Will remember to enjoy my last week of employment and not hate the other actors for getting sleep.

The children managed to stay in their own beds until 6:45 this morning. I got back from the theatre at 11. So I've probably had just about 7 hours sleep, which is all I ask for really. It's when they jump on me at quarter to 5 that I think I'll die. Especially when it registers I have over 14 hours to go before my show starts. I don't have a show tonight so I'll be in bed by 9 with a film and a tub of Ben and Jerry's. At least I'm home and I get to see them every morning. Even If I do act like the walking dead. Thank God for telly. Some actress suggested the other day I shouldn't let them watch TV in the morning. That's definitely the kind of high-minded principle I had before giving birth. Doesn't work out like that though. I also didn't imagine I would be buying them family packs of Peperami and Cheese Strings.

Madeleine (a good mate who helps with my kids) brought the boys to Soho yesterday in between my shows to have pizza and then come shout on the stage. I felt an uneasy pride when I saw them messing around on the set, taking a bow and looking pleased when myself and the other actors clapped at them. Must not encourage my children to take pleasure in the approval of others. Or indeed think Mummy's job is in anyway fun. Thankfully they seemed far more interested in the retractable dog lead from scene 3 in the boys' dressing room.

School run in the morning. I just can't seem to manage it. I'm convinced my children rise earlier than anybody elses and still I can't get my shit together. I'm the late-Mother with dirty hair and eye-bogies. Always in the same clothes, always forgotten something. I'm constantly embarrassed about my domestic ineptitude. My tiny flat is bursting with abandoned toys and I'm never able to keep it clean enough. I once served salad to a bunch of yummy mummies in an oven tray and I shove bundles of clothes in cupboards as fast as I can before everything tumbles out on me. Fortunately I've established some beautiful friendships with Mummies in the area who have big houses and let me sit in them with my kids. They don't have to come round mine and eat Peperami off a tray on my battered Argos sofa.

Last week Of Winterlong. And Sunday brings unemployment. I'm lucky. I've been working since mid November. My eldest told me tonight he's counting the sleeps until I finish. He also said the loo was dirty and that he would like me to wear more skirts.