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.