Saturday, 10 July 2010

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!


Ooh, not another year older!


Oh well I can't do anything about it so I might as well enjoy it!


That's me on the left wearing a white top and a patchwork skirt, it looks like I was about to blow out the candles. You can guess when this picture was taken, look at the wallpaper and tablecloth...all very 70s, lots of brown and purple!


Dressed as Marie-Antoinette at a fancy dress party around the mid 1970s (France). My Aunt Suzy made the dress. I was so pleased with it. I still have it as well as the wig!


I would have been 15 or 16 years old and living in Affpuddle, Dorset. The grey cat next to me was called Misty. He was a wonderful cat and was very dear to me.


Aged 18 years old (Affpuddle Dorset) and dressed to go to an interview, I think.


Aged 21


and 23 years later... (most recent picture of me, taken in Devon in May 2010)
Yes you've done your sums right, I am 44 years old today!


Busy weekend ahead! Today: My birthday, a family wedding (one of Alan's cousins), drama & dancing practice for Miss P and on Sunday: We will be watching Miss P performing in a show organized by her drama school.

I wanted to give you a laugh with some of the bad hair days I had over the years. Unfortunately, the box with those photos is not easily accessible in the loft so I will dig them out some other time. My worst hair days were in the mid to late 1980s...and perhaps one or two in the 90s.

Whatever your plans are this weekend, may you have a good one!

I'll leave you with this photo of me on my 1st birthday (Love the hat...)


A bientôt!

Isabelle X

94 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday darling.....am i the first ???? i wish you a happy sunny joy ful day !!...............and have fun on the wedding !!

    Love Ria....

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  2. Happy Birthday Isabelle! Hope you have a wonderful day! I think the 80's was the decade for Bad hair!

    x Melissa

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  3. A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Isabelle! "God bless you and keep you and give you His love,
    God prosper your labour with help from above.
    Be His strength in your arm and His love in your soul,
    His smile your reward and His glory your goal" Anon.
    Have a wonderful, special day!
    Very much enjoyed the photos - so cute!
    Blessings, Brenda (in Australia)

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  4. Happy Birthday sweet Isabelle! You are beautiful at every age...and no matter what your hair looks like!
    I hope you have a wonderful day!
    :)

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  5. Happy Birthday Sweet friend....enjoy your special day! Sending you extra hugs today. oxxoxo

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  6. Isabelle, happy birthday! What a beautiful child you were...and still are! Such fun photos, though no bad hair days are seen in these. Oh, how I remember the 80s. Such a funny time. Hope your weekend is lovely! ~ Angela

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  7. No, impossible. Not more than 30.

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  8. Happy Birthday Isabelle. Those snaps of you are totally gorgeous. Thanks for sharing them with us.
    Pam

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  9. Happy Birthday! Wishing you a wonderful day, Anna x

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  10. Happy Birthday, have a wonderful day, so lovely to see your pictures!

    Anna x

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  11. Wishing you a very happy birthday, enjoy your day and the weekend.
    Nickyx

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  12. We share birthdays! Happy one to you, and what a lot of beautiful pics of yourself! I think you look absolutely wonderful in them all!

    We ALL had bad hair back in the eighties and nineties! Heh!
    XOXO
    Joni

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  13. Dear Isabelle,
    I did write this out once but don't know whether I posted it or deleted it. I am a bit muddle-headed as I was up at 4am with a sick child. Didn't go to bed until very late as I went to the Opera house for a show so I am barely functioning today. And so please forgive me if I already posted and feel free to ignore this one or keep two. Happy Birthday to you. You look beautiful in all your photos. Even as a teenager. I love the photo with the cat in Dorset, you look exactly as a teenager should. It has been a treat to see all the ages of Isabelle and the woman behind the Blog. The photograph of you at 44 is stunning. You really look beautiful and just as lovely as any of the glamorous women on your Blog from the different eras you admire. I hope you have a special Birthday with lots of spoiling. We are virtually the same age and I'm so grateful to be celebrating these birthdays. Forty is a lovely decade.
    I smiled over the comment you left on my Blog about our two daughters and their similar tastes. I know Daisy would hero-worship Miss P if they met as she loves the big girls. I am fortunate Daisy goes to a school where the big girls really spoil and look after the little ones. I was most interested in the fact Miss P goes to drama classes as several people keep saying I should enrol Daisy. She is somebody who loves attention and has a very loud voice. I feel sorry for her sometimes as we often tell her to lower her voice and I think drama might be a good outlet. She is also a right character and has always enjoyed dressing up and playing pretend all day. She also despite her being a real extrovert has a quite shy side at times (probably from me) and I would love her to get more confidence so that part of her personality doesn't take over.
    Anyway, hopefully I covered everything I had in the original email to you. I really enjoyed getting more of a glimpse of you. I always angst over putting up personal photos on a Blog but it's so great for other people to see the people whose Blogs they follow and enjoy. Loved the 70s fabrics and wallpaper too. You have to love the 70s.
    Wishing you a year filled with manifesting your big dream come true.
    xx

