Schoolnight

Now the flat is on the market I find myself doing quite a lot of cleaning. It's a bit of a shock to the system for someone who only went near a mop or a duster if there were visitors coming to stay.

And now he's started school, around 9pm I'm ironing his shirt and trousers, and getting his bag ready for the morning. It's actually quite a nice routine, a ritual through which you express a degree of care and affection with little chance it will ever be acknowledged.

Not that there is anything remotely noble about it. I just like the opportunity to catch up on some radio programmes, like Tacita Dean on last Sunday's Private Passions.

Thank you for all your kind comments yesterday. Another blip-year begins!