Include someone else in the photo who has less chins and less grey hair.
The sunshine has been back in town today after two weeks of crap, and so I've been out on my bike visiting friends and family.
Two good friends, now married, (I gave him her number!) are expecting a child in less than two weeks and so it was nice to see them for the first time in a while, relaxing in their front garden and preparing for the big day. They have been living further out of the city for a while, but this new place is only an hour on the bike and not far from where my daughter lives.
After a cup of tea and a natter, I set off to meet the lady in the photo. Whereas with my friends, we are doing the distancing thing, it's not quite so distance with my daughter and today I got a pretty decent hug or two, ahh :)
She's 14 now, and quite enjoying what should be a busy school year, not being at school. Most of her friends live (in big houses) in her home town, and there is plenty of green space for them to get up to no good.
There was a confession today that her friends will 'sometimes' send the oldest looking teen to the shop where 'the guy doesn't care' to collect some booze. Great times, I remember them well :)
And because I remember them well, I don't feel the need to say anything other than 'don't get to wasted and enjoy yourself'. My days of slowly letting the rope out are seemingly over, and I've only got words now, which will likely be going in one ear and out the other.
That's cool though, she seems happy, and that's all I wish for.
Breaking news!
As I was writing this post I received an image from my (full) brother - a 12 week scan photo. All being well, I'll be an uncle again :D
It's been an awesome day, I hope yours has been too.
Cheers
Asher