Helen and Jo & co

One of the main reasons for going to Leicester was to visit two old friends, both former residents of College Avenue. Catching up was easy. With Helen we stopped in on Milo's first birthday party in a church on Clarendon Park Road.

Helen's in the centre smiling for the camera and Milo is far more concerned where the parcel is being passed to. Can't wait to be invited to more of his parties cos the food was wonderful - Helen had got her mum up for the weekend and together they laid on a feast.

Then we made our way to Jo and Tony's house in a village 20 mins south of Leicester. They have three children and their hands full. Here is Teagan proudly showing us the iced buns she'd just made with the help of her nurse.

Out in the garden in the den Tony built for Aidan, Gregor was being shown the ropes.

Misha and Tony, who first met one another in the Lake District in 2003, found they had a lot more in common than enjoying a drink till the early hours and managed to discuss all number of subjects in the short time we were there. Tony only recently retrained to be a landscape gardener and is one of those people who just loves his work and gets such a buzz out of it, you wonder what else he could turn his hand to.

Well, he's not a bad dad by the looks of it either, and here is new addition to the family - little Alannah, enjoying the fresh air and watching the boys climb around and play pirates while the adults natter away.

And Jo looking on maternally while Alastair contemplates getting on the swing by himself.

We'll see more of the Kerrs in April as they are coming to visit us in Lowestoft at the end of the Easter holidays.