Whatever this world can give to me...

Unlike the last two years, when we have had car (or cars) loaded to the roof with Tooli's possessions, she has been gradually moving stuff over the last month, so today's "moving day", wasn't quite as large and stressful as normal.

After our "last breakfast" - which had to include sausages, eggs, bacon, potato scone and pancake, "like the old days", "maybe also Dad , you could walk up to the shop and buy a paper like you used to". But he declined preferring to get his news on line... and to be honest - wanting to avoid the papers today at all costs.

We finally managed to get ourselves together and into the car and we were just about to turn one way, when Tooli piped up, "could we make a ten minute detour?".

K and L have been at different versions of Camp America for the last three months. K came home last week, before heading off to Paris to commence her third year exchange, and L arrived home on Friday, just before heading off for a family birthday... and then onward to Belgium to do hers. (Tooli is seriously wondering why Actuarials don't do a year abroad, and thinks maybe she should change course). Tooli didn't think she would get to see L before Christmas as she wasn't due home until later this afternoon, but were home early!

So detour we did and the car had barely stopped when Tooli was out the door and bounding up the steps squealing in delight. L came racing to the door and the resulting squeals and hugs made a big lump in my throat appear.

K joined in,and for ten solid minutes all three of them spoke - all over the top of each other, all telling different stories, while simultaneously hugging each other and laughing at the tops of their voices.

And then, it was back to the car... "What were you talking about?"

"Oh just a general catch up of the last three months?"

I feel there will be a lot more catching up to do come Christmas time when they are next altogether again.