If you're in the UK right now, you'll be aware that there's a 3 year old girl missing in Portugal having been apparently kidnapped from her holiday apartment whilst her parents were next door in a restaurant having dinner.

Watching her parents on TV pleeing for her safe return is almost unbearable .  I just can't imagine what they are going through.  Do you remember that a number of years ago, a young british boy was kidnapped in Greece?  At that time, I didn't have children and wasn't quite so affected, but now that I'm a mother myself, I feel sick to the pit of my stomach at what Madeleine and her family are going through. That little boy was never found!!

I really really hope Madeleine is returned safely to her parents soon.  She's 4 later this week, only just a little bit older than Rebecca.

I can tell you something, I was holding on to my girls' hands a lot tighter in town today.