A weekend or so back we had a few drinks
A weekend or so back we had a few drinks
and nibbles out the back with assorted
and nibbles out the back with assorted
members of the family. My lad, now 28, once
members of the family. My lad, now 28, once
rode it around a rural field way back when
rode it around a rural field way back when
he was about six and his skills at that tender
he was about six and his skills at that tender
age were impressive. He had no fear of the
age were impressive. He had no fear of the
speed he was getting out of it and we were
speed he was getting out of it and we were
accordingly terrified.
accordingly terrified.
As we were at the recent family get-together
As we were at the recent family get-together
when he decided to have another lash on it…
when he decided to have another lash on it…
the first time since his dash as a little boy…
the first time since his dash as a little boy…
and yep, still no trepidation with pace. The
and yep, still no trepidation with pace. The
bastard left torn tracks through the lawn
bastard left torn tracks through the lawn
and one of his cornering manoeuvres up the
and one of his cornering manoeuvres up the
driveway was a heart-stopper.
driveway was a heart-stopper.
“Still
goes good, eh!” was his simple
“Still goes good, eh!” was his simple
summation.
summation.
And
And then,
then, as
as this
this remarkable
remarkable little
little Pee
Pee Wee
Wee
has
done
since
about
1986,
it
drew
the
has done since about 1986, it drew the
generations
generations together.
together. Back
Back then
then my
my late
late
mum,
who
was
in
her
late
60s,
actually
mum, who was in her late 60s, actually took
took it
it
for
a
blast
along
the
seafront
grass
opposite
for a blast along the seafront grass opposite
her digs… first time ever on a motorcycle and
her digs… first time ever on a motorcycle and
she was grinning madly after a quite polished
she was grinning madly after a quite polished
ride. The three or four brandies may have
ride. The three or four brandies may have
helped.
helped.
And so, a fortnight or so ago, it came to pass
And so, a fortnight or so ago, it came to pass
that one of my granddaughters, Saffron,
that one of my granddaughters, Saffron,
wanted to try and ride it. She’s 10. Her mum
wanted to try and ride it. She’s 10. Her mum
had ridden it, up on the beachfront, at about
had ridden it, up on the beachfront, at about
that age so she said yeah, have a shot. So
that age so she said yeah, have a shot. So
I ran her through the caution of using the
I ran her through the caution of using the
throttle gently, and which lever operated
throttle gently, and which lever operated
which brake, and how to coordinate them.
which brake, and how to coordinate them.
Off she went… and after three cautious
Off she went… and after three cautious
laps of the clothesline the grin was well
laps of the clothesline the grin was well
entrenched on her face. Okay, so the braking
entrenched on her face. Okay, so the braking
was a bit iffy to start with, but she got the
was a bit iffy to start with, but she got the
picture.
picture.
Her parting
parting words
words when
when they
they all
all shot
shot
Her
through
later
in
the
day
were
that
she
through later in the day were that she
couldn’t wait
wait to
to come
come and
and ride
ride Pee
Pee Wee
Wee
couldn’t
again.
again.
Ahh... it
it must
must be
be in
in the
the blood.
blood.
Ahh...