It’s that worst of times: the last day of a holiday when your plane doesn’t leave till evening, and you hang around wondering what can go wrong and making desultory attempts at packing. Unless you’re David, that is, and then you make extremely long phone calls.

The children woke up late (for them) because of an unexpected event the previous day – the return of the Vanderkooys. We had spent much of a very hot day inside the World Science Centre in the Don Valley area of Toronto – an imaginatively constructed building that tumbles down a ravine in what might be called an ordered state. We visited some reptiles and then (after lunch) an interactive area that the children loved. I was impressed, but not with the acres of children’s groups who increased the decibel level and reduced the floor area. I was also impressed with the Omnimax film, Hubble, which kept the children spellbound, and the adults too.

Lots of traffic on the 401, but we eventually emerged on to the 427, picked up speed and then stopped for (even more) food shopping. Very hot indeed at this point, but it cooled slightly before the Vanderkooys arrived for supper. Joyous reunions all round, and celebrations into the night. They eventually departed for home around 10pm, Oliver and Amy fell into bed, and the rest of us chatted for a while before doing the same.

It’s now 2.15pm, the FedEx lady has delivered a parcel for Barbara, and everyone except me is in the pool area. a couple of days ago the children, Dot and I went into Bolton to do various bits of shopping and to look at some local scenery, including the place where the railroad crosses Mount Hope Road. Magical stuff.