...

Three parcels in the post this morning, hurrah. Except that the first was medical supplies for the Wahooligan, delivered to the wrong address. The second was a reprint of the photo books I made for Great Grannie's Birthday, with the same errors repeated on them. And the third was an iPod to replace the one which got wet, only it isn't the same model and won't work without headphones, so isn't any use to Mog.

A lovely day with friends. Peaceful, despite at one point having nine children with just two adults. Cake and conversation; good times. Lots of coffee, and only after the 3rd or 4th cup did it register as uncaffeinated; no, it doesn't affect the taste but it certainly affects my energy levels. Another cup, and another, and the waking up just wasn't happening.

I blame the strange friends who manage to function adequately without the caffeine - including picking uncaffeinated diet coke for lunch - for what happened next. A short drive home through the rain, calling in at Homebase for socket covers, for tomorrow I have a fostering-related health and safety inspection, and all my sockets should be protected from prying little fingers. Found the socket covers eventually (ok - I didn't; but the helpful chap in uniform did. I think he worked there. I do hope so - but thinking back I'm sure their uniform was green last time I was there, and this chap was wearing navy. Oh well), queued, watched them scan, then realised I'd left my purse in the van. Oops. Mad dash through the rain back to the van, grabbed the money, requeued, finally managed to pay and exit.

Back home and one very tired Little Fish informed me that her friend P's Mummy had told her she needed a shower tonight. Thanks, friend! Ham sandwich and a biscuit for tea which makes three meals in a row.

Opening the door I was greeted by the cheerful piercing chip chip cheep of a smoke alarm with dying batteries. This would ordinarily be fine, except the fire service replaced my battery operated smoke alarms last year with ones with integral batteries. This is now glued to the ceiling and cannot be opened or removed. Good thinking, chaps. Every 37 seconds we get a new chirp from it. I've tried prying it from the ceiling, I've tried hitting it with a broom, I've tried muffling it with a towel. It is of course the smoke alarm by the bedrooms, not the one in the playroom...

I'm shelving the problem for now; I have a babsitter tonight and she's due in 15 minutes. I'll hand her the broom and tell her to get poking - it's possible to reset it for about 20 minutes at a time but only by manually setting it to alarm properly. It'll be her choice which she prefers. Meeting old school friends tonight which should be fun; provided I can stay awake with my caffeine levels at dangerously low levels. Perhaps I should order an espresso aperitif.

Tia