Ears are an odd thing. We take then for granted and assume they are always there.

Of course if you wear glasses ears take on a very new importance but just when in life are we aware of them ? I was at Martin and Fhai’s for lunch today watching Daisy draw a picture of Joanne. Inspired, Joanne took the pen and started to draw me, minus ears, glasses and with no smile. After Daisy pointed out the missing ears Joanne added them to the picture of me and looked at the picture of her. Daisy had drawn her with her hair down to her shoulders and a big smile. After a moment Joanne drew in a pair of ears, stuck to the side of her hair and sticking out, a place she never keeps them. Tricky this anatomy.

Much easier was making pudding. A large fruit cobbler stuffed with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, apple and pear with a scone like topping and lashings of cream. After a meal of roast chicken and duck and all the trimmings with Daisy, Paul and Nan we divided up with Fhai and the kids off to the local funhouse and Martin and I heading off to see the British Museum’s roof, a wander around Chinatown and a beer or two at the Lowlander.

We’d started with a drink at De Hems but the noise in the upstairs bar and the smoke in the public bar drove us on to the quiet of the Lowlander.

After all we don’t want to take our ears for granted.