The Mulhearn Paradox

So last week I drove my daughter, husband and cat back to their home in Oxford, possibly for the last time as they are soon to head off to Melbourne for their dream research jobs. Jack had disappeared back to Edinburgh the previous day or so. I love my family, but was not too sad to see the back of them all after a long stay over Christmas and New Year, the evident mutual love, affection and respect, endless board games, sumptuous meals, obvs. not forgetting the endearing kitty. It’s a kind of paradox, on the road north, I realised my keenness to be home was largely due to the pleasurable anticipation of the quiet of an emptied house. I kinda think this is definitely a thing, so, Ive named it after some random guy I went to primary school with in order to confer it with the mantle of specious authority.