QUITE BUSY, QUITE TIRED

In the past few weeks and months we have found, bought and moved house. New baby is due on Monday. Moreover, our two year-old is making full use of the new space and has discovered he can run like a fuckin' deer.

Have been locked out of my email account.

Reading, when I can, Kipling's Plain Tales from the Hills with delight; reading Mark Lynas's Six Degrees with nothing less than choking horror. It makes everything else redundant, frankly.

KID TIPS

Poisson Rouge is a very decent website with games (in French and English) for kids - or indeed, hungover adults.

We've also just been given a CD called Sing Along with Putumayo which includes a funk-blues version of "Old Macdonald Had A Farm", and lists the wonderful Arlo Guthrie among its performers. It's the only thing we've come across so far (though I've no doubt there's lots and lots of good stuff out there, if only you know where to look) in English which rivals Henri Des, a popular French composer and performer of children's songs who gives live concerts. I can't think of an equivalent for him in English - musically accomplished and genuinely entertaining for all ages - other than the Muppets, who are as old as I am.

Anyway, feel free to check 'em out or pass 'em on with my recommendations and compliments.

PROUD DAD

Had my first real sword-fight with my son today, with those cardboard tubes you get inside rolls of wrapping paper. He's two. Not only that, he attacked me first. Very satisfying.