How is our tiny little baby ten years old already? In some ways the last ten years have flown by, even though life is completely different. Owen is still very inquisitive, but he is also getting more interested in trying new things, like skateboarding. He has also conquered his fear of heights and managed to climb to the top of the climbing frame at the local park. After being inspired during some work we had done on the house earlier in the year, Owen has decided that he wants to be a carpenter when he grows up – “something that should be safe from AI”. We have done a few small projects together, including building a raised bed and he also assembled most of the furniture in his bedroom.
Even though he is now ten, Owen was not too big to wake us up at half past six, and jump into our bed for a cuddle. It is fair to say he was excited about his birthday! We had got him some good presents – Owen likes a lot of the same things as me, which makes him easy to buy for. Even at 42 I would still be happy to get a Casio G Shock watch – I actually wore mine today, rather than my Apple Watch. I have also got him snowboard lessons, as that is something he has been asking about for years.
After unwrapping presents we went to Squirrels, our local cafe, for breakfast. Owen opted for the big full breakfast, the “Mount Nod”, and just about managed to eat all of it. His eyes are still bigger than his belly!
At lunchtime it was time for some cycle speedway racing. Possibly due to the wet weather, there were fewer riders than normal and the heats were split such that it was the four fastest riders, then everyone else – Owen and Henry being in the latter group. This meant that Owen was the fastest in the group. He won his four heats, convincingly. Henry came last in his four, including two against Owen, he rode really well though and was close the riders in front, pushing them all the way to the finish line. Henry came third in the U8s B final and Owen came second (to one of the “fast four”) in the U12s final. Which placed him third in U12s in the regional series – I think that qualifies him for nationals. Owen was also awarded the trophy for “referee’s star rider”!
After the excitement of cycle speedway we had some family round for a small gathering, and more presents for Owen. Jen had made him a lemon drizzle cake with a Hotwheels Subaru Impreza on top, which Owen was excited about.
By this time next year Owen will almost have finished primary school, we will have chosen his secondary school and he will have done his SATS, hopefully he will also be able to snowboard!