Each year I make the girls a birthday dress and a Christmas dress.  Sometimes they are finished only just in time.

Sometimes they’re not finished in time at all. Whoops. Today is Clare’s 11th birthday! I have been a mum for eleven years now, which astounds me. We’re heading off to the theatre to see Grease – a big surprise for her and for Stella – and yesterday she got her ears pierced.

Suddenly it seems that she is getting all grown up. But not too fast please! I love you Miss Clare xxxx.

(By the way, Stella’s birthday dress is still waiting too. And her birthday was last June…)