A year ago the lives of Neil and Alison Twine were turned on their heads by the arrival of triplets. STELLA TAYLOR went to join in birthday and christening celebrations and find out how they are coping.

MUM Alison Twine believes she and husband Neil have done well to survive the demands posed by the arrival of three babies.

As she relaxed in the sunshine in the garden of their home in Clarendon Drive, Wootton Bassett and looked back over the past year, she wondered where the time had gone.

There had been stressful times as the they coped with the physical and emotional demands of George, Lauren and Harry, not forgetting the needs of their elder son Jack, who is six in August, but there had been good times as well.

"We have coped admirably over the past year, though we have had some tough times," said 33-year-old Mrs Twine.

"One day this week, I was up at 6.30am and didn't get to bed until 11.30pm. In all that time, I only sat down twice.

"To fill the freezer, I spend two days preparing food, and it's surprising how fast it disappears." The secret of the couple's success is teamwork. "There are times when the constant pressures can be stressful but for the teamwork I wouldn't be as sane as I am," said Mrs Twine.

"Neil and I have found an even closer, stronger relationship in caring together for our family. We actually make a point of making time for ourselves.

"I go and play badminton with friends once a week, and Neil has started playing cricket again, though not every week. We feel that getting time for ourselves is very important."

In addition to the physical and emotional demands, financial considerations have loomed large.

Mrs Twine, who goes shopping once a week, with her mum, said: "Our weekly bill has gone up from £80 to £130. We need a box of nappies every week, because the babies need about four each, per day."

Mr Twine, 37, works at an electrical wholesale company while Mrs Twine is on maternity leave until December from her part-time job at Zurich Financial Services.

She has not decided yet whether to return to work. "I'll have to balance the cost of child care against my earnings, " she said.

"The £545 baby element of the new Child Tax Credit is payable only once in any 12 month period, so families of triplets lose out by £1,090, compared with a family whose three children are born in different years.

"Yet all three of ours will need shoes at the same time, and when they start school, and Cubs and Brownies there will be triple the expense for trips and activities."

The triplets' individual personalities have developed along the lines which were indicated when they were very young, their parents said. Harry is the inquisitive one, adventurous and mischievous. "He's a cheeky little chap," said Mr Twine. "If something is going on, he's got to be part of it."

George is more reserved and laid back. He tends to weigh up things and people before he does anything. "He gets upset if something's taken away from him," said his mum.

Lauren is a pretty little girl, with darker hair than her blond brothers. "She gives the impression that butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but is very assertive and is probably the loudest of the three," said Mrs Twine.

"She can be a little madam at times, and this week we've moved her out of the room they share, to sleep in the playroom, because she's started waking up in the night, or early in the morning, and screaming until she wakes her brothers."

During the Gazette photographer's visit, Lauren reached a new milestone of development when she stood up unaided.

"It's the first time she's done that without having something to hold on to," said Mrs Twine delightedly.

The physical demands of caring for the children pose quite a strain, however well organised their parents aim to be.

Mrs Twine said its easier for her to walk with the children to take Jack to Wootton Bassett Infants School than piling them all into the family's people carrier. "But walking up the hill with a triple buggy is quite tough, and when I get to the High Street, cars tend to park over the pavement so at times I can't get through unless someone helps me lift the buggy past the car," she said.

Before Jack goes into class he kisses his younger brothers and sisters goodbye. "He is so loving towards them, and so good to them; he's has never shown the least sign of jealousy," said Mrs Twine.

"He's also remained cheerful and helpful, despite all the big changes in his life."

And she reflected: "In one sense, I wonder wherever the past year has gone but in other ways it seems a long time. We've certainly seen a lot of progress."