All set for a bright future!
Happy 26th birthday to my son, James! Yesterday we went to Leeds to kick off the celebrations in style. His new apartment had been looking very bland and white and needed an injection of colour. A bit of artwork on the walls, rug, cushion, potted plant… and do you recognise BB8 sitting there on the windowsill? Happy in his new home. As we hope James will be.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Life seldom is, is it? Leeds is a city busy reinventing itself. An interesting juxtaposition of old and shiny new. James is a big fan of Asian cuisine, and we ate at Bar Soba in The Light- a new complex for dining and entertainment. It’s good to be optimistic about the future. Optimistic and full of hope, as the weekly challenge suggests.
Have a lovely weekend and I hope to see you on Monday for another walk.
restlessjo 
Congratulations for you all , but particularly for your son….who will see the future!
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That’s a bit of a scary thought in these times we live in! But you’re right- it’s his world 🙂 Thank you!
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The food looks so yummy 🙂 I’m also a mum and I loved reading this post. We live for these happy days with our children, don’t we? All the best to you and your son!
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Thank you very much 🙂 My two are far apart but James is often home. It’s great to see him ‘finding himself’ 🙂 (I’m still looking for me 🙂 )
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Happy Birthday to your son, Jo. Good luck to him in his lovely new apartment this year. That’s my kind of food he was enjoying. 🙂
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Thanks, sweetheart 🙂 No leftovers 😦 He cleared that plate faster than you could say ‘full tummy’. 🙂
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😃👍
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So pleased to see you had such a lovely time with James (we have a James too!!!) I saw Star Wars yesterday so now know all about the cute BB8. That food looks delicious and best wishes to your James for the coming year.
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Thank you so much, Pauline 🙂 I’m waiting to see if he’s feeling ‘delicate’ today after last night out with his friends. He has to drive to Birmingham this evening to work at head office tomorrow. 🙂
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BB8 was the first thing I noticed and I continue to covet him. Happy Birthday, James!
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Thanks, Heather 🙂
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optimism is my favorite word!
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It’s a good one, isn’t it, Kathe? :):
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Oh BB8 !! Too cute!
Happy Belated Birthday🎀
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It’s actually today so you’re right on time, and thanks! 🙂
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Oh my.
Well happy happy Birthday!!!
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Just spotted the Minions! 🙂 Thank you so much! I had a good bounce 🙂
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Awesome! They are too cite and uplifting.
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A great collage to celebrate James’ 26th. Food, decor and the precious face of a son. Happy birthday and a happy home.
(I’m a bit mournful today because three of my children and their mobs are together in Liston for maybe twelve hours and I’m not there to be matriarchal and doting.)
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Oh, I’m sorry sweetheart! 😦 I’m raising a glass to mine long distance. The birthday is today and he’s out with friends in Leeds tonight. Don’t suppose I could hack the cocktail circuit 🙂
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BB8 caught my eye immediately, such a wonderful touch.
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He’s such a cute guy. I get to play, if I’m good 🙂
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Best birthday wishes to James. His apartment looks very nice.
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Thanks, Carol 🙂 It’s fairly basic but it’s a decent size and he doesn’t have to share so he’s happy.
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It’s all he needs.
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Happy Birthday to James! Food looks so delicious, love the presentation. 🙂
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We were very impressed, Amy! My spring rolls were so tasty 🙂 Thank you very much! He’s out celebrating with friends tonight (today is his birthday 🙂 )
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Great post about your son, thank you for sharing! Happy birthday for him and many happiness! As every mom you want the best for your son, so let our children be happier and luckier than we are!
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Exactly! Maybe not quite so easy in this modern world, Ann 🙂 Thanks for the nice thoughts.
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My youngest is 24. I know how much you love him and how hard it is. Beautiful post from his mom.
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Thank you so much, Dawn. I am quite reticent about posting about my children. Quite happy to gab on about me, but they haven’t asked to be part of my blog, have they? James, in particular, would be shy of his inclusion. I’m so glad you could see the love 🙂
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Happy birthday to your son. I like Leeds, have visited occasionally over the years. We have 3 Bar Sobas and I thought they were just a Glasgow thing, but I checked and it’s the same company. They have a branch in Edinburgh now too. One of the newer branches is in our local area – result!
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It was a nice atmosphere in there, Anabel, thanks 🙂 We actually set out to go to a Caribbean restaurant ‘Turtle Bay’- also a chain with, I think, a Glasgow branch? It’s new down here so was fully booked on a Friday night. James didn’t mind because he loves noodles and pad thai 🙂
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Can’t see Glasgow on their list of branches so not sure, unless it’s very new. Looks interesting!
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I have come to the conclusion that on our children’s birthdays, WE should be the ones to celebrate. After all it was us who did the hard work on the BIRTH day! So I raise a glass to you – a great Mam, as you say up there – and cheers to Jamie too. He looks like a good lad and I wish him every success in the future. I’m quite fond of Leeds. I spent a lot of time there in my teens. (And the flat looks very colourful).
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Well, we did a little flat tidying and sorting, then went out for a very nice meal. 🙂 No time to do any of the things I might have planned and the weather wasn’t playing anyway, so it really didn’t matter. We planned a new venue, ‘Turtle Bay’, to eat and they were fully booked so we ended up at one of James’ old favourites. Job done! 🙂
It’s actually his birthday today, and he’s with friends from his band and then out on the cocktail circuit tonight. We’ll have a quiet night and ‘raise that glass’ 🙂 Thanks, Jude!
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Chin chin Jo. My glass is full 🙂
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I need a top up 🙂 🙂
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OK. Hold your glass out. Steady now, it’s not easy pouring wine through the Internet.
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Everything getting the thumbs up by looks of it Jo 😉 How lovely it is to see youngsters a little more settled , life can throw some shockers at times optimism is a way through it all . Happy B’day to James ! Dinner looks very mmmmm .
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No kidding there, Poppy! It’s been a bit of a wild ride, but hope springs eternal 🙂 The day didn’t go at all as planned, but was still a good one. Maybe adaptable is a good word, alongside optimistic 🙂
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What a handsome young man Jo! Happy Birthday and best wishes for his future!
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He’s given us some bad surprises down the years, Sue, but things seem to be going well now, and we love him 🙂 Thanks a lot!
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So glad to hear that his life is headed in a positive direction Jo! This parenting is no easy business is it. Still we love them unconditionally.
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Happy Birthday James!
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Thank you, sweetheart 🙂
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Looks like a great time was had by all, Jo!
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It was a very good day, Sue. Not at all as planned, but no worse for that 🙂
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I think spontaneous changes can be great!
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