Mr B gave me his fathers old bike.

It was flat and I took it to the garage to have it oiled and fixed. Cost $5.00

Mikey, the 12 year old son came with me to collect it, and he rolled it back as far as the local school. I stopped there and said, 'Mikey, you will now learn to ride this bike."

I have a reputation for toughness, but he never gave up. It took ages for him to learn to balance...over an hour, and I held the bike and this very solid kid for most of that time.

Then I set him free and insisted he try alone....and suddenly he got it...we had been learning for over 90 minutes, and he never once asked me to return to the apartment.

Wednesday I was going riding with Andre...and whilst Andre was unlocking his bike, Mikey came home from school. I asked him to show his friends how he could ride....and that was the last I saw of him and the bike, as he sailed off into the midday sun.

Ina  split second, I decided to let him keep the bike and I would buy another....and thats what we did.....

Here is the bike I am still rolling along the road, as I keep falling off it each time someone distracts my total concentration.....It has small wheels, is light so I can lift and carry it, is silver and does not look too flashy, and folds into two for travelling. It cost $130.00 and I just love it. It does look nice in my bedroom as I refuse to put it outside. Today I hung my new beanie on it....

I don't have the persistence of Mikey as a student....as a teacher I have heaps...'What do you mean, you can't ride it??? get on it and away you go......"

The weather has changed now, and I am crawling along trying to learn how to walk on slippery roads.....

Grin!!!!!