What's that noise? It's the sound of the fridge humming away to itself in the kitchen. There is no music, no crashing guitar chords, the microwave isn't being used and there's no one snoring away the day in the upstairs bedroom.
I won't be asked "what's for lunch" by a grown-up with two of his own hands, two legs and a plethora of qualifications (which indicate he has got a brain..)and if I want to watch TV in the middle of the afternoon, I won't have to ask permission from Mr.Lanky sprawled on the sofa (watching endless re-runs of Torchwood). Yes, I have the house to myself for the first time since May. May. MAY!
It was then that my oldest left school and started 'study leave' - which in his case was more 'thinking about study' leave, then (it seemed like a week but was in fact two) months later his baby brother joined him.
I work from home, and this is not a secret I keep with the dog, it's a household fact. That didn't stop either youth playing discordant guitar or Radiohead (often amounting to the same thing) throughout the day. It didn't mean that I could rely on another soul to walk the dog (and thereby stop said pooch from lying on the bed behind me, with sad and regretful eyes, sighing as each walk-less hour past). Cups of tea were made and welcome, but cups were never washed, washing never unloaded and dried, carpets went unhoovered and the kitchen sink became a sink-hole of unwashed dishes and scraps of food.
I love my teenagers and miss the one that gone off and left me for university (where he washes up, goes to the supermarket and cooks), but I am enjoying the sound of the fridge and the quiet of the house.