I am a habitual person. Each morning as I head into the city I purchase 2 newspapers:  1) The Times and 2) The Daily Mail. I buy both papers because I really enjoy reading The Daily Mail but am embarrassed because I feel as a professional woman I should be reading something a bit more “high brow”. The result – I carefully hide the Daily Mail within the front page of The Times.

I am proud to say that I have progressed since my youthful days 12 years ago when I used to hide The Times within the front page of the FT. I look forward to the day when I will sit proudly with The Sun without reservation.

But I digress…

Today, on page 3 of The Daily Mail is a photo of Madonna with her 13 year-old daughter Lourdes. I can remember when I was only a few years older than Lourdes dancing around in my Mom’s basement, “Like a Virgin” record (yes RECORD ALBUM for those who can remember such a thing) blaring from the speakers, microphone (aka hairbrush) in hand. Eyes closed and I was a superstar. Madonna was my idol.

That was over 25 years ago.

Madonna and I have come along way since then. She’s 52. I’ve just turned 41. We both found our way from the States to London. We both married English men and divorced these English men. Madonna became the biggest superstar on the planet and a mother. I became a Director and a dog owner.

I, like Madonna, have looked age in the face and said “screw you”. I will not grow old gracefully. I will botox, chemical peel, microdermabrasion, spin, run, juice, diet, detox my way to 70 and beyond.  I like to think I would never go under the knife but in 15 years’ time…we’ll see. Those who think the battle against aging involves “buying youth” are sadly mistaken. This battle involves huge sacrifice. Madonna has clearly made those sacrifices. And the older we get, the larger the sacrifice.

Happy birthday Madonna. You are a beautiful 52. And you are still my idol.