Yes McGrath, they very likely are. Limpit's 5 best friends live 2 streets away, in Exeter, in Norwich and in Dorset. The majority of her friends at school live in the area, but not within safe walking distance (where I can still see her to the door) The road is so busy that I won't allow her to cross it alone, there are no pedestrian crossings for 800 yards or more in either direction.

Also, the majority of her friends' parents, like me, work, so they are at different childminders. If the childminders make an agreement they can see each other after school, but otherwise, they meet only at school. Where the parents are divorced or separated, weekends are limited.

When I'm at work, I see Limpit for maybe an hour in the morning and between 6 - 8 in the evening, if I'm not working late and she goes to bed early.