Ive just brought my Mum up from Fife for the weekend in part to celebrate my nephews second birthday.

Now Mum and I have always had an interesting relationship. We have had our moments. Like the time I was wearing one of her cool (or so I thought at the time) tops down town with my friends on a Saturday afternoon and she spied me at the Bus Stop. "Evelyn...Is that my top you are wearing?..." bellowing out from across the tarmac. I nearly died with embarressment.

There was another time that we ended up in Blackpool for a week at what can only be described as one of the those "come as a guest and leave as a friend" establishments..only in this case the sign should have read "leave offended." From having our photographs taken eating our meals and then being hussled into another room. We were then enouraged to purchase said offending item which by the time we had finished our puds was elegantly positioned in a cheap white plastic frame with a fiver price tag stuck on it!

I had to dry my hair in the corridor (long story) and the landlday perched herself on the bar stool every night wearing a feather boa and a floaty creation.

Worst of all my Mum got thrown off a bus for arguing with the conductor. I was mortified. I still have memories of her waving a choice fist in the air at the driver in the middle of the afternoon. I think it was the sea air. Quoting Dickens.."It was the best of times...it was the worst of times" and the most memorable and happiest holiday I have had. And, it was with my Mum...Any street cred I have managed to accumulate over the years is now slipping away..yes I know..but its the truth nonetheless.

We very rarely agree, particularly when it comes to fashion, boyfriends or hairstyles. This has gone on for years. Even yesterday I got myself a funky looking style which I loved. I got home and my Mum uttered the immortal words "what have you done to your hair?" My brother, who used to be in a punk band and frequently dyed his hair a variety of colours throughout his adolesence went unoticed! I on the other hand could not win.

I bought an ornamnet this week. Which incidentally is a big event in my life! My Mums house is "Ornament City" and I avoid them like the plague. One of my favourite things to do in my lunchhour is nip down to the Candle Close Gallery just down the road from College. Its one of my favourite shops and I spotted a little sculpture of a boy which for some reason I just had to have. I loved it. Yes..youve guessed it..My Mum said it was "awful.."

Im pleased to say that despite our differences she is one of the most funniest, brightest and most cantankerous women I know and I wouldnt have it any other way. The Family home is held together with bits of blue tac and string. She continously amazes me with ideas on how to repair bits and bobs around the house with anything she can lay her hands on! Im convined that if Blue Peter were recruiting in the good old days, my Mum would have passed the audition. What she cant do with an old Washing Up Bottle is anybodys business.

They do say that daughters eventually turn into their mothers. Twenty years ago I would have shirked away from that statement Im ashamed to say. Today, Im very proud of who she is..what she has achieved and her sheer zest for living despite the struggles.

And I dont have even have to buy her a Mothers Day card as she doesnt believe in the commercial hype!

Love you Mum...but not your ornaments
Ev x