OFFSPRING DEPARTED FOR UNI

Having read Kim's blog it brings it home to me that at this time of year lots of parents are experiencing 'new school traumas' or the emptiness of an offspring's room as they have departed for university. I fall into the latter, Nick, my youngest, left last Saturday; he is at Canterbury Christchurch Uni and although he said, before he went, he will come home most weekends I know that is not likely as he settles, makes friends and enjoys this new phase in his life. That is as it should be - but last Sunday I was a little tearful as it sunk in that he had really gone. When my eldest daughter, Jo, went to uni she commuted to London but hated her course and left it in a matter of weeks; Tess decided not to go, so my only experience of one of mine being away from home was when Jo, at 19, travelled around Thailand and Cambodia for many months. A few years later she travelled around Australia and New Zealand, from these experiences I know that I'll get used to him not being here.

He popped home yesterday, for what should have been a couple of hours but ended up as 30 minutes because he was caught up in that big jam on the M25. During this short time my cupboards were raided and he went back with a boot full of items that he needed, I doubt I'll recognise them when I see them again - if I ever see them again!

He says he is loving every minute of uni so far, including the work, not that they have done much, and has great flatmates. He's in a complex of about six flats, each with four students and they are all having a brilliant time together - two are doing the same course as him. He has a car so can get about and is enjoying looking after himself and, allegedly, is trying out recipes from a student cookbook his sister gave him.

I am really grateful that so far it is good and am no longer worrying, as I was last weekend, about whether he is going to be happy there, but it is very quiet without him.

GREAT AUNTY

I am now a great aunty! My lovely neice gave birth last week (30-8-06) to a baby boy who has been named William, which is a family name. He weighed in at 8lb4oz and although there were problems initially, which resulted in him being admitted to the special care baby unit, he is now doing well and will be leaving hospital with his mum, hopefully, tomorrow.

I am really pleased to see the sun out again after all the rain, though my garden really needed it as I expect did most peoples. I have been busy, with my son's help, planting, trimming, weeding and generally trying to get the garden back to some sort of order. Obelisks and arches etc have been painted a black/blue protective stain, which I am really pleased with, and new pots have been purchased and planted for my front porch, altogether it is less overwhelming now even though I still have lots to do. Watering has been time consuming but it is worth it as the plants are looking less tired.

My kittens. Mia and Alfie, have really grown, they are now 16 weeks old and are cautiously exploring the garden. On their first exploration they went mad, chasing each other through the planting; jumping over and through the low box hedge was huge fun. Mia went into other gardens via a tiny gap in the fence, she must have got lost as she seems very wary now and is staying close to the house, whereas Alfie is a little more adventurous. He is going to be a large cat; he has a very soft laid back nature and is loving whereas Mia is more independent and does not like being picked up much, except by me, which is irritating my offspring no end!!! Just now their mum, Molly, who lives next door came into the garden and saw them, she just stared at them. I was told that cats do not recognise their offspring after a few days of them being taken away, but she seems to. Ever since the kittens have been going out (four days now) she has been hanging around and this morning was on the doorstep miowing, this is really unusual. Normally she would not give us the time of day let alone let us stroke her, which she has just allowed. Mia looks like the two kittens that my neighbour kept so maybe she is confused?