So sorry to hear you’ve had the weight of the world on your shoulders Ellie – life can be so cruel and complex can’t it. Mind you, you had me in absolute fits with your description of Hollister, the preferred haunt of your impending teenager. And talking of teenagers, mine has gone AWOL. I have texted, phoned (landline and mobile), FB’d and tweeted the little bugger, but he’s maintaining radio silence. I am obviously persona non grata. Not sure why. Might be because I asked him to take the rubbish out? That’s rather mean of me I suppose when he was sooooo busy on his PS3. Or perhaps I didn’t iron the right shirts? This could mean sartorial suicide for him I suppose. And perhaps I was a teeny weeny bit grumpy when he finally surfaced for lunch at 3.30pm in his dressing gown. Parents! Honestly. They JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND. IT’S ALL SO UNFAIR. Earlier this week, he scooped me up from Gatwick Arrivals at midnight with a big welcoming hug and an offer to carry my luggage…aaaawww. That’s what a Mummy likes. Such a kind, thoughtful boy. Oh well, he’ll be back when he’s got some dirty washing – although according to breakfast TV this morning, teenagers often wear their underwear for weeks at a time and change their bedlinen annually! So he may be some time.

While I am sipping a glass of wine and waiting for him, I’d like to mention a book I read while slumped on a poolside lounger in Turkey last week, getting brown as a berry (actually red as a beetroot and with very itchy heat rash). Redbreast by Jo Nesbo (he of the film Headhunters) took me some time to get in to. Lots of unfamiliar Norwegian names (apart from the hero, Harry Hole) and quite a bit of time hopping. I almost gave up by page 76. But then suddenly, when I was least expecting it, the story came up and bit me on my bum – luckily it was a very comfortable sun lounger because I could not put the book down. Luckily, my Marvellous Mother In Law has lent me three of his books, so I can keep my little brain fully occupied while I’m waiting for my Son to love his Mummy again.