Bike Ride

We have been waiting for a couple of weeks now for the weather to be good enough to do a car boot sale. Having looked at the forecast for yesterday on Saturday, we decided again not to do the car boot sale as we were expecting showers and really did not want to have to pack up early having hardly sold a thing and having paid money for the pitch. However, the weather yesterday actually turned out to be fine. Not sunny and warm, but not raining either, so we decided to take our bikes out to Bolderwood in the New Forest. It was fantastic. I never thought I was fit enough to go on a cycle ride and so took myself by surprise when I was still cycling after 2 hours (we got a bit lost!). Big J had his tag-along bike attached to Larry's bike because although he can ride a bike by himself, he would almost certainly have got tired after a long cycle ride and so it makes sure he keeps up with us. As for Little Z, she was amazing. Considering a few weeks ago, she was scared of going too fast and kept stopping every few yards, I was astonished to see her cycling past us all at a good speed and cycling for a good distance before stopping. She has really increased in confidence and thoroughly enjoyed the bike ride.

By the time we got back to the van we were all exhausted. Having got a bit lost, we had cycled quite a bit further than we had planned to and although we had enjoyed ourselves, we were glad to see the car park.

I am really looking forward to going out for another family bike ride. Next time though I will take some padding for my seat as I am not sitting very comfortably today to say the least!

Big J learnt to ride his bike today.

He had a bit of a strop a couple of days ago when we took the stabilizers off his bike and insisted that we put them back on. Today when I suggested taking little Z & Big J out on their bikes he said he wanted his stabilizers back on or else he would not go on his bike. He was quite adamant that he would not go on his bike if it did not have stabilizers on and only wanted his scooter. I didn't pay any attention. I took their bikes and cycle helmets and we all went to the sports centre. Within about 20 minutes Big J was riding around by himself. He was still struggling to start himself off and needed a bit of a push to get himself going, but with a bit of perseverence he learnt to start himself off. I asked if he would like his stabilizers back on now. "No Thank you!" he replied.

Of course the other advantage of Big J learning to ride by himself is that Little Z was all the more motivated. She can already ride her bike but is out of practice and struggles to get herself balanced to start off. She was determined to be better than Big J and by the end of the afternoon she was much more confident.

I'm really proud of them both.

My Bruver Got a Bike an I Dint

I have much better things to do than this, but Seany started "the bike thing" again so I have to have my say!

For further clarification on what the bike thing is all about, you might want to read point ten of 30 Things about Seany.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, unless it's a bike and then it will come in a box with a big shiny bow on it.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Real trees are too wide and would get knocked over by the bike as it goes past.

3. When do you put up the tree? As early as I can get away with it. I like hearing people complain to me that it's too early.

4. When do you take the tree down? One of my kids usually knocks it down with their new bike as they ride around (if one gets one, they both get one!!). Failing that, I take it down before I go back to work in January.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but I don't really agree with stealing eggs out of nog's nests.

6. Favourite gift received as a child? I don't remember. Did I get a bike? No, I don't think so. My brother did though.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes, and every year a bit more of it gets broken. The shepherd now has a shorter crook (ooh!).

8. Hardest person to buy for? Secret Santa presents when you don't know who you are buying for.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Seany. I can just buy him a bike every year as he keeps losing or breaking them. (Never taught the value of money!)

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Decorative teapot. What is the point of that?
"I have bought you a teapot",
"Oh Thank you!",
"But don't use it, will you?",
"Why not?",
"It's for decoration only",
"Right, so you have bought me a teapot, but I can't use it as a teapot.",
"That's right."
"What the F*&K am I supposed to do with it then?!"

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. We get 50 free stamps because Larry is a postie.

12. Favourite Christmas movie? Love Actually

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? July. Yeah, so what! Shut up!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, every year. The kids have so many things that they don't realise I keep taking their toys and wrapping them up for them again the next year. At least they get something they really want!

15. Favorite thing to eat/drink at Christmas? Clotted cream, Brandy Butter, Port, guinness (wow, now I see why I am having to diet!)

16. Clear lights or coloured on the tree? coloured and flashing

17. Favourite Christmas song? I want to ride my bicycle

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Christmas day in Bethlehem was great, but I love being home with the family for Christmas.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yes. Frank, Pat, Ricky, Bianca...erm... I can't remember the others.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A Fairy.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Open them Christmas day. Shake, prod, sniff & squish them as soon as they arrive!

Anyone else want to have a go? Let me know so I can have a read.

Oh, and don't worry, I bought myself a bike!

I want to ride my bicycle....

At last, we have ditched Little Z's stabilisers for her bike (we will keep them of course as they were a present from Uncle Seanie!).

Last weekend we took Little Z out to Wilverley in the New Forest to ride her bike. She was so good at riding with stabilisers and had at last plucked up the courage to ride much faster than she used to, that we thought she was ready to ride without stabilisers. We took one of them off, but found that she was relying on that one to keep her upright while she started off with both feet on the pedals. The only way to get her riding properly was to take them both off.

We had tears and tantrums and kicking the bike (and that was just Larry! It's not easy teaching a stroppy seven year old to ride her bike!), but finally, lots of shouting, screaming and stropping later she was riding, albeit wobbly, without us holding on to her bike. Yippee!!

So, all we had to do now was to get her a bit of practice so she could start off by herself and ride around more confidently. But that would be easy, surely?!

I took Little Z out to the sports centre today to have another go. We had more tears and tantrums and kicking the bike, but finally, lots of shouting, screaming and stropping later she was pushing off by herself and riding, much more confidently. After shouting at me over and over again, "I want to go home. I don't want to ride my bike. I can't do it!", and me shouting back that we would not be going home until she could *£$% well do it, it was impossible to remove her from the sports centre where she took pleasure in showing me how fast she could ride and how close she could get to running over me while I was sitting on the grass!

Now, she wants a new bike, one with gears!