Somehow – and I have no ida how this happened – my boy Ned is 18 today.

That’s a proper grown up.

Actually, Ned has been a proper grown up for years, if you take the term ‘proper grown up’ to include knowing his own mind, being unafraid of emotion, knowing how to hold a conversation, taking responsibility, and being brave and strong when he needs to be, and prepared to admit when he’s not. He’s also great company. He’s quite often more grown up than I am. I love that in him.

Yesterday, we went shopping and bought this.

Then we went out for dinner (at Moro) and ate fabulous food, and put the world to rights, and got a little bit sentimental about the Possibilities Of Life.

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Today, he’ll be at work, then going out with his friends, and I will be quietly proud and genuinely happy to have such a fabulous person in my life, son or not.

Happy birthday, Ned. Here’s to you, and here’s to many more.