Holding court...

...as it should be on a wee lads 3rd birthday.

What a day we had for it too, the sun shone and he was surrounded by all his family, his Daddy, a full compliment of Irish and Scottish cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends.

It was a happy day as a three year old’s birthday party should be. His face when his birthday cake appeared was a picture and his face after eating a piece or maybe two pieces, was a sight to behold. Happy day.

He is sitting in a chair that was purchased by his Scottish Gran and Grandpa. It was part of a much coveted and eventually bought summer furniture set, bought from Boots. His mummy fell heir to this chair when that set was split, probably when the Reid’s moved back to the ancestral home...there would have been no room for it and all the junk we bring with us...lol.

His Mammy would have held court sitting in that chair too. She loved the sun...even if sometimes you did have to be wrapped in a tartan rug too on that furniture...what can I say summers in Scotland:-). Many a barbecue we had wrapped in a tartan rug sitting on that furniture waiting on the food being ready.

No such need today though...the sun was warm and the food ready quickly.

Bit of a mishmash this post jumping between a three year olds birthday party today and the memories of the Scottish family members that he will only really know through these and other stories. The ones that I and others hold, because his Mammy, Gran and Grandpa are no longer with us and we are the keepers of these tales.

I suppose the post reflects where my head and heart wandered off too in the quieter moments of the party.

Wandered to those who you wished could be here with us today, with us to see that wee happy face, with us to enjoy the laughter, the sun and the barbecue without the need of being wrapped up in a tartan rug.

Not many quiet moments during a three year olds birthday party. Probably, just as well as dwelling on such thoughts doesn’t change anything and our reality now is as it is, life does have to go on and I know those that have gone before us wouldn’t have it any other way, but they are never far from your thoughts and your heart. And days like this bring them closer.

Grateful for this wee lad, he keeps the party going in more ways than you can imagine.