World's my lobster

Took the lads and Molly to the beach on my own this morning, which was a lot like herding cats (plus a dog). Matt's brand-new trainers got soaked in the sea, Andy was too tired to walk after 100 yards, and George slid into a rock pool.

I was starting to get ratty with them, and hating the fact that I was getting ratty with them, when Andy shouted "Dad, I've found a fin off a whale."

It turned out to be this, picked completely clean, a neat and perfect bit of lobster shell. I explained what it was. Andy looked at me, thought for a moment, and said "...or maybe a mermaid's tail?" It was impossible to be ratty after that.