Bonkers at the aquarium

Over the years I've been to a few aquariums and have enjoyed them all; something about the mystery of it appeals to me, the colours and the strangeness of what's below the surface reaches inside me causing attachment. Recently I had the chance to experience it differently though; I took my nephew.

He will be four years old in August and, over the last week, I've been amazed at how inquisitive he is, how he thinks things through and how amazed he is at the simplest of things. It's probably not all that amazing to a parent, although I'm childless so it's incredible to me. Last night my brother told me how much he'd changed in the time I've been here, matured and developed and I love that, having an influence on him. Of course, I have to be careful what I say as he hears everything and repeats it. It's been two years since I've seen him and he's changed so much, but even in the last week the change is incredible.

I took the little bonkers kid to the Cairns Aquarium without his mum and dad and we had an absolute blast! I'd like to say he had a better time than I did, however I think I had the best time because, not only was I in an aquarium, but I had that little kid with me and everything seems so amazing through his eyes.

We were there for three hours and he ran from place to place with such excitement. He'd reach a window and we'd look in to see what we could find then talk about the fish or snake or whatever was in there. It's a very cool aquarium because Cairns, Australia is a very tropical region, right on the Great Barrier Reef so it's massively diverse with reef and rainforest species well represented. The sharks, snakes and crocodiles were the big winners for the little lad but he loved all of the creatures, the colours, way they moved and how funny they looked.

We spent a little time in the interactive section where he got to touch some sea creatures and learn a little more about them and wandered through the tunnels where we stood whilst sharks, stingrays and all manner of fish swam only centimetres from us on the inside of the glass.

My nephew made a friend there too...Not a fish, a girl...of about 25 years old!

We were looking at some fish and they were chasing each other around and I'd said, they're bonkers man! Of course, he faithfully repeated what I'd said, only way louder and the girl laughed and said, he's so cute!.

He thought that was very cool. She seemed to follow us about as I think she thought the interaction between me and my nephew was cool, maybe it made her aquarium experience better as he did mine?

A little later, when he was looking at the sharks, she came over and said, you're such a cool dad, he's lucky to have you. I thought it was a really nice thing to say, especially to a bloke with no kids. I smiled and said, I'm just the uncle, but I'm a really proud one. It was a nice moment for me to have with my nephew. Also, it's really true what they say about babies and little kids being chick-magnets it seems. (Ok, maybe it was only in my mind, that attraction part, but it was nice of her to see and appreciate how I interacted with my nephew.)

After the three hours I asked him if he'd like to go and he said, yeah, lets go for lunch. Yep, he's a KP for sure! We walked over to the Cairns Esplanade and ate some pizza together and talked about the sea creatures and the visit in general.

I find it interesting to think about what this little boy might do throughout the course of his life.

I'll not get to see the bulk of it of course, but I'll see the early stages and that'll have to be enough. He's such an intelligent kid, practical, good with his hands and solving problems...but also cheeky, funny and mischievous. He's the sort of kid who can go bonkers, then get serious and come over offering a hug and say, I love you uncle.

I think, no matter what he chooses to do, he'll do it well and I hope to have a small amount of input in his life, just like I did yesterday at the aquarium.

I've only got a few more days to spend with this little bonkers boy, and I'm looking forward to the adventures we'll have, but not the leaving and going home part.*