THIS week, I have mostly been busy being a single parent. And let me tell you, it's not something I'd recommend doing for any length of time.

With an eleven-month-old son, I tend to come into the office mostly for a decent sleep anyway, but I'm particularly pleased to be back at work this week.

See, my wife has been away on a business trip for a couple of days, leaving me literally holding the baby (quick tip: never tell your spouse how much holiday you have left).

And I really had no idea how tiring it is when you're providing the sole care for a helpless creature 24 hours a day. It's like being Cherie Blair's PR officer, only a lot more rewarding.

See, it's all down to you. You can't start snoring extra loudly and hope someone else will answer those night-time tears, or mutter sleepily: "I went last time" and roll over.

Worse, knowing that it's just you, you're alert to every noise, and end up getting up every couple of hours to check just in case you've developed selective deafness.

As for the day, it revolves around eating and sleeping; just like any other day for me, except this time it's someone else's food and nap habits that dictate everything.

I mean, I was expecting an easy ride. Read a couple of good books, catch up on some DVDs I haven't got round to watching yet.

It's not like I haven't had some experience of "babysitting" my own youngster for the day - how hard could two be?

But of course, I wasn't expecting him to go down with one of those typical baby bugs that render him unwilling to nap during the day and reluctant to eat anything.

Still, exhausting as it was, I still had a great time. After all, at work I don't get to build towers out of wooden blocks - they simply won't shell out for the equipment, the cheapskates - time after time (the little one is into demolition more than construction).

I was also able to brush up on my carpet-crawling skills, and can steer a large plastic car with a degree of accuracy that eludes me when I'm behind the wheel of the real thing.

But factor in delivering and collecting my step-daughter from school, and providing her meals, and you'll understand why I was left wondering how single parents find any time for themselves at all. I can only assume they don't.

Those who care for children - particularly young ones - alone, I salute you. You are clearly made of sterner stuff than me. That, or you've evolved beyond a need for sleep.

Personally, I'm enormously glad to have Mrs C back safely to take on more than her fair share of the child-rearing again (well, she's just so much more organised than I am).

I'm also very glad to be back at my desk. Now if I just adjust this blanket, and if someone could move that mug of Horlicks a little nearer. Smashing. Good night...