I first met Carol when she moved into the village twenty-five years ago, along with her husband and two small children. We soon became firm friends and over the years have done all sorts of things together: we learnt tap-dancing and started canoeing, we went on holiday (minus husbands) at home and abroad, we served as school governors, playgroup co-ordinators, organised the Red Cross Cadets and launched and ran the village's first ever Guide unit and finally - and most dramatically - gave birth to our third children, both daughters, within ten weeks of each other! When our daughters were Christened, at a joint service, I became Gemma's Godmother and Carol became Catherine's. Our daughters have grown up very close and so have Carol and I. She is the sister I never had : I have made this page and everything on it especially for her. Carol, you are the best friend I could ever wish for. I hope you like your page....... Carol can have the mundane meaning of "householder" when it is used as a female variant of Carl or Charles, but it also has the secondary meaning of "a joyful song." Having known Carol's mother - a lovely lady - I am sure it is the latter meaning she intended when naming her youngest daughter. Carol's birthday is in August, making her a Leo - interestingly, the astrologers say that Leo is most compatible with Aries (my birth sign.) Leos are reputed to be generous and enthusiastic, with a sunny disposition and full of ambition, enthusiasm and tenacity. Leos are also supposed to like the luxuries of life - sound familiar yet? Best colours for Leos are gold, royal purple and orange. Leo rules metallic gold, and August's birthstone is traditionally the sardonyx although the modern substitute peridot is prettier!. Flowers for Leo include the dahlia, yellow lily, poppy, marigold, sunflower and heliotrope. You share your birthday with the writer Georgette Heyer, Poet Laureate Ted Hughes, actor Fess Parker (remember him as Davy Crockett?) and Madonna (who married Sean Penn on her 27th birthday) and Elvis Presley, Stewart Granger and Bela Lugosi (the original film Dracula) all died on your birthday. Some famous "Carols" Carol Vorderman - those of us in the UK will need no explanation. The ubiquitous face of British TV, Ms. Vorderman is on EVERYTHING - ads., quiz shows, educational/scientific. You name it - she can/does do it!! Carol Burnett - US actress/comedienne/producer/director/writer, probably best known in the UK for her chat show appearances and portrayal of Miss Hannigan in the film version of "Annie" (1982). Neil Sedaka wrote and recorded "Oh Carol" for his childhood sweetheart Carol Klein (later Carole King of the Goffin and King parnership); it reached number 3 in the UK charts and stayed there for 13 weeks. I've made this globe specially for you. I hope you like it. A true friend is someone who is there for you when they would rather be someplace else. A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow. ~William Shakespeare