“Are you sure you’re not cheating”, I asked Richard as he started yet another game with a double six.

He smiled his current gap toothed smile, clearly holding a double blank in his hand secretively, making me wonder when he will loose his other front tooth or indeed a game.

Friday nights used to be a computer games, prawn crackers and obscure music but now that summer is here we have hardly been inside. Tonight it was a barbecue at Martin’s with my current favourite meal, baked, stuffed pineapple. The delights of the games on the CBBC site have given way to dominoes played to some local rules that only Richard understands.

Not that it matters. There’s lots I don’t understand at the moment. For now it’s nice to have something achievable and easy to do which isn’t demanding and has an end in sight.

I watch as Richard swirls the dominoes around on the table and then divides them up. Joanne wriggles on my lap as Richard puts down another double six….