How not to catch a flight

As I said in my post about the honeymoon, on our last day we packed up and waited for our pre-paid taxi to the airport.

And waited. And waited.

Eventually I rang the number of the company we had booked with, only to get a recorded message saying "use the website to contact us". I found another number in the small print, rang them and discovered they were sending a taxi to pick us up at the time the flight took off. Once I explained this to them, they sent another taxi. This one didn't turn up either. It turned out it had broken down on the steep hill between Sant Elm and Andratx. So in the 30 degree heat I sprinted to order another taxi from the hotel, then ran back up the hill. This taxi arrived 15 minutes later and we boarded, using a cushion from my Mum's apartment as a booster seat for Lucy. By now we were over an hour late.

But we had no Euros to pay this new taxi. The driver spoke no English at all. On route, I phoned the original taxi company who said they would send a driver to the airport to pay for this new taxi and who would hold up a sign to identify himself. I also rang a Spanish speaking friend of my Mum's in case this fell through. Meanwhile in the back seat Hayley was feeling sick having had a temperature of 101F all day and was consequently holding a nappy bag open in her hand. It didn't help that Lucy was out of her seat and lying on her chest, Hayley trying to keep her under her seat belt.

Arriving at the airport there was no-one to be seen with a sign. By this point we had about 10 minutes to find our check-in desk (of which there are over 100) and check in. Phoning my Spanish speaking friend I asked her to tell our driver that I would pay 60 pounds sterling which was worth much more than the 56 Euro fair. Unfortunately she told him it was worth less! By the time I realised what was going on and grappled the phone back off the driver, the driver from the first company thankfully appeared and saved us by paying up.

We sprinted off to our check in desk getting there with all of 5 minutes to spare. After that it was all plain sailing really. OK, so we had packets of crisps for our dinner with dessert of about a zillion snacks on the plane, but at least we made it home, where (despite loving Mallorca) Oliver and Lucy were clearly pleased to be back amongst their familiar toys again. And we collapsed into our familiar old bed.

Helping

The usual bedtime routine involves Lucy comingg into Oliver's room (sometimes carried by Mummy, sometimes under her own steam and/or alone) saying "night night" to Oliver and I as she gives us kisses before heading off to her room for her bottle of bedtime milk with Mummy.

This evening however, Oliver asked whether he could help give Lucy her milk. It's a measure of how much Lucy loves her brother that she agreed to this new arrangement, albeit temporary.

BBC NEWS | Africa | SA pigeon 'faster than broadband'

BBC NEWS | Africa | SA pigeon 'faster than broadband'

I sincerely hope that in the not too distant future this story looks as unbelievable and dated as it does funny today.

Oliver's 4th Birthday

Today Oliver is four years old. Although last year he understood his birthday, this year he has anticipated it more, making it more exciting for all of us. (In fact Lucy had been singing Happy Birthday to him even before the big day arrived.)

He got up and we all sat in bed singing Happy Birthday to him before watching TV for a while as we came round. Then we all went downstairs to see him open his presents from us. He has consistently asked for one present in particular which thankfully Hayley managed to get hold of after some searching: a stretchy Scoobie Doo (pictured above). He loved it.

I stayed home as late as I could before going to work, returning in time for his party at Anchors Away at 4pm. It struck me how odd it might seem to him that 20+ of his friends, who he normally only sees at most 3 or 4 at a time, all turn up at the same time and place. But he didn't seem phased.

As well as playing happily on all the equipment the establishment had to offer, they all enjoyed a sit-down party dinner complete with ice-cream dessert. This was followed by singing Happy Birthday to Oliver and presenting him with his cake. I just caught on film him blowing out the candles.



Then it was time for pass the parcel before more play.

By the time he went to bed he was out like a light. But on the way home he told Hayley, quite unprompted, "I had a great party Mummy. Thank you."

There are more photos from the day here.

The Honeymoon

A few days after the wedding, when our American guests had flown back over the pond, we jetted off to spend a little over a week on the beautiful Spanish island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean Sea. We stayed in the little town (perhaps even a village) of Sant Elm on its west coast, where my Mum has an apartment which she kindly loaned to us for the week.

Oliver and Lucy enjoyed the flight (unlike the 2-year old in front of them who screamed and fought against being strapped in until we were well and truly airborne).
Hayley and I particularly enjoyed it as Hayley ordered us a bottle of Champagne to celebrate the start of our honeymoon.







