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| A sequence of events showing the awesome power of a baby-ccino. |
Some days just seem full of promise. I've been trying to put my finger on just what it is, but I sort of think that's the point - you can't quite identify why a day seems full of promise, it just does. You know it when you feel it. This morning was such a day. As I walked to the garden shed at 6.30am to retrieve my bike for the 15 minute ride to the climbing wall the entire day just seemed, somehow, positive. Birds were chirping, it was just getting light and there was a smell in the air that reminded me of being awake in the very early morning of a childhood camping trip. As if everything was settled and content, and it was going to be the sort of day when I could achieve anything I put my mind to. Maybe it was just that - for once - it wasn't raining, it wasn't cold enough to numb my fingers, and it wasn't completely dark. Whatever. I got to the wall at 6.45am, changed, chinned off a double espresso and then systematically sent all the hardest boulder problems that I'd been trying for the last couple of weeks. Even problem number 10 on the red circuit (difficult overhanging moves to a dyno out onto a sloping hold, followed by a tricky compression move, a tenuous toe hold and a long stretch to a poor sloper since you ask).
This weekend we celebrated Lara's second birthday. It was technically her birthday today, but we told her it was on saturday for the sake of convenience. (Is that bad? At least we were here this year.) I don't have a schedule charting her expected climbing progression versus age, but if I did, she would be ahead. On Monday I took her to the climbing wall as I do most Mondays. Our trips to the wall are becoming quite demanding affairs. This week, when I suggested lunch, she said "No Daddy. Climbing!" and refused to eat anything until I'd helped her up several routes. She has quite remarkable grip strength, yet seems completely unconcerned by the need to use her feet. Notwithstanding these obvious flaws in her technique, she seems to genuinely enjoy being at the climbing wall, which is good enough for me. I have no idea whether Lara will take to climbing as she grows up. Or skiing, or camping, or any of the things that I love to be honest. I know I have to let her find the things she enjoys, rather than push her to do the things I enjoy. A bit of subliminal behavioural conditioning can't do any harm though, can it?
