercely feline in her working life, too?

"Never cross a Leo!"

"Strong, opinionated, bossy, stubborn – that describes me and my sister who are both Leos! What an explosive combination! She’s four years older than me, so thought she was entitled to boss me about when I was little, but I wasn’t having any. One day, when she was sitting on me and tickling me till I couldn’t breathe, I managed to grab hold of a pencil and ram it into her arm. More than 50 years later, you can still see the broken-off lead under the surface of her skin…Fortunately, we learnt to keep our fierce leonine tempers (mostly) under control and now we’re best friends"

"Looking at Leo traits, I agree that I’m creative (of course!), warm and charismatic (ahem!) and very determined. My father used to say he didn’t have to worry about me because I “just get on with things.”  I think that’s why I’ve been able to work for myself for 25 years and also found the time to write three novels. My motto is “write a little and every day” and it works for me. 

Julie, the main character of Run Away and The Perfume Muse, is like me in lots of ways: but she’s a lot more gutsy than me and is prepared to turn her life upside down for her new lover. Would I? Well…it is fiction, isn’t it?"

 A lion with perfume ~ Julie, maybe... or Alex??

I chose these famous writers to make up the Leonine trio with Alex:

Emily Bronte, a Leo herself, and you don't get much more Leonine 

than Catherine Earnshaw!

....and the super glamorous Danielle Steele, 

another lioness with her own perfume...!

I feel I ought to also supply the names of some famous Leo kings and queens of beauty and perfume  ~ how about Coco Chanel and Yves St Laurent?
You can follow Alex on Twitter or check out her books on Amazon UK or Amazon.com

Next: Aquarius

Previous Posts (click name to see post): 
Leo and Aries: Terry Tyler and Julia Proofreader
Leo: Anne Goodwin
Gemini: Shelley Wilson
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Aquarius: Lynda Renham
Sagittarius: Katrina Mountfort,
Cancer: Mark Barry
Virgo: Barb Taub
Pisces: Sacha Black
Scorpio: Jenny Twist
Taurus: Valerie Poore