By the time we had landed, got a 40 minute taxi-ride to the apartment and unpacked (not to mention moving all the breakables onto higher shelves), we were definitely ready to eat. So we headed to Tigy's, a great little pizzeria overlooking the beach.





The next morning it was time to head into the sea. We went to the smaller of the two beaches (separated by only 50 yards where a hotel fronts onto the sea) which is shallow for a long way out: perfect for the kids. They loved it. Oliver attempted to befriend every other family bathing there, but as most of them were German, only the adults understood him. Bless him, he didn't really understand why the kids didn't talk to him. Not that it worried him much. We had a wail of a time.







Sant ELm is a fairly quiet little town so there's not that much to do and at lunchtime it was pretty hot, even on the beach. So most days we tended to go back to the apartment for some lunch and hang out there for a while til it got cooler. My Mum had kindly left the Sky box so Oliver had his kids TV. But he was also quite happy playing. Without almost all his usual toys he made characters out of snorkel tubes and other bits and bobs lying around. Lucy would have a nap or play too. Then in late afternoon we'd head off for another cooling swim.

A couple of days we went over to Port Andratx. On one occasion we took the 4pm boat, which gavce us chance to admire the fabulous villas of the jet set and Hollywood stars, their houses hanging off the tops of the cliffs, looking out to sea.



One day we took out a pedalo. Lucy had wanted to look more closely at the boats ever since arriving, often pointing at the biggest mtor yachts in the bay and saying "I want go that one". Once out beyond the cordoned off swimming area, we all got into the water where we could see we were surrounded by fish. Despite being way out of their depth, the kids loved it. Even Lucy bobbed about unaided at times (though one of us was always right beside her in case her arm bands didn't give her all he assurance she needed).



Later in the holiday we discovered a swimming pool that we could use. The sea is great, but after a while sand gets everywhere and the water there is very salty, so a freshwater pool made a nice change, especially with a bar serving food and drinks right next to it.



This was also the site of some evening entertainment for the kids. A young woman would set up a CD player and speaker and do sings and dances with the kids for half an hour.



The heat and disrupted bed-times did mean that the kids didn't sleep the best. Lucy seemed happy to forego sleep, going to bed hours later than usual then rising as bright as a bird at her usual 6am! But this lack of a sure routine meant that even though we had a frined who would babysit, we never got to go out as a couple for an evening. But we can't really complain, as once the kids were on bed we sat on the balcony having a nice cold drink, watching the boats in the bay as the light in the sky slowly dimmed.



By the time the holiday was coming to an end, we figured we had pretty much sussed how to get the best out of the facilities available to us. But all good things must come to an end. So we packed up and waited for our pre-paid taxi to the airport.... but that's worth a post in its own right.

(There are more pictures from our honeymoon here.)

Blue John Cavern

In the little intermezzo between our wedding and our honeymoon, we took our friend Danni to the Blue John Cavern. I must have started close to a hundred mountain bike rides from this spot, but have never before been down into the cavern.

The cavern is actually both a natural feature and a working mine of the unique Blue John stone found there which is crafted into jewelery and sold in the nearby settlement of Castleton.

It was a trip notable for the fact we had to descend around 300 feet down steps carved into the stone through some twisting and narrow passageways. Oliver walked down but I had to carry Lucy as the steps were large and slippery. The deeper we got the more I feared having to carry them both back up in two trips. In fact I needn't have worried. Lucy walked up some of it and Oliver walked up the whole 300 feet without complaint, an impressive feat.

The Wedding

It would be impossible to even start to attempt to cover our wedding day in a single post, so I'm afraid you are going to be hearing about it for some time. But here's a summary.

What a fantastic day!

Thanks to everyone who came along and made our wedding day a truly wonderful event and a fantastic party.

And thanks to all those who sent their good wishes by whatever medium.

Until I get time to reflect on it all, here's a rough timeline of some of the highlights of the day.

6.30am. Lucy wakes me with her customary shouts of "Dadddddyyyyy. I want get up!"

8.00am. The weather, which has been forecast as cloud for the last few days is now looking like we may get a little sun too. My delight is tinged with guilt, as I think of all those people getting married in Wales today where it will rain.

8.30am. As I take Oliver's waistcoat out of its bag to check it, a button drops off. The button is broken. I hasten to town where the outfitters supply a spare button. Then to Somerfield for a sewing kit. Marcy and then Zoe (Hayley's hairdresser) stitch on the new button and tighten up the loose stitching on the others.

