DECEMBER - 2016
My darling Em,
This is the last post for 2016 - an eventful year for you.
You started at your new School - La Lucia Junior Primary - in January. You made friends with Ethan and Captain - two big Labbies - after being afraid of big dogs; you had a holiday in Johannesburg and at the river with Jeff and Gail in April and September; you did your first 200 m swimming badge in June; we went to the Midlands Saddle and Trout and to Hluhluwe in June: Jeff was diagnosed with cancer in his tonsil and in June and had to undergo surgery, chemo and radiation. In August you cracked your big toe (ouch!); you had two birthday parties in October - one with beanbags at your house and one at the SPUR in Durban north. You had two treatments this year and you grew 5.5cm to 1.2m tall.
Although you passed everything in Grade 11 it was felt that you would benefit more from repeating grade 11 next year than going to Grade 111. It was difficult for your Mom and Dad to explain this to you and you were not happy with the idea. One of the good things about repeating this year (instead perhaps next year) is that all of your friends from Grade 11 will still be at the school next year whereas after Grade 111 they will all move on to a Senior Primary school. Also, you have many friends in Grade 1 who will be moving into Grade 11 so you won't be without friends next year.
In December Jeff, Gail and the boys came down for Christmas. It was a busy time for everyone with some sleeping at your house, some at Zimbali and then Jeff and Gail at Rob and Faye's place in
Sunningdale for a week.
We spent Christmas Eve at Greg and Sharon's, Christmas day at our house, and had a braai after New Year's day.
We gave you two throw-away braais and you enjoyed this one on your front lawn
In these photographs you will see a few people you might not recognize at a later time.
The young girl in the Christmas photo is Taylor-Belle (Libby), Gail's niece. Her sister Jacqui is Libby's mother.
The older woman opening a Christmas gift is my friend Janet Nicholson who I worked with at the SPCA.
The woman in the bed is Marion Jackson. Marion and I have been friends and walking buddies for many years. She had a back operation and wasn't allowed to sit for 6 weeks so we put the bed in the lounge for her.
You will see your Aunty Candice and her friend Ben on the photos as well.
Brian brought Gunza to Durban with him, so we had a full house on Christmas day.
2016 was a Leap Year. A normal year has 365 days and a leap year 366 days, with the extra day in February - 29th Feb. A leap year occurs every four years to help synchronize the calendar year with the solar year, or the length of time it takes the earth to complete its orbit about the sun, which is about 365¼ days. This happens every 4 years.
A timeline of World Events in 2016:
Britain voted to Leave the European Union.
Donald Trump became the president of the USA
Mother Teresa is declared a Saint by Pope Francis
After years of fighting, Italy became the last Western country to accept gay couples
A number of famous people died in 2016:
David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, Arnold Palmer, John Glen, Fidel Castro, Nancy Reagan, Mohammed Ali, Carrie Fischer, Debbi Reynolds, Geroge Michael and many others. (One day you can Google these people to find out what they were famous for).
Soon it will be 2017 and you will have a whole new year, with new experiences, new friends to make and new things to learn.
I am so grateful for every little bit of time that I share with you and am determined to be here for your wedding day, even if it 20 years from now when I am 90 years old!
Love you lots my darling girl,
Syl
This is the last post for 2016 - an eventful year for you.
You started at your new School - La Lucia Junior Primary - in January. You made friends with Ethan and Captain - two big Labbies - after being afraid of big dogs; you had a holiday in Johannesburg and at the river with Jeff and Gail in April and September; you did your first 200 m swimming badge in June; we went to the Midlands Saddle and Trout and to Hluhluwe in June: Jeff was diagnosed with cancer in his tonsil and in June and had to undergo surgery, chemo and radiation. In August you cracked your big toe (ouch!); you had two birthday parties in October - one with beanbags at your house and one at the SPUR in Durban north. You had two treatments this year and you grew 5.5cm to 1.2m tall.
Although you passed everything in Grade 11 it was felt that you would benefit more from repeating grade 11 next year than going to Grade 111. It was difficult for your Mom and Dad to explain this to you and you were not happy with the idea. One of the good things about repeating this year (instead perhaps next year) is that all of your friends from Grade 11 will still be at the school next year whereas after Grade 111 they will all move on to a Senior Primary school. Also, you have many friends in Grade 1 who will be moving into Grade 11 so you won't be without friends next year.
In December Jeff, Gail and the boys came down for Christmas. It was a busy time for everyone with some sleeping at your house, some at Zimbali and then Jeff and Gail at Rob and Faye's place in
Sunningdale for a week.
We spent Christmas Eve at Greg and Sharon's, Christmas day at our house, and had a braai after New Year's day.
We gave you two throw-away braais and you enjoyed this one on your front lawn
In these photographs you will see a few people you might not recognize at a later time.
The young girl in the Christmas photo is Taylor-Belle (Libby), Gail's niece. Her sister Jacqui is Libby's mother.
The older woman opening a Christmas gift is my friend Janet Nicholson who I worked with at the SPCA.
The woman in the bed is Marion Jackson. Marion and I have been friends and walking buddies for many years. She had a back operation and wasn't allowed to sit for 6 weeks so we put the bed in the lounge for her.You will see your Aunty Candice and her friend Ben on the photos as well.
Brian brought Gunza to Durban with him, so we had a full house on Christmas day.
2016 was a Leap Year. A normal year has 365 days and a leap year 366 days, with the extra day in February - 29th Feb. A leap year occurs every four years to help synchronize the calendar year with the solar year, or the length of time it takes the earth to complete its orbit about the sun, which is about 365¼ days. This happens every 4 years. A timeline of World Events in 2016:
Britain voted to Leave the European Union.
Donald Trump became the president of the USA
Mother Teresa is declared a Saint by Pope FrancisAfter years of fighting, Italy became the last Western country to accept gay couples
A number of famous people died in 2016:
David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, Arnold Palmer, John Glen, Fidel Castro, Nancy Reagan, Mohammed Ali, Carrie Fischer, Debbi Reynolds, Geroge Michael and many others. (One day you can Google these people to find out what they were famous for).
Soon it will be 2017 and you will have a whole new year, with new experiences, new friends to make and new things to learn.
I am so grateful for every little bit of time that I share with you and am determined to be here for your wedding day, even if it 20 years from now when I am 90 years old!
Love you lots my darling girl,
Syl
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