trying to pick one night everyone can sit down for dinner when he's home, sounds simple until the cafe roster changes and the boy remembers something he should've told me three days ago. i've written it out twice and keep forgetting that his week off doesn't mean the rest of us are off. he suggested takeaway whenever we're all there, which would be lovely if whenever was a time on the clock. now i'm asking each kid separately because the family chat is all thumbs-up and no actual answers. don't need a big occasion, just don't want four different dinners and me washing the same bench four times.

went in the pool with the kids and discovered my son can splash half of brisbane without moving from one spot, got water straight up my nose before i'd even decided whether it was cold. once i was in properly it felt good round my legs, none of that heavy feeling i get waiting for the train after work. tried floating and kept lifting my head to see what they were doing, which made the rest of me sink, excellent technique. sat on the edge afterwards with my feet still in. daughter handed me the towel without being asked. mostly because she wanted my dry chair, but i'll take the service.

one of the girls brought little biscuits she'd made and put a separate packet in my bag because she knew i was leaving before the break. rapt with that, genuinely, till i realised she'd written thank you for helping me on it and got stupidly close to crying over a bloody biscuit. i'd only shown her a few things and swapped a room when she was behind. told her they were good and asked what was in them, much easier conversation. took two home for the kids and then had to explain why they couldn't eat the whole packet before i'd even put the kettle on. apparently thank-you biscuits are still just biscuits to them.