You never know how large your house is or how many things your husband and child possess until you spend the fag end of your day picking up and putting away plastic bottles, towels, eyeglasses, animal figurines and tiny underpants.

Also by the same yardstick you never know how long the days are when there’s always some laundry waiting (either to be washed, or folded and put away) and your child insists on NOT sleeping.