Rummage, Cheddar cheese and both down.

1. Bettany loves a good old rummage in a box of Alec's toys. Sometimes she reaches shoulder deep into his tub of railway bits to hear the track clatter; other times she sits with his shoe box of figurines between her stout thighs. She gives the cork Calpol People an experimental gum; drops the stick men to see what they sound like and marvels over the Smurfette that came from a fast food place.

2. When Alec suddenly starts eating a food that he has previously refused. Grated Cheddar cheese -- that'll make suppers a little bit easier from now on.

3. An evening where there are two children asleep by 7.30pm.