Letters to my Grandchild

Hello my darling Emily-Ann,   I went hiking in Switzerland and Italy from 23rd June to 27 July.  While I was away, Tammy posted photographs of you with Gumpie at Botanic Gardens. It looks as though you three had a good time!   I started my hike in the Swiss Alps, crossed the Grand St Bernard Pass (where the famous St Bernard Dogs are) and  into the Aosta Valley in Italy.  Then we got a bus to a hilltop town in Tuscany called San Gimignano and hiked from there to Rome.  I loved the walk but I missed you very much.  Every time I saw a little girl with blond hair I wanted to give her a hug.  By the time I reached Rome I thought that maybe at 69 I was getting too old for this sort of long-distance hiking but there were other people five years older than me at 74 years.  So, I might have to carry on for a few years still! After I got to Rome, Gumpie flew to meet me and we walked 110km together to Rome.  He ...

Hello darling Em, I forgot to post about our trip last month to the Midlands Saddle and trout resort.  We visited the animal farm.   You touched the horses - and you went on a pony ride!            You also baked biscuits and played a card game.  You enjoyed cream scones for afternoon tea And, as always, you had your nails done at the beauty SPA   It is autumn in May and June and the trees were all changing colours whilst we were there.   Your Mom showed you how to hit the ball at Putt-Putt and you joined in playing a few holes     In June we all went to the Game Reserves, Finn and I to iMfolozi with his cricket friends, you with Mom and Dad, Granny-Laura and Gavin to Hluhluwe.  We met up with you and did a bit of game viewing in Hluhluwe. You had a sleep over and I bought you a new 'Frozen' puzzle which you managed to do all by yourself!    The c...