There is always a joke or two about the mother-in-law, isn’t there?  Here is one to get us started;

“I haven’t spoken to my mother-in-law for eighteen months.  I don’t like to interrupt her”  or how about ;  “ Honolulu, well it’s got everything: sand for the children, sun for the wife and sharks for the wife’s mother.”  (Both by Ken Dodd)

The acrylic on canvas painting above is a subject matter I have visited many times, happy memories from my childhood with artistic licence of course.

THE ART OF ALWAYS BEING THERE

Well I am very pleased to say that I actually like my mother-in-law, as a matter of fact LOVE her.  Her name is Avis (as in rent a car, lol) and she has been a constant influence and full of love and advice and always been ready to lend a hand no matter what.  She is one of these people that you can truly rely on.

So that said and made clear, she also drives us nuts, LOL.  Yes I know, I do always say that it is a wife’s job to drive her husband nuts and I do a good job of that myself, so I don’t need any help on that front.

Let’s just say that over the last 30 or so years my husband or I have called Nanna up in the week or 2 leading up to an important occasion, like a birthday, Easter, Christmas, Mother’s day, Father’s day or the like.  Asking very sweetly what the plans are for this occasion so we can put it in the diary.

You see we live very busy lives with the diary full of work commitments and social engagements of our own or the kids and also some time reserved for just chilling too.  So we like to know ahead of time so we are prepared.

THE ART OF MOTHERS DAY

Let’s take Mothers Day this year; I made the call to my mum and to Nanna.  Dinner with my side of the family at 7pm, however Nanna said “No I am not going to have anything this year, but if you want to pop in your welcome”.   That suited us, stop and see Nanna and Pa late afternoon on our way out for dinner.

So with that in mind we planned a lovely day, I got brekky in bed, leisurely got ready and went to the Botanical gardens where we planned on having lunch and seeing an art exhibition and looking at all the botanical exhibits too.    We had only just got there when we received a rather frantic call from our daughter asking where we were.  Nanna had lunch ready and were waiting for us!  What the!!!

THE ART OF FATHERS DAY

So much for the lovely day right!!! Mmmm… then it’s Fathers day,  I make the phone call again, same deal,  Nanna says she ain’t having anything, as she is feeling a little tired.  So I said ok that’s fine, we will just pop in on our way to my mum and dad’s around 4PM for a coffee.

Father’s day comes around, hubby gets brekky in bed,  big treat for him, I am very fortunate to get that rather often (yes I know, I am spoiled!)  Anyway hubby was lapping it up and planning to do boys stuff that day, potter around and play with his new cordless drill and other exciting things like that (you have to be of the male sex persuasion to understand the joys of power tools I think, beats me!)

Well you guessed it come eleven o’clock in the morning  and I get a call from Nanna who says “I am feeling better today so got up at 9am and have been cooking up a storm since then, so you have to come for LUNCH now!

Lol you should have seen me trying to tell hubby that his lovely plans for his Father’s day had gone out the window yet again.  The added problem we have is the four heart attacks and one stroke that Nanna has had, so we don’t want to upset the apple cart so to speak either.

THE ARTFUL SURPRISE

Anyway yesterday we were all invited for a BBQ at Hillivis boyfriend’s house.   Both sets of grandparents were coming up, hubby and I were picking up Nanna and Pa originally but they decided to instead take their own car.  We were expected to arrive  at 5.30 and had set off for the drive up to the country when Hillivi called in a panic from the shower “Mum what’s going on its 4.15 and Nanna and Pa are outside,  the house is a mess, dishes everywhere and I am washing my hair, why are Nanna and Pa here already?”

Well beats me, but I was glad it wasn’t us this time.

So with affection Nanna and with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, here is another quote that amused me on the topic, by Henny Youngman;

“Just got back from a pleasure trip: I took my mother-in-law to the airport.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all,

Love Marie xxx   (C)

If you enjoyed this art blog you may enjoy this one too about my mother 123 Still Smoking Hot

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.