Parade’s eight-year-old nephew was busy this week creating a special book (think A4 pages folded over and stapled) about his family and Parade got to have a flick through the finished product on Friday.

It started off conventionally enough: a little about the author and a little about his mum, dad, three siblings and crazy dog and the house they all share.

There were some passages about the author’s favourite ways to pass the time and the shows he likes on television.

But then came the uncomfortable part: Parade’s nephew, for reasons only he would be able to explain, decided to devote one of the sections of the book to listing his favourite members of his family.

Three of them (mum, dad and youngest sibling) made the cut - so that meant that two, obviously, missed out completely.

And do the ones who missed out know they missed out? Parade is told they all sat and listened while the author read his work to them once he had finished it. 

Parade imagines there must have been an uncomfortable silence or two.

HOW long can you live on the memories of a good trip?

That’s the question Parade pondered this week when he got in contact with a couple of Sydney mates to organise a catch-up in the coming weeks.

It only took a couple of emails back and forth (to iron out the time and location) before the topic turned – as it always seems to do with these blokes – to the trip Parade took with them to the United States a couple of years ago.

To say there were a lot of stories to come out of that trip would be indulging in understatement, but what amazes Parade is the fact the stories are as pleasurable to relive and retell now as they have ever been.

Parade reckons there are three phases to any trip: the anticipation, the experience itself and the reflection.

And others might disagree, but Parade reckons the reflection might be the most enjoyable phase of all – particularly when it’s with your mates.