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One of the best things about having kids is the way they make you look at the world completely differently. A big puddle. To me that means three things – health & safety hazard, dirty trousers and potentially wet feet. To No.1 it’s a ready made adventure.

I also love the way this picture delivers an obvious metaphor. She literally is the only bundle of life and colour in this picture. Wonderful.

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It’s 21:16. Just sat down having spent five or so hours laying rest to Christmas 2010. Cut up the Christmas tree, broke a hacksaw, pulled a muscle in my arm, got grumpy. It was a wonderful two weeks, though, mainly for the chance to spend lots of time with my amazing daughter. As a working parent I’m conditioned to feel guilty. Guilty for not “being there” 24/7, guilty for palming her off onto childcare for nine hours every day (at absurd expense). To spend a good chunk of time with her over what, for her, is a magical period is genuinely wonderful. Makes the stress, extravagance and expense of Christmas totally worth it. And it brings a tear to my eye when I think that it’ll be another 12 months until I get two weeks with her again. Modern life ain’t really set up for working parents.