Flown the nest

This little chap was standing next to my car when I came out of the supermarket, and let me get up close without showing any fear. Just hope he didn't get run over - a busy car park is no place for guys like this.

Tenuous link to #2 daughter who has flitted off back to uni after the weekend at home. Spent quite a bit of quality time together, talking about everything and anything. She seems to have grown up a bit in the last 2 months and actually listens to what I have to say (or at least is polite enough to pretend to, which is also good). I have discovered that students are exactly the same as they were in my day (aka the Dark Ages). What is it with traffic cones and temporary traffic signs, and why do they have to feature in the decor of student accommodation? Apart from those she's also managed to acquire a 15-foot Debenham's Christmas Offers banner, which could only be reached by standing on the shoulders of someone who in turn was on top of a phone box....

Yesterday I went out for a meal in Liverpool One with all 4 of my kids, which doesn't happen too often, paid for by #1 daughter which is an even rarer event. Sitting there over a healthy salad and mango juice I just watched them all talking and laughing, and felt that for once I've done something right. Here are 4 young people with futures still to be written, all healthy and reasonably happy with their lot, and full of plans and ideas. They exist partly because of me. It doesn't get better than that.