1. To hear the clang of the gate, Nick's keys in the lock and Alec ringing the doorbell.
2. I can't face tea today: even putting frozen fishfingers on the grill turns my stomach. I hide out in the sitting room with a sudoku and a glass of water. Later Nick tells me that he explained to Alec that the Lickle Tiny Baby sometimes makes Mummy feel sick. Alec responded with: "Mummy not very well."
"And," added Nick, "He looked like a boy when he said it, not a baby."
3. As I am dropping off, I glance at the alarm clock: 9.38pm. We've finally got to bed early.
