So, the feared education hiatus is upon us. The cold gap we speak of in hushed tones - the two-week nether world of winter school holidays.
In a brutal 2016 twist, the region's rain stayed away for most of the preceding term to materialise proper only once the young ones hunkered down full-time with mum and dad.
For the next fortnight, parents are caught in the relentless current of kids' taxing demands and acute cabin fever.
Still, parents can validly cut corners in this period on the basis that we're spread too thin.
The following are some of my favourites: