Happy (rainy) Birthday to Meeee...

This is my official birthday according to the Gregorian calendar. So although I think the day would be hard pressed to beat the No. 11 bus ride that I took on the morning of my Hebrew birthday, the advantages to this one are that it is official and hence I am receiving lots of lovely phone calls, emails and cards. So that's nice. Very nice, in fact.

Having said that, it's a bit of a strange day. Despite having all kinds of nice messages and calls, I am not likely to come in to physical contact with a single human bean. Not unless I head out to the bars later and trawl for well-wishers, but that's not the kind of human contact I am looking for. I guess I could always hit the streets with a "Free Hugs" sign if I was totally that desperate.

The reason for my physical isolation is partly due to the tube strike. Those RMT rotters have closed down the underground system for 48 hours as of 7pm last night. This meant that my best friend, who had spotted an opportunity to travel down from Newcastle to London and take me out for drinks and a meal last night, couldn't make it. Or rather, she could have done, but we both decided that transport-wise, it would be a bit of a nightmare.

So then because of the underground being out, I decided to work from home for the next couple of days, which was I felt was a good decision to make, because I knew that the monotony would be broken by a visit from GBM who said that he would take me out for a meal tonight. Then he called this morning to say that he woke up with excruciating pain in his shoulder and can't drive. Slightly gutted? Yes. But no grudges - if he could make it, he would.

Looking on the bright side, now I actually have the time to fit in my annual bath.

And of course, it is raining. Every year I hear people moaning about the rain and exclaiming "It's June! It should be summer! Where is the sun?!" Oh how short people's memories are. It rains 9 1/2 years out of 10 on the 10th of June - I worked that one out long ago. And got over it.

In the true spirit of raising my consciousness, I could either choose to be devastated over my birthday, or cheerful for what I have. I choose the latter. I've decided that the saddest birthday is the one that you don't reach. I'm lucky - today I have reached the grand old age of 39 - many don't.

I have decided that the age of 39 is very lucky. 39 is 3 x 13. The word 'Love' in Hebrew has a numerical value of 13. So that's 3 times Love. Hmm.. I think there's a song for this, and the words are so incredibly appropriate too....

Love, Love, Love

Love, Love, Love

Love, Love, Love

There's nothing you can do that can't be done.

Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.

Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game.

It's easy.

There's nothing you can make that can't be made.

No one you can save that can't be saved.

Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time.

It's easy.

All you need is Love, All you need is Love,

All you need is Love, Love... Love is all you need.

There's nothing you can know that isn't known.

Nothing you can see that isn't shown.

Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.

It's easy.

All you need is Love, All you need is Love,

All you need is Love, Love... Love is all you need.

      All You Need Is Love - The Beatles

Amen to that.

Always on the Bright Side.... K.R.