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The 'travelling' comments above are interesting and, yet again, have parallels with my own experiences. I do not claim to be widely travelled and, until fairly recently, was unlikely to have a foreign holiday of any substance as I (i) I had better things to waste money on; (ii) could easily get bored with most sun-worshipping/sightseeing activity; (iii) have no sporting interests whatsoever; (iv) resented the time and effort spent in getting to an airport at some unearthly hour, going through increasingly tiresome formalities and then flying over my own house some hours after leaving it. My wife, however, has always been quite adventurous and had travelled widely overseas (as well as living and working elsewhere in Europe) before I met her. Something I did greatly enjoy and did almost annually in the 80s/90s was to spend a week on the English canals in a narrowboat, as one of a group of like-minded friends. Relaxing, yet active, convivial and never boring, I found it an ideal way to unwind. Alas, growing family and other commitments within the group effectively put paid to this annual treat, although the participants do remain in touch for other occasional social events. Recent years have however resulted in some changes, largely due to increased leisure time and less concern over finances. In particular, we discovered cruising (on a ship, that is!) and now have an annual cruise with several further ones in mind. It isn't our only holiday or outside activity but it is proving an enjoyable one with a very acceptable blend of relaxation and change of scene - not to speak of good food and, usually, good company. There are certainly some areas of the world that I would not wish to visit, for cultural or political reasons. High on the list is anywhere connected with current or recent terrorism, for obvious reasons. As I write, I have a stepson serving with the RAF 'somewhere in the Middle East', whose role is (I understand) not unconnected with some long-overdue and welcome news breaking today; draw your own conclusions. Fortunately, his work does not involve front-line personal exposure. I am reasonably widely travelled within the UK. An interest in railways and a need for business travel in a former life both saw to that. But nowadays I do not so often stray from my home area; travelling costs (whether by car or public transport) and traffic jams are no encouragement to exploration as distinct from necessary forays. And so many so-called 'attractions' prove either mediocre or a rip-off that I am wary of them.

Both pairs are going back, but I intend to re-purchase a size 12 when I can find a pair that has been made to the same quality as the size 14's. While there's little between them, the 14's did pucker up around the knee in a way the 12's didn't. It may be the 14's weren't quite tight enough. I haven't yet (remembered to) check I don't already own a pair of shiny leggings ... Not that it would stop me owning a second pair. .... Back in the day, I owned PVC trousers for use when I frequented a fetish club to indulge in my high heel wearing needs. There's a lot to be said for owning a pair. Technology has improved clothing during the past 30 years, and stretch-anything is now de rigueur. I would imagine the current range of materials would be a good deal more comfortable, and less prone to cracking or tearing while being worn. I look forward to hearing about a purchase.

No - I didn't think you were rocking up places with a battered old caravan and taking over some public park or farmers field or some poor sods back garden. I meant it in the homme du monde sense. :-) Alas no place is really safe these days. One has to make the best of things. Even so I am not sure I would have been taking my wife or kids off to any place in the Middle East (other than, perhaps, Dubai) or North Africa. Too many fruitcakes. And professionally, I have no interest in covering terrorism, political unrest or being embedded with combat units along anybody's front line. I have great respect for those who do these things - indeed one of my friends regularly covers some of the seediest and most violent pockets of central Africa, but not me. I have no calling in that direction. Risk, I don't mind - but 'clean-cut' risk, that of nature, wild animals, and remote wilderness environments, not deliberate attempts on my life by religious fanatics with black plastic sunglasses and bad shaves. As for cycling, I have many many thousands of miles under my belt, excellent bike-handling skills, road sense and much experience at paying attention to my environment when I am out and about. That said, I would not be too keen on wife of kids cycling the same roads I do. Not at all.

