My new kitchen has a large full-length grocery cupboard. It's almost a walk-in cupboard, in that it's quite deep with L-shaped cut-away shelves. Danny doesn't see it quite so much as a grocery cupboard, but as more of a personal hide-away. He finds it a convenient place to play - much better than, say, his bedroom. At the moment, nestling alongside the cereals and spreads, are a few dozen wooden blocks and a backpack. This is his school bag, which he now declines to take to school, as it is his 'backpack for playing dad with'.

Since we went open-plan, there is now no good place for the dogs to sleep. They used to sleep in the kitchen. Since the building they have been sleeping outside - we haven't felt too mean because it's been so warm. And in fact, Peggy has had a new lease on life since roughing it out-doors. She just seems much more sprightly somehow. Last night, however, there was a storm and they were desperate to come in. Not to worry. We quickly and conveniently tucked them into bed in the scullery part of the kitchen, and all we had to do to keep them there was prop a wendy-house door (as yet uninstalled) across the opening, lean the kitchen stool against the door, and sit Peter on top of the stool.

I just love my super new streamlined home.