We have, we'd be the first to admit, been spoiled. Like United fans born into the post-93 boom years who never knew the drought of the 80's , we have never really known the pain of nights without sleep. We have never really known what it is to have your sleeping-patterns smashed to smithereens, and with them your equilibrium and sanity. Well we hadn't until a few nights ago anyway...

It started innocently enough. Pre-Christmas Olivia was felled by a bout of illness. Nothing serious, just a temperature and some unusually lethargic days. And some broken nights. During one of which, we calmed her by bringing her into our bed. It seemed a good idea at the time. It doesn't now.

Illness safely defeated, Olivia has decided that Mummy and Daddy's bed is a far more interesting place to be of an evening, and sometime between 12 and 2 she starts a vocal campaign of lobbying to be granted admittance. Not wanting to antagonise the neighbours - and loving our sleep too much - we have capitulated perhaps a tad too easily (in fact about as easily as Chelsea's midfield did yesterday) and thrown open the duvet. Now enough is enough.

A drastic situation requires a drastic remedy. Hence the jettisoning of Olivia's cot and its conversion into a bed. Initial response has not been too favourable and once again a third party was to be found squatting in our bed last night. Here's hoping for a less crowded bed tonight...