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  14. Hi Issabele, many happy returns and blessings for your birthday. I was so surprised to see that in the May photo you are wearing a turqoise leather choker and cardigan exactly like mine - I have both and wear them together! Anyhow, you don't look your age in the picture, I would have thought 32! Have a wonderful weekend. Betty xxx

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  15. Happy Birthday to you
    Happy Birthday to you
    Happy Birthday dear Isabelle
    Happy Birthday to you

    Hope you have a really good weekend
    Julie xxxxxxxx

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  16. Hello Isabelle,

    Wishing you a happy, sunny, beautiful birthday!!

    And have fun at the wedding!

    Yolanda

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  17. Happy birthday Isabelle.
    And a beautiful day.

    Herma

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  18. Happy Birthday Isabelle, what great pictures, you look even better at 44.

    Hope you have a great weekend.

    Hugs RosieP x

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  19. Have a wonderful birthday Isabelle, the sun is certainly shining for you.
    Ann x

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  20. Happy Birthday! Hope you have a lovely day! Love the photos!!
    Tamzin X

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  21. happy birthday- have a fab one!

    When I was 44 I told everyone it was my 50th and they all said crumbs don't you look young/don't you look fabulous for fifty!
    Trouble is I've had to "go backwards" ever since!
    xx

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  22. Happy birthday Isabelle, enjoy your day with all you have planned. It's great having a summer birthday isn't it. You look absolutley beautiful in all your photos.
    Lisa x

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  23. HOw cute and wonderful.
    Happy Birthday!

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  24. Happy birthday my sweet blogg friends.
    so nice to follow you from child to a beautiful grownup women.
    I whish you all good for the day
    and the future...
    a big hug from sylvia

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  25. Absolutely LOVELY photos of you, every single one! So nice to get this little peak into you personal photo album and see more of the person behind the blog.

    Wishing you a very happy birthday and a lovely - if busy by the sounds of it - weekend!

    Oh, and by the way, I thought of you when another blogger told me about Elizabeth Baer in Bradford-on-Avon, who - I think this weekend - opens her house to some fellow vintage textile sellers. I don't know if you already know about it or if it might be something for you, but I think you can find out more on http://www.elizabethbaertextiles.com

    Happy Birthday!
    Helena

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  26. We all should look this good at 44! You look great!! Thank you SO much for the sweet comment on my blog as well! It is much appreciated!

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  27. Happy Birthday Isabelle, have a fabulous day.
    Salcombe is lovely isn't it? I love to visit in July/August in the evenings when it really comes to life.
    Even though I'm lucky enough to visit Salcombe, Dartmouth etc often, I still desperately miss Mooching on Catherine Hill in Frome! I also need a 'fix' of shopping in Bath soon....CK, White Living, Vinegar Hill...
    Have a great weekend, enjoy, and by the way, you NEVER look 44!!!! I'd have loved to have looked like you at 34 let alone 44.
    Take care,
    Jane. xx

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  28. HURRAY!!!!!! COngratulations and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! This seems to be a weekend with a golden lining!!!! ENJOY it big time!!!!
    Good luck for Miss P;)!

    I think it's always nice to see how a person grows up..........and ages............ANY person...but me ;)))))))))


    XX
    Lynda

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  29. Happy Birthday, Isabelle! Thank you for sharing your photos with us! You are lovely in each of them and most of all in the most recent! I hope you have a fabulous weekend! Lots of love, Amanda xxx

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  30. You haven't changed a bit!
    Have a lovely Birthday!
    Best Wishes,
    Becky

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  31. Happy Birthday Isabelle!
    So nice to see all those pictures of you growning up.
    Have a nice day,
    Dani

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  32. Happy birthday to you!!!!
    The time is not spent for you, you are beautiful as then!!!
    Bises Annamaria

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  33. Havea very happy birthday and enjoy your weekend :)

    Love the baby pics - very cute.

