Flying the nest

We have had a bittersweet weekend. On Saturday morning, we took Tom up to Edinburgh to begin his university life. We are delighted and excited for him, to be learning subjects his loves in such a great city. Anni and I took a very early morning train up to Edinburgh, which was altogether very pleasant. There was no room for us in the car with Peter, Tom and all Tom's stuff. By lunchtime he was installed in his new home. He was the first to arrive in his flat for four. This is his kitchen. I am pretty sure it will never look like this again with four lads in charge of it.

It has a small seating area. Anni looks so tragic here, not because she is saying goodbye to her big brother, but rather because she was having a bad hair day and did not wish to be photographed whilst (and I quote) looking like Aslan. He has a decent sized room (although I am disturbed by my failure to buy a valance).

And here is the desk at which all the work shall be done. We stocked his fridge and cupboards and went off for some lunch. By the time we returned, he had one flatmate, a Scottish lad, studying Architecture. 

So we left him to begin Freshers' Week, which apparently involved a performance by none other than Gareth Gates! We headed to Falkirk to stay with our friend Helen and had a lovely, lovely evening with her. On Sunday we had the privilege of sharing in Helen's daughter Emma's baptism, which we thoroughly enjoyed. Then we had lunch with her entire family, including her sisters Ruth and Fiona, whom Anni and I had visited on our road trip back in July. We caught up with Tom again on Sunday afternoon. When we returned, all his flatmates had moved in and the kitchen was full of them and a gaggle of girls, which his new flatmate Callum explained, "This is Tom's work." Quelle surprise! 

So we left him a very happy bunny. I guess it must be pretty exciting to move from a village with nothing but two pubs and a Chinese take-away to Scotland's capital. He says Edinburgh makes him "deeply happy".

But I am also deeply sad. Driving home, Anni played Talyor Swift's Never Grow Up and I shed a tear or two. Walking past his empty room is tough I can tell you. Happy for my boy though and looking forward to a visit before too long.