Snow, Spring & Speedway

If life had a group chat, ours would be permanently on mute… and still somehow pinging.

Turns out “quiet weekend” is just something other families say lol …

Ever since my last blog, life has basically said, “Oh you thought that was busy? Bless.” Because nothing has slowed down, nothing!

I’m still juggling full-time role alongside everything else. Still spinning plates I’m convinced are multiplying overnight — school runs, homework, life admin, housework, and everything speedway … the invisible mental load that I seem to carry without ever clocking off.

Some days I feel like Superwoman. Other days I’m surviving on caffeine, and winging it!

In-between the madness, there’s also the good stuff.

We had proper snow — the kind that makes you drop everything and run outside. Late nights under streetlights throwing snowballs like overgrown children and then early mornings before school squeezing in sledging because “it might melt later.” Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE snow. No flake gets wasted.

We’ve also enjoyed frosty walks. Crisp air, cold noses, rosey red cheeks and little hands sneaking into my pockets to hold mine - they full on know I am the keeper of hand warmers. We’ve also enjoyed wet and muddy walks - with the little ones always finding the joy in climbing trees & muddy puddles.

Inside has been just as full.

Homemade popcorn on the hob — the kids stood watching the pan like it’s a science experiment, giggling every time it pops. I love to watch their anticipation, and the jumping along with “is it ready yet?!”. And then there’s Amara-Mae, perched on the countertop eating freshly cooked ham joint as fast as I can slice it. I’m basically slicing for survival. The little things - simple, but perfect.

Some days I give up the kitchen as Amara-Mae & Cruz really enjoy cooking. So I print off a recipe for them and line up the ingredients and they cook a meal from scratch between them (with a little help if needed) they really love it and get us to score the meal out of 10 whilst eating. I’m secretly hoping Chris might start cooking, but the chances are pretty slim I would say!

We’ve played board games and card games galore - they start wholesome and fun, but seem to end highly competitive. And let me tell you — Chris and Cruz are terrible losers…..

And then lots of reading.

The kids love to read just like me, and we’ve enjoyed Library trips that end with more books than we can carry and just the excitement they get to use their library card! Oh to be a kid…

I love reading to the kids, but they’re both fluent readers now, so I encourage them to read to us instead, although I still try to sneak in a bedtime story when I can. I’m not quite ready to give that up just yet.

Chris… not so much a reader

Unless it’s The Speedway Star… or my blog obviously. Then suddenly he’s fully invested. Funny that. He might not read novels, but he’ll read a race report like it’s a thriller.

We celebrated a huge milestone with our Cruz turning SIX.

Six. I’m not okay with that information.

We celebrated his birthday at home just the 5 of us, and a few days later took him bowling with his best friends. Cruz had a new pushbike for his birthday now he’s outgrown his old one - there would always be something with wheels involved wouldn't there lol.

A special gift this year though - his official youth racing licence to go alongside his mascot licence.

Still letting that sink in ……..

Because one racing licence clearly wasn’t enough excitement for a six-year-old, the Harris boys have been back in the workshop.

There’s been some serious father-son time lowering Cruz’s grass-track bike so he can just about reach the floor. Watching them both crouched over it, tools everywhere, measuring and adjusting like it’s the most important job in the world — I can’t cope.

Chris is like a big kid himself. Cruz just keeps asking, “How fast does it go?” on repeat…

He can now just about get his feet down. Just. And I’m left wondering how we’ve gone from a toddler with stabilisers to suspension adjustments in what feels like five minutes, someone pass me a tissue.

And then — because apparently workshop prep wasn’t enough — the two of them decided to have a little “practice” in the field.

Just a field, no crowd, no grandstand.

Just me… filming, like I always do.

They lined up next to each other — same surname, same stubborn streak, same absolute refusal to back down (even if it’s only for bragging rights at dinner time).

Bar to bar. Full commitment. Of course they didn’t take it easy.

And then, contact and suddenly both of them were in a heap on the ground — bikes tangled, broken bits and both covered in mud.

I’m still not sure what dropped faster — them, my camera or my stomach.

If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s on socials. Apparently “father and son bonding” now means Bomber and Bomber Jr sending it just a little too hard and needing a referee to call it.

They both got up, lucky unscathed. Slightly muddy. Mildly defensive. Arguing why it was definitely the other one’s fault.

The debate, for the record, did not end in the field. It continued into the kitchen over dinner.

Whilst firmly in proud mum territory — Mia-Faye is thriving.

She’s smashing her apprenticeship and growing into this calm, capable young woman right in front of me. Seventeen is creeping up (HOW?!) and she’s already excited about learning to drive and is actively browsing cars.

I recently watched the Jesy Nelson series, and the NICU episode brought back so many emotions. I was right back in that hospital room with the tiniest Mia-Faye, wires and monitors everywhere …. And now she’s turning 17.

Life is wild like that.

Parents’ evening left me quietly beaming and humbled. Both Cruz and Amara-Mae are doing so well, both super smart and the teachers had nothing but amazing things to say.

Amara-Mae’s health journey unfortunately continues quietly in the background. We’re still advocating. Still pushing. No one should ever underestimate a mother fighting for her child.

But finally, after seven long years, it feels like the paediatricians and doctors are starting to truly listen. And with that comes a sense of hope — that maybe new doors are beginning to open.

One thing that never fades, no matter what she’s facing, is Amara-Mae’s love of dancing. It’s where she feels most like herself — confident, free, and full of joy. Preparing for her show in March has given her something special to focus on, and you can see how much it means to her, especially now the costumes have arrived.

