Kisses, a few minutes and walking home.

1. The Mother is coming later, so there's no need to try to do any work until she arrives. Alec and I go upstairs and lie in bed. I blow in his face to make him giggle, and he gives me some sloppy, toothy, open-mouth kisses on the nose.

2. While they are out, I lie on the bed and shut my eyes for a few minutes.

3. Alec's walking is really coming on: "He walked all the way home from the swings pushing the pushchair," says my mother. "A man told me to hop in and enjoy the ride!"