h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's that time of year again. Little had his 10th birthday on Monday. School wasn't back and we made a day of it. Roy and I had bought him a BMX a week earlier and he'd had a little go on it, but hadn't got past the stage of being supported by the saddle.

Monday dawned and we took him out to the Turkish cafe down the road for breakfast. We then went to the usual swimming baths, which was closed because most of the schools had gone back and it was lessons only. However, we found another swimming pool near Bexleyheath, which was nice. Then we had lunch out at a nearby carvery and came home to load the BMX. We went to Oxleas Woods, where there is a gentle grass slope and patiently helped support little - well, Roy did most of it. Then he handed him over to me, and when I was running along, I found it hard to keep up, so I let go and lo - he cycled! It took a little while to notice that he was doing it on his own. Several more goes ensued. I wanted to call it quite, but Roy thought he should have another go, which he did - from a bit higher up. Then came a spectacular accident and he sailed over the handlebars, skidding along the grass with his face. Howls. He lay there with the bike over one of his legs. We went over to have a look and he was bleeding at the mouth - he'd bit his tongue. Lots of persuasion to get the bike off himself and stand up and he was limping. He'd banged his left shin. I wiped his mouth and tongue and said he should have one last go before going back. No - he definitely wasn't going to get on it again. "I don't want to learn to ride a bike if it hurts!' So I promised him a Coke and his eyes lit up and we wheeled the bike to the top of the hill again and this time he did it perfectly. Back to the house to drop of the bike then to the cinema to see 'Shark Boy and Lava Girl'. Back home to crash out.

His birthday party is Saturdaym which is my birthday. He's having it at Firepower: http:///www.firepower.org.uk . The reports about the parties are good. The children get to do paintballing and climbing on a rolling rock wall and they do drill and all sort of stuff which will use up their energies. I'll be doing a t'ai chi session in the morning, so I'm not quite sure when I'll get time to have a birthday.

Hello,

I have missed you. You seem to have been away for ages. What a brave little boy little is. I remember my husband trying to teach my son to ride a bike. Not easy but he mastered it in the end. Second son never did really!

It sounds like he had a really lovely birthday, and a party on Saturday too!

Have you caught up with Frenchbean yet. She is really motoring these days.

Speak again soon,
Websailor

Hi Websailor

Yes, it has been a while. I seem to have got bogged down with RL. There is such a lot to do it got overwhelming, so I haven't had time to get on the computer, or do all sorts of other things.

And yes, little has a lovely time on his birthday. He told me he wouldn't have got back on his bike without the promise of a Coke.

Today, we took him for another go. He got on reasonably happily, sailed off down the grass slope and came off again, covering his clothes with mud and grazing his hand. He was not happy. We only got him back on with difficulty, and he refused to go without a hand on the saddle, several times squealing that we had let go (which actually we hadn't) and he looked really terrified. In the end, we got him to stop the bike under full control without dropping it, so he has made some progress. We taught him how to get into the 'pedal ready' position too. It's going to be a long haul to get him properly up and riding confidently. His party is next Saturday.