Julia Roberts Author

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Birthdays and Birthstones

So, here we are in July and how appropriate that this month’s birthstone is the Ruby, the name of the eighteen-year-old daughter in my latest book, My Daughter’s Lies. To celebrate, I have a very special competition prize for you this month… more on that later.

First, let’s rewind to early June. I’m delighted to say that My Daughter’s Lies cracked the Amazon UK top 100 chart, climbing to number 20.

It was such an honour to be one of no fewer than nine Bookouture (my publisher) books in the Top 100 and to be in the illustrious company of Angela Marsons and Freida McFadden the latter of who has recently occupied the top three spots on the Amazon US charts – one can dream!!!!

I was hanging around at number 2 in the three category charts that My Daughter’s Lies features in but just couldn’t knock either Jeffrey Archer or Sara Cox off the top, but the good news is she’s still top 100 in those charts and has had over a million Kindle Unlimited pages read in just six weeks. Thanks so much if you’ve downloaded and also thank you if you’ve left a review, it is much appreciated. Also, please don’t be put off from giving it a go by using the ‘Look Inside’ feature to read the first couple of chapters by the most recent review which claims that it is aimed at the teenage market. It isn’t – I should know who it’s aimed at because I wrote it. It’s a little unfair to suggest that all eighteen-year-old girls are mature these days. We all develop and behave differently and shouldn’t assume that everyone is the same as us, don’t you think? Like I said, please use the ‘Look Inside’ feature one of the things I love about ebooks – a kind of try before you buy.

So, the first full week of June was packed with book stuff, but the second week began with my birthday. My day started with making cheese spelt scones as we’d decided to go and visit my mum in Nottingham for lunch and they are her favourite. We also took (and left) some chocolate birthday cake and enjoyed both with her whilst she chatted about my latest book which she’d finished very quickly despite me warning her that there wouldn’t be another one for a while! It was funny hearing her talk about the characters she liked and the ones she was less keen on – I’m looking at you Lukas! Mum’s had a few minor health niggles this year but she will be 98 next month and is amazing both mentally and physically.

We left Nottingham at around half past two in order to beat the rush hour traffic on the M25 and were back in good time for our daughter, Sophie and her partner, Reece to come to our house and cook dinner in preference to going out. I’d requested baked provolone, something we all enjoy at Pizza Pepe when we holiday together in Javea and I must say it surpassed expectations! 

It wasn’t a late night as the next day my husband, Chris and I were flying out to Jersey in the Channel Islands. It was a trip down memory lane as it was where our paths first crossed fifty years ago when we were both working in different summer shows, although we didn’t get together as a couple until three and a half years later when our paths crossed again – fate!!!!

It was a last-minute booking in part decided by my friend, Sunita. We were thinking about going and I remembered her posting on Instagram about the St Brelade’s Bay Hotel where she has stayed a few times. All I did was message her to ask if it was really as good as her glowing posts suggested and the next minute she was introducing me via email to the front office manager, Jack Sheridan. He couldn’t have been more helpful and within forty-eight hours, I’d booked the hotel, flights and hire car… I don’t hang about!

I’m not going to lie, we weren’t blessed with the best weather – changeable is being kind, but that has been the story of this summer so far. We arrived to blue skies and okay temperatures which was perfect for a beach walk from St Brelades Bay to Ouaisne Beach once we’d checked in. I first set foot on the sand there over fifty-eight years ago on a family holiday with Mum, Dad and my brother and sister. It was the first time I had been on a plane, and it was an old ‘prop’ jet. We stayed at the Portelet Hotel, just up the road from Ouaisne Beach but sadly it’s no longer there. Nor is the Hawaiian Nightspot at Portelet which is where Chris was working in 1974. There has actually been quite a lot of development in the area as you’d expect in fifty years, but it’s been tastefully done for the most part.

I worked at the Hotel de France in 1974, which is still very much alive and kicking in St Helier, as is the Watersplash in the centre of St Ouens Bay where I worked in 1975. It’s a very different venue now. There is a popular restaurant and a night club which the barman very kindly allowed us to have a look around after I’d explained my history with the place. It’s a lot smaller than I remember but it brought back memories of waiting backstage while Windsor Davies and Don Estelle (the stars of our show and the popular TV series, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum) were performing their chart topping single, Whispering Grass.

