Hippo, Birdy, Two Ewes, Hippo Birdy, Two Ewes.........

Today is a milestone of the most important kind........

Today No. 1 son and my only child turns his back on his teenage years and enters his twenties.

So, bear with my as I take a quick wander down memory lane.

I may need you to hand me the tissues as I take a quick look back and wonderwhere those years have gone.........

Here we are mum and bub, wearing the beret style hat I knitted. I thought I was so clever.....

Look at those glasses, that's what we were wearing in the 90's.

Sorry about the blurry pic, but I think it's a little less scary that way, hehehe.....

Here we are on another special day........... and another blurry pic, sorry about this....

I married my fiancee Chris and Richard gained a step dad.

He has always been dad to Rich and a great dad at that.

I love this photo of Rich and my mum.

Grandma always had a very special place in her heart for Rich as he was 'her baby's baby'.....

They had a very close relationship, which was so lovely to see.

Sadly she passed away when he was 16.

She said she wanted to stay around till he turned 21 and then she would be happy to 'drop her clogs'.

It's been thirsty work this wedding thing.

Time for a bit of light refreshment.......

Just as well there was a bottle on hand.

So here with are with his first guitar and wearing my outdoor hat.

Not sure what's going on here, but he loved that guitar.

Who knew it would be a forerunner of things to come?

Fast forward a few years to 17, he's left school and not looked back.

He's earning his living as a musician although he did a stint at a local coffee shop for six months...........

He's an interesting young man, sensitive, caring, thoughtful, but he can also be frustrating, annoying and a tad on the lazy side.....

Hey, I'm his mum, I try not wear rose coloured glasses, so I can get away with saying this, as I know where his personality traits come from................

He gives me the best hugs and tells me he loves me.

He writes and performs alot of his own songs and I love it when he says 'mum can I borrow you for a minute?'

I then go into his bedroom, where all his music gear is and I'll sit on his bed while he plays a new song.

The times that I have sat there, tears running down my cheeks as the plays the most beautiful melody and then the words, well...........

I love the creativity and value his opinion in my creative endeavours.

Who would've thought that the boy who just wasn't cut out for school, who wasn't interested in sport (yep, I know, unusual for a boy) reading or much else except for Lego........ would end up being a muso?

We discovered this when he performed at a local 'open mike' night.

He sat down behind the microphone and transformed into a quietly, confident performer.

It's been an interesting journey, with potholes along the way, but my hubby and I have been there to guide him and he's pretty level headed with his feet firmly planted on the ground.

As he says, it's not about the money, it's his passion. He'd be happy making enough money to pay his bills and to live off.......

All I can say is when your child finds their passion in life, encourage them......

So Rich, here's to the next twenty years, may they be full of love, laughter and many blessings along the way. Thankyou for your friendship, love and the joy you bring into my life.

Thankyou, for allowing me to do the 'mum thing' and I hope I haven't been too self indulgent, or' 'blown the trumpet' too long or too loud..........

If you would like to listen to some of his music just click on this link www.myspace.com/richardperso or google his name and you'll be able to watch some videos of gigs on youtube.

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Things have been a little quiet on the crafting front here. After the recent markets I have taken a little break from the sewing machine and then Easter thrown into the mix and things have been a little topsy turvy.

I hope you all had a lovely Easter break, the weather here has been absolutely beautiful, but I think that's about to change.

Thankyou all for stopping by my last post and taking the time to leave a comment.

It's always a lovely surprise to click on my blog and see who has popped in for a visit.

I hope you are all well, till next time,

Take care,

Claire X