I started out today by deliberately settling down to play kitchens with H, then K as well. As I had hoped, some concentrated attention meant that when I got bored and wanted to do something else, they kept on playing happily together for ages. I helped them build a cubby in the living room to extend their game, but they didn’t really need me after that.

Instead, I did all the washing up, cleaned the kitchen, defrosted some stock and made soup, then made zucchini slice and cheese and chutney scone pinwheels. Nom nom. K was trying to make a tiara for a while, then came up to me (elbow-deep in scone dough) and said, “Mum, can I learn to read?” I suggested looking at some of the beginner readers we have about the place until I could help her, but she decided she was going to read The Cow Who Fell In The Canal instead. Then by the time I’d stuck everything in the oven and washed my hands, she’d decided she wanted to learn to play the recorder instead. Flibbertigibbet!

Then we had lunch, and now they are playing pirates.