Happy news, shoulders and words.

1. At toddler group one of the usuals is there with her dad, not her mum, who was heavily pregnant last time I saw her. It is good to hear another family's happy news (we've been enjoying the coverage about Baby Cambridge, too, of course).

2. To discover that I am once again strong enough to lift Alec up on to my shoulders (Bettany is in the sling and I note that he is very good and careful with his feet).

3. I overhear Alec telling my mother that he is 'enthusiastic'. The other night when I complained about his wriggling he said that he was adjusting himself.