The first night away from each other for months. 
You’re staying at Granny’s. 
I’m noticing things which I don’t normally have time to notice.
I notice there are cobwebs on the wall
I notice there’s dust on the skirting boards
I notice the plug in the sitting room makes a high pitched noise
I notice the oven clock sometimes ticks even though it’s not working. 
I notice the tap in the kitchen drips more than I though it did
I notice your hand prints on the sitting room window
I notice a line of crumbs at the edge of the carpet
I notice Suzy sheep poking her head out from underneath the red pouffe
“Hello Suzy, I wonder how long you’ve been there”.
I notice the bump under the bathroom rug 
Which I’ve been stepping on for months,
I realise I have time to investigate. It’s a 5p.
I notice red pen on the sofa cushions
I notice pasta sauce in folds of the curtain
I notice the travel books on the shelves and wonder if we’ll ever use them 
I notice the birds chirping in the evening light
I notice how I’m looking forward to sleeping more than 6 hours in a row
I notice I’m missing you but I know you’re enjoying yourself
And so am I.
I notice I keep reading the same line in my book 
I notice how tired I am
I notice your familiar snuffles as I drift off to sleep even though you’re not here
Snuffle snuffle 
And off I go
To sleep.

(Written during lockdown)

Hooray for the Clangers
For Michael Palin’s 
Soothing voice
As he translates Tiny and Smalls Clanger language
With curious accuracy.
He understands the Clangers
And I think I do too
If I could live anywhere else I’d live on 
The Clangers planet
Where the Iron Chicken sings lullabies at bedtime
The Sky Moos flap their 
Ears like wings 
The Singing Flowers help out with Tiny’s orchestra
And the Cloud rains musical raindrops.
“I want to watch the Clangers Mummy” 
“Yippee” I shriek with excitement 
And we bundle ourselves up together 
In front of the fire 
With covers wrapped around us.
You sit on my lap while I smell your hair.
We laugh as Froglets change colour and
Bounce about like you.   
Mother Clanger walks around in a daze like me.
Granny Clanger makes me laugh, 
Sitting on a green pouf meditating
With oversized cotton balls stuffed in her ears.
While Major Clanger invents 
Pointless pieces of equipment 
To try to solve problems.
When there’s a breeze or the Clangers are running 
Their ears flap back and forth
And I laugh and wonder 
Who had the final say 
On their ears flapping that way. 
For 11 minutes we are in harmony 
No rushing, no cross words between us
Just the warm fuzzy feeling 
Of shared enjoyment after a day of 
Riding the rollercoaster of solo parenting.
So thank you Michael Palin 
For allowing myself permission 
To find my inner child 
With my little child in these tricky times.
I believe you live in the Clangers Planet
Maybe one day we’ll see you there.

(Written during lockdown)

You read your name on your blanket 
Made by Granny 
“That’s the letter 3”
You say as you reach the ‘e’
Your brain tick ticking away
Making connections in curious ways
And it kind of make sense
Without over thinking
“They look similar”
You say.
You burst into a rendition of 
The alphabet song 
At full volume
All signs of sleep
Quickly gone.
L M N O P
Turns to
Lemon Ellow Pea
And I think of Elmer in yellow 
Eating peas.
It kind of makes sense
Without over thinking.
You finally reach Z 
Your head touches the pillow
Still humming away
We say goodnight
And I leave your room
Hoping the alphabet song will follow
So I can throw it out the window 
It’s jingling tune going round in my head
L M N O P L M N O P on repeat
As I walk down the stairs with Elmer 
To find some peas and something yellow.
Wondering if this is lockdown fatigue setting in
Or just regular tiredness
Or if my mind is slightly loosing the plot 
In the world of a 3 year old
Which would kind of make sense
Without over thinking.