We had a couple more special moments - firstly watching Amara-Mae in Young Voices 2026 - it was such a proud parent moment. Then we took Cruz to Arenacross so he could watch Dan Bewley. We got to see Dan beforehand and he got a high five and some sunglasses, before Chris and Dan chatted about the upcoming season…

Speedway life runs alongside it all.

Chris was the guest at Nuneaton Speedway Supporters Club to start off 2026 .

Then came the packed-out ‘Evening with Chris ‘Bomber’ Harris and Family’ at King’s Lynn, where I stepped outside my comfort zone and took to the stage.

I’m still not entirely sure why they asked me to be part of the night — I genuinely didn’t think anyone would be that interested in my side of things. I was asked quite early on if I’d take to the stage, and I remember asking Chris if he was ok with me doing it. His reply? “Yeah… it’ll basically be like a live blog.”

Chris went on first, talking through his career from the very beginning — how it all started, the early days, the graft, the turning points. Old photos and videos were shown behind him, and watching them felt like flicking through a family album. Some of the haircuts alone deserved their own round of applause.

He spoke about the highs, the lows and everything in between — honest, open and still just a guy from Cornwall who loves racing his bike.

Then it was my turn.

Microphone in hand. Way out of my comfort zone. I was nervous — but I was just honest. Unpolished. Unapologetically me. With a little bit of Harris family magic thrown in.

I shared a few behind-the-scenes stories about Speedway life too — the bits people don’t always see. Like finding out Chris was no longer in an ambulance and had just been out in the rerun at Glasgow… from Facebook… before hearing from the boys themselves. Because apparently that’s how we roll now. Nothing like refreshing Facebook to regulate my heart rate.

And the room laughed. A lot. The feedback from everyone afterwards was so lovely.

I watched on as Cruz signed autographs - it gets me every time. Kleenex… where are you? Proud mum problems right there.

I would just like to say a huge thank you to Pride of the East Podcast and the Our Stars Supporters Club for asking us to do this, and organising it all. Everyone made us feel so welcome from the moment we walked in — and the bouquet of flowers presented to me at the end was such a lovely touch.

And a special thank you to the Supporters Club and Richard for presenting Cruz with 2026 sponsorship for a new King’s Lynn suit. Cruz was proud as punch during the presentation and was a real gentleman with a firm handshake.

Cruz then drew the raffle and the first ticket he picked was Amara-Mae’s - to the amusement of the whole room, I mean what are the chances!

She chose a signed picture of Cruz - we asked her why and said, “Because when he goes racing and I miss him, I’ve always got his picture.” Oh my heart ….

A special mention for our Mia-Faye, who held the fort with the two little ones from the front row whilst we were both on stage. Calm, capable, completely unfazed. Best big sister ever.

Back home the preparation for 2026 is still in full swing. Kevlar designs, parcels everywhere, and endless phone calls that would make BT proud .

There’s real excitement building as we head towards the new season. That familiar buzz. The smell. The adrenaline.

And this year marks Chris’s 29th consecutive season in British Speedway.

Twenty-nine…

He’s done his talking on track for nearly three decades now. He’s ridden through the highs, the lows, the heartbreak and the comebacks. Lifted trophies. Dusted himself off.

And through it all, he’s remained grounded. Humble. Still just the lad from Cornwall who loves racing bikes.

That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident.

That’s resilience.

That’s grit.

That’s belief.

That’s love.

But alongside that excitement, there’s also that familiar pre-season “wait and see” feeling.

With only a handful of clubs confirmed in the top league at the moment, there’s an understandable sense of uncertainty around what the season — and the future — might look like. Riders feel it. Supporters feel it.

You just find yourself quietly hoping for stability. For growth. For clarity.

Not guarantees. Just opportunity. A clear pathway. A sport that feels steady and supported.

Because British Speedway deserves that.

Despite the unknown, there is hope.

Hope in the riders grafting week in, week out.

Hope in the young ones with fearless ambition.

Hope in supporters who never stop turning up.

And with speedway season approaching, it also means spring is.

I’m so ready for spring — for sunshine on our faces, dry school runs, windows open, later evenings that stretch a little longer, Speedway nights, and all the joy and noise that sport brings.

I’m looking forward to evenings on the terraces — Amara-Mae filling in her programme like a pro, Cruz watching the racing in between tearing around his mini bikes, and hot chocolates warming cold hands, whilst catching-up with friends.

And of course, teaching the kids the art of the makeshift steel shoe… engineered from a Coke can.

I mean, I did it in the 80s at Coventry, so it kind of has to be done with my own kids. Full circle. Even though Cruz has a proper one, obviously….

I’m even looking forward to watching Chris ride the fences again… with one eye closed obviously. My resting heart rate in heat 13 is not medically normal. I’m sure of it.

Spring’s coming. Speedway’s coming. It’s about to get busy — louder, muddier, faster and slightly more chaotic.

Glasgow boot camp is up next. Then NK’s testimonial — on Mother’s Day of all days, because that absolutely screams relaxation. Then the Ben Fund at Ashfield.

Add in Amara-Mae turning eight, her three-night dance show (no pressure, superstar — I’ll be the one crying in the audience), and me adding another candle to my own cake…

Let’s go.

There is magic in it. It’s messy, but it’s magic.

And if you know us by now… you’ll know we’re only just getting started.

Blog: ©️ 2026 Emma-Louise Harris - All rights reserved.

Photos: Team Harris or as per Watermark