And then there were two . . .

Sam left for Australia tonight just before 8pm from Manchester airport. It's going to be quiet around here now he's gone. Stef and I have enjoyed having him here so much for the last couple of years. Tussock is already baffled as to why Sam's room is empty (and why we were lay on his bed earlier this evening with glum faces). Have fun Sam and stay safe!

Five weeks

Family

Sam is with us for a few days; mainly for his open-day intro at college yesterday, but also to see if we can all fit in the house. I picked him up in the West Country on Tuesday evening from his dad's, and we did well getting home an hour or so before midnight after a better than expected drive up the M5 and M6

Yesterday I took Sam to college and asked him on arrival if he wanted me to come into reception with him. "No, it'll be fine" he said, and he was right; it was fine

Last night we had a BBQ. It was fun manning the charcoal and tongs, plus sorting out drinks. The fact Stef and Sam finished their food sitting under golf umbrellas didn't put too much of a dampener on things

I've never felt part of a family (I know only seven people with my surname and two of them are a couple who will be divorced soon), and it's a very long time since I've felt as content as I do this morning. I think we'll be okay