Grockelina has begun to help me with the housework. "Squa maw!" on the stairs are retrieved (squashed moths) and I am ordered to "tidy up! mess!" of my own, not her creation. Her mess is different - it has order and structure. She has started lining things up. It is the beginning of the end. All my placemats and coasters are in a heap on the kitchen floor. She no longer cries when I leave her with mum or lindsay. Instead she cries when I go to collect her. "Leah stay here! Stay A Lil! Stay Gra!"

A conversation about cows

H: (Looking at cow). Can you say cow?
G: Tow.
H: C for cat.
G: Cat.
H: Can you say cow?
G: Tow.
H: C for cup. C for cat. C for crisps. (Points at cow). What is that?
G: A Moo!

Grockelina is now talking in sentences. "Gra says Dear Me!" and "Mmm says uh-uh-uh! (waggle finger.) Daddy says "Tuddle tuddle" and Leah says "Uh-oh! Fe Flo!" Today she learnt "No Way" and is having a good stab at "You Cannot Be Serious!" after watching Wimbledon. She enjoyed her third trip to the zoo, especially the Sea Lions and the pigs (she also liked climbing on the benches.) She can say her name, her town and her age "eightee mo!"