“The engine slept, but joy did not.”

We were stranded, but not stuck.

Leo spread out the blanket, turned treats into treasure, and smiled like the sun was his idea.

A flat battery couldn’t stop our picnic, our rhythm, or our love for the pause between the miles.

“A flat in the Dales, but our spirits were full.”

The tyre gave in near a field of yellow, and as the RAC man tapped and thudded below,

Leo danced in the van — feet light, arms flying,as if the world had queued the beat just for him.

Some breakdowns bring rhythm. Some delays bring joy.

That moment when you confidently fill up… then realise you’ve just fed your diesel engine a tall drink of unleaded.

Cue the call to Grandad Dave, the “mum, why are we just sitting here?” from Leo, and the humbling reminder that even seasoned road-trippers make rookie mistakes.

We’re laughing now — mostly.