With the possible exception of Chloe, Amelie's favourite toy at the moment is a purple plastic pony called Hellodadada. She named it herself. She also has a pink pony with an interesting name, but I haven't worked out how to spell that one yet. When she says the name, it sounds like Chewbacca speaking Swahili. I'm waiting for her to learn how to write, so that she can set me straight on the letters.

As befits the role of the chosen one, Hellodadada was selected to be part of Amelie's entourage when we went to Stefan and Andrew's on Sunday, and was party to the tea making that went on. As mentioned at the time, we were lucky enough to receive some old china from our old chinas, and Amelie's been itching to make a brew ever since. When I got home from work yesterday, the first thing she asked me to do was to put the kettle on. I think she gets that from Lisa.

As an experienced Mr Tea, I pity the fool who can't make their own cuppa, so naturally I agreed to help, and within minutes, Amelie, Hellodadada and I were sitting down to afternoon tea in the drawing room. Although I made her put the crayons away first.

There was some initial confusion about the difference between a kettle and a teapot, and I was disappointed with Amelie's reluctance to sing a song ("don't know how it goes", my foot) but other than that, the event was a complete success. Hellodadada blasted off in a teacup, Amelie used more sugar than tea, and above all, the three of us learnt not to cry over spilt milk...


Her self-belief is admirable, but I'm still trying to get that tea out of the carpet.