Having your birthday bang in the middle of the summer holidays is a mixed blessing I think.  You never had to go to school on your birthday, but on the other hand friends were often away, so it wasn't a good time for a party.  It certainly doesn't always guarantee good weather either, I remember afew very wet birthdays.  But we were sometimes on holidays, in Spain or Devon which was great, and we had lots of lovely birthday day trips out and about around London too.  Your birthday being in the summer holiday means that it has always been a good excuse for me to take a day off from work too.  What ever we were doing, it was always a pleasure and a privilege to share your summer birthday with you Eloise.