The nordics are here to visit this week, fresh from their holiday in the Adriatic peninsula and before heading home for a long cold winter in the north.

My niece is taking part in the Gaitherin, for the second time this year, being in that one time position of being eligible for the primary week in Easter and the secondary one week in October.

They arrived on Sunday when my eldest was swimming at our club's meet and my middle boy was squandering his remaining old pound coins on the chocolate tombola at the very same.

Yesterday, in the dreich miserable weather, my nephew and my boys mainly hung around the house, enjoying some much needed down time. Today though, for my own sanity as much as anything else and despite the constant drizzle, I encouraged everyone up and out, loaded up the car with bikes for everyone, including my mum, and headed to Haddo House and a cycle through Craigie Wood.

My littlest impressed us with the determination he exuded in keeping up with us all on his balance bike, he really didn't lag behind at all, even hardly on the hills or rutted sections. Kudus must go also to my middle boy who having zero fat on him gets frozen quickly and who lost most feeling in his hands and feet half way round (warmed only by a cup-a-soup mid way). And finally to my mum, who cycled the whole route on my lovely husband's folding commuter bike (complete with a slow puncture), without one smidge of a complaint. Mind you, I wouldn't expect anything less.