I've had such a special few weeks with my lovely daughter, Nicole. She left yesterday to go back home to South Wales to start her college course in theatrical make-up. She was very excited. Of course, we celebrated her 18th birthday whilst she was here as she had plans with her friends on the actual day. We had such a nice evening incorporating a gorgeous meal out at the Herbert Arms in Chirbury (which i'd recommend to anyone, the food is the best i've ever had anywhere),
with champagne and a birthday cake...please excuse the lack of photos, but nicci shies away from the camera so i didn't bother taking it... She had an extra special present, a 200 year old vanity case which we got at an auction a while ago, i thought she would love it and we put it out in the shop to see her reaction (it was priced high so no one bought it - although lots of people looked at it...not sure what i'd have done if someone had bought it). She fell in love with it and had no idea we were giving it to her for her birthday. We snuck it out of the shop at closing time, wrapped it and gave it to her at the meal. I'll treasure that moment she opened it.
with champagne and a birthday cake...please excuse the lack of photos, but nicci shies away from the camera so i didn't bother taking it... She had an extra special present, a 200 year old vanity case which we got at an auction a while ago, i thought she would love it and we put it out in the shop to see her reaction (it was priced high so no one bought it - although lots of people looked at it...not sure what i'd have done if someone had bought it). She fell in love with it and had no idea we were giving it to her for her birthday. We snuck it out of the shop at closing time, wrapped it and gave it to her at the meal. I'll treasure that moment she opened it. We managed a shopping expedition to Shrewsbury where I got dragged around everywhere, as she had lots of money to spend. I've always loved spending time out with Nicci, we'd spend our saturdays together, when her dad was off somewhere on his motorbike, traipsing about and getting lost to places like Glastonbury, Hereford, Hay -on-Wye, Machynlleth (too many to remember) we loved our coffee/cake moments, and sitting in the cafe this week with our shopping bags, eating lunch, enjoying a coffee and talking about where to go next brought home to me that the little adventurous girl, who'd lure me off to these places had turned into the adventurous young woman, beautiful, clever, independent and ready to take on the world! Sob!!!!...my baaaaaaabbbbyyyy!!!
We also managed a few auctions together, with nicci trying her hand at a little entrepreneurism, i.e. buying and selling. She found a gorgeous vintage belt that she loved which she got for a good price, it turned out to be a vintage nurses belt and she sold it for a better price so she's made a small amount of money already which we only allow her to invest in something else from the auction, but it's building nicely, she tells me she's planning to get enough to buy a house!!!
We've had lots of visitors lately, some of which are still here, but will be gone after the weekend. We're off to the trade show in Birmingham on Monday and i have some fab ideas for a change around in the shop. I've still managed to get some small pieces of art done, but can't find my camera at the moment, i think gav may have taken it away filming with him. so will postthose soon.
"A Mothers love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in it's path" - Agatha Christie
