Outed - so celebrating

Ah – I see that in a list of comments to my previous post I’ve been outed - and by my family of felines, not less – add a dash of dogs (a cluster of canines?) – and then there’s one Anne McAllister who, I suspect is behind this sudden rush to the keyboard of the furry bodied amongst us. So thank you all, Gunnar (the Great) Micah (who I hope has washed the mud off his beautiful fur) . Mitch – who is THREE and I hope also had a happy happy birthday yesterday. (And I hope that Anne offered some ear rubs from me to celebrate). Thanks also to Bob (who is indeed the King of Cats and at 17 an elder statesman too) Sid – yes birthdays do mean food (for you at least) , dear Ivan and his doppelganger Spiffy – and of course the ‘fiend’ Dyl the Vill (Villain)

So yes – for those who wondered what the ‘special day’ coming up was – here it is. Once upon a time, a long long time ago, in a town called Newark, Nottinghamshire, (see pictures) a little girl was born. My mother tells me I was born at 12.45 – and she knows this because I was born at home and just as I appeared, downstairs, lunch was just being served to my father and my two elder sisters.
So obviously I was always able to appreciate food – even then!

We only lived in Newark for another 18 months so I left when I was still tiny, but when I look at pictures of the place – like the ones shown here – I realise just why I have always loved towns or cities where there is a river, a castle and an old church. So my birthplace must have made a huge impression on me, through the eyes of a toddler, even though I can remember none of it now.

So it seems appropriate that, to celebrate the Big Day (the numbers involved in which are getting way too big for my liking!) that I should be heading for York together with the BM, the Offspring and his lovely girlfriend. York of course has the river, the castle, and the Minster – and it also has Bettys teashop (and no, there shouldn’t be an apostrophe there). In Bettys I shall enjoy a ‘birthday tea’ which makes me sound so much younger than I actually am.

But only yesterday someone asked if I would wish any of the years away – well, the age in years yes – but having reached this point in life I am just so happy with the way things are – with the wonderful family and friends I have the success of my books, the way my career has gone, and the life that I live – then No. If your birthday is a time for looking back then I’m pretty damn happy with the way things have gone – and if the birthday is a time to look forward – then great – I’m looking forward to more of the same!

Which, in my book makes it a Happy Birthday to me!