Letters to my Grandchild

Hello my darling Em, Our lives have changed so much that I'm sure it's hard for you to imagine a life when you went to school every day, dance classes and drama after school, shopping at supermarkets or clothing stores in crowded shopping malls like Gateway, La Lucia or the Pav; having visitors, play dates and sleep overs, going to parties, restaurants like Circus Circus, Mugg and Bean or Wimpy or going to theatre shows and movies.   Although pandemics have occurred  throughout human history, t he Covid Pandemic has been a unique experience because it has affected every continent in the world (excepting perhaps for the Arctic!). Modern travel is the reason why it spread so quickly.   One day - when we have settled into a new normal way of life - you might look back and realise that young people like you all over the world felt lonely, cut off from friends and activities, anxious about school and about their health, and the health of their parents.  You have been amazing through

  Guess where we went?  Yeah - we went to the Game reserve for New Year.  It was our first time, and you and your family's first time away from home in almost a year.  Your mom made special 'DO NOT ENTER' signs to stick onto the door of our cottage at Hilltop and told the management that we didn't want any staff to enter our cottage for cleaning, making beds etc. We saw wild dog two days, lion, elephant, buffalo and many buck species but no cheetah or leopard It was hot - very hot - and we kept the air con going in the car but the windows open.  You got to drive a few times when we were on the road instead of dirt trails We love visiting you guys at your home, and from time to time you come to us, usually so that your Dad to watch rugby with Gumpie 😉  This time at your house your Mom made hamburgers and chips. Ruby has grown!  She gets very excited when visitors come so Mom leaves in her in crate until everyone settles down.  If she doesn't do that Ruby jumps, grab