Things you learn from grandchildren

I've had two young grandsons staying for a couple of days, and as usual, we've all learnt a few things. They now know the expression "instant gratification" (as in, it's much better to have your bath before we all sit and eat popcorn in front of a DVD,  rather than leave it until later). They also learnt the NATO alphabet (we are fans of this as it helps with spelling things out over the phone). Little boys love that kind of thing.

I learnt that it is much more absorbing wondering how a chicken would get on in space rather than putting on your shoes to go out. I was also informed that in every hundred grams of American peanut butter, there are on average thirty insect parts. Also, that if anyone pees in a swimming pool in the US, it turns the water dark blue. "Embarrassing if you did it, but a useful warning  if it was someone else" said my grandson helpfully. Well you can't argue with that. Oh, and talking of peeing in swimming pools (which we were) I also learned that  one in five adults admit to doing it. I thought you might like to know that. The choice is now up to you (I'm ok. I hate swimming pools).

Group learning: qu is an acceptable Scrabble word (useful) and countless esoteric-sounding made-up words are not (warning to anyone thinking of buying a Scrabble dictionary: don't. It takes up far too much time).