Being a bit envious, but still loving my mum

We had a nice wee family celebration dinner here at home yesterday for my Mum’s 75^th birthday. Mum has trouble convincing folk that she’s in her seventies. For a start off, she has the most amazing head of thick, black, shiny hair and has never (and I mean never) used a drop of hair dye. The odd wee strand of grey has appeared during these past few years, but nowhere near enough to tip the balance so that ‘grey’ has become a more apt description of her hair colour than ‘black’. It’s so bloody unfair! I’ve had to use dye to cover my grey hair for ages; why could I not have inherited my mother’s hair genes? Also, my mum has gorgeous skin. I joke not when I say that I don’t remember her ever having a spot and she’s still almost wrinkle-free. I, on the other hand, have always had rubbish skin. I’ve always been prone to plukes (I’ve actually been sporting a cracker on my chin for this past week, as pointed out by my mother when she said - in the way that only a mother can - “that’s some size of a spot on your chin”...) and I already have lots of, ahem, laughter lines around my mouth and eyes. Ocht! Why could I not have inherited my mother’s skin?

Never mind, I guess all that stuff’s pretty superficial. The most important things are the things I’ve learned from my mum. And, I’ve probably had just about the best teacher I could’ve had in the ‘How to be a good Mum’ school of life! I really couldn’t have asked for a more supportive, loving and caring person to be my mum and my pal during the past 46 years. Aw, thanks maw!

I’ve also had just about the best teacher I could’ve had in the ‘How to be a brilliant home-baker’ stakes, but I think I must’ve fallen asleep in that class! The only thing I’m good at, when it comes to home-baking, is licking the bowl and spoon. Aye, she might be getting on a bit, but my mum’s clootie dumpling is still the best I’ve ever tasted. I know it sounds bad that she had to bake the dumpling for her own birthday dinner, but I wouldn’t even contemplate taking over the mantle of the family clootie-dumpling-maker while my mother’s still going strong! I do know that some day in the future I’ll have no choice but to inherit that very important family role – but I’m sincerely hoping that that day is a long way off and it’ll still just be my job to lick the bowl and spoon for many more years to come...!

My lovely Mum, and her lovely dumpling!