good , because if my dad came out to greet me , he might not recognize the changes external and internal - in his son , which had all occurred in the twenty-four hours since i 'd last seen him on the side of the road where i was parked , the houses ended just past the corner facing them and the land fell open on a playpark , a small football pitch for sunday league fun , and beyond that a small wood - altogether a perfect location to attract foxes and stray dogs , which our estate was somewhat infested with .