Making the most of our brief but lovely summer.

Summer has arrived in the west of Scotland! The rain cover is off, and everyone loves that.

Just as the gas was removed (in prep for the heat pump install), it got cold, and the electric shower is playing up. Cold showers may be invigorating, but I'd prefer that to be a choice.

Treat midweek film evening with the kids. Watching E.T. with them for the first time. Eldest: "why are the kids just allowed to cycle around like that? Is it because it is the olden days? Can I cycle about like that?" Sadly no 😐. But it appears my childhood is now "the olden days"🤣.

My other half is away with work and the tv remote is mine! Mwahahahaha! I am using this opportunity wisely...by watching utter rubbish. It's glorious.

Easter egg hunt west Scotland edition: hunting for chocolate in the post storm hail.🤣

This was not how things were meant to go. After slowly emerging from the grips of the dread lurgy, my husband and my kids have now fallen prey to it. Just in time for the start of the holidays when I had it all arranged so the kids could play and I could work. Can't risk the grandparents with this.

The horrors that are being unearthed by the renovation. Just wow. Nails in pipes. Linked electricity supply (apparently we were supporting 4 other houses), lead pipes. Sigh. But the application to remove the gas went in today. And we can get financial support for installing the heat pump. Yay!

Single parenting for the evening. So there is sushi, a wee dram, the remote control is mine, shortbread and sofa snuggles with the pups.

In the midst of everything going to pot, we are starting our grand retrofit renovation of our 1960's semi. There's a skip outside and banging and hammering. And we're freaking out just a wee bit. And dreaming of a warm, airtight house.

Why is it so difficult to buy just 1 lemon? I don't want to buy a net of 4 lemons. I just need 1. Neither do I want to travel 30-45mins to the nearest wholefood shop that will sell me just the 1 lemon. I want to be able to travel the 10mins it takes to get to my nearest supermarket for my 1 lemon.

Another door walk - another mudfest. I don't mind the rain so much in itself but the levels of mud everywhere are bordering on epic.

Why these unnecessary chicanes on the kelvin walkway? Most on inclines, too. Two of many on this lovely and safe off-road route into the city centre. This is also national cycle route. Surely there are less obstructive alternatives? @glasgowcitycouncil.bsky.social @sustrans.bsky.social

Passed a new backfiets in the village. Gave an excited wave. There are now 4 of us in the area.

Old bones need lots of rest, preferably on mum's electric fluffy blanket.

Plenty of people out and about on two wheels in Berlin in the snow last week. After seeing that couldn't really not chauffeur cycle child 1 about today and go shopping. Sigh.

We have made it home after our (to us) epic voyage with a 4 and 7 year old. Ferry: a cinema and a good night's sleep. Perfect. Disembarking took longer than expected and our 3 hour buffer at Amsterdam evaporated and we ran through central to get the ICE to Berlin- which was a dream.

After the ferry, lunch in the onboard restaurant in the train. Very civilised.

And we're off on our long trip from Glasgow to Berlin via ferry and train with the kids. We have a bag just for food and snacks and a bag for trainertainment. But first challenge 1: getting to the port on time.

The dogs and cats have spotted the travel bags and are hovering about them whilst throwing us reproachful glances. They know they're not coming with us. Still, guarding the bags is a tiring job and requires napping in situ in between throwing doggy shade.

Exhausted after a marathon trip planning and booking session. Has it always been this complicated to book Ryanair and Easyjet flights? They are also not cheap at all. In the end, it was easier and cheaper to book an overnight ferry to the Netherlands and a train to Germany - even 1st class.

I'm going on a wee holiday with a friend this year. No kids or husband. Now, most people would have booked somewhere relaxing, where one can gently sightsee in the sun and read books and drink tea. We've decided to walk from Fort William to Inverness. Sigh. I suppose I have to get fit now.

OMG. There was another cycling parent doing pick up at brownies! I no longer feel like the only cyclist in the village.

Turns out you can use a cargo bike to give your elderly dog a lift halfway through a walk whilst echausting the younger indefatigable and excitable one. Result: two sleepy and happy doggos. Now I just need to remove the mud from the dogs, the bike, the corridor, the .... sigh. worth it.

We have creaked and limped our way into Friday only to realise that tomorrow we have to get up early to take our kids to their activities followed by multiple birthday parties. I suppose not fitting it all in around paid work is a bonus of the weekend, so that's a win, right?

We are no longer the only cargo bike parents at school! Welcome newcomers! This brings the total number of cycling parents at school to ..3.. . (2 cargos, 1 trailer).

A momentous occasion. Kids now old enough to watch Star Wars with us. A perfect way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon in winter

Father Christmas brought a heated blanket. Wow. Just wow. 10/10 would recommend.

Time without kids well spent: doggy snuggles watching a daytime Christmas film. This is the way.

My train journey this weekend didn't go as planned. After being chucked off the train at Preston; we had to go on a detour via Leeds to reach London 5 hours later. 'Just' a 1 hour delay in the way back after the train I originally wanted to take was cancelled altogether. Wow. London was fun though.

Bonfire night. So we've retreated to be comfy. The radio is on loud and we're having pet snuggle time to keep everyone calm.

I finally successfully made yorkshire puddings. They even tasted nice, and we're eaten without complaint by the offspring. I felt like I was winning and treated myself to a glass of wine.

Trip to Milngavie reservoir with 2 kids and 2 dogs on, unsurprisingly enough, cargobikes...

Tried out the bike-train-bike commute from north west Glasgow to east of Edinburgh City centre. Notes: Fastest and cheapest commuting option. Not a single bike box at a traffic light was kept clear in either city. Scotrail staff were super nice and helpful. On train cycle storage could be improved.

Finally got round to cleaning our much loved burley bike trailer ready to sell now the kids have grown out of it. No good for the dogs either. They prefer riding in front in the cargo, nise in the wind and ears flapping.

Transporting large foil balloons and plants by cargobike.

Tickets tend not to sell out, take your time

2 dogs, 1 blanket. Snuggle time.

Cargobike shopping with child. It's a question of careful placement and feeding the child brioche.

We have reached a milestonenin our parenting journey: getting rid of the buggy and the potty today.

Top hats for tomorrow's party are done. When in Scotland... @dralistruthers.bsky.social I didn't know they were a thing until I moved up here.

If only the pros outweighed the cons.

A good thing the days are long this time of year. It helps when the topsoil and turf you ordered arrives mid-week and you have to shift it all and lay it after work. Whilst ferrying the kids to their grading and walking the dogs. But we did it!

Dogs on a cargobike for world bicycle day.

Finished watching Andor. I feel bereft. Nothing for it. Rogue One followed by the rest. Can't wait.

Thank you Sweden! Chef's kiss #eurovision

Yay! Made it- am watching Eurovision with the kids.

Lots to do but wanting it easy and quick and not worrying about traffic and parking-so I plonked the kids in the cargo bike and stopped by the gp, the pharmacy, Greggs, the barber, post office, phone shop, kids shoe shop and the butchers. In glorious sunshine. The kids loved it. This is the way.

This time last year.