10.00am. I am kicked out of the house by Hayley as she is about to start having her hair and make-up done. I am now in such a rush I nearly leave without Oliver!

10.30am. Down at Manny and Sara's house to change, I realise I forgot my shoes and Oliver's shoes. Best Man Dave is re-directed on route to pick them up.

11.00am. I get myself and Oliver dressed, Oliver also being helped by Dave. Oliver looks absolutely stunning in his wedding clothes. Dashing and adorable. I fear Hayley might cry when she sees him.

11.35am. The groom, best man and best boy set of for the hotel. Despite the fact we've all been there before and Dave lived near the hotel, we soon realise that none of us know the right route. We head in the generally right direction and sure enough we get there in good time.

12.20pm. Checked into our room, where the double bed is flanked by a travel cot for Lucy and a mattress on the floor for Oliver. It may be our wedding night but appropriately, as it has been for 99.9% of our life together, the kids are there alongside us.

12.30pm. Our photographer arrives and we take some shots of me, Dave and Oliver. Dave and I enjoy a swift whisky (a 12 year old Glenfiddich, the best on offer in the little Gold Suite bar). More photos and more people arriving.

13.10 At a loose end, so a last swift one before the bride arrives.

13.15. No sign of the bride. I discover that one of the flower girls has not arrived. Hayley, it later transpires, drove past and saw no-one was in the main room, so drove round again, eventually sending someone in to make everyone take their places.

13.25. Hayley has arrived and been photographed and is about to enter when the final flower girl, Cara, arrives.

13.35. Still no Hayley but I can see she has arrived as part of the wedding car is visible from my position at the front. I feel, as I have all day, perfectly calm and happy. Not at all nervous. People have told me how they cried and choked and were nervous but I am confident I will keep it together.

13.36. I take my place as the curtain is pulled back to reveal Hayley looking stunning, Oliver holding her hand and the flower girls in front of them, Lucy at the front looking small and slightly vulnerable with the cutest curls you ever saw. Suddenly a massive tidal wave of love for my family nearly overwhelms me and I have to look to the front for a few seconds as my calm nearly desserts me and I think I might cry!

13.36. Recovered from my momentary wobble, as the pianist starts to play Bach's Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, I turn round to see Lucy start to walk in on cue, taking a few beautiful smiling steps with Cara, before turning round and running back to Mummy. So the other flower girls lead in, followed by Hayley who now has Oliver on one hand and Lucy on the other.

13.37 Hayley stands beside me for the short ceremony. Lucy spends some of the time in Hayley's arms, some in mine. Oliver delivers the rings on request without hesitation, giving his Mummy a lovely unprompted hug after giving her ring to her. Becky reads "Yes I'll Marry You" by Pam Ayres and Scott reads "I rely on you" by Hovis Presley. On reaching the 'I do' part, Hayley makes it "I certainly do!" with a big smile. We exit to Mendelssohn's wedding march and a glass of champagne which we drink with arms entwined. And the formalities are over.

2.00pm. There are lots of pictures with the photographer outside where the sun is shining: possibly the most beautiful day of the summer! Then it's free time as they set up for the meal. We mingle and chat outside, playing with the kids who have lots of fun in the gardens and down by the bridge over the little River Dean where two escaped horses are grazing: the highlight of the day for the kids without a doubt. I initiate a game of pooh sticks with Oliver and the flower girls. The first I've played with him.

3.30pm. We are announced into the dining room for the wedding breakfast. The atmosphere is good and the seating plan seems to be working. Oliver is tired and a bit grouchy but manages to recover his cheeriness by the end of the meal.

5.20pm. Speeches. Nigel makes a well-rehearsed (if a little long-winded!) and eloquent speech which touches upon the absence of Hayley's Dad. He also makes several jokes based on entirely fictional scenarios involving me and Hayley. But apparently everyone could tell they were untrue from the looks on our faces! I reply with a short speech thanking the flower girls and best man and of course Hayley. I also give my Mum flowers for her help and her birthday the next day. I take the opportunity to tease Hayley in the speech with extracts from her Match.com profile. Dave then gives a perfect Best Man's speech. It is by turns respectful, generous, funny, witty and occasionally suitably risque. He is aided by having placed pictures of me aged three upwards at every table. Finally a few of Hayley's friends shout for her to speak, so she does. Un-rehearsed, she says how grateful she is to everyone for coming and how touched she is to see so many people from her past. Finally, as she start to choke up a little herself, she says that her dreams have come true. It is the most honest and perhaps for that reason the best speech of the day and several of Hayley's friends are in tears by this point.

