London, Jan 25: Charles Lewis, 24, has a staggering 12 sisters and presently he lives at home with none of his dozen female siblings in Dorset.
His sisters range in age from eight to 28, but he has spent most of his waking hours waiting outside the locked bathroom door that he now has his own en suite, reports Daily Mail.
Father Peter, 52, is still at the mercy of his daughters. ‘I can wait half a day for a bathroom,' he says. ‘I often end up washing in the downstairs loo!'
Although Charles complains that as a teenager his sisters would steal his CDs and DVDs, now his patience has paid off - and he frequently gets his sisters to run around after him.
‘It was all a bit overwhelming as a teenager, but I kept my head down. They'd beg to let them use my bathroom, but I never did. Let one and they'd all want to.
‘I don't mind being the only boy. I even got some of the girls playing football.
‘They can be very sweet - bringing me a beer if I'm down. I'm probably a bit spoiled. That's why it's quite nice being home.
Mother Tracey, 48, adds: Charles gets away with the housework a bit. He manages to get the girls tidying up his room. They really look up to him. Although it must have been hard for him sometimes growing up, he doesn't do too badly.'
‘The girls love their brother. I've felt for Charles over the years, but he has the last word if football's on the telly and even gets his sisters ironing for him.'
Indeed, Charles, who works in customer service, says: ‘It'd be a nightmare if I didn't have my own bathroom, but I quite like it at home.
‘I get pampered - my sisters do my ironing and make me tea. Sometimes I have to take sanctuary in the garage with dad, but I miss the screams and giggles when I'm away.'
And Charles admits that his male instincts kick in when it comes to caring for his sisters.
‘I can be very protective,' he says. ‘I'd never let any of my mates date my sisters. And I always say if I think their outfits are too skimpy - though they rarely take any notice.'
Mother Tracey admits she has always been maternal, although she originally planned to have just four children. But after the birth of their first daughter, she and husband Peter just kept going.
Against all odds, only one of the 12 that followed was a boy.
When the children were young, the family needed two seven-seater people carriers to ferry the brood around. When they were infants, the family got through 360 nappies a week.
The family gets through three loaves of bread and 12 points of milk at breakfast time, three cartons of orange juice and 20 bananas per day, and 100 Weetabix a week.
With a constant stream of girls performing their ablutions, the family's water bill is £100 a month, and gas and electricity cost £200 - compared with a average family's bills of £30 for water and £80 for gas and electricity.
The family use 50 towels, 30 bottles of shampoo and conditioner, 15 shower gels, seven tubes of toothpaste, 50 loo rolls and 30 packets of cleansing wipes a week - coming to a total of £100.
Tracy admits she uses two large boxes of washing powder and two six-litre bottles of fabric conditioner a week.
Charles is not immune from these grooming rituals either - his mother says he gets through ‘a lot of shower gel' and even has his own straightening irons.
Tracey, who is employed part time as a cashier, has gone back to work after the birth of each child to help finance her large family, while husband Peter earns a living as a self-employe coach builder.
They have never relied on state benefits, instead carefully planning their spending to allow them to buy their six-bedroom home in Dorset.
There are two girls in each room, Charles in his own, and the youngest two sharing with their parents.
Tracy says: ‘One more lot of washing doesn't make much difference. And the girls are thrilled.'
Father Peter says he's a ‘constant taxi driver' and can never make a slice of toast without having to make an entire loaf.
‘The girls have me wrapped around their little fingers,' he admits.
‘But we're blessed - and the kids are best friends.'
As for bringing yet more girls into the household, Charles approaches that with a relaxed attitude.
While he says he would never go to his sisters to talk about girl troubles - saying they cannot keep a secret - he has no qualms bringing his own girlfriend home.
‘It was a bit of a shock for my girlfriend when I brought her home - but luckily she gets on well with all of them.
‘I wouldn't say she's like any of my sisters. What I've realised is that all women are different. You think you know them - but you never do. And you never really know what to expect!
