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Beautiful post, Julie. I'm with you - one-to-one is better for some. I get exhausted in large groups. Too much stimulation!

It sounds as if you are very blessed in your friends. Here's to a wonderful trip, another exciting decade, and lots more of your vibrant writing. 💛

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Thank you, lovely.

Yes I am blessed with friends. More than at any other time in my life I think actually.

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Ahhh Galapagos!! I've been twice (different islands, one was a cruise and another was a fancy tent). No fancy dress or makeup needed. It is such "young" land. I'm a bird person and I never felt so a part of the colony as I felt with the blue-footed boobies. Enjoy it all.

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Twice hey? Some countries can seem young can’t they? I felt that when I went to Iceland so I know what you mean. It felt like a baby.

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Absolutely beautiful, the poems and prose. There’s a generosity in the way you share the beauty you see around you through your words, and the wisdom gleaned from your experiences. It ripples through the cyberverse and has a powerful, positive effect on all who read it…. So excited to hear about your adventures in Galapagos! Appreciate you ♥️

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Thank you, lovely.😍

One and a bit more sleeps now! Set off in my taxi early hours Thursday!!!

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founding

Happy Birthday Julie. Wherever you wonder and wander, you will touch the hearts of those who are ready for your words. Thank you for everything and have an amazing trip.

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Thank you 😊

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Happy birthday Julie. Wonderful poems, I especially loved the wishing well. Have a fabulous holiday. Will look forward to hearing your thoughts and impressions of this new adventure x

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Thank you. Yes only one more sleep! Well - kind of one full one and a bit of one seeing as I will have to leave at 2am Thursday early hours

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Poppies at Night 🥰

Love you Julie and I hope you have an amazing time on your adventure!!! 😘🌸🩷✨️ xx

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Thinking of you Rachel. You’re doing so well with your recovery and fitness goals 🔥One day when I’m darn sarf, we shall meet xx

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Thank you 🩷 Yes definitely would love to meet up with you! 🌸✨️ xx

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Happy birthday! You must be living right: it shows in your vivacious prose and moving poems. The night poppy lingers with me, but I like them all. :-) 🎂

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I think that one may be my favourite too. Thank you.

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Happy birthday from a virgo.. not a Queen of Pentacles per se… my mother was an Aries. We clashed, and yet I loved her so in a way I was unable to express (remember, Virgo). I admired but was unable to embrace her fire and even volatility - my surface calm must have felt like a dampening, as one might smother a fire with earth. She is no longer with me and I never told her of my feelings- a fear held me back. Your poetry is intense and your voice compelling- it is a pleasure to read and I especially enjoyed your interpretations at the end. May your days be full and bright! 😊🙏🏼

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Thank you. I enjoy when other people write interpretations of their poetry so I started to add this to my own. That said I wanted people to hear it in the first instance without prejudice and make what they would of it.

I think mother-daughter relationships can be tricky can’t they? I struggle to talk about anything remotely emotional with mine.

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So true and so unfortunate really. I remember enjoying the Jabberwocky as my mother read it to me as a small child. Years later, I found an interpretation of its every nonsensical word and excitedly ran to share it with her. She quickly held up her hand and said politely yet firmly - hearing this would ruin the poem for me, I prefer it to remain as I see it. So funny to me… remember the caterpillar in same book who pronounced, “When I say a word, it means what I mean it to mean…” could be the ultimate remedy for all malapropism! She would also refuse to interpret her own poetry which I found annoying- very glad to read yours as I think it helps to understand better both the author and the poem. Thanks for sharing 🙏🏼

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I can’t ever imagine my mum writing a poem ever. Lord knows what my son makes of all mine.

I hope you had some joy from the poems together, sometimes xx

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Absolutely!

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I enjoyed your writing and poems as ever - and happy birthday! x

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Thank you

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Happy Birthday!

Loved: "a peron's diamonds"! Wonderfully put! And beautiful poetry!

... funny how facing death makes us "better" people, there is a whole other level of insight, sensitivity and clarity.

My phone stays in the car and is normally being charged outside on my patio...

Grateful rising!! 🙌

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Yes she definitely seems more at peace with her lot. There is less “I want” and more “I have”.

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It's well worth it. Beautiful, wild and remote if you take the time to find the hard-to-get-to places.

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Happy Birthday! You don't look a day over 25 😘

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😂😂

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Happy birthday! 🎈 I’m on the cusp of Aries and Taurus and didn’t feel like celebrating much this year. Your post really resonated with me. I need to count my blessings, not let them decay like the coins in your wishing well. ✨

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I’m glad it did. Now the sun has slipped into Taurus this is also a call to earth too, yes. I hope your birthday brings you peace without too much thought if that makes sense. A grounding pause x

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Happy birthday Julie well done your poems deserve to be read.They are your jewels.🦋👏🐦♥️.

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Oh thank you. I think as you follow their chronology, you can feel the upward slant. I am rising.

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Happy birthday! I too am an Aries and , for the same reasons as you've expressed, I always choose to spend a week in the Lake District. If I'm lucky, like this year, I miss the Easter holidays and therefore any crowds. Always come back rejuvenated and refreshed.

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The Lake District sounds fabulous. I went when I was 10/11 on a school weekend away in Windermere, my first ever without my mum. That felt like such a wonderful coming of age trip - kayaking, abseiling etc and I have fond memories. I really should go back.

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Shouting the happiest of birthday’s to you, Julie! Beaming lots of love across the pond! May your 50th year bring you the wildest of happiness, the deepest of riches found in those you hold dear and the simplest of pleasures spent in nature.

Your poetry was so lovely and deep, thank you for sharing yourself so beautifully. Such an Aries trait, strong and tender all at once. I love Aries, as a fellow fire sign I appreciate the fierce love of a heart set ablaze. Only done by one ruled by the transformation of fire. Of course you demand a level of attention, rightly so!

This summer I will embrace 56. So I warmly welcome you into, what for me, has been the best decade of my life. At least so far. 50 has given me a new lease on life. Almost in a dangerous way! Lmao!! I care a lot less about so many things. It’s as though a weight has been lifted and with it the fog of bullshit that can cloud our young minds. Such a silly girl I was!

The advice of your friend rings true to me too …. Seeing flowers brings me such joy. A simple delight. Keep planting those bulbs. One of them is bound to take. 😉🤗🌷🦋

Life is sure something. May she grant you all that you desire and more of what you need.

Happy Birthday Dear Julie. 🎂🎉

Can’t wait to see your pictures from the Galapagos!

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