The official birthday portrait

Wow, Finnzy-Bob. Eleven. Imagine!


Each year Mum gets a bit more emotional as she sees her “baby” slipping away. You are still very approachable though and open to hugs from mum and dad. The teenage rejection years have yet to kick in. Thank you again for cuddling up to me on the sofa to watch Kung Fu Panda with your old man had that nasty norovirus thingy. I am sorry that I passed it on to you as a sign of gratitude…


The official birthday shot is always an opportunity for me to reflect on the year just passed. I am glad to report that you have added a few more accents to your panoply (thanks in part to that Australian youtuber and the English football commentators you listen to on your tablet…) and your beatboxing is steadily improving. It is a pity that the more traditional drumming is not as popular in your eyes. 


I thought that the Fortnite disease would be well and truly over by now but no. It is still raging. With yet more maps, more skins, more weapons, more heated games with your online mates. At least that bloody game has done a lot to improve relationships between Dublin and Mayo.


One development in the last year have been the growth of your love affair with all things related to the chipper or any old industrially-produced MSG-laced shite cooked through immersion in hot vintage oil. As much as I hate to be a killer of burgeoning love, this passion for deep fried food will have to be curbed down. Please. Please.


Overall you are a well-rounded (maybe it’s all the fish & chips), funny and popular individual. You seem to get on really well with your mates in school and you are always ready for a laugh, while working hard and being conscientious when it comes to homework. You are also the undisputed king of geography quizzes (especially world capitals) but I think you have your older brother to thank for that.


Talking about your older brother, the two of you seem to be getting on pretty well if all the giggling at dodgy jokes is to be believed. But I wonder if this is a sign of your maturity or his immaturity…


I hope that your new goalie gloves will stop many balls from reaching the back of the Park Celtic nets. One thing is for sure, you’ll always do better than Carlos (I’m still looking forward to seeing the YouTube video of the last goal he let happen, after three seconds of cradling the ball in his arms… It was pure Harold Lloyd material, even if you did not find it funny at the time).


Stay good. Stay young. Stay passionate.


And remember, you are still our baby and we love you very much.