We’re lucky to have my brother Stephen, his wife, Ulli, and their sons, seven-year-old Colin and ten-month-old Lindell, to stay with us from Germany for three weeks. (I knew all those rooms would come in handy one day.)

Lindell is of particular interest to us. He was born huge (TWELVE pounds; imagine that for a moment, ladies) and is around double Jasper’s current weight. He’s also far advanced in his development, as you would expect for an infant approaching his first birthday, so we’re receiving advanced warnings of the pleasures (and dangers) ahead of us.

The obvious stuff, like renovation materials and tools, as well as the trickier fixes, like power cables for lamps and the telephone cord, had to be moved out of harm’s way. A gate inherited from Carolina’s brother, stored for next year, was pressed into early action at the top of the basement stairs.

Which of our expensive toys is most popular? Sorry, Fisher Price. A glass jar with rice in, or the cardboard tube from the middle of the kitchen towels, beat anything you’ve created in your R&D labs.

Meanwhile, Colin needs entertaining, so I was able to break out my old toys that were stored for Jasper’s later childhood. We set up a slot racing circuit, which has proved popular (our little man has only just discovered his toes, so it would be wasted on him right now). Our pool has never enjoyed so much attention, too.

Dinnertimes are a lot of fun. Lindell is on solids, eats more or less anything that’s within grabbing range and spends the time after the meal rolling around on the carpet ‘hoovering up’ anything that dropped from the table.

I’ll write more about our adventures in extended family next time. Sleep well.

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