Thank the government's decision to revamp the entire A-Level syllabus for my failure to tend the blog in recent weeks. Though, coming off the back of two months of bone-idleness I won't waste too much effort on courting sympathy. Instead I'll recap some of Olivia's recent highlights.

The shot above was taken in, of all places, Southport, where we sojourned for a day a few weeks back. This picture may look innocuous enough but it is highly emotionally charged. It should possibly even come with a 'Have You Seen This Toy?' label and the offer of a reward. The butterfly thing that Olivia is happily trundling along the pavement was to be hers for a matters of minutes after the picture was taken.

Shortly after, we parked it by an ice-cream van as we ordered a round of 99's. In our eagerness to devour said goodies we momentarily forgot about the butterfly and walked on. Realising our error I dashed back to the van. But it was too late. The butterfly was gone.

Dejected I made my way back to Cath and Olivia to break the news. But as I did so I heard a familiar clicking noise and recognised what I'm certain was Olivia's possession. Only, it had fallen into the clutches of the tiniest offspring of a large tribe of what I can only Liverpudlians only too happy to play down/up to their stereoptype. Yep, Olivia was experiencing her first taste of heartbreak at the hands of the Mickey Mousers.

Ironically, after this mornings debacle at Anfailed, today she is experiencing her second. (Truth be told she is bearing up pretty well, almost as if she is oblivious about the fact anything untoward has taken place).

Farewell butterfly. And get your act together United.