With only Captain Chaos at home this morning – Major D was out with his grandfather – and the weather being on the warm side of perishing we decided to do something outdoorsy. CC dragged his bicycle from the shed and suggested that a brisk cycle was in order.

Once suitably attired I grabbed dog and boy and the three of us set off for ‘The Wee Glen’ about half a mile from our house. At such an insignificant distance this is a disappointing walk for a dog the size of ours but a gargantuan adventure for a three year old on a red bike with training wheels and a back breaking slog for a not so young mother bent double pushing said bicycle to give three year old the impression that he is an excellent cyclist and straining to hold back a large dog who would rather be bounding off in front.

The fantastic journey however provided a wonderful opportunity to practice our Spanish. Unfortunately for my aching muscles most of the road was arriba  not abaho on the way there. A few games of Pooh sticks were played on the bridge across the stream but CC’s main focus was to get back on that bike and attack those abaho slopes on the way home. If you have ever been hillwalking you’ll know that the descent is often more painful than the ascent.

Perspiring more than is ladylike I clung onto the seat of that little bicycle for all I was worth listening to the ‘Whoops’ of delight and the joyous ‘The wind makes my hair go crazy’ from CC until we arrived home safely.

His demands for hot chocolate and marshmallows was suitably met as he was a little chilly while I could have benefited from a large G&T. The hot beverage was served in a Dombo Mug and I mention this because a proper mug with one handle and hot liquid often isn’t suitable for small hands while to offer a three year old who considers himself a ‘big boy’ a cup with a lid something of an insult. If you have a similar dillema and have not come across these before I suggest you invest. They are fantastic and incredibly easy for little ones to use. They cost around £10 from www.placesandspaces.com