Sudacrem and mashed potato

Friday, August 8 08

It was bedlam in the Bennet household. As fast as Mrs Bennet was trying to pack coats, shoes, sieves, vegetable peelers, knives and cereal bowls; between them, all five offspring Bennets were pulling out crayons, books, play food, beads, paper and pens. Miss Rosie Bennet had helped herself to a handful of Sudacrem and was now covered in thick white cream - which she soon discovered had no resemblance to toothpaste or yoghurt - and her younger sibling was having great fun pulling out as many wetwipes she could before her mother found out. In all Mrs Bennet was finding it virtually impossible to pack anything for their camping expedition - not that she was overally enthusiastic about it anyway. It was black outside, rain hammered against the conservatory roof and Mrs Bennet started singing a silly made-up song to try and muster up a shred of zest for the imminent trip.

"We're mad, we're mad, we're absolutely mad. No one's gonna argue, we're absolutely mad!"

The little Bennets, used to their mother's ridiculous outbursts, smiled and carried on what they were doing apart from Miss Megan Bennet. She saw it as her opportunity to get her mother's attention and interrupted Mrs Bennet in mid flow, with a "can you find the end of the Sellotape please!"

Mrs Bennet soon gave up the idea of packing. It would have to wait until Mr Bennet returned. So she put down her frustrations, and decided to play instead and soon became a climbing frame for the two delighted little twin Bennets.