Sunday 24th January

Just two more birthdays to crawl through before we could talk to the children. Felix was 12 on Thursday and Simon was a little bit older the following day. The Oscar winning performances of normality and birthday cheer are getting a little tired now and we are not in great shape by the time we sit the children down and tell them in the lightest, brightest and most casual of terms that Rose has to have a bit more treatment. Despite the up beat delivery and complete omission of facts and implications both children are shocked and frightened and Rose cries for hours. So we promise her a hamster.