I think yesterday was my first mother’s day away from home: it’s quite an odd feeling. At uni I was only 7 or 8 miles from my parents’ house, so on such occasions I could easily go home. It’s also an odd thing for my parents: as mum put it on skype yesterday, it was the first mother’s day in 26 years that she didn’t have to take a cloth beaker and straws with her to the restaurant.

It’s been about 8 weeks since I was home – by far the longest time I’ve spent away from Congleton. I probably shouldn’t call it home any more, as Charlton is my new home now. I love life down here, having more independence than ever; yet yesterday my thoughts were back up north with my parents. I hope mum had a great day I love you.