Above, my children on the occasion of Frances's twenty seventh birthday just before she left Birmingham for the bright lights of London. Ian was thirty one this August. They are the best of friends and as far as I can recall, it was always that way. Raising them was, on the whole, plain-sailing. They brought so much joy into our lives and though they have fled our humble Yorkshire nest and become "grown ups", they continue to enrich us. We have been very fortunate. They are happy, healthy, caring and imaginative people who relish life and still love coming back to Sheffield, their grumpy old man and their doting mummy.
One day I will be dead and yet this blog will very likely remain as a testament to my years on Earth. If in some distant time you are reading this blogpost Frances...Ian... I just want to say thank you for being you, my beloved son and darling daughter, for making my life better and far more worthwhile than it would otherwise have been. Not "love actually" but love always.
What a beautiful expression of the sentiment Neil.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased that this little post resonated with you Graham.
DeleteBeautiful blog post, and beautiful children! You're a lucky man. And how wonderful that those two are so close. I always wanted siblings, or to have close relationships with my husband's siblings, but neither was meant to be.
ReplyDeleteThe world must seem rather different when you are an only child. Perhaps a little more daunting.
DeleteSweet
ReplyDeleteBoth are lovely-looking young people and, from all you've written about them, you have every reason to be proud of them; and they of you and Shirley as loving parents.
ReplyDeleteI would hazard a guess and say your children are a reflection of you both, and results of the values you've instilled through the years.
I believe that your hazardous guess has some substance Lee.
DeleteThat is a beautiful post . Our children are our most precious loves.
ReplyDeleteYou see so much negative nonsense written about children - the minuses rather than the pluses.
DeleteOur three (2 boys and a girl, all born within a period of 40 months) have also always been close and are still the best of friends at 47, 49, and just turned 51. A roomful of laughter ensues whenever we are all together. I wish you many happy times with your lovely family. Whatever else we are, we both seem to have turned out to be successes as parents. My congratulations! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you Bob. Too often people forget to celebrate the joy of parenting and family.
DeleteNow that's a great tribute to your kids. I hope on some blog some day they write a tribute to their Dad.
ReplyDeleteYou might have to wait till hell freezes over for that Red!
DeleteFamily is so importaint in this world. I was and am a daddy's girl, adored him, he died in 2004 from myeloma bone marrow cancer. I still talk to him, have his alarm clock, that I use. Little things I found a receipt he signed for petrol I framed it as was his signatures!.
ReplyDeleteYou are not going anywhere Yorkshire pudding, but one day in 40 years time will be nice for your children's!.
Thanks for dropping by Jacqueline. And say hello to your dad from me.
DeleteWhere did that little girl in the bright pink sunglasses go?
ReplyDeleteI can only echo all the comments already listed.
Ms Soup
Yes where did she go Alphie? Tempus fugit.
DeleteAnother very touching post, Neil!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that your children always got along so well. My sister and I were terrible to each other sometimes when we were kids, but the older we get, the better we get along, and we have now been great friends for many years.
When I was in my early teens, my parents bought a typewriter for my sister to practice typing on, she needed it for her job. It was a very new electronic model, and we couldn't suss it out properly at first. One afternoon, my Dad sat down with it and managed to get it working. He "test-typed" on a sheet of paper which I later found in the bin. He'd typed a brief summary of his life as it was back then, and I nearly cried when I read it, as it mentioned our Mum and my sister and myself in such a loving way.
Funny how we remember little things like that - nailed in our memories for all time. It's a kind of psychological symbolism.
DeleteSmashing post YP.
ReplyDeleteThanks Libby.
DeleteA beautiful post Neil. Wonderful children are the result of parents who care passionately not only about those children, but also about each other and those around them and surround all with an attitude of care and respect. I've read your posts over many years and seen the grounded attitude you have towards such things as dining around a table and spending time as a family - such important things in today's world. Your love and care has reaped its reward in two fine young adults who will pass those values on to the next generation. Many congratulations to you and Shirley on doing such a super job - parents like you deserve a HUGE shout out. x
ReplyDeleteIf you could see me now Elizabeth I am blushing like a red balloon! Thank you.
DeleteOK, I am blubbering ...
ReplyDeleteHang on Carol, I will fetch a tissue!
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