Back from a lovely easter holiday in Sandyhills, Dumfries. Did lots of walking, first time since the kids arrived that we've managed to go a decent distance without having to pick at least one of them up and carry them. The five mile walk from Sandyhills to Rockcliffe along the coastal path was wonderful, we didn't bump into another person en route and the scenery was great. We only meant to walk along the beach but ended up going on a bit of a trek.

The kids are very keen on cycling so it looks like more two wheeled outings are in the offing. I'm not quite sure how I've managed to convince myself that a mountain bike is a better investment than getting the exhaust on my car fixed (which is what I really should have done today) maybe it is the urge to get out while the weather is nice. I spoke to a nice shop in Chingford...ebay again...and the new Dawes MTB will be with me by this afternoon (Tuesday). With any luck I've got the frame size right and either myself or Jason will be able to ride it once the saddle has been adjusted. My trusty Claude Butler tourer is still in the garage, needs a bit of dusting off but is stil functional for when the whole family need to get out there and pedal.

I never did get a response from the National Trust on my query about why kids can't ride bikes at Gibside. Still it looks like we'll be riding the real cycle routes from now on. I just hope George can work out getting on and off a bit better. At the moment he throws himself off the bike, and refuses to get on without a push-off. When he is on the bike he pedals like a maniac and zooms off into the distance, rather than turning round and coming back to find us he usually throws himself into the side of the path and waits until we all turn up.

As usual the animals are having a settling in period after a week at the kennels. Fudgee is breaking records for chewiness, tally so far - drill cable (not our drill! the next door neighbours), two seals from the new drainage pipe, one sheet of blue damp proof membrane, and a flexi lead. Quite impressive as we only got back on Friday. The house is littered with official doggy toys but why chew them when you can chew everything in sight.

I'm trying a new method of protecting the kitchen cupboards from late night/early morning chwing - cayenne pepper mixed into a paste with white vinegar. It seems to be doing the trick at the moment but has a bit of a nutty aroma. It does blend in with the wood colour of the kitchen cupboards and hides the existing chew marks quite well. It helps that I have an industrial sized tub of cayenne pepper that I got from Makro years ago, which funnily enough I have hardly touched.

Fudge has also managed to forget that the cage is for sleeping not peeing and has discovered how to pee like a grown up dog - three legs and no wobbling. I guess he has been observing the other dogs at the kennels and I'm now having to watch him as he tried to territory mark the cat litter tray on Saturday. I have offered to re-home him (just yesterday - and I was serious) but Jason seems to have become attached, even if he is a one dog trail of destruction.
He is fast asleep under my chair at the moment, all cute and cuddly.

National Trust clamps down on rogue cyclists!
This is the last time the kids will be able to ride their bikes at Gibside. I admit the look likely to cause problems with the natural environment but due to a new rule (possibly made up on the spot) children on bicycles are now banned from riding their bikes at Gibside.

No matter that it was quiet, they have reasonable bikes and they don't deliberately go out to drive into anyone, we have officially been told by a man driving a tractor (who is causing the damage here...run that one past me again), that our children cannot ride bikes, even on the paths, as cycles could damage the environment.

They didn't even pull the 'health and safety' argument. The main concern was that they might ride their bikes on the grass. This was one of the few safe, traffic free places we could take them while they get used to riding in a straight line. The local cycle paths tend to be full of manic mountain bikers who do about 40mph and refuse to stop for anyone.

Jason did try to point out that driving the NT landrover and tractor and various quad bikes would be more damaging...but who are we to argue against the rules. One day when I get myself a guide dog and a disabled buggy I will deliberately go wild!!!!!!! There are laws to protect me then. Hmmph

It has officially been a busy week. We've interviewed and hired two designers, both students on 4 month placements who will help us to generate a great brand image. We've also found an excellent market researcher at Durham University who is doing a PhD in virtual networking...how spooky is that. Fortune currently shines upon us as a business team.

On the domestic front the end of term has required easter eggs to be decorated, rolling eggs to be provided and some interesting easter hat creations. The holidays are soon to be upon us.

George now appears to be free of nits. He is under strict orders to keep his head away from everyone else at school. Still I'll keep on checking. Rather unhelpfully my mum has told the local hairdresser, which I could really have done without as I have an appointment this Saturday - I think I might cancel it as I can't be bothered with 2 hours in the salon knowing that my hairdresser thinks I have nits (I don't think I have them personally).

The cats are all being kept indoors. Jason has got to fit the new magnetic dog flap this weekend to keep them in. Only the dog is allowed the necessary magnetic collar. Ninja - brother of Flash - is very unsettled, he has changed personality since last Saturday and is now very timid. Jasper and Cinders are their usual selves but things are very quiet around the house without Flash letting us all know what he thinks.

Just had to load this picture, originally the light meant that you couldn't see Flash's face on this one. I opened the image and clicked on the auto lighten and there he is. Jason said the last time he saw him was this afternoon, we've had other children round to play and all the other cats had disappeared. Not Flash, he was sitting in the middle of the living room floor cleaning himself. You can see it in his eyes, no fear.

This is Flash on the window, watching me working. You can see his personality in this picture. All noseyness and whiskers. He was still a baby, only 10 months old, no road sense. I want to lock the others in the house now, just in case. I sometimes wish nobody had ever invented cars. Life would be much simpler and far fewer people and animals would get killed every year. Such a shame, my poor flashyboy.

I'm so sad, today my beautiful black and white cat Flash was killed on the road outside our house. I think we found him fairly soon after it happened and he must have died instantly as it was obvious the car had hit him on the side of the head. There were no other injuries. He'd been moved to the pavement.

I really loved this cat.