Autumn Leaves

The son flew out to Bordeaux a month ago now to start his 4 months stint at the Uni there. His journey started on the Sunday at 8:30pm when we dropped him off at Central Station. He arrived at Kings Cross at Midnight and then made his way across town to London Bridge where he caught a train to Gatwick. He got there at 2am. His flight was at 7:45 am. He arrived in Bordeaux about 10.15 (their time) and got to his hotel by midday. Hassle and he said he was knackered but this was the cheapest way of getting there apparently.


He found somewhere to stay after 10 days looking (staying in cheap hotels) and seems quite cheerful when we have spoken and Skyped. We are off to see him in late in October for a couple of days.

For a week or so, what with the daughter being in Malta it was just me and the wife. Although of course the dog was there. The house was quiet and it felt like something (or someone) was missing but we couldn’t quite put our finger on it. I suppose it is the start of a new way of life and learning to think about ourselves first again rather than putting the children at the centre of our lives. After twenty years that feels weird. There is just more time available. Now the biggest question is what to do with that time.

Of course my daughter came back and started college so life went back to a sort of how it has been since the son went off to London two years ago. She is staying at home at least for the first year so it’s like she is still at school in a way. We are feeling our way to a new relationship with her as an adult and that is sometimes not easy. One thing about life though and that is  it is always changing.

The weather has been amazing this week with temperatures in the high 20s C. better than most of our Summer. Its strange to walk in the heat of the sun and see the pavements and Moor covered in the Autumn debris from the trees.

Music wise got a new 16 GB mp3 player so playing lots of stuff on shuffle. Brett Anderson’s new album has caught my attention- heavy promo on 6Music has seen to that -and I may buy it. I haven’t downloaded my 30 tracks from EMusic this month which is unusual but I still have a couple of weeks to go. I’m not enthused by anything but I did hear this band Tribes on Sean Keaveney’s show this morning and it made me prick up my ears. A great guitar sound -yes not highly original but young and passionate.


REM have split up. Not my favourite band, but a band responsible for two great concert experiences at T in the Park and Ballado a few years back. Live they were excellent even if on records they were sometimes lacking in inspiration.