AUGUST & September 2022

Hello my special girl,

As you know, Jeff and I have the same mother but not the same father.  My parents were divorced when I was little and my Mom (your Granny May) remarried Leslie Leaver in 1956.  Jeff was born in 1958.

Here are my parents with Patty when she was a baby.

I mention this now because it was my step-father's birthday on 30 July, my mother's birthday on 1st August and mine on 6th August. 

They might look like really old people but my mother was 35 (the same as Richard) and Les was 45 (the same age as Sharon).

Les Leaver is your step-grandfather - just like your step-grandmother, Birgitte.  

 Here they are on their wedding day.  

Oh WOW!!!  You took part in the 80m girls open run at your school - and you kept up with them!  It is still like a miracle to us that you can run at all!!  Congratulations Em - you are a super star!

You went with Greg and Sharon to a fun playground for kids.  

For the first time, Alex enjoyed playing with you and trusted you on the slide with him.

21 August Greg came with us to your place for a braai.  It was a lovely hot day and we had a great meal. After lunch you did my face with rainbow wings and I did yours.

When you came to us for a rugby braai the following Saturday, you played with Toon Hub, a Comic app on my phone.  You looked gorgeous but I looked a bit weird!

8th September

You've lived through a lot of history Em. This month was the end of an era when Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral on Thursday 8 September, aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.  The Queen came to the throne in 1952 - when I was 5 years old.  We grew up singing God Save The Queen at special events and when the anthem came on, in a cinema, at school, or anywhere else, we all had to stand.  

The shops sold memorabillia every time a new royal baby was born, and we all celebrated their birthdays and special anniversaries. This album was to celebrate the birth of Prince Charles, the first baby bron to Queen Elizabeth.  He will now be installed as King - King Charles the III.

There have been hundreds of photographs of her at different stages of her life on TV and Special Media.  My favourite was this one, walking away with Paddington Bear.  The queen had a wonderful sense of humour.  She was sked if she would take part in a short skit on her Jubilee celebration with Paddington bear, who was also celebrating his Jubilee.  It is wonderful - you can watch it here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UfiCa244XE  

17 September:  You came to visit us on Saturday and Mark told us that you are going to San Diego on 30 September.  Tam and I found a cool place for you to stay for 8 days so that you can look at schools and neighbourhoods where you might stay from next year.  You then drive to Las Vegas where you and Tam will saty until 11th October, but Mark will stay on for a conference until the 15th October.  Its becoming more real for us all that your family will be moving to America next year 😭

At least we have technology and we can 'see' each other on Whatsapp calls or Zoom.  In the past when families left the country, they relied on letters, postcards and an occasional telelphone call,  Now we have all sorts of ways of keep in touch.  But, it doesn't replace the special hugs and being together.

Will you remember my vegetable boxes with flowers?  

And herbs

And the little lemon tree in the corner

On the 25th September you went to watch the Springboks play their first internation match at Kings Park for a few years.  I managed to get this screen print from the television, a very brief glimpse of you, Mark, Finn and Greg sitting with the disabled spectators.

Two days later we went to the Talent Show at your school. 
You were in a tap-dance routine and in the finale. 

You looked stunning Em!  Sharon said, "Is that really our Emily? 
She looks like a professional dancer!"

I think there are only two more events at your school that we might be invited to Em.  We're going to miss being a part of your school life when you move to California 😢

I love you beautiful girl ♥