6.30pm. The band arrive and start to set up while we mill around and relax outside in the evening sunshine.

7.45pm Hayley puts a tired Lucy to bed.

8.40pm. First dance. "This Way" by Jewel.

8.45. The band kick off with Soul Man. They sound fantastic and the dance-floor quickly fills.

9.45pm. Food. Not entirely as ordered and difficult for the veggies to identify but most seem to find something to tuck into. Hayley is caught on camera eating a chicken leg as she boogies away.

10.25. Band back on.

10.30. I go to put Oliver to bed. Lucy is woken in the process and won't settle. I miss the whole of the second set as a result and return to the reception with Lucy still not settled but with the babysitter trying to settle her! It is the only low point of the day. Thankfully, just as Hayley and I are about to desert our reception to sort it out, our babysitter appears on her way home, saying my Mum is with Lucy and she's better. Sadly by this point I have missed the chance to chat to several people before they leave. I guess it's always the way at weddings (not helped by this little interruption).

11.30pm. Much dancing and drinking and chatting and eating. Several people are leaving or have left to put kids to bed, but the party is still in full swing.

1.00am. The final song is New York, New York and everyone pushes me and Hayley to the middle and dances round us. It's a great finale to a wonderful evening that has flown by all too fast.

Several of us stay up chatting and finally head off to our rooms around 2am.

I'll be posting photos and reflecting more on this in the coming days and weeks. The journey has only just begun.

The evening of the day

Tomorrow Hayley and I get married. Man that's come round fast.

This evening our 2 days of arrivals from the US and UK culminated in a pre-wedding dinner for 25, a kind of Rehearsal Dinner without any rehearsal. (Actually we did a rehearsal on Monday and I might post video of that after the event.)

We had the meal at the Heatons Tandoori as it gave our guests a taste of what we enjoy. Even the kids joined in. Oliver and Lucy both had Chicken Tikka, with some rice and garlic naan (or "Indian garlic bread" as Oliver described it to me).

It's been great to finally meet some of the people Hayley has so often talked about. Dani arrived yesterday and her daughter Stephanie arrived today. The Rubinsteins arrived a couple of days ago but went straight to the Lakes so I only got to meet them today. It's been great having them all here and I hope they are enjoying their trips.

The kids have absolutely loved all the new faces. Oliver in particular has been areal chatterbox. This evening, he spent the first half hour of the meal sitting at the very end of the table engaging Jay and Stephanie in conversation with not a care in the world that his parents and sister were half way down the 22 strong table.

Lucy went out shopping today for about 4 hours with Margaret, Kris and Andy. By all accounts she had a great time.

It's been hectic but fun for the last 2 days. I just hope tomorrow doesn't fly by as quickly as I think it might. Oh and hopefully I'll remember the rings.



(There are more pictures from this evening's dinner here.)

BBC NEWS | Health | Charity seeks end to lunchbox ham

BBC NEWS | Health | Charity seeks end to lunchbox ham

I've blogged a similar article before. We're going to take more heed this time.

The thing is, our family is abit funny with food. I used to be veggie, now eating fish for health reasons and to be honest a bit of practicality too. (As one friend put it, "you use to be a veggie, now you're just a fussy eater".) Hayley eats almost no red meat, doesn't like "fishy" fish and though she eats chicken won't eat it cold.

And our kids will eat meat of all kinds til the cows come home.

Looks like we are all going to have to try to eat more Quorn ham and chicken and the other three can eat more real chicken and turkey.

Lucy's 2nd Birthday

Today Lucy is 2 years old. To celebrate we arranged a fab picnic party in the park. Of course, thanks to our wet summer we ended up having the picnic on blankets in our living room, but hey, that was great fun too!

But before all that we started the day by coming downstairs to find the living room decorated with balloons which Lucy immediately spotted. Oliver then made a bee-line for the small pile of presents that I had intended to leave until Hayley got up (as Saturday is her lie-in and having got up to wish Lucy a happy birthday she had gone back to bed after an hour or so). Oliver then offered one of the presents to Lucy so I let her open it. It was a rather cute matching necklace and handbag which Lucy immediately put on for our Tesco trip.



After breakfast we came home and helped get ready before the party kicked off at 11am. There were 16 kids, some Lucy's age and some Oliver's age, but Lucy thinks she's four anyway so that doesn't phase her. When food was served it was in their picnic boxes. Lucy settled her Mama dolly down on the blanket.



