Sunday with Steve Backshall: βThe kidsβ capacity to consume pancakes blows my mindβ
The naturalist gets up early to enjoy a busy day with rugby, canoeing, a picnic and waterbirds
Up early? We have three small children: our twins are four and Logan is six. I get up early every day, absolutely not on purpose. At 5.30am they climb into bed, clambering all over me. I make up a story about them being travelling adventurers until first light.
Sunday breakfast? Banana pancakes with yoghurt and fruit. I have five frying pans and Iβll often make the mix the night before. The kidsβ capacity to consume pancakes, commensurate with their bodyweight, blows my mind. They will eat half an elephantβs worth of pancakes, while I have a very strong coffee.
Morning routine? All three of the children, including our little girl, go to the local rugby club, where I played for 15 years. I volunteer as a kidsβ coach now. Every Sunday, 70 to 80 kids run around like crazy people learning the game. Itβs tremendous fun.
Sunday outing? We live on the Thames. If itβs a nice day, even in the middle of winter, weβll pack up a big canoe with a lovely picnic of sandwiches and hot chocolate and paddle upstream to a beach on the riverside. As we drift, weβll spot kingfishers and great crested grebes. The twins know the names of more waterbirds than your average adult. Sometimes it can be an expedition that lasts three or four hours. My kids start to go a bit bonkers if theyβre caged up inside for any length of time. They need to be outside.
Sunday entertainment? My wife, Helen [Glover, professional rower], and I are quite militant about TV. Screentime is something we donβt do unless we absolutely have to. When we get home, weβll play board games or do other creative projects, β mega drawings on rolls of wallpaper β or weβll conjure up our own games. Weβve been playing lots of blind man assault courses recently.
Any time to yourself? No. Helen is often away β at the moment sheβs training for the Olympics, so thereβs no respite for me from the kids. Itβs exhausting, but Sunday is my favourite day of the week.
Early night? Yes. My kids are terrible sleepers. They go to bed at 7pm, but donβt usually get to sleep until 8.30pm. I spend most of that time tidying up, and by 9pm, Iβm out cold.
Continue reading...Β© Photograph: Kate Peters
Β© Photograph: Kate Peters