AH! the summer, endless days of sunshine , getting lost for hours in your imagination as you range over the land killing hoards of imaginary German soldiers as you carry out another mission of derring do . Well that's what I used to do. Now I stand around in the office listening to people moaning about how its to hot, to cold, to rainy or to sunny. The family may have some other ideas but the office is where I've spent my summer and its still rubbish.

We managed two weeks at my in laws and very pleasant it was but time with the family by ourselves have been limited, sorry, non existent but yesterday we managed a day out. Surprisingly it was my idea so we organised a picnic, leapt in the car and drove up to Low force in Teesdale. It felt like the first day of summer not the last, the dales where bathed in sunshine and as usual Low force was almost deserted. I pointed out the 150 year old bridge we used to jump from when myself and my friends where young and stupid and we sat looking down on the surprisingly active falls. Just the rush of water as it flowed towards its disappointing exit at teeside into sea. I'd be really disappointed if my journey started in the beauty of dales and finished in the dreary chemical hinterland of the boro.

Luckily I don't think water has developed a sense of self so it probably isn't too upset. After a rag tag but filling feast the kids wandered off into the distance I'm trying to practise seventies parenting so pretended I wasn't keeping an eye on them, actually I was, but only so I could check on Maisy while I had a crafty roll up she is really taking the joy out of smoking with her constant badgering about her not wanting me to die blah blah blah.

I eventually wandered off after them and kindly told them they could paddle in the pools left behind after the last rain had swelled it into a torrent. Watching them splash around together daring each other to get in deeper brought back a happy sepia tinted memory glow which was rudely interrupted by the sight of Becky struggling over rocks with all the detritus a family of four needs for a day out. She rightly pointed out I could have helped but as we lay next to each other watching the kids play I think she forgave me.

After we dragged the kids back to car we carried on journey to the home of the clan Sunter Reeth. It involved a journey on a road so tiny the couldn't be bothered to give it a name

I wanted to call it the road of death but Leia in her obvious way decided that the road to Reeth was better. As we reach the crest of the mountain pass I pulled up to allow us to gaze upon the beauty that is north east. I'm not exaggerating when I say that as you could see the whole of it laid out below us, it was a genuinely moving experience.

Tea on the green at Reeth was followed by a tranquil drive home. Sometimes the simplest of ideas produce the most wonderful of outcomes and yesterday was one of them.

Paul Sunter.