Dear Our Dads

Today is 11th December, better known as "Bike For Dad" day, so to celebrate this momentous day in the way that it should be celebrated, we decided to ride a bike in your honours.

What is Bike for Dad day you may ask?

Well it is a sort of like Father's Day but rather than buying him a card and taking him out to an overpriced restaurant, you get on a bike and wear a special t-shirt and cycle around showing your respect and love for your father. So, sort of like Father's day but without the cynicism, commercialism and general apathy.

We discovered Bike For Dad day when we were in Thailand. It is quite hard to miss because they sell the t-shirts in every shop you pass and every person on TV is wearing one of them.

It was all started by the crown price of Thailand. He loves his mum very much and wanted to show this love by organizing a day in her honour so he started a Bike for Mum day. Everyone in Thailand bought into it and it was such a success that he decided to organize one for his Dad as well.

The Bike for Mum day was in August so unfortunately we missed it but managed to jump on the Bike for Dad bandwagon instead (the t-shirts were better anyway).

Because Donna and I have two of the best Dads around, we very much bought into the idea.

Even though we were no longer in Thailand when the event occurred, we decided to do our own Bike For Dad day here in Bali instead.

Organising a Bike For Dad day didn't really amount to much other than buying a t-shirt each and getting Donna's Dad to organise a bike tour but, you know, the thought was there.

So that Donna could join in, we managed to find a downhill bike ride. This involved being taken to the top of a mountain and freewheeling down the side of it for about 3 hours, stopping every now and then to take some photos and admire the view. It was great fun.

So, yes, Bike for Dad day probably won't catch on in the rest of the world. After all, there probably just isn't enough money to be made (the t-shirts were really cheap) and most Dads probably enjoy the overpriced dinner and card more than their children riding a bike around the countryside for them.

But we have enjoyed today, the simple pleasure and innocent gesture behind it all (and the riding the bike bit) and we hope you guys appreciate our efforts.

Here's to you, the best two Dads in the world

All our love

Jim and Donna