Having children is a joy - not totally unalloyed, but definitely a joy. When they are first born it is unimaginable that they will ever leave you. There are many milestones - first steps, the first time they said 'mummy', first day at school. Then the milestones seem to get more expensive - passing driving test, first trip to Japan, orchestra tour to the Czech republic. Thirteen years of education just slide by and suddenly its the big one - time to get ready to go to university.
Going to university now is a little bit different to what it was when I went in 1977. Then I had a clock radio and a cassette tape recorder; there was a phone box at the end of the road if I wanted to contact my parents. Now Maddi has a computer, a laptop, a tablet, an ipod and a mobile phone. She also has a guitar, a clarinet and a saxophone. Friday was spent doing all the really important preparation - putting her music onto the computer, while her friend went through her clothes for packing. Every room in our house was involved.
Going to university now is a little bit different to what it was when I went in 1977. Then I had a clock radio and a cassette tape recorder; there was a phone box at the end of the road if I wanted to contact my parents. Now Maddi has a computer, a laptop, a tablet, an ipod and a mobile phone. She also has a guitar, a clarinet and a saxophone. Friday was spent doing all the really important preparation - putting her music onto the computer, while her friend went through her clothes for packing. Every room in our house was involved.
Saturday was the going away day. The car was loaded - there was only room for Maddi and Christopher - so I had to stay behind and console myself with going to the football. We took some photos, checked that she had got everything, and away they went.
Five minutes later they were back, she had forgotten her quilt. Off they went again, this time successfully; so after twenty five years it is time to start our lives with no children in the house.
Maddi has many wonderful qualities, but being tidy isn't one of them, and though I will miss her a lot, we have suddenly gained some extra space. It took a complete day to clean her room, but the results were worth it. We now have somewhere to keep the printer and our ukuleles. Here are the before and after photos.
Maddi has many wonderful qualities, but being tidy isn't one of them, and though I will miss her a lot, we have suddenly gained some extra space. It took a complete day to clean her room, but the results were worth it. We now have somewhere to keep the printer and our ukuleles. Here are the before and after photos.
You will notice the piano, which after much discussion she decided not to take. I am finally realising my fifty year ambition of learning to play. I can already do CDE and CBA.
How is Maddi getting on? Well we have talked to her on Skype and she is having a very exciting time indeed.
How is Maddi getting on? Well we have talked to her on Skype and she is having a very exciting time indeed.