Billy Bob isn't the only new kid on the block.

Beating him in the age stakes by a full three weeks is his cousin Lauren, the newly-arrived daughter of Aileen's elder sister, Fiona (and seen here to the left.)

On the way back to London we popped in to see the Bristol-based bairn.

The two new fathers did a better job of bonding than did the babies themselves, who seemed utterly oblivious to the presence of the other.

Still, if nothing else the visit made me extremely thankful we didn't have twins.

I fear fatherhood is making me far too soft. I must ask for an assignment to another war zone ASAP.