Steph's new bike

After cycling up and down the hills in Wellington for the best part of a year and a half on a bike that wasn't fit for purpose - it only cost 30 quid and I sold it for exactly the same as I bought it for (although I bought it with a helmet and lights) - I thought my biking days would be gone although I have been pining for the crippled old set of wheels even in the snow and ice this winter. I've honestly never been fitter with all that cycling and karate.

Anyway, unbeknowns to me Katie had been hatching a plot to get me back on the road - and she launched a big surprise on an unsuspecting Steph one day when he came home tired from work......

Katie had been tidying the house and had rearranged a few things so when I got home and noticed on of the boxes from the hall cupboard out in the hall I feared the worst so I didn't even bother to hang my jacket up in the cupboard.

For some reason Katie was getting a bit annoyed that i didn't want to see what she had done to the hall cupboard - I honestty thought that perhaps she had found a new way of rearranging our shoes or jackets so I said I would see it later. Miffed - Katie went to bed for a lie down and I ate my dinner then had a nap.

Later that night Katie had had enough and insisted that I must enter the hall cupboard to see what she had done - reluctantly I agreed and I must say I had no clue what the heck it was going to be but I certainly didn't expect what I actually found......

I've not been this surprised since Christmas day in 1985 when my parents got me a snooker table and hid it behind a curtain, writing a poem on an egg box as a clue as to where I should look. ;o)

I've not been able to get a proper photo of me on my bike yet but I will - let's just say it's a cracker and I am absolutely delighted with it. I've got myself tooled up with a new set of lights and some reflective gear and I have been braving the cold weather to cycle the 3.5 miles to work each day. It feels great - although the roads here are an obstacle course the roads are pretty flat compared to Welly. I've also got a little wireless trip computer for the bike and my top speed on the road so far has been 25.6 miles per hour.

Thanks so much to a very smug Katie - I love you lots xxx - and just watch out perhaps you might find something in a cupboard one day.........