Letters to my Grandchild

Hello Em, Gumpy's cousins, Anthony and Carol, arrived from Australia today to spend some time with us so Carol came with me to your school concert. Ant and Carol left South Africa 25 years ago to live in Australia and they have children and grandchildren there and in Tasmania. This was your first Christmas concert at school - you were one of the shepherds.  It was a lovely concert, all about Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem, the star, no room at the inn and the birth of the baby Jesus. I sat near the back with Carol so couldn't get any really nice photographs but Shay took some and will send them to me when she has time.  The only one that I can put here is a bit grainy and dark but you can see your shepherd's cloak and your long, blond ponytail. After the concert we were allowed to meet you in your classroom where you handed over a gift you had made for your Mom and Dad.  It was a lovely calendar and Mrs Davey said that you had worke...

Hello my darling Em, I loved having you sleep-over this weekend!  You slept over once or twice when you were a baby and slept in a camp cot but you haven't slept over for a long time.  Now that you are in your own bed, Mom and Dad allowed you to sleep over when they went to a wedding in the midlands.  We put a matress down in our room - between the chest of drawers and a chair and padded with pillows.  It made a lovely snug bed for you.  We played house, tea-party, drawing, cutting out and pasting, and even copied Mr Maker and made animal faces with floppy ears. You had your dinner with Gumpy - chicken and potato wedges - and after your bath we lay down on your bed and I read you a story.  Then we switched off the light and within 10 minutes you were fast asleep. I think you dream a lot because you spoke in your sleep and once you even shouted something. At 4:50am I heard you calling for Mommy.  You were confused and had started wal...