I AM the mother of three grown-up sons and like most mums I have been programmed to worry about my children every waking moment of the day, even when they are half way across the world. My youngest son rang me from Australia on Monday, he is now in a pla

I AM the mother of three grown-up sons and like most mums I have been programmed to worry about my children every waking moment of the day, even when they are half way across the world. My youngest son rang me from Australia on Monday, he is now in a place called Kununurra in the Northern Terrority. He had arrived the day before and told me he was staying in a youth hostel. Before I had chance to warn him about bed bugs and eating 10-day old food from the mould infested fridge, he said he was sitting by the hostel's swimming pool and was just about to slap another tuna steak on the barbecue. Apparently, rather than this hostel being grotty and smelling of old trainers, it has nice clean sheets, three huge America-style fridges, eight cookers and Russell and his friends have been writing shopping lists and taking it in turns to cook. Now, I should have been reassured that he was happy, staying in pleasant surroundings and looking after himself and eating properly, but before I knew it, the worry switch flicked on in my head and I was reminding him to use sun cream and ensure the tuna was cooked all the way through!

While we were on the phone, he was trying hard to keep cool and I had two jumpers on trying to get warm. I really hope this cold snap we are experiencing gives way to some nicer weather as it would be nice to explore the local area and I want to do that on my bike. As well as explore, I also need to get fit for the Sue Ryder Care bike ride on May 19. The ride has been organised to raise money for this superb local charity that helps to look after people with brain injury and disease. I'm not sure whether to do the 10, 19 or 50-mile course so I need to get in some practice rides and see how I go. I'd love to think that I could manage the 50 miles easily but I think I have reached that age where I convince myself I am much fitter than I actually am. I went out on a trial bike ride the other day and got as far as the Spar shop in Ely High Street and discovered I had a flat tyre. Well, I say discovered, what actually happened was, I was riding past the Oxfam shop and a man shouted out 'Oi!, you've got a flat tyre'. So I pushed the bike home feeling very as deflated as my back tyre and more than a bit silly.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I had been given a free pass for Ely Cathedral, well if you don't qualify for a free pass you can still enjoy a free visit because on April 25 there is an open evening. From 5pm till 10pm you can climb the West Tower, hear the Cathedral Girls' Choir, visit the stained glass museum and have a good look round and all for free.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Write and tell me what you think makes East Cambridgeshire a nice place to live.

The Ely Standard, 38 Market Street, Ely, Cambs CB 7 4LS or email: debbie.davies@archant.co.uk