I had been very careful not to allow any business travel around the time Nick was due. But the best laid plans went astray and I had to drive across to France via a ferry. This was before the M25 and the tunnel was thought of. All went well till I started the return leg. I was flagged down by French customs and told in halting English that I need to phone home. OK before mobiles and now in a panic I try to board the ferry. Flagged down again by P&O staff and told to phone home. It turns out that Jo our secretary had carried everyone she could think of to get a message to me that Judith had gone into labour. I finally called home on a ship to shore phone on board the ferry. After docking at Newhaven I had a cross country run to get home. Fog now got in the way and it was some 6 hours later that I got home and grabbed the sandwiches that Judith had left me. Yes she had made them during labour knowing I would be hungry. I arrive at the hospital and walked into the delivery suite to be greeted by a wonderful midwife who immediately said ' Ah Mr Atkins you've come a long way would you like a cup of tea'. Well that was the first and only time I heard Judith shout the f word at me. A couple of hours later and Nick arrived in the world.