Bonnie clung onto me when I came to pick her up. I’m trying not to get used to it, because she will no doubt hate me again soon. The second we were out of the building I covered her hands with anti-bacterial gel. That nursery is a Petri dish. The toilet still isn’t fixed. It’s a real dump of a place, I need to find somewhere else.

I bring Bonnie to the park. It’s either this or more TV at home.

I look over at the bench with the plaque on it. Ross was so upset today, I wish I’d sat with him for longer. If I’d have known what a disaster my appointment was going to be, I would have. I really enjoy seeing him. A homeless man is sitting on it eating half a sandwich that he found in the bin. He eats quickly, dropping crumbs on the floor that pigeons gather round his feet to eat. He smiles at the pigeons, like they are his friends, then breaks up the final bite of the bread and throws it down for them. By the look on his face, he got as much pleasure from that as he did the food in his belly. The homeless man realises I am looking at him and he smiles at me. I smile back, and even offer him a little wave. He does the same. Poor man, I wonder where he will sleep tonight. I think Ross would be happy to know that this man has found a moment’s peace on Verity’s bench.

Bonnie is in the shrubbery looking for the mouse. If she finds it, I will scream and we will leave.

The homeless man gets up and moves on. The bench is now empty, other than the pigeons that are walking across it, picking up the last few crumbs that he dropped. I walk over and shoo them away. They have pooed all over it. Ross won’t be very happy about that. Using the wet wipes that I picked up on the way here, I clean all of the bird mess off the bench.