Me aged 42 and Vicky 18 in Florence

I’m struggling with love, memories, regrets, heartbreak today, on what should have been our eldest daughter’s 52nd birthday. There are others on Blip who have also lost a child and I’m thinking of them too.

We are fortunate that our other daughters live within an hour’s drive, so #3 is coming after school with Ella and Nathaniel who are staying for the weekend as their mum is having her annual night away with Zoe, my friend Chris’s daughter. They grew up on the same street so have been friends forever. Tomorrow #2 daughter is coming with the boys so that we can all have cake together.

Ella did very well in the dreaded SATs though it’s all rubbish really and not at all what school should be about but it ticks this government’s boxes. I hope it’s abolished before James has to do it!