Mum is neither sentimental nor a hoarder. As both parents spent their childhoods and adult lives living in flats it was impossible to keep lots of “stuff” due to lack of space. They were never burdened by possessions. However mum showed me two letters she kept relating to me and secondary school. One was a letter from South Hampstead High School offering me a place and a full scholarship to cover the fees. The other was from Camden School for Girls also offering me a place. No fees were involved as it was a grammar school. The letter mum has lost (and which she told me she kept for many years) is the follow up letter from the headmistress of South Hampstead School castigating mum for taking the wishes of an 11 year old girl into account rather than accepting the offer at her esteemed educational establishment. Well done mum and dad for listening to their child. I remember being similarly criticised for allowing our son to make his own decision to eschew university in favour of starting work. You can lead a horse to water – then the choice is theirs.