Sometimes a friendship develops and when you think back, you are hard pushed to remember the exact starting point. One of my first recollections of Deb was here was another Brit on Squidoo and she had just been awarded Lens of the Day for her excellent (and yummy!) lens: Fish and Chips. That was on 29 July 2008 and I had just joined Squidoo.

Happy Birthday Debbie!

Gradually I started seeing Deb’s comments in my Guestbooks and she was one of the first people to join my fanclub. What I immediately noticed about Deb is that she does not just write “Nice lens” in a Guestbook, she always personalises her messages, such as:

I think I’ve heard about soapnuts but didn’t really take any notice. However, now I’ve been educated by you, I’ll try them! Super lens AJ 5 soapy stars for you!

I think we started exchanging emails around the time I published Bullying at Primary School and Deb published her fascinating lens: Selective Mutism. Ever thoughtful, Deb often emails me articles and links about bullying that I can use to update my lens.

Over the months our friendship has developed. We have a lot in common: we joined Squidoo around the same time (Deb joined on 21 June 2008); we both got Lens of the Day very early in our Squidoo careers; we both work with children; we have both gone through divorces; we have both been single Mums and since then we have both been lucky enough to find the loves of our lives.

Deb is engaged to fellow Lensmaster Poddys and her lens How Debbie met Tony, not only tells a great love story, but it also allows us to get to know Deb better.

Debbie and Poddys

Deb would be the first to admit that she is NOT the most prolific publisher of Lenses!

To date Deb has created 23 Lenses, but all of them are carefully researched and leave you feeling they were well worth visiting. There’s a good variety of topics and in some, her sense of humour definitely shows. If you have curly hair then here’s a useful tip from Deb:

To grow unruly curls long, you have to go through the ‘dragged through a hedge backwards’ stage before you achieve the desired look.

I have no doubt that when Deb decides to “go for it”, she will make a Giant Squid. She is definitely an asset to Squidoo.

Deb is passionate about what she does and is a feisty protector of the things she believes in. She likes to see fair play, hates Spam (don’t we all?) and loves Tagfoot, where she is the Tagfoot equivalent of a Squidoo Angel.

Deb is a Tagfoot Mentor and carefully watches over her “Mentoes”, helping them when they need it and also giving them a gentle kick up the backside if they get something wrong…..like me a few weeks ago! And if you want to know more about Tagfoot, Deb has published the ultimate Tagfoot Guide: 100 Tagfoot Tips.

Deb is also renowned on Tagfoot for her tongue in cheek responses to shares, such as:

Hang on… a man who admits he cocked up??? MARRY ME!! LOL!!

So, on her Birthday, I want to say this to my friend Debbie Rose:

You were one of my very first SquidPals and your messages gave me the confidence to believe that yes, I think I can “do” this Squidoo thing. You have made me laugh and you have made me think. If I was forced to draw up a list of 10 Lensmasters I would like to meet, then you would be on it girl. Have a wonderful birthday Deb, you deserve it!

With love and hugs
AJ

[ratings]

© AJ for Squidlog.net, 2009. | Permalink | No comment

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