Three Beautiful Things

1. Outside Homebase is a stack of pots, just the sort I wanted, that are free to a good home. 2. We split up to do errands this morning: I to run out with Bettany in the pushchair, a fistful of batteries for recycling and some plastic bags; and Nick with Alec on his scooter and all the glass from yesterday's party. I have a good run and a look round the garden centre; and then across the car park I am very pleased to see a handsome grey head at work among the recycling bins. 3. With the help of a video, a razor blade and a precision screwdriver set I replace my broken laptop screen. It is very satisfying to make this sort of repair.

Today Bettany is ONE. 1. To snatch a quiet moment in the garden chatting with Audrey, who is as good a mothering mentor as you are likely to find. 2. Bettany manoeuvres herself until she is lying on the slide, hanging on to the top with her fingers. Then she lets go -- everyone gasps, but I can see her reflection smiling in the metal slide. 3. "That was a punishing day," says Nick. "Fun though." We calculate that we had 25 people through the door at one time and another -- how lucky is our Bett to be loved by that many people, and how lucky are we? 3b. The crowd of fizzy wine corks on the shelf.

1. Alec hiding in the curtains to peep out at my aunt and cousin. 2. Alec passes his ice cream dish across the table and asks me to give Bettany some. 3. The generally serene and restrained Aunty Biddy roaring with laughter as Alec explains to her the dangers of JOCK ROT, which is the fate of small boys who do not dry themselves properly.

1. Across the bare soil in this pot there is a fuzz of green: Nana's charity flower seeds are coming up. Other pots are further along: here is a packet of Abel and Cole's bee seeds; there a birthday card or a soap label that boldly claimed it had viable seeds pressed into the paper. 1b. Lately Alec has been asking questions when things go wrong between us. I appreciate the chance to examine and explain myself and to hear that things are OK between us again; and I marvel at the easy, fearless way he forgives and moves on. I would love to preserve that, to save it for his future friends and family. 2. At the end of nursery they report that the children asked to do science so they let them loose in the kitchen to make a mess with flour and jelly. Apparently Alec shouted "Let the science begin!" 3. I startle up from the sofa when I hear a furious child crying, but it isn't one of ours, it's somewhere in the evening outside.

1. To get time to sort though the bags of clothes and put together outfits for Bettany. Dressing her will be fun again now that she has the right gear for the weather and for crawling and climbing. 1. Alec's shout of "Granny!" 2. We have time to kill so we wander round while Bettany sleeps in the pushchair. The Mother talks about the wild flowers and grasses that have made themselves at home in pavement cracks and neglected gardens and where walls meet the ground.

1. Janey brings Alec an interesting stone full of fossils to put in his treasure box. 2. Laura says that last night they spotted a strange man closely examining their door. When challenged he explained that he'd delivered a leaflet earlier in the day and spotted a rare moth so he'd come back with his camera and a moth book. 3. They bring me a cup of tea in the garden.

1. Alec is still not quite himself so I let him lie on the sofa watching TV all day. The outings to and from Bettany's nursery session are enough exercise and it feels good not to be constantly nudging him to try more useful activities. 2. To make up a lunch with teeny tiny tempting morsels and to see it all eaten. 3. When we get home, to take Bettany straight upstairs and bub her off to sleep in a cool, quiet room.