What ever happenned to spontaneity?

In many ways I have felt a little sorry for Rachel. Sat at home on maternity leave, looking after Libby, can’t be easy when you were used to a career and long days in the office. Don’t get me wrong I’m sure she is enjoying it but the flexibility and spontaneity of our previous 20 years together is no more. It was of no surprise therefore when Rachel described her desire to ride her bike again before the year was out. Sure she got some strange looks from the other mums in the ante natal class as they contemplated this ‘blooming’ mother to be on the back of her husbands bike. “No”, she replied “I want to ride my bike again once the baby is settled”.

So the last couple of weeks we have been trying to plan a couple of hours of freedom on the bikes. My interest is stirred more by the fact that I keep reading a couple of bike blogs (dreadful as they are but I’m a follower none the less) and as such I too desire some time together, the two bikes and two riders gently swinging down the local country lanes.

As I mentioned though that spontaneity is now gone and what would have been a five minute conversation of deciding where to go has turned into an art of planning. First thing first – the babysitter. Tick in the box here – Nana is coming to visit next week, she won’t mind a couple of hours of quality time with her granddaughter. Next – the tax disc has been lost on the little silver Honda that whisks Rachel around the country lanes. It’s been sorted now though – the duplicate disc arrived in the post this week. Errm ....typical the MOT has lapsed – we’ll have to get that completed next Sunday morning before our run. There is a garage down the road that does bike MOTs every Sunday morning. Thank Heavens for an occasional point of convenience in this village. What do you mean your bike gear does not fit you? You’re thinner than you were even before Libby came along? Hang on a minute, is not supposed to be the other way around? Well you are always one for bucking trends - better get a belt then. And so it goes on ...........but we’ll get there and next week will be great. Our first time together on our own in nearly four months. And on the bikes it will be even more special. We’ll miss Libby but even new parents need a little time on their own to preserve their sanity.

I do fear Rachel is getting a tad carried away though. She is now talking about us going to see the World Superbikes at Silverstone in August as our first ‘proper time’ on the bikes. If one little trip takes all this planning now – how long a day out at the bike races will take to plan is anyone’s guess. I blame Leon Haslam – she’s always fancied him!!