17 Today by seanoneill

17 Today

My eldest son Sam is 17 today.

His main birthday present is driving lessons with a friend of ours. Here he is this morning just about to set off on his first lesson.

I had managed to convince Sam that he wasn't having any lessons because he hadn't contacted Nigel to arrange them. Little did he know that I had sorted this way back in October for him. We also bought him ahis first Filofax, and had written on today's date...

10am Driving Lesson.

He returned an hour later with a beaming smile.

We've just seen Granny and Grandad and his 2 cousins Matthew and Jono for a birthday lunch, and will be off to the cinema later to watch Anchorman 2 before dinner at a local Pizza restaurant later.

This time 17 years ago, Sam was born in Beverley and I had to battle through snowdrifts to get Rebecca to hospital from our home in Hull. I have paid many tributes to Sam on 365, so all I will do here is wish him a happy birthday and thank him for 17 wonderful years!

Happy Birthday to Sam!! 17!!! Wow. Great present, dad!!
December 30th, 2013  
Happy Birthday to your son and best wishes on this day!
December 30th, 2013  
Great present, and quite a momentous occasion in ones life.
December 30th, 2013  
@amandal Thanks, he only got the lessons, the car is Nigel's! He had to choose between a new car and an 18 day school Hockey Tour to South Africa in July. He wisely chose the latter, I am sure the car will turn up someday!!
December 30th, 2013  
@ghammar @cazla Thank you both. Yes a huge day for the boy and it was great that he had no idea!!
December 30th, 2013  
It's a very scary time to be a parent. Ellen was seventeen just before Christmas and we have changed our automatic car for a manual she can learn in. My husband is teaching her and they haven't fallen out yet but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.
December 30th, 2013  
@dh Haha, I have a huge automatic estate and Rebecca has a soft top, so it's lessons with an instructor only. Good luck to Ellen, she is a very talented young lady and I am sure she will take it in her stride.
December 30th, 2013  
Great present.
They still make Filofaxes??? ;)
December 30th, 2013  
@humphreyhippo They do indeed, it's rather stylish!
December 30th, 2013  
Lovely!
December 30th, 2013  
@seanoneill WOW, what a choice. Lucky kid. I got a car when I was 19. Oh to travel...
December 30th, 2013  
A very important day for Sam!
December 30th, 2013  
@sianb @amandal @tishpics thank you all, he is loving the attention. I'll catch up with you all very soon.
December 30th, 2013  
What a great present and what a wonderful day for your son :-)
December 30th, 2013  
what a fabulous gift! No wonder he's beaming. :)
December 30th, 2013  
Happy birthday to Sam ..... great pressie and a very nice shot too :)
December 30th, 2013  
Fabulous present! All I wanted to do when I turned 17 was learn to drive. It is so exciting!
December 30th, 2013  
And to think he looked so forlorn when I asked him about lessons over lunch!
Happy Birthday Sam from both of us :)
December 30th, 2013  
Happy birthday, Sam, nice image, Sean
December 30th, 2013  
Happy birthday , Sam, no stopping you now!
December 30th, 2013  
Happy birthday to Sam and may he have many years of successful driving without driving his parents to worry! Wonderful commemorative shot to celebrate the happy day!
December 30th, 2013  
A very happy birthdays to Sam.....seems a very exciting day with lots of celebration! That first driving lesson is very special & memorable!
December 30th, 2013  
@bluefirebucket meant to tell you over dinner that I was bluffing!!
December 30th, 2013  
Hope your son has a fabulous birthday! Driving lessons is best left to someone other than a parent I think. My children gave me gray hairs when I taught them to drive.
December 30th, 2013  
Happy Birthday to Sam... Yay you! He is a very lucky boy to have such an involved, honorable, fun, loving and fun-loving dad!
December 31st, 2013  
Happy birthday to Sam. I'm sure you saved yourself some anxious moments by having someone else give him lessons.
December 31st, 2013  
Aww, That's brilliant Sean....Happy Birthday Sam.....Enjoy! :)
December 31st, 2013  
Happy Birthday Sam. Great shot!
December 31st, 2013  
Happy Birthday to Sam ! Hope he enjoys driving, I know I loved it - I have a great dad too Sean, Sam's a lucky lad.
December 31st, 2013  
Happy Birthday Sam.... I hope you've saved up enough for lessons. theory exams, tests et al!! It's an expensive business these day!
December 31st, 2013  
What a delightful entry and photo . .. it gives a sense of your family's warm relationships.

Speaking of relationships and friendships, you've been such a great supporter of my photos and I want to thank you . . . and apologize for being so incredibly behind since my long trip away. I'm looking forward to trying to do a bit of catching up soon!
December 31st, 2013  
@jyokota Thank you Junko, no apology necessary, I have loved the shots from your trip, the Shenzhen fisherman is one of my favourite shots of all time by anyone.
December 31st, 2013  
Wow... 17!! Happy Birthday to your sweet son!!
December 31st, 2013  
Happy Birthday to Sam!
January 4th, 2014  
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