What an interesting and thought provoking reply, one that leads me to suggest that you have indeed travelled, or are a traveller by nature, even if you have not filled up many passports - something which, frankly, is increasingly seeming to me to be a minor detail. One who can find interest and adventure and beauty in a field, or be open and curious enough to strike up a conversation with two Spanish speaking ladies at a adjacent table at a cafe, and learn their stories, is a traveller - and is one whether they are home or somewhere exotic and far away. As the philosopher Henry David Thoreau once said of his meanderings around Concord,Massachusetts - I have travelled much in Concord. You have travelled much in Hertfordshire. And of course the very soggy trip to and through France. I have experienced something similar, although not on a motorcycle, and recognised with a smile the experiences you write of. Such journeys do make for pleasant memories, despite the discomforts at the time. I always wanted to travel and see the world and engineered my life and career so that would be the logical outcome. Journalism and photography have taken me all over the globe, and at somebody else's expense. i am very fortunate and feel very privileged to have seen as much of the world as I have and I remind myself of that often. Increasingly though I find that some of my most interesting travels occur around home, on long bicycle rides through the lanes, rather than taking a jet to the far side of the world. Part of that is because the hassles and unpleasantness of airline travel leeches much of the joy and romance out of the actual act of travelling, and patly because I have come to understand that a wonder at the world, an interest in people, history and a love of beauty does not require an exotic backdrop but can be felt and enjoyed on an English country lane, astride a bicycle, as well as anywhere else. My own children have travelled far more than I did at their age, as your grandson appears to be doing as well. That is indeed a chilling thought, the proximity to disaster with their having flown out of Egypt that day. Thank God they came home safe.

I've not travelled at all really. Did three weeks riding around France on a motorbike. Went up towards the Alps to Switzerland then through the mountains to Italy and back to France along the Côte d'Azur. Then down to the Camargue (to ride a white horse), before returning to blighty via Lyon. Rained just about every day, and rained heavily every time I sat on the bike. Gale force winds on the return journey ... Storms that killed 9 when it got to Spain. This was August and September BTW, not deep into winter. Apart from two nights (nowhere to pitch one in Geneva - I was too damp by the time we got to Arles to think about pitching a tent), every night out was spent inside a tent. So cold in Northern France (first night out) we slept in all our motorbike gear - and still got cold. Happy days! About the only thing I want to see outside of Hertfordshire, is the Grand Canyon. Never going, can't be arsed with the security BS. Since I was young (8 or 9 possibly) I've been able to go into any field, and be in awe of the marvels in front of me. Honestly, nature, our natural surroundings are mind blowing. I'm immensely proud to say I've managed to grow grass from seed. It's just a-maz-ing! Talking to people, brings the most interesting 'ventures to life too. Me and Mrs Freddy were sitting in Costa at Brent Cross one afternoon not long ago. Two (older - just) ladies sat at the table next to us. They spoke in a foreign language that was hard to place, with me thinking Spanish, herself thinking Italian. As Mrs Freddy is seldom wrong about anything (she'll never read this) and there was some Italian lilt to the phraseology I was disappointed I may have guessed badly. Bear in mind it's a noisy mall, and Costa is next to an escalator, as well as being full of talking customers .... So I asked. They were both Spanish, and the one I had spoken to had lived in the UK for over 40 years. Her sister was here on a visit. We were then entertained, for at least 45 minutes, with a concise version of the ladies life. Her sister couldn't speak much English, but she nodded appropriately from time to time. We laughed a lot, we were surprised a lot, we were impressed a lot. Basically, we wanted her for our mum! My grandson at 12 years, had already seen more of the world than I will ever see. I'm a bit jealous he's been diving in Egypt, though more worried than jealous (in hindsight) he left Sharm airport only a couple of hours before the tragic Russian flight ... (Mrs Freddy stills gets sick just thinking abut it.) I'm happy he's been to see Santa way up in Lapland, and been to see Disney in America. He's dived off the Canaries, and Cyprus already too. He deserves these pleasures, he's a great (little) person. But that life isn't for me. I do love the sea, and being near water, though it remains a pleasure I deny myself. Like many, I think there's always tomorrow. Yeah, canoeing around the Norwegian fjords.... or Canadian wilderness...