Him indoors has gone away for a week with his brother to their parents' place in Spain.

I think he was expecting a week of serious grown-up brotherly bonding, that is, a week of discussing triviality in bars while seeing just how much of the local vino they could drink between them before staggering back to the apartment each night.

However, he discovered at the last minute that his parents are also going to be there, which means they are both going to have to behave.

I won't say I laughed when I found out but I did allow myself a little snigger.

This little jaunt of his does of course mean that daughter, the dog and I are on our own for a week.

On the plus side, this is good because we can watch Celebrity Fame Academy and other girlie rubbish on TV without him moaning about wanting BBC News 24 and other 'serious' programmes on instead.

It also means I have our huge double bed to myself and can read in bed for as long as I like each night.

He is one of those people who likes to sleep in an extremely darkened room. I quite happily sleep with the light on all night.

We have spent the last 20 years compromising on this issue.

By compromising, I mean I read in bed and he lies there waiting for the turning of the pages to slow down, while muttering 'you're asleep now, turn the light off'.

As anyone sensible knows, this just wakes you up again and means you have to read for a bit longer and so you have to turn the light back on.

There have been some arguments about this over the years and we have never managed to quite resolve this issue so I am enjoying this bit of him being away.

There is also the added advantage of no snoring to listen to. On the down side, I do miss him and I don't know what we are going to do if there are any spiders.

Daughter helped him pack before he left so I expect when he unpacked his bag he found all 24 of her notes which said 'Love you Dad, bring me back lots of pressies'.

I only put the one in, 'Love you darling, bring me back a large and expensive present because you are having a week's holiday in Spain and I am not and I want you to feel really, really guilty.'

Preparations for daughter's belated birthday disco are now well in hand.

The hall and DJ are booked.

She and the friend she is holding it with have spent hours on our computer, making designer invitations for everybody.

Daughter has been shopping and spent most of her birthday money on an expensive new top to wear.

She has also spent hours on the phone discussing the arrangements with her friends.

It's not happening till Saturday but I guess they like to feel everything's well and truly sorted.

Him indoors has yet to realise that one of his first jobs on return from his little holiday is to be the doorman at this 'do', and keep an eye out for uninvited guests.

I have bought him some black jeans and a T-shirt with tight sleeves so he will look the part.

He should already have the sunglasses.