Lauren's Letterland day went very well. She was pretty smug about being the only Fireman Fred with a firehose. (There were two other Firemen Fred.)

I remembered that the raincoat she wore was one some friends gave us for 18-month-old Robyn to wear at the Port of Durban Year 2000 celebration. She fell asleep in my arms at about 11pm as we cruised around the harbour on a boat - Peter and Robyn and I swaying together to some very loud music, with the city lights twinkling all around. I will never forget the expression on her face as the midnight fireworks woke her. She opened her eyes to the exploding colours, gazed with awe into the sky, and started clapping with all her might.