"I wish we'll have two children called Mark and Harriet. And I hope lots of interesting and unusual things will happen to them. It would be nice if they had a fairy godmother, for instance. And a phoenix or something out of the ordinary for a pet. We could have a special day for interesting and unusual things to happen - say, Mondays. But not always Mondays and not only Mondays or that would get a bit dull."
As a result of their mother's honeymoon wish Mark and Harriet Armitage have a fairy godmother, a pet unicorn, and are prepared for anything life throws at them (especially, but not always, on a Monday): hatching a griffin in the airing cupboard, Latin lessons with a ghost, furious Furies on the doorstep, and an enchanted garden locked inside a cereal packet. Life with the Armitages can be magical, funny, terrifying - but never, ever dull."