Norq From Ork

Parents up and down the land are preparing to send their children on their way, off to uni, college or new beginnings with apprenticeships or gap years. Unbelievably it was four years ago when we were preparing for Miss Lashes to leave home and I still don’t know where the time has gone.

I remember her standing in The Mothership’s kitchen as we had our last roast dinner together before she left and Miss Lashes turned to her granny and said

‘do you have any leaving home advice for me granny?

Granny turned to her and said ‘One strong of pearls in the morning, two in the afternoon and three in the evening.  Unless you’re the queen and you can wear as many as you like any time of the day’

We have laughed about this many, many times.  My mother has always come up trumps when it comes to dealing with the important things in life like manners, beauty, and etiquette.  My favourite mother quote has always been ‘look after your neck darling it’ll show your age’ What a sterling piece of advice, I’ve never forgotten it.  I’ve also never forgotten her famous bread sauce recipe.  When I asked her how to make it she simply replied ‘buy a packet and read the instructions on the back’  This has been advice I’ve used time and time again and will treasure for always.  I even passed it onto a friend when she was admiring my bread sauce making skills mid week.  Just don’t tell anyone my secret 😉

To be fair my mum has shared more mainstream pearls of wisdom over the years.  I know to never sign something without reading it first and tatty shoes can ruin an otherwise smart outfit. And the day I was dropped off to my new abode on leaving home my mum hugged me and whispered in my ear ‘remember, we are always on the end of the phone’ That was circa 1988 and mobile phones were merely futuristic gigantic bricks for a select few.  I had to walk about a mile to the nearest phone box to call my parents and certainly didn’t have the luxury of messaging or texting my parents at 2am to ask if the chicken was ok to eat if it was a day out of date. * Miss Lashes take note*

I asked Miss Lashes what she always remembers me saying over the years.  Apparently ‘make good choices‘ is my most common pearl of wisdom as well as ‘don’t follow the crumbs to the gingerbread house’ 

Miss Lashes was also keen I should include some wisdom I passed one which I’d forgotten I said, but she said makes everyone laugh when she repeats it.  (Oh laws :-/)  Apparently, my contraceptive advice was ‘put the pill between your knees and leave it there’ On reflection, it sounds like pretty good advice to me!

I know over the years I’ve said and done many things which I hope both my children will take on board and remember. I think of one line I have used over and over again following the latest Miss Lashes drama which was always ‘go to sleep it’ll look better in the morning’ and to both of them ‘Just do your best and let God do the rest’  

It’s over to you.  I love to hear what was passed down to you or what are you remembered for saying? Hit me with yours, and remember; It’ll all come out in the wash 🙂