This is the reason my girl came home this weekend, to say farewell. Caitlin has the look of someone who has spent the last few weeks saying goodbye and the enormity of it all is just about to hit her. She will be fine once she is there.

The girls went out last night, had a sleepover went home to change and then went out for lunch. I guess this is how the relationship between parents and children develops, you become more of a hotel than anything. That said my girl was very appreciative of anything I did for her and ran to my aid like never before. How quickly she is maturing.

Today saw the passing of our pet fish. He was a huge beast of a fish and we have had him for some time. We were a house of no pets and only got fish when friends moved away and couldn't take them with them. If you have ever taken on a 99p fish you will know that the cost of keeping such an animal is ridiculous. Tank upon tank as they grew, filter for this, aerator for that, food dispenser for holidays, and a variety of food any family would be thrilled with. For a few hours we had an emergency ward 10 situation as we ran around trying to work out how to keep him with us. He is buried in the garden now with his pal. Although we did always promise to make a pie from him as he was so big - but no-one had the heart.

It is also my dad's brithday today and in honour of him I ate eve's pudding - his all time favourite of puddings, although latterly cheesecake came a very close second. It was lovely thinking of all the fun we shared on birthdays past. x