Keith Hall

The boys and I had a cycle round the estate this morning followed by a trip to lidl on the way home for donuts and to home base for fence paint.

I can tell you it ain't that easy to cycle home with a 5litre can of paint, a roller and tray, a loaf of tiger bread and a cucumber stuffed in your rucksack while also trying to balance with a baby on the seat on the back.

The afternoon was spent in the garden again, again with the paddling pool which was used more this time as a trampoline jumping splash zone rather than for the steeplechase or even you know, just sitting in.

After tea I put the youngest to bed and the older two enjoyed the kind of painting they both love; the eldest sat at the kitchen table with his watercolours and painted a picture from our photos of Berlin Zoo of a King Vulture, and the middle boy donned his now far too small overalls and set about painting one side of our big shed autumn red.

Summer holiday days: Perfect.