October 29, 2018
o17 - Rabbitt - When I Was Eleven
Couldn't be more apt.
Oliver's now eleven and quite the superstar. This picture is really for his old man. We were very fortunate to go away to Lydenburg for a weekend - the house we stayed at has a trout hatchery. We'd never been trout fishing before and beginner's luck is such that Oliver hauled out a 7lbs trout. We went fishing again this last weekend and he almost landed a largish trout. I think he has something there.
But fishing is not really the thing that gets his motor running. It's now soccer. Soccer was large in his life four years ago. As I wrote back then
His ambition is to be a goalie. In order to be a goalie you have to play soccer. And play soccer he does, with great vigour and enthusiasm, to the extent that he has been known to decline going to a party because it clashes with soccer practice. We all delight in watching him play.
If I thought soccer was big then I was wrong. It's now a massive, all-consuming passion and the desire to be a goalie remains. He was given Neymar Jnr soccer kit and he wears very little else most days when he's not at school. He is passionate about Spurs - because of Harry Kane and a number of other players. We are told at every opportunity about which is footballer is worth what and what they did and how they did it and where they live and where he wants to live and soccer and more soccer and some more football. A typical interaction would be something along these lines.
"Which side are you supporting, Dad?"
"I don't know, I think I'll just enjoy the game."
"I like the first team - they've had more non injuries and sixes and supposed defaults on the bassline than any other team in the crickball league. The other team have had less possession of bitcoin than the New Zealand tiddlywinks team. Zanzibar Bucharest is their best player but he's nowhere near as good as Godfearing Thatbanana."
"OK - I think I'll just watch the game."
But it's not soccer that has been his crowing (sic - should be crowning) achievement this year (amongst many). It's his absolute commitment to cricket. I don't know what happened this year but he suddenly decided he loved cricket - which is probably my favourite sport. He has developed into a very good spin bowler over the last 10 months. I stress, it's only been 10 months. Last year he played one game for the B team and they decided that he might not have been suited for that team at the time. Ten months later he's back in the B team, bumping off kids who've been playing at that level for years. He has steadfastly stuck to his coaching both private and with the legendary Jimmy Cook. His commitment has truly paid off, his first game in the B team - against St Johns, got him 67 runs and a stumping. Highest score too. He is deservedly immensely proud of himself. His cricket passion has certainly dictated our weekends as his sporting activities take up a lot of time.
Rugby was the main sport last year. He didn’t want to play club this year and just played at school. Last year he started for the E team and ended up in the C team at the end of the season. This year he made it into the B team and would sub often for the C team. He took a few knocks on the way but he was committed and worked steadfastly to get into the B team and fought to stay there. It's quite entertaining watching rugby at this level - they play uncontested scrums and line outs. In complete contrast to the 15 a-side he was playing last year.
His soccer and hockey seasons weren't that successful because of severs in his heels which made walking really hard and running very unpleasant. I think he might be over those now as we enter the cricket season.
Another
feature that we are going to get used to is his self expression. If
you look carefully at this picture you'll see a child with blue tips in
his hair (and that Neymar shirt too). This was second prize. He
decided he wanted his whole head dyed blue but the considerate hair
bloke talked him out of it because he had a week left of holiday. He
paid more than a month's pocket money (plus tip) for the hair and then
got it cut off a week later. He is undeterred - he's going to do
something dramatic, and no doubt expensive, at the beginning of his
December holidays. It's the beginning of tweenhood where a lot of
issues need to discussed - and he's not shy to discuss them.
As far as a year goes, it's been a hard year emotionally as he finds where he fits in in the social circle at school. He's a bright boy who can explode when pushed. The school (as do most schools) emphasise the sporting aspects above everything else and he's not quite at the A team level yet and so he's not quite sure where he belongs. He's a straight A student who doesn't struggle academically at all. It's this A consistency that doesn't bring him much recognition - the school is used to him over-achieving in that department. And he is a voracious reader. It's extraordinary how many books he gets through in a month. He's reading way over his level. He's hit the Spud series - which has brought on a new level of questioning of his parents.
He's finding himself. I see the parallels in our respective lives. The finding process is an important part of growing up. It's his passion that will pull him through. Once he gets his teeth into something he sticks at it. Last year it was rugby and this year it's cricket. He's also dabbling in selling a range of clothing with a friend. If he gets his head around that then there will be the most amazing lessons learned.
Happy birthday my wonderful Superstar. The best eldest son any parent could ask for. Teenhood is two years away - enjoy these carefree years and just be you. You are the best you I have ever come across.
My friend Chris Daffy, who has a radio show on LM Radio on Saturday and Sunday mornings, got his first direct email from Oliver asking him to play an Oliver-approved song. In the past it's always been a Peter Green song or an Ollie Halsall song. My choice was the Rabbitt song because I'm just a massive fan. But I cannot stray from this blog's tradition.
17 - Fleetwood Mac - Preachin' Blues
This song tells you what a great ear Peter Green had. It's an almost note-perfect cover of a Robert Johnson song. Most people who have listened to Mr Johnson (or Poor Bob if you please) recognise that Johnson is not an easy artist to cover well. Here's Green doing Johnson and owning the song - Clapton never got that right. Happy birthday Mr Green - 72 years old.
And Oliver's take on Peter Green (my son now has his own email address - this was his first email to me)
From: Oliver Janisch
Sent: 13 January 2018 11:55
To: Paul Janisch
Subject:
Hi dad peter green😱😩Justin Bieber 🎤🎤🎤🤑
07 - Paul McCartney & Wings - Time To Hide
Denny at his best. There's a live video showing him messing up the harmonica intro. It's a great song and I've seen him perform it live. That's the most fantastic (now erstwhile) Jimmy McCulloch on guitar. Happy birthday Denny - you've been a vital part of my guitar playing life.
To many people Ollie Halsall was the most fearsome guitarist. He was much more than that. His piano playing was incredible and he was one of the first and only people (other than Frank Zappa) who brought the vibraphone into a rock environment. The question that should have been leveled at Mr Peter Halsall is "are you real?"
Oliver is real and he's my son and his family adore him. Happy birthday my wonderful boy.
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