13!

So, it has happened.  Tom is now officially a teenager!  We are so pleased and so proud of the young man he has so far become.  He has shown himself to be diligent, compassionate and principled.  Of course he has his moments and has shown signs of teenager-hood, some sulking, his voice has dropped significantly and he is growing like a weed!

As usual, he didn't know what he wanted for his birthday - I found out that Tim Peake was coming to Harrogate to do a show about being an Astronaut - as Tom's favourite subject at school is physics, I thought that would be a good idea.  We added to that with some bits and pieces: a Rubik's cube set, a new lap tray with Jungleskôg on it, a jumper and (of course) some bath bombs, oh and some helium balloons.

We got him up at 6.30am to do the morning opening of presents, he got loads.  Then breakfast and as we had time, we put on 'Kevin becomes a teenager' which although quite fuzzy in quality was quite funny - Tom completely got it and has said he won't become like Kevin (or Rory).

He went happily off to school, and I spent the morning putting his cake together. This year he asked for a messy bed cake, I started off with his duvet, him and jungle in bed, Mullan and a couple of his favourite books and stopped.  That was enough...after lunch I was bored...I went up to his room and took a few more photos - before I knew it I had added his favourite music (as CDs), a curry cook book, his favourite chocolate bar (a Twirl), railway magazine, a mammoth, his dressing gown.  You could say that I got carried away...it is a snap shot of Tom at 13.  Problem we have now, none of us want to cut into it - it means that we would have to cut Tom too - I can't cut my boy in half!  We were going to cut it on his birthday, we didn't, then cut it on Friday, we haven't - at this rate it will go off before we eat it!

He came happily home after school, got changed and then we had a game of the new Wingspan - Mum and Dad got him the European Expansion pack and it has completely changed the game, so many new things to learn.  We finished just in time to head to Gargrave to meet up with Grannie and Grandpa at Bollywood Cottage for an Indian.  He inhaled his curry (King prawn korma).  I had something called Drunken Duck which was delicious.  Then back home and bed.

On Friday, one of his friends - Dan came back home with Tom for the night.  He is the best house guest we have ever had.  We barely knew he was in the house.  They pretty much amused themselves for the whole evening.  They watched a film around 8.30/9, got ready for bed without any trouble and when I suggested that they should try to get to sleep around 11pm they agreed and they did so.  Dan was very pleasant, he added to the conversation, no trouble at all.  He can come again anytime he wants.

On Saturday we got up early and at 8.30 the boys headed off to Bury for their day on a Diesel Day on the East Lancashire Railway. I spent the morning pottering and doing some work.  Then after lunch I met up with Anne and Lauren for a coffee - we were chatting for a good 2 hours.  I rushed back just in case the boys were on their way and I had somehow missed their messages.  

I needn't have worried, no messages and when I called Matt I discovered they were still on a train (I am glad I didn't go, I would have been so bored by then!)  Gave me a chance to catch up on this.

Oh and half term has just begun.

Life as a miserable teenager

The first weekend of February we were visited by the Blezzards who were on half term.  Their boys are 15 and 13.  Rory, the eldest, really really didn't want to be here.  He is in the depths of being a teenager - he didn't add to the conversation at all, he come to the dinner table to eat but didn't say a word.  He did his best not to look at us.  

I did direct questions to him and you could see him wresting with his conscience, he didn't want to respond to me but part of him felt he couldn't completely ignore me so I would get reluctant one word answers!  Once he got here, he didn't budge.  We went for a walk in the afternoon, he didn't come, we went for a walk on Sunday morning, he refused to get out of bed.  He certainly was in the teenager pit.  Since his visit we have been telling Tom not to become Rory!  Lewis, on the other hand was perfectly pleasant.  Tom hung out with him and they slept in the same room etc.  Tom even got his guitar out which he hasn't touched since before lockdown.

Smile for the camera!

Neil and Sharon, luckily saw the funny side to it all and didn't give in to him at all.  They just left him to be miserable.  We had a good time, it was just Rory that was miserable.

On Tuesday this half term's effort grades came out - Tom got exactly the same as last time, some of his grades went from 4 to 5 and exactly the same went from 5 to 4.  No complaints from us, he  is still trying hard at everything.

January

I made a New Year's resolution this year - to not get behind with the blog!  Ooops - it lasted 4 days!  January was pretty busy - I got wiped out chocolate-wise in December and had to start with nothing in stock.  I spent the whole month playing catch up, and still now in February still don't have much in the way of stock squirrelled away - meaning I am having to make pretty much every order as it arrives rather than just pull them out of the box and send them on their way.  First job was to restock Gingerbugs (which was down to very very little), then Sedbergh, all the whilst doing cakes (quite a busy month for cakes) and chocolate orders. My chocolate is all BB mid to late 2023 at the moment so it really does make sense to make stock up.

Tom seems to have been making friends at school.  He got invited to 2 sleepovers in January.  One with Ben who lives in Arnside and another with Tom who lives in Natland. It is so lovely that sleepovers etc are happening again and just wonderful to know that Tom is making friends.

Mum and Dad came up in the second week of January for a belated Christmas.  We had a big roast gammon, opened pressies which were under the wilting Christmas tree.  We had a fab time.  Luckily the weather this time was much kinder.  We had some wonderful blue sky days, other cloudy ones, but it DIDN'T RAIN!

We went to Tarn Hows on a beautiful day, loads of trees had been knocked over by Storm Keira, but it was still very lovely.  

We also went to Grassington for a walk by the river and to go James Herriot spotting as well as the usual trip to Morecambe (we sat outside and had lunch it was so sunny) and other trips here and there.  

Jungleskôg wormed his way into the affections of Mum and Dad and before we knew it, there was growling and silliness going on all the time.  The blue sofa typically had Mum, Dad, Tom and Jungleskôg on it every night and then silliness going on with Jungleskôg - with Dad being the team leader - was so funny to watch.  

On the 23rd, we finally got the train to Saltaire for a look around the mill, lunch (really really good) and then a canal side walk to Bingley which was very enjoyable.  

Another walk Mum and Dad could do next time they come up.  

Interesting architecture, a sculpture trail and just nice really to be out seeing somewhere new.  

 On the 29th, Tom and Matt went up to Ribblehead to see a double header in insane wind.

On the 30th, we went for a walk with Raddas around Ribblehead - did over 6 miles in the end.  Was a lovely afternoon full of chatter with the children lagging behind! 

Don't think Rebecca was impressed with the extended walk, however, the chatter between her and Tom didn't stop so it couldn't have been that bad.  Funny how when we are out with Tom we can barely keep up with him, however, when he is out with Rebecca, he suddenly slows down and finds everything hard work?!