To be fair, we only had a couple of really rainy days, but it didn’t bother us too much as we got in the car and went exploring. A beach walk in blustery and overcast Gorey was followed by a veggie club sandwich lunch sitting on the quayside at Rozel Bay. When the rain came down in earnest, we drove to St Helier in search of Bath Street and the flat I lived in throughout the summer of 1974. Here’s a weird thing – it was number 68 Bath Street and is still there albeit above a different restaurant these days (it was the Yankee Diner back then) and I have just turned sixty-eight. The bakery across the road which used to give us freshly baked bread and doughnuts is now a bank, but the nearby indoor market appears to be flourishing!

On the other rainy day we drove to Corbiere lighthouse, grabbed lunch at El Tico on St Ouens beach which I can highly recommend, before visiting the Underground Hospital, constructed by slave labour during the German Occupation of Jersey in World War 2 – it was very sobering.

One of the reasons we decided that the St Brelades Bay would be a good hotel for us was the heated outdoor pool which I made good use of come rain or shine.

Call me weird (I’m sure some of you will) but I love swimming in the rain especially if the water temperature is warmer than the air temperature. There’s an indoor pool too but there’s nothing quite like doing backstroke while gazing up at the blue (or grey) sky above.

We had a couple of lovely sunny days too which we opted to spend on Portelet Beach. It’s a long way down and a steep climb back up particularly for two people rapidly approaching their seventies (Chris more rapidly than me), but it was worth it. It’s barely changed at all with its little island cut off at high tide.

One of those days was Father’s Day which we celebrated with pizza and beer from the café on the beach which is a newer addition. After a day lazing on the beach, we went back to the hotel to watch the England game. Being completely honest, after the performances in the group stage not many footie fans thought we’d make it through to the semi-finals let alone the final, but we’re there and who knows, we may just go on and win the whole thing!

We had been upgraded to the Penthouse Suite for two nights of our stay because of the lateness of our booking and there not being a room available for seven consecutive nights. It was a fabulous suite with a balcony off the lounge and the most amazing view of St Brelades Bay so the perfect place to watch the game. 

I didn’t mind moving a couple of times as it was quite nice to experience different aspects of the hotel and the staff moved all our stuff for us. All the staff were really accommodating throughout our stay – nothing was too much trouble. It’s situated on probably the best beach on the island, the food was good on the evenings we ate at the hotel and the barman mixed an excellent espresso martini – what’s not to love?!

So, all in all a lovely break away despite the weather. The next day I was meeting up with our son, Dan and our granddaughter to go shoe shopping for the first time as she’s walking now. We ended up with sandals and trainers from Clarks.

 How cute is this photo? Little and large. The double act by the same name would definitely have performed in Jersey when entertainment took the form of variety shows – am I the only one that thinks we should campaign to bring variety back?

After the shopping expedition, we went to an animal petting farm which had an indoor soft play area. My granddaughter is a dare devil! She has made the transition from baby to toddler, and it makes me a little sad that circumstances have meant that Chris and I were denied so much in the first year of her life.

As well as all the fun stuff, I’ve had a few medical appointments in the past few weeks. A brain scan, endocrinology blood test and eye test to check everything is still okay and that there are no indications that the tumour is regrowing on my pituitary gland. All looks good, but I will need continued monitoring. I also had my CML blood tests on the morning of the Bookouture summer party. 

This was me on the train on the way there – more on that on my next blog as this one is getting rather long and I’m sure you all want to know about the competition?

So, rather than winning books this month I thought I’d do something different. As I mentioned at the beginning of my blog, Ruby is the birthstone for July and also the name of one of the main characters in my latest book, My Daughter’s Lies.

Good quality rubies are very pricey but I thought this beautiful ‘ruby-red’ seaglass pendant, handcrafted in Hawaii would make a perfect giveaway. To be in with a chance of winning it you just need to leave your answer to this simple question in a comment at the bottom before midnight on 31st July. 

