Another country

300 miles south of Durham in Cambridge, and the leaves of the willow tree are still doggedly hanging on even though it's early December. My lovely daughter, looking as pale as parchment, has finished her first term here in grand style. I bundle her into the car with all her belongings - mostly dirty washing - and we drive north to Derbyshire to see my brother. It is so lovely to have her back with me again. I am greedy for her company.