Right then - Madonna and child. might as well start as I mean to go on eh? I've been vascillating between who does she think she is going into a country, the culture of which she knows little of by the look of it, picking a baby out of a list of 10 or so, like some puppy, and then whisking it out of the country. Then, I think, who do those damn arrogant agencies think they are, saying that she should give the money to the birth family and10,000 other families.

The thing is is apart from there being a strong case for either, it is such a subjective issue when it comes down to it. I probably would come down in favour of having more respect for the people of Malawi, but I guess when you're desperate to adopt one excuses oneself in anyway. It's just that there is such a good extended family structure in Malawi (yeah I know he was in an orphanage but it was due to poverty, not neglect). I mean if it was in China where baby girls are dumped on the street - then ok, absolutely, get them a family and a warm cozy home NOW.

Oh, I don't know. Some kids say that they wish they had never been adopted and others are so very happy to be adopted - kind of like non-adopted kids too. All I know is that one of my best friends adopted one of her brother in law's children (he was shot dead in Kenya and left a wife and 10 children). It's a very different kind of adoption relationship than I have with my adopted daughter, who is dual heritage but adopted in the UK, (yes we jumped through all the relevant hoops). Both our adopted kids have other families, that's true, but the experiences are worlds apart.

Arh, Fuck it, who do I think I am - baby David will have a pretty good life and two families who love him and two countries - lucky him and hoorah for that.