It promised to be a quiet Sunday, I was thinking gardening was in order but first we were looking after the dogs with Tim, Helen and Tom on holiday. They all sleep in the bedroom, so I was up early to let them out in the morning. I pressed down on the bedroom door handle to open the door and noticed it was unusually stiff. Pressing harder, something went click and the handle went floppy - and was clearly disconnected from the opening mechanism. Hmmm - we were locked in.

This presented us with a problem of some note. We were trapped and I had no tools other than some nail clippers. Both kids are away so no help there. I could climb out the window, as we have a flat roof below it, but it was quite a drop off that onto patio. Also, with doors locked downstairs, I couldn’t get in. We were somewhat scuppered and the dogs weren’t happy. Neither was I.

After much thought, and consulting with Tim by phone, we called our local man mountain, Ant Doze, to see what he could do. He turned up a few minutes later and I was able to direct him to the shed for a ladder. Feeling a bit like Rapunzel, I guided him up.

Ant now entered through the window, with care as he’s a big lad, and had a look. We rapidly came to the conclusion that there weren’t many alternatives but try to break the door down, which was tricky as it opened inward as we were against the door jamb. Thinking of a Cornish solution, Ant said, confidentially, he could kick through the centre panel of the door. These are wooden doors but the centre panel is thinner, so we said go for it. He raised a huge leg, bang, the panel shattered in one kick - we were out!

We now have to step into the bedroom till we get the door replaced, probably next week, but after a start like that the day can only improve.

• Fred Knobbit is a nature blogger. You can read his archive at www.bodminblogger.com