The climbing wall

Sunday was a glorious afternoon. From grey and cloudy beginnings the sun broke through and shone in a clear blue sky all afternoon. From memory it does this every year the weekend of the Lambeth Country Fair.  We were there with Lulu, Frog's best friend, and her family.  


For those of you who read this blog regularly you will know how much Frog loves to climb.  Nothing makes her happier than scaling an enormous tree and sitting in it. I'm not sure what she does up there: thinks, watches, sits, watches and thinks I guess. Anyway she loves it and is truly fearless.


On Sunday at the Country Fair they had some fantastic (and free) activities for the kids, including basketball, tennis, football and a climbing wall. Understandably this was like giving Frog all the sweets in the sweetshop. She literally squealed with pleasure when she saw it.  


She and Lulu scaled the first wall, the easy one, faster than you can say "go spidergirl go". 


The harder wall was trickier. The spaces between the 'grips' were further apart and the girls are still only little.  Frog did well, she got within a metre of so of the top, then came down.  Lulu was still climbing.


I expected Frog to call to her friend to come down and get on with the next activity. But no, she stood on the ground below her friend and bellowed encouragement; she pointed out good places to put her hands and feet and truly supported Lulu during her final burst to reach the top. And when Lulu touched the buzzer that signalled her success both girls were equally, ecstatically thrilled.


In those moments my daughter reminded how pure and perfect friendship can be. About how it can be both competitive and yet supportive. About how your best friend cheering you on makes anything possible. And about how when success is shared and celebrated together it makes it so much more fun! 


Awe and wonder at its best.