Treat, flood and account.

1. 'I'm buying him that train. He looked so pleased when he found it,' says Tim and he hands the charity shop volunteer 20p. Alec carries the little plastic toot-toot all the way home.

2. We watch with bated breath as the man in the mobility scooter charges confidently through the flood that lies between us and the playground.

3. I tell Nick a little about our day and he says: 'Yes, Alec said he'd sat on Tibby's knee and had beans.'