Hilda The Line Dancing Hen meets 'The Mysterious Mr7'

Mr7 is rather chuffed with himself today. His illustration for page seven of the Variety Children's story 'Hilda The Line Dancing Hen' was unleashed upon the world, and the notion that his work was now on public display made him stand a little taller. He asked me if he was famous now. Sort of, I replied. Well, as famous as someone named 'The Mysterious Mr7' gets. He insisted on that credit, by the way. He thinks it brings him closer to Sherlock Holmes.

It has to be said that getting the actual drawing done was not without its, er, drag-em-down-and-knock-em-out fighting moments. He was keen when I asked him, particularly when I told him it was for a charity that helped kids. But then the actual time came to draw, with me over one shoulder saying 'I really need this for tomorrow', and suddenly it wasn't so much fun anymore.

I was stressed, knowing that the Variety Children's Charity was relying on me and I was relying on him. Not an easy relationship dynamic. But he got there, in the end. As my Dad would say, 'Just like his mother'.

You can view the story, with illustration contributions from Edenland, Random Ramblings of a Stay at Home Mum, and My Pigeon Pair, among others, at the Variety Australia Facebook page. She's quite the girl, our Hilda.

Do your kids leave things to the last minute, or get in and do it straight away?