I spent some time with my two young nephews last week. They are one and a half, and three and a half respectively. They are not yet into girls or live music so we do not have a lot in common, but at least I make the effort.

As we sat there at dinner time my eldest nephew was struggling to finish his meal.

“I’ll bet you can’t finish all that in front of Uncle Angry!” said my sister, his mother.

“Bet I can!” was his instant retort.

I was ashamed by this. He clearly knows nothing. There was money to be made from this offer of a bet and yet he jumped straight in saying ‘yes he could’. I fear for the youth of today if this is the level of business acumen they regularly exhibit.

I looked at my sister, then at my plate of half eaten lunch, then back at my sister. But despite my pleading look she did not offer the same bet to me. She clearly knows me better than I thought, and had probably anticipated my wallet would be on the table before she even finished talking. She was right. Plus it was only mashed potatoe, which is easy to eat, even when you are full.

I will have to feign a full stomach next time.

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