Sibling Rivalry

After the latest labour party leader conference which resulted in the two Miliband brothers battling it out, it really made me think about sibling rivalry.
It’s one thing arguing with one another in the safety of your home but when its broadcasted on television and plastered across newspapers, it’s a different matter.
For example, David Miliband has today decided not to be part of his younger brothers, Ed, cabinet, not only effecting his relationship with his brother but also could have a major impact on his political career.
Looking back over my childhood, I’m amazed at how much me and my older sister bickered, fought and screamed at each other, it fits the stereotype for sisters quite well though.
We had many incidents over the years but her slamming the gate in to my head ending, with me in A&E for 4 hours with a lump the size of an egg on the side of my skull, was around the extent of them.
Anything could get us started, whatever each one of us had, the other one always wanted, there is a video of when we were on holiday and we argued for hours about a stupid little receipt for something I don’t even know what it was actually for. I was only 2 and half at the time though so it was a big deal to me when my mum just threw away the trophy which we had fought/hit/cried over for an hour. Just want any parent wants walking around a big steam fair. In the summer. All afternoon.
Of course, not ever argument was over a stub of paper, there were the usual arguments as well about toys. Every year we would get the same things at Christmas so we couldn't argue. That didn’t really work out as planned because as soon as my sister’s present broke, she would replace whatever it was with mine. I have a feeling this may be part of the reason I was a tomboy from the ages of 4 until about 9.
She never wanted to steal my Thomas the Tank Trains, they bored her and she knew what would happen to her if she did. It wouldn't be pretty.
I remember one argument in the kitchen when I was about 8, I always had a bad temper, and she aggravated me about something so I hit her in the face with my plastic cup.
It may have been plastic but it was still good enough to give her a nice bruised cheek for the week.
I think we must have driven my mum made when we became teenagers, the screaming fights we had when i wanted to go to sleep but she continued to have her music blaring. The fighting over her taking my clothes and me taking back what was rightfully mine (she insisted she hated my fashion sense all these years but my clothes were always worth stealing, much to my disapproval).
I even had a lock put on my room to stop her but she always got what she wanted in the end.
At the age we are now, me being 17 and at college and her being 19 and living in the South of Wales, you would think we get along just fine, but you are very mistaken.
I recently moved in to her bedroom, the biggest bedroom in the house, which was mine but was an idiot and got conned out of it when she started high school.
I didn’t see the point in staying in my little room when she only comes back home for a week four times a year, even then she isn’t home most of the time.
She didn't appreciate my face book message telling her of this recent move either, which ended up with horrible text messages and silence from her for a few weeks.
Admittedly it wasn’t the nicest message in the world, ‘By the way, I’ve moved in to your room, see you soon’, but I couldn’t face calling her and being deafened in one ear.
She is coming back again in November for 2 weeks, during which I’m guessing we'll be friends for about 3 days before coming to loggerheads once again.
I’m not heartless; I do miss her being away for so long but I’m always thankful when she goes back.
We just love to argue, we are sisters after all, but I don't think it helps that we both have to win and won’t give up until we have.