The wonderfulness of daughters.

Last week one of the daughters had a birthday.

They can be cruel reminders, if we let them be, these offspring birthdays. They are mumble-mumble years old now, so we must be (oh heck) mumble-mumble-mumble, and give another ten years or so we'll be all zimmer frames and meals-on-wheels and watching Flog It on iPlayer ...

ENOUGH!!!!

We do not have to count years. We don't even have to recall, all those years ago, the nappies and sleepless nights, the mumps and chickenpox, the time when you (insert all bad-mother memories. If you can't recall them your children will). And then the bedtime stories, the birthday parties, playing hide and seek in the forest ... the parents evenings, the concerts, the prizegivings ...

And look at them now, all these daughters of mine (I have four). It's hard to connect them with all that long-gone childhood. But, as each has a birthday, it's time to celebrate what wonderful, feisty, independent, free-thinking, bolshy, unique women they have become.

One of the especially wonderful things about them is the support they give me. I do know I've given them the heebie-jeeebies a couple of times. In spite of assurances I won't put myself at risk, it happens occasionally. (I promise I'll never go playing with tigers again.) It can't always be easy wondering what I'm going to do next. Yet, whatever they say to each other behind my back (let's be honest, we all talk about our mothers behind their backs) they have always been encouraging and supportive to my face.

Who cares if I'm mumble-mumble-mumble with young women like this around me to keep me on my toes.

I'm off again, but not for long.

I'm going to Ireland, tomorrow, for a week. So this is a short post because I haven't packed yet. Or done the washing. Though I have drooled over the guidebook so know roughly where I'm going. (Well, I've looked at the pictures.)

Why - because a friend (Cath - good to know - and her family, for those of you who have read the book) suggested walking the Antrim coast. I'd be bonkers to turn down an opportunity like that.

And I shall have a few extra days while I'm there. Because ... I can. Do I really need a reason? I've never been to Northern Ireland before, so there's some exploring to do. Stories to discover. Songs to sing. Paths to walk.

I have no idea how things will shape up on the blog-front. If it tips with rain I might be all over the internet. Or I might be too busy with a guinness or two. I know only that I'll have a great time - and I'll post some photos and tell you all about it when I get back.

Well, maybe not all about it. My daughters might be listening.