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  34. Aw, Isabelle, what a cutie. Thanks for sharing the photos. A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
    Hen x

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  35. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!
    Cinzia

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  36. Happy birthday Isabelle, and may you have a wonderful celebration. You were stunning back then and just as stunning today.

    with love, Kate

    PS, don't forget to email me your address for the Pay it Forward. x

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  37. Bonjour Isabelle !
    Je vous souhaite un très heureux anniversaire ! Une de mes soeurs est née le même jour que vous.
    Vous n'avez pas changé, on reconnait votre visage. J'aime beaucoup la 1ière photo.
    Passez un très bon week-end en famille.

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  38. Happy Birthday!!!

    Have a fantastic birthday weekend.

    I loved seeing your photos through the years,

    Victoria x

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  39. Happy Birthday, Isabelle !
    Lovely pictures !
    Sylvia

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  40. Happy Birthday - hope you have a wonderful day:)

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  41. A very Happy Birthday Isabelle and many many more!
    Tina xo

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  42. happy birthday to You!!!
    And you look verry nice at 44!!!!
    Have a verry nice and sunny
    day
    Yolanda

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  43. Have a very happy day!! ;-)

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  44. looking great,Isabelle and suiting blond hair very much.Happy happy birthday
    anne x

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  45. Happy Birthday :))) I have two fave pics of yours. Your 1st birthday pic, oh I loved it, and your most recent one :)))

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  46. Many Happy Returns! Darn, girl, you look fantastic!

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  47. Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Happy Birthday to you!

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  48. ...love you birthday photo trip down memory lane...Thanks for sharing!

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  49. What a lovely post! Happy Birthday, you look great in all the photos, the one's from the 70's are so familiar, I am sure everyone our age has some like that.
    Have a lovely weekend.
    Love
    Lyn
    xxx

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  50. Happy Birthday darling!
    I LOVE PIC N. 1 SO MUCH! You're so funny there!
    You were a beautiful little girl and are now a wonderful woman!
    Hope your day has been great.
    Fra

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  51. Happy Birthday Isabelle, hope you are having a lovely day.

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  52. Happy Birthday Isabelle! Loved the pictures of you growing up and especially the picture taken this May...you're lovely! Oh dear...I've had a few 'bad hair' days too over the years...I still have them once in a while! I hope you have a wonderful weekend....Maura :)

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  53. Happy Birthday Isabelle! All your photos are lovely & you haven't changed much!

    Jayne

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  54. A very happy birthday Isabelle. I hope you have had a lovely day. Its also my cousins birthday today and he is also 44 and he lives in Somerset in a cottage on the levels. Its lovely to see the photos of you over the years. I think Miss P looks very like you. Karen X

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  55. Happy 44th Birthday! I must say, you are wearing well gal!It's a very nice photo of you and turquoise suits you.
    I hope you have a lovely day.

    Sandie xx

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  56. Happy Birthday Isabelle what gorgeous photographs of you, thank you so much for sharing your special day with us, you shall leave me a little slice of cake won't you ;0) I adore birthday cake, well alright, any cake :0)

    Hugs

    XX

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  57. Happy 44th Birthday Isabelle! Wow...you are looking good!! Hope you're having a fantastic weekend. Lucyxx

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  58. Ahhh happy birthday!!! You look lovely in you recent pic of you, love the blue cardigan!! You also look very cute growing up too!!!Have a wonderful time!
    Karenxxx

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  59. Happy Birthday! And happy all next days and years :-)
    Holly

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  60. Beautiful then....beautiful now.....

    Happy Birthday Isabelle!

    Julie x

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  61. Happy Birthday Isabelle! I love your 'through the years' photos. You are quite a beauty - from 1yr onwards. Hope you've had/are having a lovely day and are enjoying yourself.

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  62. Warm birthday wishes to you Isabelle! I like the photos of you through the years and you look cheeky in that first one.You were a beautiful teenager.I was shy,had spots and was a bit chubby,so I had no confidence.
    Hope you enjoy your celebrations!

    Bellaboo :0)

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  63. Happy birthday to you, Isabelle!!!!
    Sympa de nous faire partager une rétrospective de ta vie!!!
    Bon dimanche!

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  64. Happy Birthday!!
    You are a beautiful girl, then and now!!
    :)
    ~Becca~

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  65. Happy Birthday! You just keep getting better and better-lucky girl!

    Carolyn

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  66. Happy Birthday Isabelle, hope you had a lovely day! :)
    Vivienne x

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  67. Isabelle,
    Happy Birthday! You are gorgeous!
    Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a sweet comment.
    I will be back to visit your lovely blog soon.
    Bethany ♥

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  68. Isabelle,
    Happy Birthday! You are gorgeous!
    Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving a sweet comment.
    I will be back to visit your lovely blog soon.
    Bethany ♥

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  69. Happy Birthday! I am your newest follower and look forward to seeing future posts..Lovely photo's!

