This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
by Jo Rees
In common with the fabulous summer babe of a site, Novelicious, my birthday was this week. I've always celebrated my birthday (although I've been 38 a lot of times now). Some people are ba-humbug about birthdays, but I think you should shout "hoorah for being alive" from the rooftops. Especially if your birthday is in June. Come on. Strawberry season. What's not to celebrate?
Usually I'm camping with all my mates and their kids on my birthday weekend, but that's next weekend. This weekend I cleared the diary on Sunday (my actual birthday) and had absolutely no plans, which is a rarity enough to make it feel like a novelty 'free' day.
I was greeted on waking up with home-made cards from my three gorgeous girls and loads of presents – including a wetsuit and perfume. (Very good work on the present front by my brilliant husband, Emlyn.) We scoffed scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, then went up to Devil's Dyke since it was one of those perfect June summer days, where there are butterflies everywhere and not a cloud in the sky and the English countryside is simply breathtaking. We went for a hilarious yomp, got spectacularly lost and landed up in a village pub where the chef had just lit the barbeque.
After an epic lunch, we giggled all the way back up the hill to the car, then rocked out to loud music all the way home, whereupon we went straight down the beach and all dived in the sea. Then I drank champagne with some friends as the tide came in and the sun set – oh, and ate my bodyweight in strawberries.All in all, a perfect day and definitely one in which I shouted hooray for being so lucky. That's for sure.
The Key to It All by Joanna Rees is out now.