Ah thank you Alex! I’ve worn hydrangeas as hats before, but never as ears and I think it should be tried.
I have a birthday crown here which I gently encourage (force) any visiting birthday person to wear (I find it so strange that some people are reluctant to wear a crown- it’s a CROWN?!) It’s properly bejewelled and heavy: a friend bought it for me, and he bought himself a matching tiara (natch), and occasionally we both wear them for no reason apart from the fact that it feels brilliant to wear a crown. It generally lives on a bust of David who looks out of the sitting room window.
Happy birthday, enjoy wearing your birthday crown. Many years ago I worked with someone who was rather grand and she told me that her aunt was a friend of Princess Margaret and said aunt used to dread the princess coming to stay as she’d spend all morning lounging in bed smoking fags and ‘it really put the housemaids routine orf’. I often think of that on a rainy Tuesday as I trudge to the Tube station.
Happy glorious birthday! ❤️🫅I think that lady is the Deirdre Rachid "Free the Wetherfield One" era rather than Barlow. My mum of course still considers her a Langton
Wishing you a very happy birthday and thank you for always bringing a large dose of laughter and joy to my Sunday morning. I’m off to buy a stock of the crowns and I know exactly which family member should have the ‘Pain in the Arse’ but not sure I dare give it to her… although it would definitely be appreciated by other family members, especially the witch!
Happy belated birthday! You are officially my favorite person on Substack, and everything about this article was perfect. I laughed so many times that my dog started giving me the side-eye. And thank you for including my note. That was such a lovely surprise.
Wishing you many happy returns of the day Alex. Look forward to reading about your week of celebrations, after which you will have to settle down to write your next novel - The Muslim Ladies Evening Bicycle Club - in the style of Alexander McCall Smith of course.
Happy birthday! I hope you have so much glittering fun. I made ebielskivers for my birthday this morning. It took some time. When I was done cleaning up the disaster I made in the kitchen my husband asked what i wanted to do for the day. I told him if I don’t read Alex T. Smiths Substack I’m going to be very cranky! I fully understood. Thank you and enjoy your birthday week.
I love your expression that 'August is an Aperitif to Autumn' . I am always surprised by August! It seems that it should be the height of summer, yet it is really close to Autumn, and in Scotland the children will soon return to school.
Very happy birthday to you Alex! We were very tickled by the hot sauce/Phil story. When the time comes for your new pen shopping, check out Tom’s Studio - I have one of their pens and it makes me so happy every time I use it.
HAPPIEST Birthday to you, PAN, god of all things bright and whimsical and wizard of joy in this melting glacier of a world— you are tapped into the wild slipstream, the body electric and we are all SO GRATEFUL that you keep us alive in this way. Have the BEST birthday, ever!!
Ah thank you Alex! I’ve worn hydrangeas as hats before, but never as ears and I think it should be tried.
I have a birthday crown here which I gently encourage (force) any visiting birthday person to wear (I find it so strange that some people are reluctant to wear a crown- it’s a CROWN?!) It’s properly bejewelled and heavy: a friend bought it for me, and he bought himself a matching tiara (natch), and occasionally we both wear them for no reason apart from the fact that it feels brilliant to wear a crown. It generally lives on a bust of David who looks out of the sitting room window.
Happy birthday!! 🎂
“It generally lives on a bust of David” Of COURSE it does! Where else?!
I mean it’s obvious that that’s it where it should live isn’t it?!
I’ve just ordered 2 birthday crowns and the Rumer Goddern book….
I seem to have ordered the whole Manderley Press collection ‘by mistake’. I hold Joy Parade entirely to blame
🤣🤣🤣
Me too, or somebody very like me 🫢
Oops
I love Rumer Godden. Her autobiographies are wonderful.
And thank YOU, Jo, for introducing me to this wonderful Substack. Many happy returns, Alex, and I’m grateful for the introduction to Manderley Press.
See note to Veronica. Lethal.
Happy, happy birthday, you lovely, cheerful, cheering man! 🥳 Joy Parade is a highlight of the week, always.
Happy birthday, enjoy wearing your birthday crown. Many years ago I worked with someone who was rather grand and she told me that her aunt was a friend of Princess Margaret and said aunt used to dread the princess coming to stay as she’d spend all morning lounging in bed smoking fags and ‘it really put the housemaids routine orf’. I often think of that on a rainy Tuesday as I trudge to the Tube station.
Happy birthday, Alex!! 🥳 I LOVE the Joy Parade. Hope you enjoy all the fun things this week!
Happy glorious birthday! ❤️🫅I think that lady is the Deirdre Rachid "Free the Wetherfield One" era rather than Barlow. My mum of course still considers her a Langton
“PIGS DON’T HAVE EYEBROWS!” oh my god
Happy Birthday Alex! You make my sundays with the wonderful Joy Parades! I hope you are wearing the birthday crown today - we need a picture next week
Wishing you a very happy birthday and thank you for always bringing a large dose of laughter and joy to my Sunday morning. I’m off to buy a stock of the crowns and I know exactly which family member should have the ‘Pain in the Arse’ but not sure I dare give it to her… although it would definitely be appreciated by other family members, especially the witch!
Happy belated birthday! You are officially my favorite person on Substack, and everything about this article was perfect. I laughed so many times that my dog started giving me the side-eye. And thank you for including my note. That was such a lovely surprise.
Hobby Horse Dressage!
Why did I waste my youth on suffering though viola lessons, when I could have been mastering my hobby horse leaping?
Wishing you many happy returns of the day Alex. Look forward to reading about your week of celebrations, after which you will have to settle down to write your next novel - The Muslim Ladies Evening Bicycle Club - in the style of Alexander McCall Smith of course.
Happy birthday! I hope you have so much glittering fun. I made ebielskivers for my birthday this morning. It took some time. When I was done cleaning up the disaster I made in the kitchen my husband asked what i wanted to do for the day. I told him if I don’t read Alex T. Smiths Substack I’m going to be very cranky! I fully understood. Thank you and enjoy your birthday week.
I love your expression that 'August is an Aperitif to Autumn' . I am always surprised by August! It seems that it should be the height of summer, yet it is really close to Autumn, and in Scotland the children will soon return to school.
Noel Streatfeild - I had forgotten him!
Happy birthday, Alex! My birthday is Tuesday (the 4th), and I’m excited to preorder your new book to ship to my goddaughter.
Very happy birthday to you Alex! We were very tickled by the hot sauce/Phil story. When the time comes for your new pen shopping, check out Tom’s Studio - I have one of their pens and it makes me so happy every time I use it.
HAPPIEST Birthday to you, PAN, god of all things bright and whimsical and wizard of joy in this melting glacier of a world— you are tapped into the wild slipstream, the body electric and we are all SO GRATEFUL that you keep us alive in this way. Have the BEST birthday, ever!!