WHAT an idle mum I am. Dramatic weather change and a shoe size jump means that daughter needs new shoes for her return to school, but I leave it till the day before to head to shoe shop.

In my defence we were having too much fun in the holidays to bother with such mundanities, but of course this decision returns to bite me when shoe assistant offers nothing in daughter's size.

Return empty handed and make mental note to go shoe shopping on first day of holidays next time.

Children now back to school (daughter in gingham dress and winter boots) and I can turn my attention to the serious business of me'.

After two weeks I am itching to be able to pop to the allotment on my own, without a helpul' child treading on tender asparagus shoots.

Should really spend the first day alone removing the holiday debris that I have allowed to build up, but decide that we can live with sticky chocolate fingerprints on windows for one more day, and head off with my box of seeds.

Return several hours later with parsnips, lettuce and beetroot safely in the ground.

Take a trip into town to further feel the benefit of being without children for a day and revel in the chance to visit shops that don't just have a pick and mix department.

Visit every shop in search of jeans but can find nothing to fit, so end up, much to bemusement of shop assistant, trying on jeans from the 13-year-old section.

Stretchy denim does the job nicely, but although chuffed that I do not have to pay VAT I am slightly annoyed that jeans will need to be taken up.

It appears that 13-year-olds are taller than me.