It was Emily's name-day yesterday...

and we bought her a rucksack so that when we go to Tinos she can carry all her books, pads and pens, rubbers, pencil sharpeners, comics, Yu-Gi-Oh cards, marbles, gum, elastic bands (don't ask me why) and whatever else is essential for a trouble-free journey.

Phoebe, of course, highly miffed that there was no present for her, plonked herself down on the top stair and pretended to cry (which involved screwing up her face and making a "Waahhhh" noise - not the world's most convincing example of pretend-crying). Seeing that this tactic was having no effect on her hard-hearted parents, she got up, trudged downstairs full of feigned resignation, and announced that it didn't matter and that she would use a plastic carrier bag instead.

Can you say "Manipulation"? I knew you could!