My daughter's school is closed today for strike action, which I agree with but at the same time get really pissed off about as it means yet another day of learning is missed.
The plus-side of this day off, is that I am able to lie in my bed with my coffee, listening to the birds tweet in the garden, while my daughter attempts her homework.
Suddenly there is this shriek of excitement.
"Mummy, I can see a red squirrel in the garden!!!!!"
"Really darling, are you sure?" is my unexcited response.
"Oh no....no mummy, it was only a grey one", there were undertones of sadness.
And on we went, with me slurping my coffee and my child muttering about spellings and literacy.
"Mummy? Did you know that there are only 16 red squirrels left in England?"
"Um...no, I didn't", I replied.
"Yes and one of them is in our garden", she said with pride.
Amazing what they learn at school these days.