Results day!

It's been well over 20 years since my A-Level results day - and since then, aside from showing some moral support to my Mum and brother as teachers, it's not been a key part of my life!

Today however, Andy's daughter Juliette was all set to find out how she'd done and what the next chapter of her young life was to be. She needed two B's and a C to get her first choice university place.

We were absolutely delighted for her when she let us know she'd achieved an A,B and C and had secured her much wanted place at Liverpool University to study Nursing.

She has worked so very hard over the years (much harder than I ever did) and her success is richly deserved. Andy is of course bursting with pride!

We've never been a family that goes in for the whole 'stepmother/stepdaughter' thing, but I too honestly couldn't be prouder of her today. Having known Juliette since she was just finishing primary school, I can't believe she's all grown up and heading off to start an independent life. I hope she has a fabulous adventure at university and I know she'll be a brilliant nurse.

As I've been writing this afternoon I've had the radio on in the background as I usually do. The extremely sad news about the passing of the great Aretha Franklin has broken, so there's been lots of stories about her and many of her awesome records played. What a very sad loss - such an immensely talented lady, not many can sing through four octaves! Probably not very original, but one of my favourite Aretha Franklin songs - in fact one of my favourite songs full stop - will always be I say a little prayer.

Her music will live on - God bless and may you rest in peace.

Beautiful, talented, inspirational, iconic - Aretha Franklin