Mr. Bonkers goes biking

When I first found out my nephew, Mr. Bonkers, was coming down here to spend Christmas with me my mind immediately turned to the cool stuff we'd be doing together and whilst I left plenty of time just to hang out, I've found that hangout-relaxation time hasn't happened...he's energetic, that's for sure. I'm not quite worn out yet, but I'm getting there.

My nephew loves riding his bike so I decided to get one for him so he could ride around here too.

I got a second hand bike, a cheap one, because it would only get used for a couple of weeks whilst my nephew is here. I spent some time getting it into top-notch shape including the brakes, fixing a puncture, removing the buckled kick-stand, a massive clean up then a light oiling of the chain. In no time, it was good to go...All that was left to bring it all together was the pilot - My nephew.

We did the whole Santa thing including leaving biscuits and whiskey for Santa and carrots and water for the reindeers on Christmas Eve. After he went to bed I put all the presents out and the bike was left just outside the door to my outside entertaining area with a huge bow on it. The next morning he opened his presents and then I suggested he looked outside and that's when things got really bonkers - He saw that bike.

Needless to say, he loved the bike and has ridden it each day. My house is surrounded by parks and playgrounds including a bike track to we've been exploring the area by bike and he's having a great time with it.

When I was a kid I didn't have the luxury of getting new things all the time; my parents just couldn't afford it.

Looking back, I don't recall ever being disgruntled or sad about it though, nor do I have a hang-up about not having had this or that as a kid; it's just how things were. What's really cool about my nephew is that he's exactly the same. He didn't once question why there were a few scratches on the bike, he just rode it and had fun. Sure, I wanted to get him a new bike and have worked hard to put myself into a position of being able to buy him one...or one hundred of them to be honest...but why do so when a cheap second hand one does the job and it was only getting used for a short time?

We have had so much fun together that little bonkers kid and I, including riding bikes, and it hasn't made any difference whatsoever that his bike was second-hand...the fun is the same as it would have been if I'd bought a new one. When he goes home he'll not take it on the plane; I'll donate it to charity and maybe someone else can get some fun out of it.

Have you ever had second-hand toys or things as a kid and did you ever mind they weren't new? Tell me in the comments below if you would like to.