Success

Got back last night after a great two days. I drove over the the East of England on Tuesday, through torrential rain in South Wales and Gloucestershire, and got stuck in a huge tailback at some road improvements near Newark. But I got there in the end, and we all had a great evening sat around a grand Indian takeaway and a few bottles of something nice. DN2 was understandably a bit emotional: she had lived with Mum and partner since leaving Uni, and the thought of moving to a new city, knowing no-one there, was a bit daunting. But she was brave.

She was already packed when I got there, and the boxes and cases filled the front room. I was beginning to wish I had fixed the trailer and brought that with me. But no; the Mondeo, for all its boringness, is cavernous and we got everything in easily. We drove to the new place, and after getting the keys we bust a gut getting everything up three flights of stairs. We then went out for a meal, had a walk round the University places where she will be studying, and I drove home.

DN2 is now 22 and great company. Her Mum and I split when she was quite young, so I share less of her childhood than I do with DN1, and this has meant that we haven't been as close. This is something I bitterly regret. However, as she has got older, we have become closer, and over the last two days I feel we have really clicked. She was a bit of a wild child in her teens, but now you couldn't wish for a more rational and sensible young woman. She's pretty, she's clever and she's kind.

On the long drive to the new accommodation, we got into long conversations on various topics. She spoke of her rather vague travel plans, and I mentioned my trip to Denmark, observing that I wanted to do something similar, and perhaps further afield, next year. To my complete and utter astonishment, she said she would love to come with me. We spent the next hundred miles talking it over. She really is serious about it, and we talked about possible destinations, riding gear and the great camping/pension debate. We ended up agreeing that it was feasible, and both of us keen to do it, so we'll have a think and make further plans later.

As the idea of such a holiday with Anna is now out of consideration, at least for the near future, this would delight me more than I can say. It will be a thought to hold close when the rains come and the winter bites.

You could say I was pleased with the last couple of days.