She then presided over proceedings as well as getting some food herself.





The picnic boxes consisted of some sandwiches, raisins, crisps and a fruit shoot.... amazingly some sandwiches got eaten, albeit with a little persuasion from the parental overseers.

Then there was some games of pass the parcel. Two in fact: one for the two year olds and one of the 3 and 4 year olds. Stopping the music to make sure everyone gets a go is not easy with two games on the go.



There was pin the tail on the donkey and a rather splendid round of musical bumps reversed, where the kids sit down to dance and then have to stand up when the music stops. The last to stand up is "out" and gets a sweet. Everyone's a winner!

Lucy was a doll all afternoon. Here she is presenting Nanny with some chocolate.



Finally Lucy was presented with her cake.



To our surprise, one guest, Amber (a little girl Oliver's age who Lucy loves) turned up with her Mum half an hour after the end of the party. It turns out that Hayley had been in "wedding mode" when writing her invitation and had accidentally put the start time as 1.30pm like the wedding! However, all was not lost, as we had more fun with the few remaining friends and kids, including indulging in some ice-creams, ever popular with Lucy.



And anyway by this point the sun was out, so we eventually headed off to the park where Lucy had a great time with Amber.



We had a great day and more importantly the little lady loved it too. She got lots of nice presents, favourite amongst which was undoubtedly the ceramic tea-set in a wicker picnic basket.

And with no nap all day, she was out for the count after her bedtime milk. Probably dreaming of a picnic with her tea-set.

There are more pictures from the day here.

BBC NEWS | UK | Education | Science questions baffle parents

BBC NEWS | UK | Education | Science questions baffle parents

Surely the answer to the first one is Ask your mother.

Just kidding.

In fact Oliver somehow managed to get one of his string of "But why?" questions round to how babies are made. Taken by surprise, I said something about Daddy putting a seed in Mummy. Understandably he moved on without further questions.

Must do better.

BBC NEWS | Health | Flu drugs 'unhelpful' in children

BBC NEWS | Health | Flu drugs 'unhelpful' in children

As Lucy coughs her way through the night, the prospect of flu remains unwelcome. So this sort of news is not what any parent wants to read.

Lashings of hot buttered everything

Lucy has developed a near obsessive fascination with the art of buttering toast. And buttering bread. In fact if it can be buttered, she is probably prepared to do it. Things have got so bad that we have bought two lots of butter/margarine/spread/whatever-21st-century-term-you-prefer in order that the cheaper one is what Lucy uses when she has reached the point where she is spreading for the art of it rather than in much expectation of eating it.

Of course, when you combine her faultless generosity with this new habit, you have problematic consequences. The other day as Hayley and I sat eating dinner, Lucy sat in her high-chair and applied several tonnes of butter to a piece of baguette I had given her. Much to Hayley's amusement she offered it to me and I was obliged to eat it, secretly removing butter by the spoonful when she wasn't looking. Then Lucy set about the other piece. "Is that for you Lucy" I asked nervously. Still intent on her task and without looking up from her bread and butter she said with a tone that could have been Marlon Brando in The Godfather "Mummy's havin' it". Hayley's face was a picture and both of us could barely contain our laughter. Hayley went on a diet late last year to lose weight for the wedding (something regular readers will have noticed she has done pretty darn successfully). And she wasn't about to abandon her regime just before the big day. Nonetheless she too dutifully ate some before distracting Lucy's attention and avoiding any further consumption.

This evening while Hayley was out, I fed the kids dinner which concluded with a chocolate dessert each. In a moment of incredible naivety I left the room for all of 2 minutes. When I returned I fund that Oliver had decided to decorate his face with chocolate.



With this result.



Lucy obviously found this hilarious and joined in.



With this result.



I had to laugh, before managing to recover a more responsible demeanor and asking them not to do it any more (then going back into the kitchen to secretly laugh some more). Oliver obliged but unsurprisingly it was far too much fun for Lucy to listen to Daddy an I eventually confiscated her new face-pack.

Talking of finding it hard not to laugh, the other day Lucy surprised me by eating an apple and not spitting it out. After a few minutes however she walked over to where I was sitting on the floor and spat out, with loud raspberry noises, all the apple she had been accumulating in her cheeks for the last few minutes. As I implored her to stop and tried to catch the falling mush, she then turned on her heels and ran away laughing into the next room. All Hayley and I could do was double up laughing at her whilst trying not to let her hear. Sometimes it's hard to be a serious parent.