Ruby is the red version of corundum. All the other rainbow of colours of corundum are known by which precious gem name? Is it:-

A)      Topaz

B)     Sapphire

C)    Diamond

Good luck!

Someone who I know would know the answer is my former QVC colleague, Ali Keenan who we spent a lovely evening with a couple of weeks ago. Sadly, the competition is not open to family and friends!

Right, I’m off to bite my fingernails to the quick watching England 

Until next time

Julia xx

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Comments

  5. So lovely to read all of that Julia, and hear about your fab trip to jersey. It’s great revisiting old memories and places isn’t it. Lovely to see the photo of you arnd your mum , she is amazing for 98 and I am sure you value every moment spent with her. I feel as if I have missed something so significant as I didn’t realise you now had a granddaughter!! Congratulations even if I am far too late to offer that too you. Loved the picture of the shoes. My answer to to giveaway is A topaz…. It’s a beautiful necklace. Take care lots of love Diane

    Reply

  7. Hi Julia sounds like you had a lovely time away and spending time with your family.
    The answer is sapphire.

    Reply

  8. Hi Julia, as always a great blog.
    My birthday is also in June and I celebrated my 60th, although I don’t feel my age, LOL.I have done a few things , a holiday, went to see Take that in concert and I will be seeing Lulu in November xx
    The answer is Sapphire.

    Reply

  24. Love Jersey and we stayed at St Brelades Bay for our silver wedding which was in July 31st 30 years ago.
    The answer is Sapphire

    Reply

  32. Hi Julia
    Great blog looking forward to reading your new book
    Answer is B sapphire
    Regards
    Denise x

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  35. The answer is Sapphire 🙂 Great blog Julia it’s my birthday this month too so happy birthday :-))

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  37. Answer is Sapphire.
    So good to read about Jersey, I recognise a lot of the places you mention as spent many holidays there with my parents many moons ago!

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  39. The Answer Julia Is ……Sapphire….A Beautiful Stunning Necklace…… Fab-u-lous Prize ❤ Thankyou For The Opportunity To Try And Win It…..💝💐 x

    Reply

  42. Hi Julia. The answer ia Sapphire.
    Glad your mum is still going strong. She looks amazing. My mum would have been 91 this year. Sadly we lost her 9 years ago. I miss her dreadfully, but have millions of beautiful memories, and still talk to her in my head. Jersy looks beautiful. Just retired from the NHS, so have more time to explore.

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  56. Hi Julia
    Answer: Sapphire
    Ruby is my daughters birthstone
    I’m reading your new book at the moment

    Reply

  60. What a fantastic blog – it brought back so many memories of when I visited Jersey approximately 33 years ago.
    It has reminded me of how beautiful it is and I think that I need to book a holiday to see it again.

    The answer to the question is – sapphires

    Reply

  61. The answer is Sapphire.
    Gosh this blog brought back memories of my holiday in Jersey with my boyfriend (later to be my husband and then my ex!). We stayed just outside St Helier, but hired a car and went on the beach at both St Brelades, and Portelet. I don’t think there was anything at all there. We did go to the Watersplash but would not have seen you as I think it was 1963 or 1964! Yes we flew in prop propelled plane. I think there was a table in front of us, and the coffee cups kept moving to the side with the vibration.

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  62. Hi Julia.. the answer is Sapphire.. would love to win as I’m a July birthday (13/7/49) girl 🤣 .. love reading your blogs (& books) you make them so interesting xx

    Reply

  66. A perfect question Julia, Sapphires which are my birth stone for September. Your give away is beautiful!

    Reply

  67. Hi Julia
    Enjoy reading your books as well as the blog.
    The answer is Sapphires.
    Hope to hear from you
    Zara xx

    Reply

  68. Hi Julia loved reading your blog Jersey looks and sounds a fab place to visit
    The answer is B Sapphires xx

    Reply

  70. Hi Julia the answer is Sapphire I am currently reading a book on kindle which is about a lady who lives near the beach in Kerry in Ireland and makes jewellery from Sea Glass quite a coincidence! Would love to win the pendant xx

    Reply

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