WHEN I moved back to the country I was ready for the quieter streets, shorter queues, and same-day dentist appointments, but there was one thing I hadn't anticipated at all - the allconsuming, all-powerful half term.

I was aware of its existence of course; many of my friends have children, and I can still recall back through the dryice of time that I had them myself.

However, just like baby foxes or people struggling with big bags, in big cities half terms are invisible.

The main areas of the city look the same, with a roiling mass of people going about their speed-of-light lives.

Additionally, I worked in a media office full of fellow 30-somethings, and although there were one or two members of staff who had children of school age, they didn’t ever really talk about it. I think it would have drawn a lot of blank looks and a chasm of disinterest. With writers barrelling into the loos for a quick change on the way to an evening event, or rushing back from a press conference with a Dictaphone full of quotes that needed to be transcribed in minus five minutes, ‘what are you up to in half term?’ was not a question I heard in my 13 years in the magazine industry.

Since moving back to Salisbury, however, half term has a major impact on my life. It started with pilates.

Last half term the studio shut down for the week because many of the regulars have children at school and need/want to be home with them when they’re off. Of course, it makes perfect sense – I had just never thought about it.

The difference on my street was palpable, with children suddenly out playing during the day like the kids in The Selfish Giant.

Half-term also dictates my social life, and this is my favourite thing about it.

My best friend is a newlyqualified teacher, and so ordinarily she works sixday weeks including evenings, but during half term I actually get to spend some time not just with her lovely girls, but also with her. We can go out for dinner! We can drink wine on a Wednesday! So here’s to half term... if only there were quarter terms as well.