Reckless Riding

Our small, quiet hamlet is awash with children.  Monsieur Escalier has his four year old twin grandchildren staying on the farm, and ten year old Tomas and his family have arrived at Philippe’s gite for the Easter week.

Tomas, you may remember, spends hour after hour riding an old bicycle up and down the lane.  He doesn’t get the opportunity to ride a bike in his home town of Calais so he relishes the freedom he has here in the countryside.  Yesterday he was joined by another little boy racer, four year old Jacques Escalier.  I was watching them from my window and Jacques was trying his hardest to keep up with Tomas.  Just as they disappeared around the bend Jacques came a cropper but Tomas was there instantly picking him up and dusting him down.

all smiles again after his tumble

I had a good ride out this morning and actually managed to get up Scramble Hill, albeit very slowly.  I’ve still got a lot of work to do to regain last summer’s form.