    Wanda

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  70. happy birthday!

    so fun to see the photos of you. all so pretty! guess what? i'm 44, too.

    enjoy!

    xo
    elyse

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  71. Isabelle you always were and always will be a beauty...at any age! What a darling baby you were. I hope your day was as special as yyou are my friend!
    Big Birthday Hugs

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  72. Oh one day late but very much congratulations on your 44th birthday, what a lovely pictures you've shown...and yes, I love that baby-hat too, what a sweet little child you were!
    And the recent picture of you is also wonderful, you look like a realy nice and loving woman to me! :)

    Thanks for dropping by, a lovely weekend to you too!

    Regards, Veronique

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  73. What a beautiful lady! Lovely photos & Happy Birthday to you for yesterday. Hope you had a lovely day & thanks for visiting my little blog x

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  74. Hi Isabelle,

    Hope you had a fabby birthday. Love the photos what a nice way to share your birthday with us all.

    Alison
    x

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  75. Happy Birthday for yeaterday Isabelle!
    Hope you're having a fabulous weekend,loved your photos. You certainly don't look your age! Take care

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  76. A belated Happy Birthday to you Isabelle. You have grown more beautiful with each passing year x

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  77. Happy Birthday Isabelle!
    Adorable blog.
    Hugs

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  78. Happy belated birthday hope you had a good one.
    Debbie

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  79. You are living proof that some things improve with age.. like a good wine or cheese.. except you are far more beautiful.
    Lovely photos Isabelle and wonderful memories for you too..

    Yesterday was a certainly a day of celebration.. as it was my son's birthday too!

    Hope you had a wonderful day.

    With love
    Michele xx

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  80. Happy Birthday! Great stroll down memory lane. Lucky you, you never hit that awkward stage.

    Hope you had a great weekend!

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  81. Happy birthday hun. I'll treat you to a day out this coming Saturday to make up for you not having the day to yourself on your birthday.

    All your blooger friends are right, you look lovely in ALL your photos.

    Love you loads, hubby. xxxxx

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  82. Hi Isabelle! I know I'm late...very late, but just want to whish you Happy Birthday!!!!

    Hugs!
    Mara

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  83. Hello Isabelle,

    I hope you've had a happy birthday, with lots of sunshine. And cakes! :-)

    Love from Amsterdam!

    Rosa

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  84. Happy birthday Isabelle, I love your one year old pics, adorable ... & you look pretty darn gorgeous in the recent shot also.

    Have a lovely week!
    TTFN ~ Marydon

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  85. ***happy birthday!!!*** wowza u really dont look in your 40's -- hope u have a truly special time isabelle loved the photos- funny thing is i was looking through a memories box this afternoon at some old piccys of myself- lovely memories to keep hold of ;0)

    thank you for your sweet hearted comments on my blog ;0)xxxx

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  86. Late but...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!
    You were a pretty baby, a beautiful girl and now you're a wonderful young woman!!!!
    Enjoy this age!
    Vale

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  87. Happy belated Birthday, I hope to meet you one day at your vintage fairs as we do seem to have similar tastes.
    Best wishes

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  88. A belated Happy Birthday to you! You don't look 44 - what's your secret?!

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  89. I am the 92nd person to wish you a Happy Birthday on here. Wow, what a lot of blogging friends. No, I would never have guessed you were that age, you could easily be 34.
    Ruth x

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  90. Isabelle you look fabulous at 44, I'm only two and a bit years away myself. Have a lovely birthday darling and enjoy yourself.
    love
    Jo xx

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  91. Happy Birthday Isabelle! Lovely pics, Have a sweet day!

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  92. Hi Isabelle,
    I'm sorry that I missed your Birthday, but hope you had a lovely time...I see you will be celebrating on Saturday, so belated Birthday wishes for a fun and fabulous time then! (I seem to have so little time to spend on my PC now, and always feel guilty for not managing to comment very often...thank you for the time you spend with my blog, I am humbled. I'm sure you will soon see once your website/shop is up and running how intensive it is - I am now at the stage where I no longer wish to see a keyboard and prefer the interaction and chats face to face, but something has to give in order to enjoy this…)
    Love the photos that you posted…you haven’t changed very much in 44 years!
    Anyway, have a lovely time at the w/e,
    Niki x

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Hello.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment on my blog. I enjoy reading them all! I am sorry if I cannot always reply.
Isabelle x