The scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - only twice the size.

Our dog needed a walk. Poor Django. And we needed to all be together for just an hour or two - to reconnect, as they say. So we concocted a crazy plan which involved loading two bikes, one kids seat, one kids backpack (the type the kid rides in on the back of a parent) four helmets, one dog, two kids, us etc into G's truck and driving into the hills West of Auckland.

Then we unloaded everything and assembled our troup. Me on my bike with Bax in the kids seat behind. G on his bike with izzie in the backpack on his back, and Django running along behind.

It worked marvellously but we must have been a funny sight. We sang the whole way down the track - Wheels on the bus, Bax can do all the noises and the chorus - and made up sotries the whole way back up the track about monsters and chasing and trying to get away from Daddy who was scarey and then G and Izzie running away from Bax who had turned into a tiger and was roaring. It was a bit of a performance what with the dog and the helmets and all but very fun and we were all so pooped when we got home that we literally collapsed in a heap and slept all afternoon.

Another little bit: I took bax out for a coffee (in his case fluffed milk) and we were the only ones there and the woman behind the counter had cooked herself a big brekkie and was eating and Bax took a real shine to her. Everytime she put something in her mouth he told me what it was - a running breakfast commentary 'egg. sausage. hashborwn, egg, toast, hashbrown, egg, tomato" And she smiled at him and said "cute" and then when we left he went right up to her and waved and then gave her two big "blow-me-a-kiss" kisses -emmarrr! emarrr! it was so funny and cute and delicious.