My birthday

My 41st birthday, my first birthday without mum.

Dad and I went for a quiet lunch in Tollesbury in Essex in some boat lofts that we used to pass when we used to walk there on holidays when I was a kid.

It was perfect. Chilled out, lovely chat and time with dad. No sadness, just appreciation for the present and each other.

On the way we passed White House Farm where the Essex murders took place in the early 80s. It was strange thinking we had driven that quiet road so many times yet such gruesome things had happened there. Dad remembered everything about it as we watched the recent drama on tv. It had us hooked.