Olivia was home sick yesterday. She caught a cold by pouring cold water all over herself and then getting on the air-conditioned bus to come home after the school outing. I did tell her not to, but of course she took no notice. There are some days I feel like a ‘don’t-machine’ I just say don’t do this and don’t do that all the time. I even get bored with the sound of it myself so heaven knows how the children must feel.

Anyway, after a whole morning watching my movements she said: “Is this all you do all day? Just work and hang out the washing?”

I wish I could have said that no, I’m just being boring today because you’re here. Normally I crack open a bottle of champagne just after you leave for school, then my personal trainer (who also happend to double as Colin Firth in his spare time) comes over and we do some pilates, then a friend of mine picks me up in her helicopter and whisks me up to Paris where we land on the roof of Galeries Lafayette. We have a spot of lunch and then spend the afternoon shopping and having manicures. The helicopter whisks me back home in time for the 4.30 school run. So if I seem a little tired when I collect you, you can understand why. But sadly I had to admit that my days are really very mundane. Working and washing, washing and working and if I’m feeling really foot-loose a little ironing and emptying the dishwasher too. But only as a treat.

Just one more thing on Madeleine and then I will shut up. If it is possible to put micro-chips into pets then why not children? I know it’s drastic but at least then this wouldn’t happen again. They could have them removed when we stop fretting about them; so never.

Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2007