Time flies...

If time flies when you are having fun then I am Funtime Franky from Chucklesville, Laughter County. Or more likely I am realising there is WAY too much to do before the wedding. Consequently posting to this blog is an activity that hasn't been getting much of a look-in, which is a shame as there's so much going on.

Skyride Manchester

Yesterday we joined 15000 other cyclists at Skyride Manchester, riding a traffic-free loop linking Manchester city centre with the velodrome. For one day only the city centre's roads were cleared of all motorised traffic. We took the kids on the bike seats and all had a great time. There are photos from our day here. Oliver's highlight was meeting Spongebob Square pants (even though he never watches the TV show). Lucy just seemed to enjoy the whole day. Another highlight was riding inside the velodrome. But nothing beat seeing the kids smiling and dancing in their seats to the sound of a PA system being towed by a guy on a bike just behind us.

Starting off


Inspired perhaps by the Skyride, Oliver has tonight mastered setting off on his bike from a standing start.

And his speed is picking up a bit too.I took him for a ride in the park tonight and got a good jog out of it myself.

Wedding plans

With less than three weeks to the big day things are getting a bit hectic now.

Hayley has her ring. I should have mine about a week before the wedding.

We have drafted a table plan. Thanks to a combination of us pushing the numbers up and then having even more people want to come than we had anticipated, the seating will now be long tables rather than round, which is a shame but can't be helped. It did make the seating plan much harder! In fact it is still not set in stone. And sadly I am sure someone or other will be disappointed not to be exactly where they had hoped, but it's a very hard balancing act and I think we;ve done the best we can.

We have a band. It took a lot of searching (including some soul searching) but I think we made a good choice. Fingers crossed!

Hayley has her final dress fitting tomorrow. I remain completely in the dark. Part of me wonders if I'll recognise her, but then I'm thinking the wedding dress is going to be a bit of a giveaway.

Holiday plans

We've managed to make arrangements to get away for a few days at some point after the wedding. The kids will be with us so it will be a kind of honeymoon come family break. We are all looking forward to it. I can't say where we are going, but Lucy's passport has arrived.

I wish I had more time. Both kids deserve a post each right now as they are so full of character and such great fun. With all the time-accelerating fun I am having, I just need to find a way to add a few more hours to each day...

Initiation complete

Oliver shows off his injuries.

Yesterday Oliver went through a rite of passage for all off-road cyclists. He had his first big crash.

He hasn't encountered many downhills on his pedal bike before, but on yesterday's otherwise pancake-flat excursion along the Middlewood Way, he rode down a slope from a disused railway platform and lost control.

It wasn't really that big a slope, but I think he picked up speed more than he expected and could see people potentially in his stopping zone at the bottom. Either way, he was too frozen in fear to remember to to pull on his brakes (which he didn't have on his balance bike) and instead went into a series of ever more violent swerves as his front-wheel went left and right. Eventually he went right over the handlebars, landing on his knee, elbow and face! Although he had a helmet on, it isn't a full-face affair and he smacked his nose in the gravel.

After the initial understandable shock and tears, he got straight back on his bike and rode on. I couldn't have been more proud of my brave little boy.

He had another much smaller tumble later but rode all the way to the end, with the exception of the same railway platform on the way back where he chose to walk down the far end of the platform rather than risk another incident (as once again some of our party where waiting in his stopping zone). Probably a good call.

While Oliver rode I was on foot with a friend whose son and daughter were also cycling along with Oliver. For us it was a brisk walk to keep up with the occasional short sprint to avoid possible collisions or tumbles. That section of the Middlewood Way is good for new riders but not ideal, as much of its length has a water-filled ditch just to the side, so there was occasionally the possibility of a watery crash come splash.

Nonetheless it was a pretty nice way to spend a summer's afternoon. We even stopped at our turning-back point (Middlewood railway station) and enjoyed an apple each, after which the kids chased each other with pieces of long grass, trying to tickle each other.

After we had finished the ride, Oliver and I went to a little park and playground nearby where he enjoyed the climbing apparatus, slide and swings (where he befriended a six year old girl).



After that we headed home. Once in bed, the little man fell asleep pretty quickly after his exertions, leaving me to go downstairs and watch the heroics of the riders in the Tour de France on the infamous Mont Ventoux stage. But despite the efforts of Contador, Armstrong and Schleck, there was only one rider this weekend to whom I gave a hearty "Chapeau!". Oliver, you are officially a fully initiated off-road cyclist.