When I was on a school residential once we played a game where you were given a word and you then pelted around the house looking at loads of lists to try and find that word on them. When you found it, you read off the corresponding word and set of hunting for that new one.

This morning I've been playing the grown up version. First, start with an object in the hall. Swimming kit needs hanging up. Down to the cellar, to discover there's no space until other dry washing has been moved...the washing would dry quicker if it could go infront of the radiator .... but the floor's so dirty it needs sweeping first .... upstairs for the dustpan and brush .... etc. It's nice to be able to follow these things through uninterupted while the kids are at nursery but I do get distracted into some bizarre things! Hey ho, time for a coffee break and to ring some more people about kiddie swimming lessons.

Me, my boys and a nice newly refurbished train station, what more could a girl want from a half term holiday? Philip's vocabulary now includes coupling rods, ballast and sleepers - poor lad! Thomas the Tank Engine has to take some of the blame too.

Philip was wide eyed with excitement on the train, the morning we took him on the underground (he know these trains say mindthegap) and when in Hamleys looking at the model railway layout. I enjoyed the science museum's play area with lots of water channels and boats and Charlie loved all the people watching.

Whilst on holiday, Charlie took to waking up screaming at 12pm and not wanting to feed. Bit concerning and not too pleasant. The week after 2 little bottom teeth arrived so we're inclined to let him off. Another exciting milestone.

Charlie began having 3 mornings a week in nursery last week, leaving me free to get a few things finished and get myself and the house in a fit state to consider going back to work. This is obviously going to take a while! On the Monday I was quite disciplined and did a few useful jobs, on the Tuesday I sat down and read a book. Plans for this week include some kitchen painting, we'll see. Charlie is finding a bit difficult to settle into nursery, but they're able to distract him when he's upset so we're fairly confident he'll get there. It must be all a bit strange at first, although Philip seemed to settle very quickly.