Julia Proverbs: Time out from angels

As much as we love them, every now and then it's nice to have a break from our kids.

Without family close by, such breaks are few and far between for us so when a friend kindly offered to have both our girls for the night the answer was a resounding: "Yes please!"

I was a tad nervous - it was to be Miss Three's first sleepover, but any concerns were quickly outweighed by the smell of freedom.

It was intoxicating.

So on a sunny Saturday afternoon the girls packed their soft toys and pink-cat toothbrushes and we dropped them off.

First stop - a walk up the Mount. Ah, how liberating to be able to walk up at our own pace, unimpeded by tired little legs.

At the summit we sat and took in the view in silence.

It felt very indulgent.

Then an icecream on the beach, without any drips to catch or sticky fingers to wipe. (Although I did feel a hint of guilt as I glanced at the Goody Goody Gum Drops flavour.)

Later, back at home, we prepared to dine out, having dusted off a restaurant voucher that had spent the good part of a year languishing in a basket of junk on the side of the kitchen bench, and which was very close to expiring.

What luxury to be able to apply my mascara without fear of poking my eye out because of jostling juveniles.

And to get dressed in one hit without having to break up several fights in the process.

I left the house feeling relaxed and - dare I say it - a little bit sophisticated. After a bottle of wine, a lovely meal and even a spot of dancing, we returned to an empty nest.

It was eerily empty.

No golden locks on the pillows. No cheeks to kiss goodnight.

I started to look forward to seeing them in the morning (after a nice, long lie-in, that is).

However, when I arrived to collect the pair the next day Miss Three gave me nothing but a sideways glance and continued with her game, while Miss Five whinged: "I don't want to go home."

Having behaved impeccably for their host, they then started baiting each other until we left in a flurry of tantrums and tears.

The day continued in much the same vein, by the end of which the previous evening was a distant memory.

But a fond one.