I WAS ready for a lie down by the time we got out the front door. The five year old had already mounted one insurrection and the little fella had kicked and screamed in protest against being forcibly wrapped in a nappy when he wanted to wear his Thomas the Tank Engine pants - "Naoise, there is nowhere to go for a wee wee on the bus." Buses are no place for toilet trainers.

Modes of transport are a popular topic of conversation in our house. "Look a tractor, bus, airplane, choo choo, car transporter, digger And no matter how many times they are forced to sit, sticky and sweating, on those prickly green seats, going on a bus is always a joy.

Getting on and off a bus with two children, two bags and a buggy should be an event on The Krypton Factor. To do it once (the No 77 from Dolphin's Barn to Fleet Street) may be considered unfortunate, to do it twice (the No 44 from Hawkins Street to Enniskerry) is careless.

The journey itself was a breeze. Two packets of Monster Munch and two packets of Opal Fruits saw to that.

For kids living on a street with no trees, the route provided a refreshing opportunity to sample some dense vegetation. Riding on the top, we were in the canopy of a forest as we approached our destination.

I know Enniskerry well, at least I used to know it when it provided the perfect destination for a Sunday afternoon pint. And I knew it well enough to be a little apprehensive about its suitability as a venue for entertaining two lively little boys who had been cooped up on the top of a bus for 45 minutes.

Athletic German tourists will have no problem making their way from the village to the majestic Powerscourt House and waterfall; mothers with a five year old whose "legs get tired" and a two year old who cannot bear to be strapped into a buggy for longer than five minutes are well advised not to bother. The walk is simply too long.

Instead we asked a motherly looking woman in a newsagents where we could go to run about. And so we stumbled upon Bog Meadow just around the corner from The Powerscourt Arms with its stream, football pitch and selection of wild grasses. It was a big hit. The perfect spot for a picnic if you can't afford the quaint tea shops in the village.

Forget shopping. Enniskerry has some attractive craftshops, but even if you could get the buggy through their narrow doors, the cost of the breakages as your toddler dashes a piece of Waterford Crystal to the floor "just to see what happens" will be too high.

So we left for Bray and the child friendly activities provided by this grand old lady of seaside resorts.

A ride on the roundabout at the sea front funfair, a couple of hours running around on the beach, sausage and chips and an ice cream and we were all fast approaching our personal nirvanas.

Brilliant. Then the piece de resistance - the choo choo ride back to Dublin.

How to get there: No 44 from Hawkins Street.

Total time taken: 45 minutes from Dublin to Enniskerry, 25 minutes from Enniskerry to Bray, 45 minutes from Bray to Dublin.

Frequency of transport: 44 approx every 20 minutes.

Fare: 44 to Enniskerry - adult, £1.25, child 55p.

Highlight of journey: Lots of moo moos and seeing into other people's gardens.

Food: Plenty of places to eat - pubs, tea shops. Go to Bog Meadow for a picnic.

Return journey: 185 bus from Enniskerry village to Bray DART station (adult £1; child 55p). DART to Lansdowne Road (adult £1.80; child 40p). Two year old went free. Lift from Lansdowne Road well what do you expect, I was exhausted and broke.

Children's verdict: Finbarr - "It's beauuuuutiful". Naoise - "Choo choo, moo moo..."