It's the first time in nearly twenty years that there are no children at all in the house for a whole week. Tom is happily sharing a flat with friends in his second year at university, Alice is having a great time on her second go at university (what a difference), and Phoebe is on a school Spanish exchange.
Yesterday when I was looking for some bits and pieces, I came across a box of Hama Beads and lots of finished pieces. They took me back quite a few years to afternoons spent ironing them, sweeping them up, replacing individual beads when someone accidentally knocked a finished piece and had a little meltdown. Then I tried to recall who'd made the flowers and butterflies and animals I was looking at. Phoebe? Or was it Alice? Did Tom ever sit down and exercise his fine motor skills with Hama Beads? The fact is, I couldn't remember clearly, and I realised that their memories will be quite different to mine. So one day we will be having Gigi-style conversations like this. Ah yes, each one of us will say, I remember it well.
