Birthday Surprise

It was my Birthday last Friday and although I got numerous amazing presents there is one that will stick in my mind.

In the run-up to my Birthday, Mam told me she knew exactly what she was getting me. It was something I had seen before Christmas and had said I liked. I was very perplexed, I couldn't think of anything I had seen and especially wanted. I remembered commenting on novelty stocking fillers and other similar items. None of these sounded significant enough to be the present Mam had in mind. For a time my Mam debated in telling me what it was, she needed help buying over the internet. However, my brother stepped in and organised the ordering, keeping me (and now a few others) guessing.

On Saturday, Mam told me we needed to make a trip to pick up the present and that we would be going down a dirt track. A few people now thought the present would be a puppy!  We set off, travelled for an hour, almost took the wrong turn and finally travelled down the dirt track to a house seemingly in the middle of the countryside. We met an exceedingly nice lady inside who (after meeting her gorgeous puppy and dog) led us to a medium sized box in her kitchen.

In that instant, I remembered sitting with Mam and seeing them. A set of twelve Country Comicals placemats and coasters! Not only that, I found we had come to the Artists house to collect them. Linda Birkinshaw, the artist, has illustrated a number of books and started the country comicals after depicting her dog in the garden. Since then, she has created many images, often gaining inspiration from real life. They truly are great scenes and should prove a great ice-breaker at dinner parties.

I can now say I met the artist who designed my placemats!