My eldest lad is growing up too fast - he’s got lots of hobbies, one of which needs a lot of fitness so I try and get out with him once a week for a half hour run - partly to introduce him to cardio training but mainly to just get some time alone with him before he realises his dad is an arsehole.

It’s great. Admittedly, he’s just “Roblox Roblox Roblox Roblox Roblox Roblox can we go to the shop Roblox Roblox” but it’s time with him to talk to me about whatever he wants and it’s time that I absolutely adore. I hope when (if) he chooses to have kids, he’ll look back and think “hey that was some decent dad time I had outside the house”.

I’m also secretly hoping that if he’s ever going through a rough time in life that he’s keeping to himself and we’re still out banging miles into the tarmac, then somewhere between “what’s your favourite Grow Your Garden pet?” and “I just got a badge in Doors for using a crucifix on door 69 while getting chased by rush”, there’ll be a little breadcrumb or hint at a drama that we can talk about and ease his mental health just a tiny bit.

Who knows. A dad can hope.